Apparatus and method for securing a catheter within an anatomy
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorRoger Massengale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for securing a catheter within a target area of the anatomy are disclosed. The catheter includes a passage or opening through which a suture filament may be routed. The suture filament can be secured relative to anatomical tissue to retain the catheter within a desired region. After the catheter has been used to complete the desired medical procedure, the suture filament may be released, permitting the catheter to be easily withdrawn from the anatomy. The catheter may include a biodegradable tip, which when absorbed by the body would enable the catheter to be removed. Biodegradable suture filaments and other components may also be used to facilitate the release of the catheter from the anatomy.
Claims15
A catheter for placement in an anatomical region, comprising:
- an elongated catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said catheter body defining a lumen extending along said longitudinal axis;
- and
- a passage located within said distal end portion of said catheter body, said passage extending across said catheter body such that said passage has a directional component generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
- wherein said passage is isolated from said lumen and is configured to accept a filament for securing said catheter to a portion of the anatomical region.
A catheter for placement in an anatomical region, comprising:
- an elongated catheter body defining a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said catheter body defining a first lumen extending along said longitudinal axis and configured to deliver a fluid between said proximal and distal end portions;
- and
- a second lumen isolated from said first lumen and situated within a portion of said catheter body, said second lumen having a distal opening located near said distal end portion of said catheter body and a proximal opening spaced proximally along said longitudinal axis from said distal opening;
- wherein said second lumen is configured to accept a filament for securing said catheter to a portion of said anatomical region, and wherein said portion of said catheter body containing said second lumen has a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.
A catheter for placement in an anatomical region, comprising:
- an elongated body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;
- and
- a tip member releasably secured to the distal end portion of said elongated body;
- wherein said tip member includes a passage configured to accept a filament for securing the catheter within the anatomical region.
A method of removing a catheter from an anatomical region, comprising applying a force to a filament that secures the catheter within the anatomical region to cause the filament to pass from a lumen of the catheter, through a slit in a wall of the catheter, to outside of the catheter to permit removal of the catheter from the anatomical region.
A method of removing a catheter, which includes a catheter body and a biodegradable tip secured to the catheter body, from an anatomical region, said method comprising:
- waiting a sufficient period of time after the catheter has been placed within the anatomical region for the biodegradable tip, which is secured within the anatomical region, to degrade to a sufficient degree such that the catheter body can be separated from the biodegradable tip;
- and
- applying a force to the catheter body to separate the catheter body from the biodegradable tip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.