Method and apparatus for locking of central-vein catheters
First Claim
1. A method of preserving the operative condition of an implanted vascular access catheter having inner and outer ends, between the uses of gaining access to the vascular system of a patient, the method of comprising:
- inserting an anticoagulant agent through the catheter outer end to drive any blood in the catheter back into the patient vascular system and to fill an inner portion of the catheter with the anticoagulant agent;
then inserting a seperating substance into the catheter to fill a central portion of the catheter; and
then inserting an antimicrobial agent into the catheter to fill an outer portion of the catheter, the preceding insertion steps being performed without discharging the agents or the substance from the inner end of the catheter, whereby the separating substance separates the anticoagulant agent from the antimicrobial agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A central-vein cathether is locked by anticoagulant and bactericidal solutions separated by an air bubble. The anticoagulant is injected first, then the air bubble, and then the bactericidal solution, so that the anticoagulant is located close to the catheter tip in contact with the blood and the bacterial solution is located close to the catheter hub, where bacteria contamination is common. The air bubble prevents mixing of the solutions. A multi-chamber syringe facilitates sequential injection of the anticoagulant, air and bactericidal agent with only one connection, decreasing chances of contamination. The syringe includes internal and external coaxial barrels separated by seals, the external barrel having a discharge opening located off center in the barrel bottom, and the internal barrel having two or three chambers, each with an outlet opening. The internal barrel is rotatable relative to the external barrel to consecutively align the outlet openings with the discharge opening, allowing sequential injection of the contents. The syringe may also be used for aspiration of the locking fluid from the catheter with only one connection.
182 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of preserving the operative condition of an implanted vascular access catheter having inner and outer ends, between the uses of gaining access to the vascular system of a patient, the method of comprising:
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inserting an anticoagulant agent through the catheter outer end to drive any blood in the catheter back into the patient vascular system and to fill an inner portion of the catheter with the anticoagulant agent;
then inserting a seperating substance into the catheter to fill a central portion of the catheter; and
then inserting an antimicrobial agent into the catheter to fill an outer portion of the catheter, the preceding insertion steps being performed without discharging the agents or the substance from the inner end of the catheter, whereby the separating substance separates the anticoagulant agent from the antimicrobial agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of preserving the operative condition of an implanted vascular access catheter having inner and outer ends, between uses of gaining access to the vascular system of a patient, the method comprising:
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providing a syringe having plural separated chambers each having an outlet opening and a plunger and movable among injection conditions wherein the outlet openings respectively communicate with a discharge opening, filling the chambers respectively with plural locking fluids, connecting the discharge opening to the outer end of the catheter, and sequentially injecting the fluids from the chambers into the catheter without discharging the fluids from the inner end of the catheter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification