Double-lumen catheter

Abstract

A catheter is described. In one embodiment, the catheter includes: a shaft segment including a shaft segment uptake lumen and a shaft segment return lumen; and a distal end segment coupled to the shaft segment, the distal end segment including a distal end segment uptake lumen and a distal end segment return lumen, where the distal end segment central axis forms a non-zero angle with the shaft segment central axis when the catheter is in its unstressed configuration. In a second embodiment, the catheter includes: a shaft segment; and a distal end segment coupled to the shaft segment; where the uptake lumen distal end is terminated by a closed surface, further where the uptake lumen distal segment includes only one side hole. In a third embodiment, the catheter includes: an uptake lumen; and a return lumen; where at least a portion of the return lumen distal segment is helically coiled around the uptake lumen distal end.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 210,294, filed Jun. 8, 2000, and entitled “Double-Lumen Catheters Used for Hemodialysis”.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to catheters and, in particular, though not exclusively, to double-lumen catheters used for hemodialysis.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Hemodialysis catheters are conventionally large double-lumen catheters. Generally, the lumens must be large enough to support flow rates greater than 250 c c / min through each lumen. A hemodialysis catheter resides within a large vein within the body or within the right atrium of the heart. The end of the catheter placed into a patient's body is referred to as the distal end of the catheter, while the end connected to a dialysis machine is called the proximal end. Blood is withdrawn out of a vein via an uptake lumen of the catheter and into the dialysis machine. The uptak...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

On occasion, prior art catheters, such as that shown in FIG. 1, fail to perform their intended function.

The failure modes of these catheters are numerous.

One common type of failure is occlusion of the uptake lumen end hole by the adjacent wall of the vein or by the wall of the right atrium.

This adverse action of the uptake lumen end hole either limits the flow rate of the catheter or occludes blood flow entirely through the catheter.

However, this design, in which multiple side holes are present to prevent occlusion by adjacent walls, presents a drawback of its own.

Such blood clots would occlude the lumens, leading to catheter failure.

If the uptake lumen has multiple side holes, the anticoagulant solution leaks away at the catheter tip through these multiple side holes, causing an increased risk of blood clot formation on the catheter's tip, thus causing subsequent catheter failure.

However, as detailed above, such a prior-art hemodialysis catheter retains a tendency to have its uptake lumen end hole aspirate against an adjacent wall and occlude the uptake lumen.

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