Reinforced multiple lumen catheter

The dual-lumen catheter of claim i wherein said reinforcing member is made of nylon.

A dual-lumen catheter comprising:

• an elongated flexible cylindrical tube made of a uniformly soft material which is compatible with the human body, said tube having an internal planar septum extending along the length thereof to form a pair of longitudinal lumens having distal openings which are offset from each other in the axial direction, said septum comprising a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal webs formed as integral parts of said tube, and a reinforcing member comprising a flat strip of stiff material located longitudinally between said webs and bonded thereto so that said reinforcing member is completely enclosed by said webs of soft compatible material and is isolated from body fluids passing through said lumens, said reinforcing member extending along the length of said tube and being made of a material which is substantially stiffer than the material of said tube so that the catheter can be advanced longitudinally against a resistance by the application of force proximally of the resistance and so that said lumens will not collapse by deflection of said septum when a pressure differential exists across said septum.

A method of introducing a dual-lumen catheter into a femoral vein of a patient for long-term use, said method comprising the steps of

• making a subcutaneous tunnel on the abdomen of the patient, beginning above the inguinal ligament and extending downwardly to a point on the thigh that is proximate the femoral vein,
• passing a dual-lumen catheter downwardly through said tunnel, and then bending the catheter and inserting it upwardly into said femoral vein, in the direction of blood flow within said vein,
• said catheter being bent in a generally U-shaped configuration between the lower end of the tunnel and the point of access to said femoral vein, said U-bend being reinforced by a spiral winding of reinforcing material.

A multiple-lumen catheter comprising:

• an elongated cylindrical silicone tube having an internal planar septum extending along the length thereof to form a pair of longitudinal lumens having distal openings which are offset from each other in the axial direction.
• one of said distal openings being formed by at least one aperture in the side wall of said tube opening into one of said lumens, and
• a reinforcing solid-walled tube extending along the full length of, and embedded in the walls of, only one of said lumens for transmitting forces applied to the proximal end of said tube to said conical tip, and for preventing one of said lumens from collapsing when the pressure differential of a dialysis system exists across said septum.

A dual-lumen catheter comprising:

• an elongated cylindrical tube made of a uniformly soft, elastic material and having an internal planar septum extending along the length thereof to form a pair of longitudinal lumens having D-shaped cross sections and distal openings which are offset from each other in the axial direction, said septum comprising a flat strip of stiff material extending longitudinal through said septum, the distal end of said strip being connected to the distal end of said tube and having apertures therein, portions of said tube extending transversely through said apertures to interlock said strip and said tube, said reinforcing member extending along the length of said tube and being made of a material which is substantially stiffer than the material of said tube so that the catheter can be advanced longitudinally against a resistance by the application of force proximally of the resistance and so that said lumens will not collapse by deflection of said septum when the pressure differential of a dialysis system exists across said septum.

A dual-lumen catheter comprising:

• an elongated cylindrical tube made of a uniformly soft, elastic material which is compatible with the human body, said tube having an internal planar septum extending along the length thereof to form a pair of longitudinal lumens having distal openings which are offset from each other int he axial direction, and
• a diametral reinforcing strip extending along the length of said septum, said reinforcing strip being sufficiently stiffer than the material of said tube to prevent collapse of either of said lumens by a pressure differential across the reinforced septum, said reinforcing member being completely embedded within said soft compatible material of said tube and septum so that said stiff material of said reinforcing strip is not exposed to body fluids passing through said lumens.

A dual-lumen hemodialysis catheter comprising:

• an elongated cylindrical tube made of a uniformly soft, elastic material which is compatible with the human body, said tue having an internal planar septum extending along the length thereof to form a pair of longitudinal lumens having distal openings which are offset from each other in the axial direction, and
• a diametral reinforcing member extending along the length of said septum and made of a material which is substantially stiffer than the material of said tube, said reinforcing member being completely embedded within said soft compatible material of said tube and septum so that said stiff reinforcing material is not exposed to blood passing through said lumens.

A dual-lumen catheter comprising:

• an elongated flexible cylindrical tube made of a uniformly soft material which is compatible with the human body, said tube having an internal planar septum extending along the length thereof to form a pair of longitudinal lumens having distal openings which are offset from each other int he axial direction, said septum comprising a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal webs formed as integral parts of said tube, and a reinforcing member comprising a flat strip of stiff material located longitudinally between said webs and bonded thereto so that said reinforcing member is completely enclosed by said webs of soft compatible material and is isolated from body fluids passing through said lumens, said reinforcing member extending along the length of said tube and being made of a material which is substantially stiffer than the material of said tube.

A dual-lumen catheter comprising:

• an elongated cylindrical tube made of a uniformly soft, elastic material which is compatible with the human body, said tube having an internal planar septum extending along the length thereof to form a pair of longitudinal lumens having distal openings which are offset from each other in the axial direction, and
• a diametral reinforcing strip extending along the length of said septum, and made of a material which is substantially stiffer than the material of said tube, said reinforcing member being completely embedded within said soft compatible material of said tube and septum so that said stiff material of said reinforcing strip is not exposed to body fluids passing through said lumens.