Improved catheter hub

Abstract

To provide an improved hub design. 【Solution means】 A catheter hub having one or more wings, with the front and rear portions of the wings rotationally offset in the circumferential direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application is a regular application of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 369,840, filed on July 29, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002]

[0002] An improved hub for use with a catheter or other medical device, having at least one wing extending between a near end located on the hub body and proximal to the near end and a far end located distal to the near end, wherein the near end is rotationally offset from the far end in the circumferential direction.

Background Art

[0003]

[0003] Medical catheters enable physicians to apply various different treatments inside a patient's body. Many catheters access remote regions of the human body and deliver diagnostic or therapeutic tools and / or drugs to those sites. Alternatively, a catheter can comprise a shaft or support for a treatment working end (e.g., a balloon, a filter retriever, an electrode, etc.). Some catheters, including but not limited to those for neurovascular use, are intended to be advanced from a major artery (e.g., the femoral or radial artery) through a tortuous anatomy into the small blood vessels of the brain. Thus, a catheter must be configured with various structural characteristics due to the various regions of the biological structure through which the catheter passes. In many cases, the vascular path winds back in a multi-loop passageway, making it difficult for catheter design to meet the requirements imposed by the tortuous anatomy. Thus, improvements in recent catheter design still provide sufficient flexibility at the distal end to allow the catheter tip to pass through loops and smaller blood vessels, while allowing the catheter to be pushed and manipulated as it advances through the body. In particular, improved catheter tubing structures enhance the ability of healthcare providers to guide the catheter through a tortuous vascular path to a distal region in the vascular structure. Thus, improvements in catheter tubing structures and techniques drive the need to improve catheter hub design.

[0004]

[0004] Figure 1A illustrates an exemplary conventional catheter 2 having a typical structure including tubing 10 extending from hub 20, the tubing 10 can include a reinforcing member 12 within the wall 14 of the tubing. In further alternative embodiments, a liner (not shown) may be positioned within the tubing 10 and / or the reinforcing member 12 may be partially or fully embedded within the wall 10 or liner. Typically, the catheter hub 20 includes two protrusions commonly referred to as wings 22, which enable manipulation of the catheter 2. The catheter hub 20 can also include a connector 24 at the proximal end.

[0005]

[0005] Figure 1B shows a rear view of Figure 1A along line 1B-1B. As shown, the hub 20 enables fluid communication between the device / substance and the catheter lumen 16. The wings 22 can extend on opposite sides of the hub 20. As noted above, often a catheter must be advanced through a tortuous structure with decreasing vessel diameter, which requires torquing of the hub 20 using the wings 22 to rotate the catheter tubing 10 within the blood vessel. In such cases, when rotating the hub 20 and / or the wings 22 of the conventional catheter 2, the healthcare provider is limited to engaging the wings 22 on two sides of the hub.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0006]

[0006] Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved hub design that presents an improved catheter tubing structure design.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0007]

[0016] The present disclosure describes an improved hub for use with a medical device. Variations of the improved hub may be used with a catheter, the catheter having a hub body with a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an axis therebetween, tubing extending from a distal end of the distal portion, and at least one wing located on the hub body and extending between a proximal end located in the proximal portion and a distal end located in the distal portion, the at least one wing having the proximal end rotationally offset from the distal end in the circumferential direction. By giving the wing this configuration, a device is provided that has a natural tendency for a user to rotate the catheter / medical device in a preferred winding direction of the catheter / device. The preferred winding is due to the structure of the tubular device, and thus providing a wing corresponding to the rotational direction of the winding will, in most cases, cause the user to rotate the hub in the preferred direction of the preferred winding.

[0008]

[0017] In a further variation, the present disclosure is a hub for use with medical tubing, the hub having a hub body with a proximal portion and a distal portion with an axis extending therebetween, the hub body configured to be coupled to the medical tubing at the distal portion, and a plurality of wings located on the hub body, the plurality of wings including a first wing having a proximal end located in the proximal portion and a distal end located in the distal portion, the proximal end being rotationally offset from the distal end in the circumferential direction along the hub body.

