Fluid bypass device for valved catheters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9895524-B2
Application number	US-201313941745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2013
Priority date	Jul 13, 2012
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

Bypass elements for medical valves and methods of using the same are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention include an insert having a tip that is adapted to displace a valve element without penetrating it, and a lumen that fluidly communicates with a lumen of a valve housing distal to the valve element when the bypass element is engaged. Bypass elements are used, in certain embodiments, to facilitate fluid pressure and ECG signal measurements through implanted medical devices including catheters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of measuring a physical characteristic in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
placing a catheter with a valve housing within the patient, the valve housing comprising a membrane having at least one slit therethrough;
placing an insert within the valve housing, the insert comprising:
a proximal shaft, a distal shaft with a distal tip, a lumen extending therebetween, and a sealing member disposed on an external surface of the insert at a junction of the proximal shaft and the distal shaft, the sealing member preventing leakage into or out of the insert, the proximal shaft and distal shaft configured to rotate independently of one another within the valve housing;
the distal tip configured to contact the membrane and open, but not penetrate, the at least one slit, thereby placing the insert lumen in fluid communication with a lumen of the valve housing;

attaching a pressure measurement apparatus to a connector on the proximal shaft; and
measuring the physical characteristic through a fluid within the lumen of the valve housing and the insert lumen.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a pressure wave, acoustic wave and ECG wave.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a position of a distal tip of the catheter relative to the membrane based on a measured fluid pressure.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of repositioning the distal tip of the catheter relative to the membrane.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the distal tip of the catheter is repositioned to obtain an improved measurement of the physical characteristic.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the step of repositioning the distal tip of the catheter.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a position of a distal tip of the catheter relative to the membrane based on a measured ECG wave.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is a pressure activated valve.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slit is configured to open in response to a fluid pressure in excess of a predetermined threshold.

10. A method of measuring a physical characteristic of a patient, comprising the steps of:
placing a medical device within a patient, the medical device comprising an insert disposed within a housing;
the housing comprising a valve having at least one slit therethrough;
the insert comprising:
a proximal shaft,
a distal shaft with a distal tip,
a lumen extending therebetween, and
a sealing member disposed on an external surface of the insert at a junction of the proximal shaft and the distal shaft, the sealing member preventing leakage into or out of the insert,
the proximal shaft and distal shaft configured to rotate independently of one another within the housing;
the distal tip configured to contact the valve and open, but not penetrate, the at least one slit, thereby placing the insert lumen in fluid communication with a lumen of the housing,

attaching a pressure measurement apparatus to the proximal shaft; and
measuring the physical characteristic through a fluid within the lumen of the valve housing and the insert lumen.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the valve is a pressure activated valve.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one slit is configured to open in response to a fluid pressure in excess of a predetermined threshold.

Assignees

• Angiodynamics Inc

Inventors

• Lareau Raymond J

Classifications

• A61M39/26

  Valves closing automatically on disconnecting the line and opening on reconnection thereof {(check valves A61M39/24)} · CPC title

• A61B5/0215

  by means inserted into the body · CPC title

• A61M2039/1072

  with a septum present in the connector · CPC title

• A61B5/0245

  by using sensing means generating electric signals, {i.e. ECG signals} · CPC title

• A61M39/045

  pre-slit to be pierced by blunt instrument · CPC title