Tunneler with an expandable attachment mechanism
AssigneeC. R. Bard, Inc.
InventorsGuy Rome, William Barron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tissue tunneler including an expandable attachment mechanism for securing a catheter. In one variation, the tissue tunneler comprises an elongate tunneler with a protrusion extending from the proximal end of the tunneler. An expansion mechanism is provided on the protrusion for insertion into the catheter. An oversleeve slidably disposed over the elongated tunneler may be provided to engage the expansion mechanism and trap the catheter between the oversleeve and the expansion mechanism. In another variation, the expansion mechanism may comprise of an expandable O-ring configured to engage an inner surface within a catheter.
Claims42
A tunneler, comprising:
- an elongated body configured for tunneling through a tissue of a patient;
- and
- an expansion mechanism extending from a proximal end of the elongated body, the expansion mechanism being configured for insertion into a catheter to apply pressure on an inner wall of the catheter.
A method of attaching a catheter to a tunneler, comprising:
- inserting the proximal end of a tunneler into a lumen of a catheter;
- sliding an oversleeve disposed on the tunneler toward the proximal end thereof such that the oversleeve engages an expansion mechanism;
- and
- expanding the expansion mechanism by sliding the oversleeve over the catheter, thereby trapping a wall of the catheter between the expansion mechanism and an inner lumen surface of the oversleeve.
A device for tunneling comprising:
- an elongated body configured for tunneling through a tissue of a patient;
- and
- an elastomeric ring disposed over a proximal portion of the elongated body.
A method of attaching a catheter to a tunneler, comprising:
- inserting a proximal end of a tunneler into a lumen of a catheter;
- and
- expanding an expansion mechanism to engage an inner lumen surface of the catheter.
A tunneling device comprising:
- an elongated body configured for tunneling through a tissue;
- and
- means for expanding a proximal portion of the elongated body to engage a catheter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.