Implantable valve assembly with extended lifespan

An implantable valve assembly having an extended operational lifespan, comprising:

• a drainage catheter having a proximal end and an opposite distal end terminating in a distal tip;
• the drainage catheter comprising a single central lumen disposed proximate the proximal end and having a single central passageway defined longitudinally therethrough;
• between the proximal and distal ends of the drainage catheter, the single central lumen transitions at an interface into a plurality of distinct branch lumen made of a shape memory material, each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen having associated therewith a single branch passageway defined longitudinally therethrough;
• the single branch passageway of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen being in fluid communication with the single central passageway of the single central lumen;
• a dip coating of bioabsorbable material covering an outer surface of the distal end of the drainage catheter, the dip coating securing the plural distinct branch lumen in direct physical contact with one another from the distal end of the drainage catheter to the interface with the single central lumen;
• wherein each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen has an outer perimeter comprising at least one of a first outer surface section and a second outer surface section;
• together the first and second outer surface sections of a particular distinct branch lumen of the plurality of distinct branch lumen comprise an entire outer radial perimeter;
• while in a secured state with the plurality of distinct branch lumen held together by the dip coating:
• (i) the first outer surface section of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen is in direct physical contact with the first outer surface section of at least one other branch lumen in a longitudinal direction from the interface to the distal end of the catheter, and (ii) the second outer surface section of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen is not in physical contact with either the first or second outer surface sections of any other branch lumen;
• wherein each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen has a plurality of holes defined radially outward therethrough in the first and the second outer surface sections, while in the secured state with the plurality of distinct branch lumen held together by the dip coating a fluid is prohibited from passing through the plurality of holes defined in the first outer surface sections of any of the plurality of distinct branch lumen;
• and
• at least one blocking member made of a bioabsorbable material masking the holes disposed at approximately the same axial distance from the distal end of the drainage catheter in the second outer surface sections of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen prohibiting any fluid entering therein;
• wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of non-overlapping blocking members sequentially arranged one-after-the other and separated from one another in an axial direction about a perimeter of the drainage catheter;
• each of the plurality of blocking members is a ring disposed about the outer perimeter of the drainage catheter;
• and each of the plurality of blocking members is made of a bioabsorbable material selected with a formulation and/or dimension to completely absorb at different sequentially staggered time periods such that:
• a first blocking member of the plurality of blocking members is disposed closest to the distal end of the drainage catheter has a shortest life span prior to completely absorbing;
• advancing in an axial direction away from the distal end of the drainage catheter, each successive blocking member of the plurality of blocking members has a longer life span prior to completely absorbing than a preceding blocking member of the plurality of blocking members positioned closer to the distal end of the drainage catheter;
• and, a last blocking member of the plurality of blocking members positioned farthest from the distal end of the drainage catheter has a longest life span prior to completely absorbing than any preceding blocking member of the plurality of blocking members positioned closer to the distal end of the drainage catheter.

A method for using an implantable valve assembly having an extended operational lifespan, wherein the implantable valve assembly includes a drainage catheter having a proximal end and an opposite distal end;

• the drainage catheter having a single central lumen disposed proximate the proximal end and having a single central passageway defined longitudinally therethrough;
• between the proximal and distal ends of the drainage catheter, the single central lumen transitions at an interface into a plurality of distinct branch lumen made of a shape memory material;
• each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen having associated therewith a single branch passageway defined longitudinally therethrough;
• the single branch passageway of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen being in fluid communication with the single central passageway of the single central lumen;
• a dip coating of bioabsorbable material is covering an outer surface of the distal end of the drainage catheter;
• wherein each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen has an outer perimeter comprising at least one of a first outer surface section and a second outer surface section;
• together the first and second outer surface sections of a particular distinct branch lumen of the plurality of distinct branch lumen comprise an entire outer radial perimeter;
• and wherein each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen has a plurality of holes defined radially outward therethrough in the first and the second outer surface sections, the method comprising the steps of:
• during implantation, advancing the drainage catheter to a target site while the plurality of distinct branch lumen are secured in direct physical contact with one another from the distal end of the drainage catheter to the interface of the single central lumen via the dip coating;
• while in a secured state with the plurality of distinct branch lumen held together by the dip coating:
• (i) the first outer surface section of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen is in direct physical contact with the first outer surface section of at least one other branch lumen in a longitudinal direction from the interface with the single central lumen to the distal end of the catheter prohibiting fluid from entering holes defined in the first outer surface sections of any of the plurality of distinct branch lumen;
• and (ii) the second outer surface section of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen is not in physical contact with either the first or second outer surface sections of any other branch lumen;
• wherein the dip coating covers the second outer surface section of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen, without covering the first outer surface section of each of the plurality of distinct branch lumen.

An implantable valve assembly having an extended operational lifespan, comprising:

• a drainage catheter having a proximal end and an opposite distal end terminating in a distal tip;
• the drainage catheter comprising a single central lumen disposed proximate the proximal end and having a single central passageway defined longitudinally therethrough;
• between the proximal and distal ends of the drainage catheter, the single central lumen transitions at an interface into three distinct branch lumen including a first branch lumen, a second branch lumen and a third branch lumen, each of the three distinct branch lumen made of a shape memory material;
• each of the three distinct branch lumen having associated therewith a single branch passageway defined longitudinally therethrough;
• the single branch passageway of each of the three distinct branch lumen being in fluid communication with the single central passageway of the single central lumen;
• the single branch passageway of the third branch lumen is coaxial with the single central passageway of the single central lumen;
• and the third branch lumen is radially enclosed by the first and second branch lumen;
• a dip coating of bioabsorbable material covering an outer surface of the distal end of the drainage catheter;
• the dip coating securing of the three distinct branch lumen in direct physical contact with one another from the distal end of the drainage catheter to the interface with the single central lumen;
• and
• wherein each of the first and second branch lumen has an outer perimeter comprising a first outer surface section and a second outer surface section;
• the third branch lumen has an outer perimeter comprising only a first outer surface section;
• while in a secured state with the three distinct branch lumen held together by the dip coating:
• (i) the first outer surface section of each of the first and second branch lumen is in direct physical contact with the first outer surface section of the third branch lumen in a longitudinal direction from the interface to the distal end of the catheter;
• and (ii) the second outer surface section of each of the first and second branch lumen is not in physical contact;
• wherein each of the three distinct branch lumen has a plurality of holes defined radially outward therethrough in the first outer surface sections;
• while in the secured state with the three distinct branch lumen held together by the dip coating a fluid is prohibited from passing through the plurality of holes defined in the first outer surface sections of any of the three distinct branch lumen.