[0009]

[0018] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a hub for use with medical tubing, the hub having a hub body with a proximal portion and a distal portion with an axis extending therebetween, the hub body configured to be coupled to the medical tubing at the distal portion, and a plurality of wings located on the hub body, the plurality of wings including a first wing having a proximal end located in the proximal portion and a distal end located in the distal portion, the proximal end being rotationally offset from the distal end in the circumferential direction along the hub body.

[0010]

[0019] The deformable forms of the devices described in this specification relate to catheters in which at least one wing includes a plurality of wings evenly spaced around the periphery of the hub body.

[0011]

[0020] In a further deformable form, the plurality of wings includes at least a first wing and an adjacent wing, and the proximal end of the first wing and the distal end of the adjacent wing are both rotationally offset from the distal end of the first wing by a first angular distance.

[0012]

[0021] In some deformable forms of the hub configuration, the height of at least one wing is maximum near the proximal end.

[0013]

[0022] The deformable form of the hub also includes an intermediate section between the proximal end and the distal end, and the height of at least one wing in the intermediate section is less than the height of the proximal end and less than the height of the distal end. The intermediate section may be linear or curved between the ends.

[0014]

[0023] In a further deformable form, the height of the proximal end is equal to the height of the distal end. The hub according to the present design can include a top surface of the wing having a concave contour in the intermediate section.

[0015]

[0024] In some aspects, the hub may be used with a catheter having tubing, the tubing includes a structural component that extends helically along the tubing and has a winding direction, and at least one wing includes a winding orientation from the proximal end to the distal end. In some aspects, the winding direction and the winding orientation include a right-handed winding. Alternatively, the winding direction and the winding orientation may include a left-handed winding.

[0016]

[0025] It is noted that the various design features of the hubs and vanes described herein can include combinations of features in one or more hubs. For example, a single hub can include any number of unique vane designs. Alternatively, all of the vanes on a hub can have the same design.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1A

[0007] A diagram showing a conventional catheter and hub structure.

Figure 1B

[0008] A rear view of the catheter of FIG. 1A.

Figure 2

[0009] A diagram showing an example of a catheter having an improved hub 100.

Figure 3A

[0010] An isometric view of the hub of FIG. 2, illustrating rotationally offset vanes.

Figure 3B

[0011] A front view of the hub of FIG. 3A.

Figure 3C

Figure 4A

[0012] A diagram showing another variant of a hub having vanes 122 with proximally and distally rotationally offset circumferentially.

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5A

[0013] An isometric view of a hub including vanes having a counterclockwise winding direction in which the vanes are rotationally offset leftward from the proximal end to the distal end.

Figure 5B

Figure 5C

Figure 6A

[0014] Side view of a further hub having at least one blade with a rotationally offset blade.

Figure 6B

Figure 6C

Figure 6D

Figure 7A

[0015] Isometric view of a hub including a linear flange.

Figure 7B

Figure 7C

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018]

[0026] The improved hub configuration discussed herein can be used in various devices. For purposes of illustration, one variant of the improved hub is used in a distal access catheter that requires torque application of the hub to guide a catheter tube to a desired location. Further, in a further variant, the structural features of the present disclosure are not limited to indwelling medical devices and can be used for any device that requires tubing.

[0019]

[0027] Figure 2 shows an example of a catheter 102 having an improved hub 100. As shown, the catheter 102 includes tubing 110 extending from the hub 100, and the tubing 110 can optionally include a reinforcing member 112 within or embedded in the wall 114 of the tubing 110. The illustrated catheter 102 can also include an optional strain relief 118 adjacent to the hub 118. The catheter 102 can also include an optional "wind" region 120. In some catheters, the structure of the catheter 102 provides a preferred torque direction, which can be derived from the winding direction of the reinforcing member 112 (e.g., a coiled one) and / or the directionality of the structure of the wall 114. In the example shown in Figure 2, the winding directions of the reinforcing member 112 and the "wind region" 120 are depicted by the direction 126.

