Turbulent air cleaning method and apparatus for catheter assemblies

A method of creating a turbulent flow at a distal end of a medical device tube having a distal opening and at least one side opening adjacent to the distal opening, said method comprising the steps of:

• disposing the distal end of the tube in a closed chamber such that the distal opening is generally opposite from a first orifice defined through the chamber;
• introducing a liquid into the chamber;
• drawing the liquid into the distal opening in the tube;
• and
• drawing a fluid medium through the first orifice defined in the chamber and into the distal opening in the tube with the liquid;
• conveying a portion of the fluid medium and liquid mixture out the side opening in the tube, and back into the distal opening in the tube in a flow pattern;
• wherein the flow pattern creates a turbulence in the liquid flowing around the distal end of the tube within the chamber.

A catheter tube assembly comprising:

• a catheter tube having a distal opening and at least one side opening defined in a distal end portion of said catheter tube adjacent to said distal opening, said distal opening and said side opening being configured for and in communication such that a portion of cleaning solution or air drawn into said distal opening is transferred and exited from said side opening, said catheter tube configured to receive a suction force therethrough;
• a cleaning chamber, said distal end portion of said catheter tube movable into said cleaning chamber, said cleaning chamber configured to accommodate said catheter tube such that turbulent flow is present during cleaning of said catheter tube;
• a port in communication with said cleaning chamber for introducing the cleaning solution into said chamber;
• a first orifice defined through said cleaning chamber and disposed so as to be generally opposite said distal opening of said catheter tube upon withdrawing said distal end portion into said chamber, said first orifice configured for receiving air and having air transported therethrough by the suction force applied to said catheter tube;
• and
• at least one projection defined in said cleaning chamber and configured to define a distance between said first orifice and said distal opening of said catheter tube such that said first orifice and said distal opening of said catheter tube remain separated.

A catheter tube assembly comprising:

• a catheter tube having a distal opening and at least one side opening defined in a distal end portion of said catheter tube adjacent to said distal opening;
• a cleaning chamber, said distal end portion of said catheter tube movable into said cleaning chamber;
• a port in communication with said cleaning chamber for introducing a cleaning solution into said chamber;
• a first orifice defined through said cleaning chamber and disposed so as to be generally opposite said distal opening of said catheter tube upon withdrawing said distal end portion into said chamber;
• wherein upon applying a suction force through said catheter tube a turbulent flow pattern is established by air drawn through said first orifice and into said distal opening of said catheter tube with the cleaning solution, a potion of the air and cleaning solution mixture being conveyed out said side opening, and back into said distal opening thereby creating a turbulence in said cleaning solution within said cleaning chamber;
• said cleaning chamber having at least one additional orifice disposed therein so as to direct air generally along a circumference of said distal end of said catheter tube within said cleaning chamber;
• and
• a plurality of said additional orifices disposed around said first orifice.

A catheter tube assembly comprising:

• a catheter tube having a distal opening and at least one side opening defined in a distal end portion of said catheter tube adjacent to said distal opening;
• a cleaning chamber, said distal end portion of said catheter tube movable into said cleaning chamber;
• a port in communication with said cleaning chamber for introducing a cleaning solution into said chamber;
• a first orifice defined through said cleaning chamber and disposed so as to be generally opposite said distal opening of said catheter tube upon withdrawing said distal end portion into said chamber;
• wherein upon applying a suction force through said catheter tube a turbulent flow pattern is established by air drawn through said first orifice and into said distal opening of said catheter tube with the cleaning solution, a potion of the air and cleaning solution mixture being conveyed out said side opening, and back into said distal opening thereby creating a turbulence in said cleaning solution within said cleaning chamber;
• said cleaning chamber having at least additional orifice disposed therein so as to direct air generally along a circumference of said distal end of said catheter tube within said cleaning chamber;
• a plurality of said additional orifices disposed around said first orifice;
• and
• a cover member movable to a position to close off said cleaning chamber upon said distal end of said catheter tube being withdrawn into said cleaning chamber, said first orifice and said additional orifices defined through said cover member.