US 2006/0149191 A1 · Cardiovascular access catheter with slit valve

Abstract

Two-way, three-position and one-way, two-position slit valves in cardiovascular access catheters with closed distal ends have slit geometries configured to overcome adhesion between opposed abutting slit faces, when pressure differentials are applied between the interior and the exterior of the catheter. Portions of the slit are oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter causing shear forces to be generated in abutting slit faces. Shear forces arise from tangential, radial, or longitudinal stresses generated in the catheter body. Slit geometries are planar or curved or include multiple end-to-end connected slit subsections. If a slit partially circumscribes a portion of the adjacent outer wall of the catheter body, restraint to outward and inward movement on that portion is reduced. Slit valves are configured to open inwardly to aspirate fluids, to open outwardly to infuse fluids, or both.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A cardiovascular access catheter comprising:

(a) an elongated catheter body enclosing a longitudinally disposed fluid flow lumen and having a closed distal end, said catheter body having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a cylindrical outer wall therebetween of uniform thickness, said catheter body being comprised of a polyurethane material;
and
(b) a planar slit formed through said catheter body from said outer surface to said inner surface thereof and contained in a slit orientation plane, said slit orientation plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of said catheter body at a single point, and said slit orientation plane containing a single diameter of said catheter body intersecting said longitudinal axis at said single point, said slit being so disposed about said longitudinal axis of said catheter body in said slit orientation plane as to be traversed by said single diameter of said catheter body.

A cardiovascular access catheter comprising:

(a) an elongated catheter body enclosing a longitudinally disposed fluid flow lumen, said catheter body having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a cylindrical outer wall therebetween of uniform thickness, and having a closed distal end, said catheter body being comprised of a polymeric elastomer material;
and
(b) a two-way, three-position valve operatively associated with said catheter body, said valve comprising a planar slit formed through said catheter body from said outer surface to said inner surface thereof and contained in a slit orientation plane, said slit orientation plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of said catheter body and containing a single diameter of said catheter body, said slit being so disposed about said longitudinal axis of said catheter body in said slit orientation plane as to be traversed by said single diameter of said catheter body,
(i) said slit extending between a proximal slit endpoint and a distal slit endpoint so located on said outer surface of said catheter body as to avoid defining therebetween on said outer surface a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of said catheter body, and
(ii) said proximal slit endpoint and said distal slit endpoint being so located on said outer surface of said catheter body as to avoid defining therebetween on said outer surface an arc in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said catheter body.

2 more elements

A valved intravenous catheter comprising:

(a) a flexible elongated catheter body having a closed distal end and enclosing a longitudinally disposed fluid flow lumen, said lumen being encircled by a cylindrical outer wall of uniform thickness having an outer surface and an inner surface defining said lumen, said catheter body being comprised of a polyurethane material;
and
(b) a two-way, three-position valve operatively associated with said catheter body, said valve comprising:
(i) a planar slit formed through said outer wall of said catheter body proximate said distal end thereof;
(ii) a first valve wall integrally formed with said outer wall of said catheter body, said first valve wall terminating in a first slit face extending from said outer surface to said inner surface of said outer wall between a proximal slit end line and a distal slit end line, said proximal slit end line extending between an outer proximal endpoint on said outer surface of said catheter body and an inner proximal endpoint on said inner surface of said catheter body, and said distal slit end line extending between an outer distal endpoint on said outer surface and an inner distal endpoint on said inner surface;
and
(iii) a second valve wall integrally formed with said outer wall of said catheter body adjacent said first valve wall on the opposite side of said slit from said first valve wall,
(A) said second valve wall terminating in a second slit face opposed to and congruent with said first slit face, said second slit face extending from said outer surface to said inner surface of said outer wall between said proximal slit end line and said distal slit end line,
(B) in the closed position of said valve said first slit face engaging said second slit face in sealing abutment along a slit orientation plane disposed at an acute axial deviation angle to the longitudinal axis of said catheter body, said slit orientation plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of said catheter body at a single point, and said slit orientation plane containing a single diameter of said catheter body intersecting said longitudinal axis at said single point, said first slit face and said second slit face being so disposed about said longitudinal axis of said catheter body in said slit orientation plane as to be traversed by said single diameter of said catheter body, whereby positive and negative pressure differentials created in said lumen relative to the exterior of said catheter body produce a first shear force component in said first valve wall at said first slit face and an oppositely directed second shear force component in said second valve wall at said second slit face, said first shear force component and said second shear force component urging said first slit face and said second slit face out of said sealing abutment therebetween into oppositely directed translational motion along said slit orientation plane, thereby to facilitate disruption of molecular adhesion between said polyurethane material at said first slit face and said polyurethane material at said second slit face and to enable said first valve wall and said second valve wall to open outwardly in response to said positive pressure differentials and inwardly in response to said negative pressure differentials.