[0020]

[0028] Figure 2 illustrates an improved hub 100 having several vanes 122 positioned around the perimeter of the hub body, each vane 122 having a twisted configuration where one end 123 of the vane 122 is rotationally offset circumferentially from the opposite end 125 of the vane 122. As discussed in more detail below, a variant of the device can align the direction of twist with the preferred direction for catheter torque application, which can be set by the structure of the catheter. Thus, the twist of the vanes 122 can function as a tactile indicator to show the preferred direction for catheter torque application. The illustrated example shows three vanes 122, although any number of vanes, including a single vane rotationally offset 360 degrees around the hub body, are within the scope of the present disclosure. Although not illustrated, the hub 120 enables fluid communication between the device / substance and a catheter lumen 116 extending within the tubing. Further, the rotationally offset vanes 122 provide a surface over substantially the entire catheter hub 120, as opposed to only the opposing sides of a conventional hub. This structure assists the caregiver when applying torque to the hub 120 using the vanes 122 to rotate the catheter tubing 10 and direct it within a blood vessel.

[0021]

[0029] Figure 3A shows an isometric view of the hub 100 of FIG. 2 to better illustrate the rotationally offset vanes 122. The vanes 122 can comprise any flange, protrusion, or raised surface that enables operation of the hub, as described above. As shown, the hub 100 includes a proximal portion 134 adjacent to the connector 124 and a distal portion 136 that is coupled to a catheter or other tubing (not shown). An axis 138 extends between the proximal portion 134 and the distal portion 136 of the hub. The vanes 122 project from the hub 100 and include a proximal end 130 located at or near the proximal portion 134 of the hub 100 and a distal end 132 located at or near the distal portion 136 of the hub.

[0022]

[0030] Figure 3B provides a front view of the hub 100 of Figure 3A to illustrate the rotational offset of the vane 122. Angle 140 illustrates the angular offset in the circumferential direction between the proximal end 130 and the distal end 132 of the vane at the peaks of the proximal end 130 and the distal end 132. Angle 142 measures the angular offset (also in the circumferential direction in this case) between the position where the proximal end 130 begins to protrude from the surface of the hub 100 and a second position where the distal end 132 begins to protrude from the surface of the hub 100. It is understood that the degree of rotational offset can vary not only depending on the design of the hub, but also on the location where the offset is measured.

[0023]

[0031] Figure 3C illustrates another design feature of the hub 100 according to the present disclosure. As shown, the vane 122 can include a proximal end 130 separated from the distal end 132 by an intermediate portion 131, the intermediate portion 131 extending in a straight line between the two ends, and the height of each of the proximal end 130 and the distal end 132 being greater than the height of the intermediate portion 131. By providing the intermediate portion 131 with a height less than that of the proximal end 130 and / or the distal end 132, a concave structural feature is created that allows a caregiver's finger or thumb to fit when operating the hub 100. Although all of the vanes 122 on the hub 100 are shown to have the same design / contour, further variations do not require that all vanes on the hub have the same design / contour. In certain variations, one vane can have a unique contour to provide orientation information regarding the catheter.

[0024]

[0032] Figures 4A through 4C show another variation of the hub 100 having vanes 122 with proximal ends 130 and distal ends 132 that are rotationally offset in the circumferential direction. In this variation, the heights of the proximal end 130 and the distal end 132 are less than the height of the intermediate portion 131 of the vane. Further, as seen in Figure 4C, the intermediate portion 131 follows a curved contour between the proximal end 130 and the distal end 132.

[0025]

[0033] The variant forms of the hub 100 shown in FIGS. 2, 3A through 3C, and 4A through 4C show a hub having a rotational offset in the right hand direction, i.e., when viewed from the proximal end, the vanes are twisted to the right. In contrast, FIGS. 5A through 5C show, respectively, an isometric view, a front view, and a side view of a hub 100 including vanes 122 having a counterclockwise wrap direction, where the vanes 122 are rotationally offset to the left from the proximal end 130 to the distal end 132.

