Auto-inflating catheter cuff

Abstract

A perfusion catheter for use in open heart surgery having an inflatable cuff adjacent the distal end in communication with the lumen of the catheter to self-inflate when perfusion liquid is introduced into the lumen. A plug in the lumen within the cuff causes lumen flow to by-pass from the proximal end of the cuff to the distal end of the cuff through transverse parts in the lumen. A flow restriction at the distal end of the lumen causes pressure build-up to inflate the cuff. A pressure monitoring lumen splices to the catheter tube to parallel the tube down to the distal end where it is in communication with the end of the catheter and also with the distal end of the cuff to register cuff pressure. An introducer shaft is provided to be inserted into the lumen to abut the plug to stiffen the catheter, thus facilitating insertion, and a stiffener spine at the cuff area of the catheter also provides rigidity to compensate for the weakening of the lumen resulting from the transverse ports. A cross-port between the pressure monitoring lumen and the main lumen distally of the cuff will register lumen pressure if both the main lumen and the monitoring lumen become occluded at the distal end of the catheter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.