6 more elements

A cardiovascular access catheter comprising:

(a) an elongated catheter body enclosing a longitudinally disposed fluid flow lumen, said catheter body having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a closed distal end, said catheter body being comprised of a polymeric elastomer material;
and
(b) a two-way, three-position valve operatively associated with said catheter body, said valve comprising a pressure differential sensitized active valve wall member integrally formed with said catheter body, said active valve wall member being partially circumscribed by a slit formed through said catheter body from said outer surface to said inner surface thereof, said slit extending between a proximal slit endpoint and a distal slit endpoint so located on said outer surface of said catheter body as to define therebetween a line parallel the longitudinal axis of said catheter body, said slit reducing the restraint to outward and inward movement of said active valve wall member imposed by adjacent portions of said catheter body, whereby said active valve wall member is facilitated in moving outwardly opening said valve in response to a positive pressure differential created between said lumen and the exterior of said catheter body, and said active valve wall member is facilitated in moving inwardly opening said valve in response to a negative pressure differential created between said lumen and the exterior of said catheter body.

A cardiovascular access catheter comprising:

(a) an elongated catheter body enclosing a longitudinally disposed fluid flow lumen, said catheter body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, and a closed distal end, said catheter body being comprised of a polyurethane material;
and
(b) a one-way, two-position infusion valve operatively associated with said catheter body, said valve comprising:
(i) a planar proximal infusion slit formed through said catheter body from said outer surface to said inner surface thereof,
(A) said proximal infusion slit extending between a first proximal infusion endpoint and a second proximal infusion endpoint disposed on a circumferential proximal infusion arc on said outer surface of said catheter body, and
(B) said proximal infusion slit being contained in a proximal infusion slit orientation plane, said proximal infusion slit orientation plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of said catheter body at a single point and containing a single diameter of said catheter body, said proximal infusion slit being so disposed about said longitudinal axis of said catheter body in said proximal infusion slit orientation plane as to be traversed by a line in said proximal infusion slit orientation plane perpendicular to said single diameter of said catheter body;
and
(ii) a planar distal infusion slit formed through said catheter body from said outer surface to said inner surface thereof distal from and proximate to said proximal infusion slit,
(A) said distal infusion slit extending between a first distal infusion endpoint and a second distal infusion endpoint disposed on a circumferential distal infusion arc on said outer surface of said catheter body distal from said circumferential proximal infusion arc,
(B) said distal infusion slit being contained in a distal infusion slit orientation plane, said distal infusion slit orientation plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of said catheter body at a single point and containing a single diameter of said catheter body, said distal slit being so disposed about said longitudinal axis of said catheter body in said distal infusion slit orientation plane as to be traversed by a line in said distal infusion slit orientation plane perpendicular to said single diameter of said catheter body,
(C) said distal infusion slit orientation plane being disposed at a divergence angle to said proximal infusion slit orientation plane, whereby the longitudinal cross section of said catheter body between said proximal infusion slit and said distal infusion slit assumes a wedge-shaped trapezoidal configuration having the longer of the parallel sides of said trapezoidal configuration oriented toward the exterior of said catheter body.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cardiovascular access catheter with slit valve

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Cardiovascular access catheter with slit valve

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Abstract

Claims41