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AssigneeNew England Deaconess Hospital Corporation
InventorsRegina K. Stuart, Jeffrey A. Lowell, John K. Baxter, III, Bruce R. Bistrian, Scott Shikora
Estimating the term…
Disclosed are an apparatus and methods for initial, or replacement, central venous catherization using a flexible guidewire with markings thereon and a substantially translucent non-thrombogenic catheter. In operation, the guidewire is inserted along a catheter positioned in a vein. The marks on the guidewire are then used to establish, and maintain as constant, the position of the guidewire. Next, the catheter already in the vein is removed by sliding it over the guidewire, and a new catheter is slipped over the guidewire into position. Once the new catheter is positioned, the guidewire is removed.
A method for the placement of a catheter into a blood vessel comprising the steps of:
A method for the replacement of a first catheter having a first end residing within a blood vessel and a second end outside said blood vessel with a second catheter, said first catheter extending through an aperture in the skin of a patient, said first and second catheters each having a tubular portion defining at least one central lumen, said second catheter being formed of a translucent material, said catheters each including an internal channel, said channels having cross-sections sized such that said catheters are slidable over a guidewire, comprising the steps of:
A method for the placement of a catheter into a blood vessel comprising the steps of:
A method for the placement of a catheter into a blood vessel comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Catheters; Hollow probes: introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters
Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes: connecting a tube to a hub
Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters: guide wires
Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters: exchanging a catheter while keeping the guidewire in place
Term ended 23 Feb 2010 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates generally to catheterization systems, and, more particularly, relates to an apparatus and method for performing central venous catheter insertions and exchanges.
The nutritional and fluid balances of hospital patients can be maintained in part or totally using hyperalimentation (total parenteral nutrition) and parenteral fluid and electrolyte solutions. To implement these techniques, an open-ended catheter is positioned with its distal tip in a large vein of a patient's cardiovascular system. Once the tip is positioned in the target vein, the catheter is used to deliver a highly concentrated nutrient solution. The high volume of blood flowing through the vein rapidly dilutes the nutritional solution, thus decreasing the risk of pain, venous inflammation, or thrombosis. Typically, the catheter is positioned to pass through the subclavian or internal jugular vein into the superior vena cava. The same method may be used for delivery of various drugs which cannot be delivered through peripheral veins.
After extended use, catheters can become clogged, bent, suspected of infection, or otherwise inoperative and must be replaced. Following the prior technique of catheter replacement, a guidewire is inserted into the catheter-to-be-removed, the catheter withdrawn, and a replacement catheter slidingly advanced over the guidewire. Unfortunately, this technique of catheter replacement often results in an undesirable irritation of the heart. This irritation results from overinsertion, or overshoot, of the guidewire and/or replacement catheter close to or into the heart.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the invention including a catheter having a central lumen, and a guidewire;
FIG. 1A is a perspective view illustrating the same embodiment of FIG. 1 except multiple lumens instead of a single lumen is shown.
Like reference characters in the respective FIGS. indicate corresponding parts.
The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for the insertion and replacement of central venous catheters over a guidewire without causing cardiac arrhythmias. The apparatus includes two parts: a guidewire having markings thereon; and a translucent catheter. The markings on the guidewire are used to maintain the position of the guidewire substantially constant once inserted into a patient's cardiovascular system, and thus avoid over-insertion and related cardiac irritation. As used herein the terms "catheter replacement procedure" and "catheter exchange" are synonymous.
FIGS. 1 and 1A depict a central venous catheter system 10 including a flexible guidewire 12 and tubular catheter 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the guidewire 12 has a series of uniformly spaced markings 16 and a substantially J-shaped distal end 18. Of course, the distal end 18 can have any shape which permits guidewire movement without traumatization of the internal wall of the blood vessel. Guidewire 12 is manufactured of any flexible material which has sufficient stiffness to facilitate the insertion or exchange of catheters without becoming jammed. Typically, the guidewire 12 is manufactured from 0.035 inch diameter stainless steel or aluminum wire, or other similar materials. Preferably, the guidewire 12 is about sixty-five to seventy centimeters in length or between fifteen and twenty-five centimeters longer than the catheter 14. The guidewire 12 has markings 16, commencing about twelve to eighteen centimeters from the substantially J-shaped end 18, which are arranged in the form of a metric scale. Markings 16 contrast sufficiently with the color of the guidewire 12 so that they are visible through the catheter 14 during an insertion or exchange procedure.