Occlusion resistant medical catheter with flexible core

A medical catheter comprising:

• (a) a flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area;
• (b) a flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway having a cross-sectional area, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway, the flexible core being permanently attached to the inner wall of the flexible tube.

A medical catheter comprising:

• (a) a flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area;
• (b) a flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway having a cross-sectional area, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway, the flexible core comprising a wire bundle.

A method of assembly of a medical catheter comprising placing a flexible core within a flexible tube, the flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area, the flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core comprising a heavy metal and polyurethane and having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and the flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway, the flexible core having at least one end that is free to move within the lumen, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway.

A method of removing fluid from a target site of a patient comprising:

• (a) implanting into a patient a catheter, the catheter having a flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall and defining at least one opening at a target site within a patient, the at least one opening providing fluid transfer from outside the outer wall to inside the inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area, a flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway having a cross-sectional area, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway;
• and
• (b) drawing fluid away from the target site of the patient.

A method of making an occlusion resistant medical catheter, comprising:

• (a) co-extruding polyurethane over a heavy metal loaded polyurethane to comprise the flexible core;
• and
• (b) placing a flexible core within a flexible tube, the flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area, the flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and the flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway.

A method of assembly of a medical catheter comprising placing a flexible core within a flexible tube, the flexible tube having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall defining a lumen, the lumen extending longitudinally along the flexible tube and having a cross-sectional area, the flexible core within the lumen, substantially extending longitudinally along the flexible tube, wherein the flexible core contains up to about 95% by weight of a heavy metal, the flexible core having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the lumen at any given longitudinal point along the flexible tube and the flexible core, the flexible tube and the flexible core defining a passageway, and which in combination provides structure resistant to occlusion of the passageway.