US 2004/0111138 A1 · Valved connector assembly and sterility barriers for heat exchange catheters and other closed loop catheters

Abstract

A connector assembly for catheters having closed loop flow circuits, such as some balloon catheters and heat exchange catheters. The connector assembly comprises first and second connector bodies that may be connected and disconnected from one another. When the connector bodies are disconnected, a syringe or negative pressure source may be attached to withdraw residual fluid from the catheter's closed loop circuit and to deflate any expandable portion of the closed loop circuit (e.g., balloon or expandable heat exchanger). A one way flow valve prevents make up air or other fluid from entering the catheter while the negative pressure is being applied. Also disclosed are sterility barrier assemblies for all types of catheters. Such sterility barrier assemblies are operative to prevent contamination of the portion of a catheter that remains outside of a patient's body so that the catheter may subsequently be further advanced into the patient's body without introducing microbes or other contaminants into the patient's body.

Claims53

Dependent claims

A closed loop catheter device comprising:

an elongate, flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a closed loop fluid flow circuit comprising a first lumen through which a fluid may flow into the catheter body and a second lumen through which fluid that has entered the catheter body through the first lumen may subsequently flow out of the catheter body;
a connector on the proximal end of the catheter body, said connector being having an inflow lumen which is connectable to and disconnectable from an inflow fluid source and an outflow lumen which is connectable and disconnectable from an outflow fluid receiver into which fluid may flow out of the first lumen;
and,
a valving apparatus which prevents fluid from entering one of the first and second lumens when the connector is disconnected from at least the inflow source, such that fluid may then be evacuated from the closed loop circuit through the other of the first and second lumens without concurrent entry of make-up air or other fluid into the closed loop circuit.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Valved connector assembly and sterility barriers for heat exchange catheters and other closed loop catheters

Life of this patent

Valved connector assembly and sterility barriers for heat exchange catheters and other closed loop catheters

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims53