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AssigneeThe Curators of the University of Missouri
InventorsZbylut J. Twardowski, W. Kirt Nichols, John C. Van Stone
Estimating the term…
Blood is circulated through a multiple lumen catheter which connects between a vein of a patient and the blood treatment device. The catheter and the lumens thereof each define distal ends which are positioned within the vein. By this invention, one withdraws blood from the vein through one of the lumens at a flow rate of at least about 200 ml./min. while also inserting blood into the vein through another of said lumens at a similar flow rate. The distal ends of the lumens are longitudinally spaced from each other by no more than about 5 mm. It have been found that the following advantages can be achieved by this method: less clot formation coupled with low direct blood recirculation and longer catheter survival. Also, the catheter works well in either direction of blood flow through the respective lumens.
The method of circulating blood through a multiple lumen catheter which extends in substantially an inverted U-shape in the patient and connects between a vein of a patient and a blood treatment device, said catheter and the lumens thereof each defining blunt, distal ends positioned within said vein, comprising the steps of:
The method of repeatedly and intermittently circulating blood through a permanently implanted, multiple lumen catheter which extends in substantially an inverted U-shape in the patient and connects between a vein of a patient and a blood treatment device, said catheter and the lumens thereof each defining soft, blunt distal ends positioned within said vein, comprising the steps of withdrawing blood from said vein through one of said lumens at a flow rate of at least 300 ml/min.;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.