Dialysis catheter

• US 20060129134A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Kerr
• Original Assignee: Andrew Kerr
• Inventors: Kerr, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/539
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3653 Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3661 for haemodialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0031 characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0014 Connecting a tube to a hub
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A catheter assembly includes catheter having proximal and distal ends and at least one lumen extending between the ends. At least one end of the catheter is formed from a material that can be trimmed to achieve a selected length for the catheter. A tubular connector is telescoped over the catheter and a hub is joined to the tubular connector. Proximal portions of the hub are configured for connection to a medical apparatus. A cuff is mounted around the tubular connector or the catheter. The cuff is formed from a material that will permit or promote the growth of scar tissue for anchoring the catheter device at least on a semi-permanent basis in a patient.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly for at least semi-permanent retention in a patient, said assembly comprising:

an elongate catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending between the ends; and

a fibrosing means selectively positionable around a portion of the catheter at a selected distance from the distal end for promoting a growth of scar tissue for anchoring the catheter assembly in the patient, at least one end of the catheter being trimmable for achieving a selected length between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter.

2. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the fibrosing means comprises a cuff mounted directly to the catheter.

3. The catheter assembly of claim 2, wherein the cuff is a split ring having opposite circumferential ends configured for locked engagement with one another to define a continuous ring around the catheter.

4. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the catheter is trimmable and wherein the assembly further includes a hub subassembly mounted to the proximal end of the catheter after trimming for communication with the at least one lumen therein, the hub subassembly including at least one clamp and at least one fitting for placing the catheter assembly in communication with a medical apparatus.

5. The catheter assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one lumen of the catheter comprises first and second lumens, and wherein the hub subassembly includes first and second cannula for insertion respectively into the lumens of the catheter.

6. The catheter assembly of claim 5, further comprising a fitting mounted over proximal portions of the catheter, the fitting and the hub subassembly being configured to cooperate with one another for securely connecting the fitting and the hub subassembly to one another and to the catheter.

7. The catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one lumen of the catheter comprises first and second lumens, the catheter assembly further comprising a hub subassembly mounted to the proximal end of the catheter, the hub subassembly including first and second cannulas communicating respectively with the first and second lumens of the catheter, the trimmable end of the catheter being the distal end and being configured for separating distal ends of the first and second lumens longitudinally from one another.

8. The catheter assembly of claim 1, further comprising a subcutaneous tube mounted over portions of the catheter assembly substantially adjacent the proximal end, the fibrosing means being disposed on the subcutaneous tube.

9. The catheter assembly of claim 8, further comprising a flexible clamp surrounding a portion of the subcutaneous tube for securing the subcutaneous tube to the catheter.

10. The catheter assembly of claim 8, further comprising a hub subassembly connectable to the subcutaneous tube, the hub subassembly including means for connecting the at least one lumen of the catheter to a medical apparatus.

11. The catheter assembly of claim 10, further comprising a compression nut mounted to the subcutaneous tube, the compression nut and the hub subassembly being configured for clamped engagement with the proximal end of the catheter.

12. A catheter assembly for at least semi-permanent retention in a patient, said assembly comprising:

an elongate catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending between the ends;

a subcutaneous tube having a proximal end for disposition externally of the patient, a distal end for subcutaneous disposition in the patient and a lumen extending between the ends, portions of the catheter substantially adjacent the proximal end of the catheter passing through the lumen of the subcutaneous tube;

means for affixing the subcutaneous tube axially relative to the catheter; and

a fibrosing means surrounding a portion of the catheter for promoting a growth scar tissue for anchoring the catheter assembly in the patient.

13. The catheter assembly of claim 12, wherein the means for affixing the tube axially relative to the catheter comprises a flexible clamp surrounding the subcutaneous tube and urging the subcutaneous tube into clamping engagement with the catheter.

14. The catheter assembly of claim 12, wherein the means for affixing the tube axially relative to the catheter comprises a compression nut subassembly for clamped engagement with the proximal end of the catheter.

15. The catheter assembly of claim 12, further comprising a hub subassembly for connecting the at least one lumen of the catheter to a medical apparatus, the hub subassembly and the subcutaneous tube being configured for snapped engagement with one another, at least one of the subcutaneous tube and the hub subassembly being configured for clamped engagement with the catheter in response to the snapped engagement of the subcutaneous tube and the hub subassembly.

16. A method for implanting a dialysis catheter in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a dialysis catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and first and second lumens extending between the ends, the first and second lumens being offset from one another at the distal end of the catheter in a longitudinal direction of the catheter;

inserting the distal end of the catheter to a targeted location in a blood vessel of a patient so that the proximal end of the catheter is disposed externally of the patient and so that an intermediate portion of the catheter passes through a subcutaneous tunnel spaced from the blood vessel;

mounting a fibrosing cuff around the catheter;

trimming portions of the catheter adjacent the proximal end to define a trimmed proximal end; and

affixing a hub to the trimmed proximal end.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of mounting a fibrosing cuff around the catheter comprises affixing the fibrosing cuff directly to the catheter.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of mounting the fibrosing cuff around the catheter comprises providing a subcutaneous tube having the fibrosing cuff disposed thereon and sliding the subcutaneous tube over the proximal end of the catheter and into the subcutaneous tunnel prior to trimming the proximal end of the catheter.