Electrically conductive pathway in a closed-ended catheter

• US 9,700,224 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Stats, Jason R., Ofek, Gidon
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S
• Application Number:
  US14/657,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20150182168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0215 Silver or silver chloride containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0217 Electrolyte containing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/283 Invasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6852 Catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/06 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. lubricating compositions
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/146 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes

Abstract

A closed-ended catheter assembly that includes an electrically conductive pathway is disclosed. The conductive pathway enables electrical ECG signals from a patient'"'"'s heart to pass through the closed-ended tip of the indwelling catheter while still preventing unintended fluid flow. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly is disclosed and comprises an elongate catheter tube including a closed distal end. The catheter tube defines a lumen and includes a valve defined in the catheter tube to selectively enable fluids to pass therethrough. The catheter tube includes a conductive element that provides an electrically conductive pathway between the lumen and an exterior portion of the catheter. The conductive element includes an electrically conductive sleeve disposed within the lumen and is positioned proximate a hole defined in a catheter tube wall. The hole enables fluids in a vessel of the patient body in which the catheter tube is disposed to contact the sleeve.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly for placement in a body of a patient, comprising:

an elongate catheter tube including a closed distal end, the catheter tube defining at least one lumen;

a valve defined in the catheter tube configured to selectively enable fluids to pass therethrough; and

a conductive element that provides an electrically conductive pathway between the at least one lumen and an exterior portion of the catheter tube, the conductive element including;

an electrically conductive wire structure, including a first portion disposed within the at least one lumen of the catheter tube and a second portion extending to at least an outer surface of the catheter tube so as to enable the second portion to be in contact with fluids in a vessel of the body of the patient in which the catheter tube is disposed.

2. The catheter assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first portion is substantially U-shaped.

3. The catheter assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the second portion is disposed at substantially a right angle with respect to the first portion.

4. The catheter assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first portion is substantially linear.

5. The catheter assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the second portion is interposed between a distal end of the catheter tube and a distal plug disposed in the distal end of the catheter tube.

6. The catheter assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the second portion is circular.

7. The catheter assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the second portion is semi-circular.