Apparatuses, Systems, and Methods for Inserting Catheters Having Enhanced Stiffening and Guiding Features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016008573-A1
Application number	US-201514799547-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2015
Priority date	Jul 14, 2014
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for introducing a catheter into a patient's body. In one embodiment, a catheter apparatus includes a catheter body having a first lumen capable of fluid communication via a first distal opening and a second lumen capable of fluid communication via a second distal opening, a first intra-catheter stiffener element for disposition through the first lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the first distal opening, and a second intra-catheter stiffener element configured for disposition through the second lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the second distal opening, one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end capable of receiving and accommodating the other of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A catheter apparatus, comprising:
a catheter body comprising a first lumen capable of fluid communication via a first distal opening and a second lumen capable of fluid communication via a second distal opening; a first intra-catheter stiffener element configured for disposition through the first lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the first distal opening, the first intra-catheter stiffener element comprising at least one of a guide-wire and a stylet; and a second intra-catheter stiffener element configured for disposition through the second lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the second distal opening, the second intra-catheter stiffener element comprising a guide-wire, one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end capable of receiving and accommodating the other of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element and the second intra-catheter stiffener element comprises at least one of an eye portion and a looped portion disposed at the distal end thereof capable of receiving and facilitating disposition therethrough of the distal end of the other of the first intra-catheter stiffener element and the second intra-catheter stiffener element.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the catheter body comprises a septum for separating the first lumen and the second lumen from one another, the septum having a distal end extending beyond at least one of the first distal opening and the second distal opening for at least minimizing backflow into at least one of the first lumen and the second lumen.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element and the second intra-catheter stiffener element comprises a cover portion at the distal end thereof, the cover portion capable of deployment and retraction in relation to one of the first lumen and the second lumen, and the cover portion cooperatively engageable with the septum distal end for at least minimizing backflow into the one of the first lumen and the second lumen.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cover portion is deployable and retractable via at least one technique of a rotation and a translation in relation to a longitudinal axis thereof.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the stylet comprises at least one of a monolithic configuration and a tapered configuration.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first intra-catheter stiffener element comprises a first length, and wherein the second intra-catheter stiffener element comprises a second length, the second length less than the first length.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first intra-catheter stiffener element includes a first coupler at a proximal end thereof, and wherein the second intra-catheter stiffener element includes a second coupler at a proximal end thereof.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first coupler of the first intra-catheter stiffener element mates with the first coupler at a first proximal opening of the catheter body, and wherein the second coupler of the second intra-catheter stiffener element mates with the second coupler at a second proximal opening of the catheter body.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the first intra-catheter stiffener element is distal in relation to the distal end of the second intra-catheter stiffener element when the first coupler and second coupler are coupled to the catheter body.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first intra-catheter stiffener element comprises an exterior cross-sectional shape complementing an interior cross-sectional shape of the first lumen, and wherein the second intra-catheter stiffener element comprises an exterior cross-sectional shape complementing an interior cross-sectional shape of the second lumen.

12 . A method of fabricating a catheter apparatus, comprising:
obtaining a catheter comprising a first lumen capable of fluid communication via a first distal opening and a second lumen capable of fluid communication via a second distal opening; obtaining a first intra-catheter stiffener element configured for disposition through the first lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the first distal opening; and obtaining a second intra-catheter stiffener element configured for disposition through the second lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the second distal opening, wherein one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end is capable of receiving and accommodating the other of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element and the second intra-catheter stiffener element are provided with at least one of an eye portion and a looped portion disposed at the distal end thereof capable of receiving and facilitating disposition therethrough of the distal end of the other of the first intra-catheter stiffener element and the second intra-catheter stiffener element.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the catheter body is provided with a septum for separating the first lumen and the second lumen from one another, the septum extending a distal end thereof beyond at least one of the first distal opening and the second distal opening.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element and the second intra-catheter stiffener element is provided with a cover portion at the distal end thereof, the cover portion capable of deployment and retraction in relation to one of the first lumen and the second lumen, and the cover portion cooperatively engageable with the septum distal end for minimizing backflow into the one of the first lumen and the second lumen.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the cover portion is deployable and retractable via rotation and a translation in relation to a longitudinal axis thereof.

17 . A method of inserting a catheter into a blood vessel by way of a catheter apparatus, comprising:
obtaining the catheter apparatus, the catheter apparatus comprising:
a catheter comprising a first lumen capable of fluid communication via a first distal opening and a second lumen capable of fluid communication via a second distal opening;
a first intra-catheter stiffener element configured for disposition through the first lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the first distal opening; and
a second intra-catheter stiffener element configured for disposition through the second lumen such that a distal end thereof is distal in relation to the second distal opening,
wherein one of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end is capable of receiving and accommodating the other of the first intra-catheter stiffener element distal end and the second intra-catheter stiffener element distal end;
creating a first entry into a patient; deforming a portion of the first intra-catheter stiffener element; disposing the second intra-catheter stiffener element in at least one lumen of the first intra-catheter stiffener element; disposing a distal end of the catheter through the firs

Assignees

• Bard Inc C R

Inventors

• Loesener German
• Prechtel Ericka J

Classifications

• A61M1/3661

  for haemodialysis · CPC title

• A61M25/0012

  with embedded structures, e.g. coils, braids, meshes, strands or radiopaque coils · CPC title

• A61M25/09

  Guide wires · CPC title

• A61M25/0102 Primary

  Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod · CPC title

• A61M2025/0031

  characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment · CPC title