Proximally trimmable catheter including pre-attached bifurcation and related methods

• US 8,337,484 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Blanchard, Daniel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYMAN, IMANI N
• Application Number:
  US12/823,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 604523-532, 604/533, 604/164.03
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0014 Connecting a tube to a hub
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/105 Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment

Abstract

A proximally trimmable catheter is disclosed. In one embodiment, the catheter includes a multi-lumen catheter tube, one or more extension tubes, and a hub for fluidly connecting the two. In a first unlocked state, the hub is axially slidable along the catheter tube. The hub includes tube pins that are in fluid communication with the extension tubes. A cutting member is positioned to longitudinally cut the catheter tube during axial sliding of the hub along the catheter tube such that distal portions of the tube pins remain disposed within the lumens of the catheter tube. When positioned as desired, the hub is locked into a second locked state and is no longer axially slidable along the catheter tube. The tube pins are fluidly sealed within the lumens of the catheter tube as to establish fluid communication between the extension tubes and the lumens via the tube pins.

Claims

1. A tubular medical device for placement of a portion thereof into a body of a patient, the medical device, comprising:

an elongate tube defining at least one lumen;

at least one extension tube; and

a hub for placing the at least one extension tube in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the elongate tube, the hub being axially slidable along the elongate tube in a first unlocked state, the hub including;

at least one tube pin in fluid communication with the at least one extension tube;

means for cutting a proximal portion of the elongate tube such that a portion of the at least one tube pin remains within an uncut portion of the at least one lumen during sliding of the hub along the elongate tube, the means for cutting being at least temporarily included with the hub; and

means for fluidly sealing the at least one tube pin within the at least one lumen when the hub is locked into a second locked state such that the hub is no longer slidable along the elongate tube and such that the at least one extension tube is in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the elongate tube via the at least one tube pin.

2. The tubular medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for fluidly sealing compressively seals an interface of the at least one tube pin within the at least one lumen.

3. The tubular medical device as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for fluidly sealing includes at least one annular compression washer disposed about the catheter tube proximate the interface of the at least one tube pin within the at least one lumen, the at least one compression washer being invertable between first and second positions, an inner diameter of the at least one compression washer being relatively smaller in the second position than in the first position.

4. The tubular medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for cutting is included with an assembly tool disposed about the hub during placement thereof, the means for cutting being removable from the assembly tool.

5. The tubular medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the means for cutting splits the elongate tube into at least two longitudinal pieces.

6. A catheter, comprising:

an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen;

at least one extension tube; and

a hub for placing the at least one extension tube in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the catheter tube, the hub being axially slidable along the catheter tube when in a first unlocked state, the hub including;

at least one tube pin in fluid communication with the at least one extension tube; and

a first cutting member at least temporarily included with the hub for longitudinally cutting the catheter tube during axial sliding of the hub along the catheter tube such that a distal portion of the at least one tube pin remains disposed within the at least one lumen of an uncut portion of the catheter tube,

wherein the hub is lockable into a second locked state such that the hub is no longer axially slidable along the catheter tube and the at least one extension tube is in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the catheter tube via the at least one tube pin.

7. The catheter as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

a compression element to fluidly seal the at least one tube pin within the at least one lumen.

8. The catheter as defined in claim 7, wherein the compression element includes an invertable compression washer.

9. The catheter as defined in claim 7, wherein the hub includes a distal hub portion and a proximal hub portion, wherein the compression element is initially included with the proximal hub portion, and wherein the distal and proximal hub portions include latching features for engaging one another when the hub is placed into the second locked state.

10. The catheter as defined in claim 6, wherein the first cutting member includes a blade positioned proximal to at least a portion of the at least one tube pin, and wherein the first cutting member is removable from the hub after use.

11. The catheter as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

a second cutting member for trimming a proximal portion of the catheter after the hub is positioned in a desired location on the catheter tube, wherein the first and second cutting members are included with an assembly tool, the assembly tool removably attached to the hub.

12. A method for proximally trimming a catheter, the catheter including an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen, the method comprising:

placing at least a distal portion of the catheter tube within a body of a patient;

sliding a hub in a distal direction along the catheter tube, the catheter tube received by a conduit of the hub, the hub including at least one tube pin including a portion that remains within the at least one lumen of the catheter tube during the sliding of the hub;

axially cutting a proximal portion of the catheter tube during the sliding of the hub; and

sealing an interface between the at least one tube pin and the at least one lumen after the hub is disposed at a desired position such that fluid communication is established between the at least one lumen of the catheter tube and at least one extension tube of the catheter via the at least one tube pin.

13. The method for proximally trimming as defined in claim 12, wherein the hub includes a distal hub portion and a proximal hub portion, wherein the distal and proximal hub portions are unlocked with respect to one another during sliding of the hub, and wherein the method further comprises:

locking the distal and proximal hub portions together after the hub is disposed at the desired position.

14. The method for proximally trimming as defined in claim 13, wherein locking the distal and proximal hub portions together further includes actuating at least one lever component to lock the hub portions together and wherein locking the distal and proximal hub portions together further causes the sealing of the interface between the at least one tube pin and the at least one lumen of the catheter tube.

15. The method for proximally trimming as defined in claim 14, wherein sealing the interface further comprises:

compressing the interface between the at least one tube pin and the at least one lumen with a compression component included with the proximal hub portion.

16. A catheter, comprising:

an elongate catheter tube defining a plurality of lumens;

a hub including a distal hub portion and a proximal hub portion, the distal and proximal hub portions defining a conduit through which the catheter tube is received;

a plurality of extension tubes;

a plurality of tube pins included with the hub assembly, each tube pin being in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the extension tubes; and

an assembly tool removably included with the hub and including;

a first cutting member positioned to cut a proximal portion of the catheter tube along a length thereof as the hub is moved distally along the catheter tube such that a portion of each of the tube pins remains disposed within an uncut portion of a respective one of the lumens of the catheter tube and such that each extension tube is in fluid communication with at least one of the lumens of the catheter tube; and

at least one lever component for locking the distal and proximal hub portions together to prevent further movement of the hub along the catheter tube after the hub is positioned in a desired location.

17. The catheter as defined in claim 16, further comprising an annular compression element for fluidly sealing an interface between the plurality of tube pins and the lumens of the catheter tube, the compression element component including at least one invertable compression washer disposed about the catheter tube, wherein inversion of the at least one compression washer is at least partially actuated by actuation of the at least one lever component.

18. The catheter as defined in claim 17, wherein the at least one lever component includes two lever arms hingedly connected to the assembly tool, each lever arm including an engagement surface for engaging a portion of the proximal hub portion during locking with the distal hub portion.

19. The catheter as defined in claim 18, wherein the assembly tool includes a second cutting member for removing portions from the catheter tube already cut by the first cutting member, the first and second cutting members included in a cutting member housing that is removable from the assembly tool.

20. A method for proximally trimming a catheter after insertion thereof into a patient, the catheter including a catheter tube defining at least one lumen, the method comprising:

providing an assembly tool removably included with a hub, the assembly tool including a first cutting member and a second cutting member;

longitudinally cutting a proximal portion of the catheter tube during advancement of the hub distally along the catheter tube such that a portion of a tube pin of the hub for providing fluid access to the at least one lumen remains within the at least one lumen during advancement of the hub;

removing the assembly tool from the hub; and

sealing an interface between the tube pin and the at least one lumen of the catheter tube.