Balloon catheter lock adaptor for use with a resterilization system
AssigneeMinntech Corporation
InventorJames L. Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adaptor for coupling rapid exchange-type catheters to a catheter re-sterilizing system. Specifically, the adaptor fluidly couples the guidewire lumen of a rapid exchange-type catheter to a source of sterilant so that the sterilant may be positively directed to and through the guidewire lumen, thereby allowing the catheter to be properly "reprocessed" or sterilized for reuse.
Claims12
An adaptor for providing flow communication between a source of reprocessing fluid and a lumen of a catheter structure that has a first port and a second port, at least one of which lacks a connector structure, said adaptor comprising:
- a main body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end, said first end and said second end being at longitudinal ends of said main body;
- means for coupling the first end of said main body in a fluid tight manner to an exterior surface of the catheter structure between the first port and the second port of the lumen;
- and
- means for coupling the second end of said main body to a connector assembly of the source of reprocessing fluid, said means for coupling to a connector assembly including first and second, radially outwardly projecting tab elements for locking engagement with a luer-type connector assembly,
- whereby when the first end is coupled to the catheter and the second end is coupled to the fluid source, a reprocessing fluid can be delivered to and flushed through the lumen.
An adaptor in combination with a reprocessing system having a hollow cartridge body having an open end, a tray which is slidably receivable in said hollow cartridge body through said open end, and a cassette door for closing and sealing said open end, at least one of said tray and said cassette door including a connector assembly for coupling to a source of sterilant, said adaptor comprising:
- a main body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end;
- means for coupling the first end of said main body in a fluid tight manner to an exterior surface of a catheter structure between a first port and a second port of a lumen thereof;
- and
- means for coupling the second end of said main body to said connector assembly,
- whereby when the first end is coupled to the catheter and the second end is coupled to the fluid source, a reprocessing fluid can be delivered to and flushed through the lumen.
An adaptor for providing flow communication between a source of reprocessing fluid that has a connector assembly and a lumen of a catheter structure that has a first port and a second port, at least one of which lacks a connector structure, said adaptor comprising:
- a housing having a chamber defined therewithin;
- means for coupling one portion of the housing in a fluid tight manner to an exterior surface of the catheter structure between the first port and the second port of the lumen, said means for coupling including a cap mounted to said housing and a deformable O-ring interposed between said housing and said cap so that axial displacement of said cap towards the housing distorts said O-ring into engagement with the exterior surface of the catheter thereby providing said fluid tight coupling;
- and
- means for connecting another portion of the housing to the connector assembly of the source of reprocessing fluid,
- walls of said housing intermediate said coupling means and said connecting means being free of fluid inlets and outlets, whereby fluid entering said housing through said connecting means is substantially limited to an outlet flow path defined through the lumen of the catheter,
- whereby when the coupling means is coupled to the catheter and the connector means is connected to the reprocessing fluid source, a reprocessing fluid can be delivered to and flushed through the lumen.
A catheter in combination with an adaptor, the catheter comprising:
- a tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, a balloon element defined adjacent said distal end, an inflation lumen extending therethrough from said balloon element toward said proximal end, and a guidewire lumen extending from a distal port at said distal end to a proximal port proximal to said balloon element but distal to said proximal end,
- said adaptor providing flow communication between a source of reprocessing fluid and said guidewire lumen of said catheter, said adaptor comprising:
- a main body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end;
- means for coupling the first end of said main body in a fluid tight manner to an exterior surface of the catheter structure between the distal port and the proximal port of the lumen, said means for coupling the first end including structure selectively rotatable relative to said main body for selectively displacing a deformable element into fluid-tight engagement with said exterior surface of the catheter structure;
- and
- means for connecting the second end of said main body to a connector assembly of the source of reprocessing fluid,
- walls of said housing intermediate said coupling means and said connecting means being free of fluid inlets and outlets, whereby fluid entering said housing through said connecting means is substantially limited to an outlet flow path defined through the lumen of the catheter,
- whereby when the first end is coupled to the catheter and the second end is coupled to the fluid source, said balloon element is disposed within said adaptor and a reprocessing fluid can be delivered to and flushed through the lumen.
A method of reprocessing a catheter, comprising:
- providing a catheter to be reprocessed, the catheter having an exterior surface, a lumen that has a first port and a second port, at least one of which lacks a connector structure, and an inflatable balloon structure provided intermediate said first and second ports;
- providing a reprocessing system including a source of sterilant and a connector assembly for providing access to sterilant therewithin;
- providing an adaptor for providing flow communication between the source of sterilant and the lumen of the catheter structure, said adaptor comprising:
- a main body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end;
- means for coupling the first end of said main body in a fluid tight manner to the exterior surface of the catheter between the first port and the second port of the lumen, said means for coupling the first end including structure selectively rotatable relative to said main body for selectively displacing a deformable element into fluid tight engagement with said exterior surface of the catheter structure;
- and
- means for coupling the second end of said main body to the connector assembly of the source of sterilant, inserting one end of the catheter into the adaptor through the first end thereof;
- sealingly coupling said first end to the exterior surface of the catheter between the first port and the second port, said step of coupling including rotating said selectively rotatable structure relative to said main body;
- coupling the second end of the adaptor to the connector assembly of the source of sterilant;
- and
- delivering sterilant to said adaptor and through said lumen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.