# US 6,695,832 B2 · Multilumen catheter and methods for making the catheter

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- Number: US 6,695,832 B2
- Document ID: US6695832B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/300,999
- Filed: 2002-11-21
- Published: 2003-08-14
- Granted: 2004-02-24
- Earliest claimed: 2000-06-01
- Assignees: TwinCath, LLC; Medical Components, Inc.
- Inventors: Donald A. Schon; Anthony J. Madison; Timothy Schweikert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6695832B2

## CPC

- A61M 25/0026: {Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements (catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175)}
- A61M 25/0023: {by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter}
- A61M 25/0071: {Multiple separate lumens (multiple separate lumens throughout the catheter A61M25/0026)}
- A61M 25/0009: {Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes}
- A61M 25/0029: {characterized by features relating to least one lumen located at the middle part of the catheter, e.g. slots, flaps, valves, cuffs, apertures, notches, grooves or rapid exchange ports (catheter shaft surface irregularities A61M2025/006)}
- A61M 25/0068: {Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure}
- A61M 25/007: {Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked}
- A61M 25/008: {Strength or flexibility characteristics of the catheter tip}
- A61M 2025/0031: {characterized by lumina for withdrawing or delivering, i.e. used for extracorporeal circuit treatment}
- A61M 2025/0034: {characterized by elements which are assembled, connected or fused, e.g. splittable tubes, outer sheaths creating lumina or separate cores}
- A61M 2025/0037: {characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side}
- A61M 2025/0081: {Soft tip}
- A61M 2025/0188: {having slitted or breakaway lumens}
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A multilumen catheter assembly is provided, which includes a unitary portion and at least two distal end tubes extending distally from the unitary portion. The unitary portion includes an exterior having a generally round or oval shape in cross section and includes at least two distal end tubes of generally circular (or other) cross sectional shape extending longitudinally therethrough. The catheter assembly may be made by extruding a unitary tube having internal longitudinally extending lumens (of circular or other shape), then splitting the tube on its distal end portion to form distal end tubes. The tubes are then ground and polished, the finished tubes retaining in combination the generally oval cross sectional shape of the unitary extrusion, or the finished tubes can each be finished to a circular, or other, cross sectional shape, or the finished tubes could include a combination of cross sectional shapes over its longitudinal length.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A multilumen catheter assembly comprising:
a unitary catheter body having:
a proximal end,
a distal end; and
a generally rounded exterior cross section being disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the unitary catheter body includes a plurality of lumens disposed therein and a longitudinal plane generally bisecting the unitary catheter body, wherein to plurality of lumens comprises:
a first lumen disposed on a first side of to longitudinal plane, wherein the first lumen is generally circular in cross section along its length; and
a second lumen disposed on a second side of the longitudinal plane, wherein the second lumen is generally circular in cross section along its length; and
first and second distal end tubes, each having generally circular interior cross sections, wherein each of the first and second distal end tubes extends distally from the distal end of the unitary catheter body, wherein each of the first and second distal end tubes comprises a proximal tip fixedly connected to each of the first and second lumens, respectively, and wherein each of the first and second distal end tubes further comprises a distal tip, wherein the first and second distal end tubes are separate from each other at their respective distal tips such that each of the first and second distal tip is capable of free movement independent of the other of the first and second distal tip, wherein the first distal end tube has a first length and the second distal end tube has a second length different from the first length, and wherein the first and second distal end tubes are splittable along the longitudinal plane from each other along at least a splittable portion of the first and second distal end tubes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the splittable portion of the first and the second distal end tubes are releasable through use of minimal force.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 2, wherein the minimal force is between one and five pounds of force.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and the second distal end tubes each have an exterior generally circular in cross section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and the second distal end tubes each have an exterior generally semi-circular in cross section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and the second distal end tubes are aligned so that the tubes together have an exterior that is generally oval shaped in cross section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 6, wherein the first and the second distal end tubes are releasably attached for at least a portion of their longitudinal length.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and the second distal end tubes each have an exterior generally “D”-shaped in cross section, the “D”-shape defining a generally flat exterior portion and a rounded exterior portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 8, wherein the first and the second distal end tubes are adjoined to one another along their respective flat exterior portions for at least a portion of their longitudinal length.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The multilumen catheter assembly of claim 9, wherein the adjoined first and second distal end tubes together have an exterior that is generally round in cross section.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The multiluman catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first distal end tube comprises a first passageway in fluid communication with the first lumen and wherein the second end tube comprises a second passageway in fluid communication with the second lumem.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The multilumen catheter assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of holes formed through each of the first and second distal end tubes to provide fluid flow from outside the first and second distal end tubes into the first and second passageways, respectively, in the first and second distal end tubes.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The multilumen catheter assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a connector and a clamp releasably attached to each extension tube.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The multilumen catheter assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first extension tube in fluid communication with a proximal end of the first lumen and a second extension tube in fluid communication with a proximal end of a second lumen.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The multilumen catheter assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first distal end opening in the first distal end tube and a second distal end opening in the second distal end tube.