Catheter with adjustable flow rate

• US 6,645,183 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Infusion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advanced Infusion Corporation
• Inventors: Fix, Steven J., Christensen, James M., Krug, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kennedy, Sharon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C.
• Application Number:
  US10/046,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 604/244, 604/246, 604/264, 604/272-274, 604/534, 604/535, 604/538, 604/158, 604/164.01, 604/93.01, 604/161, 604/164.06, 604/164.07, 604/164.11, 604/412, 604/523
• US Class Current: 604/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0042 Microcatheters, cannula or the like having outside diameters around 1 mm or less
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0089 Single injection needle protruding axially, i.e. along the longitudinal axis of the catheter, from the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0091 the single injection needle being fixed
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate

Abstract

A micro-bore catheter for use with an infusion pump wherein the micro-bore lumen of the catheter acts as an adjustable flow restricting element. The flow rate through the catheter can be increased proportionally by trimming the length of the catheter. One end of the catheter is attached to a needle for insertion of the catheter into the elastomeric septum of a drug infusion pump.

Claims

1. A catheter for the continuous infusion of a liquid medication from a drug delivery device into a patient comprising:

a micro-bore tubing having a uniform internal diameter of from about 0.001″

to about 0.010″

, the micro-bore tubing having a first and a second end and a length from about 24 inches to about 48 inches,

a needle attached to an outside surface of the micro-bore tubing at the first end of the micro-bore tubing, the needle being insertable through a puncturable wall of the drug delivery device,

the micro-bore tubing being severable at a selected point between the first end and the second end in order to change the flow rate of the liquid medication passing there through to a predetermined greater flow rate,

the internal diameter and the length of the micro-bore tubing, in combination, being chosen such that the micro-bore tubing, once severed provides the predetermined flow rate through the catheter when the drug delivery device is operated at a predetermined delivery pressure.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the internal diameter of the micro-bore tubing is from about 0.0037″

to about 0.0078″

.