Fluid management catheter and methods of using same
AssigneeCodman & Shurtleff, Inc.
InventorsALAN J. DEXTRADEUR, DANIEL McCUSKER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A catheter and method for managing fluid in a patient, the catheter having an elongated shaft with a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft defines at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, with the drainage holes in fluid communication with the lumen. The catheter further has a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft with an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist insertion through tissue.
Claims21
A fluid management catheter, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft defining at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, the drainage holes being in fluid communication with the lumen;
- and
- a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft and having an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist insertion through tissue.
A fluid management catheter suitable for implantation into a ventricle in a brain of a patient, comprising:
- an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft defining at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, the drainage holes being in fluid communication with the lumen;
- and
- a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft and having an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist blunt dissection through tissue.
A method for managing fluid within a brain of a patient, comprising:
- selecting a catheter having an elongated shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft defining at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, the drainage holes being in fluid communication with the lumen, the catheter further having a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft with an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist insertion through tissue;
- inserting the catheter through tissue in the brain to enter a selected ventricle;
- and
- visualizing through the tip portion of the catheter while positioning the tip portion within the selected ventricle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.