[0026]

[0034] As noted above, any number of vanes 122 are included within the scope of the present disclosure. In some variants, the vanes 122 are equally spaced around the perimeter of the hub body. However, alternative variants may include rotationally offset hubs that are unequally spaced around the perimeter of the hub.

[0027]

[0035] FIGS. 6A through 6D show side views of a further hub 100 having at least one vane with circumferentially rotationally offset ends 130 and 132 around the hub 100. FIG. 6A illustrates a vane 122 configured such that the height decreases from the proximal end 130 to the distal end 132. FIGS. 6B and 6C illustrate a concave intermediate portion 131 of the vane between the ends 130 and 132, where FIG. 6C illustrates end portions 130, 132 having the same height. FIG. 6D illustrates a hub 100 including a vane 1222 having an intermediate portion that extends in a straight profile between the rotationally offset ends 130, 132. With respect to other details of the present invention, materials and manufacturing techniques may be used within the level of those skilled in the art. The same may apply to aspects based on the method of the present invention from the perspective of further acts that are generally or necessarily used. Further, although the present invention has been described with reference to several examples incorporating various features optionally, the present invention is not limited to what has been described or indicated as contemplated with respect to each variant of the present invention.

[0028]

[0036] Figure 7A shows an isometric view of another variant of the hub 200 that includes three vanes 222, and the vanes 222 are aligned with the axis 238 of the hub 200. It is contemplated that the hub can include axially offset vanes together with one or more vanes aligned axially. Again, in this case, the vanes 222 can comprise any flange, protrusion, or raised surface that enables operation of the hub 200 as described above. The hub 200 includes a proximal portion 234 adjacent to the connector 224 and a distal portion 236 that is coupled to a catheter or other tubing (not shown). The axis 238 extends between the proximal portion 234 and the distal portion 236 of the hub 200. The vanes 222 project from the hub 200 and include a proximal end 230 located at or near the proximal portion 234 of the hub 200 and a distal end 232 located at or near the distal portion 236 of the hub 200.

[0029]

[0037] Figure 7B provides a front view of the hub 200 of FIG. 7A to illustrate the vanes 222 aligned axially along the hub 200. FIG. 7C shows a side view of the hub 200. Although not illustrated, the height of each of the proximal and distal ends of the vanes 222 is different from that of the intermediate portion. By providing the intermediate portion with a reduced height compared to the proximal and / or distal ends, a concave structural feature is created that allows a caregiver's finger or thumb to fit when operating the hub 200. Although all of the vanes 222 on the hub 200 are shown to have the same design / contour, further variants do not require that all of the vanes on the hub have the same design / contour. In certain variants, one vane can have a unique contour to provide orientation information regarding the catheter.

[0030]

[0038] Various changes may be made to the invention as described, and equivalents (whether described herein or not, for the sake of some brevity) may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Also, any optional features of inventive variations may be described and claimed independently or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein. Accordingly, the invention contemplates, where possible, combinations of various aspects of the embodiments or combinations of the embodiments themselves. References to a single article include the possibility that there are a plurality of the same articles. More specifically, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "and", "said", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0031]

[0039] It is important to note that, where possible, aspects of the various embodiments described or the embodiments themselves may be combined, and such combinations are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A catheter comprising a hub body having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and an axis therebetween, tubing extending from a distal end of the distal portion, and at least one wing located on the hub body and extending between a proximal end located in the proximal portion and a distal end located in the distal portion, wherein the proximal end is rotationally offset from the distal end in the circumferential direction. at least one wing.

2. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wing includes a plurality of wings equally spaced around the periphery of the hub body.

3. The catheter according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of wings includes at least a first wing and an adjacent wing, and the proximal end of the first wing and the distal end of the adjacent wing are both rotationally offset from the distal end of the first wing by a first angular distance.

4. The catheter according to claim 1, further comprising a threaded portion located at a proximal end of the proximal portion.

5. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the height of the at least one wing is maximum in the vicinity of the proximal end.

6. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wing includes an intermediate section between the proximal end and the distal end.

7. The catheter according to claim 6, wherein the height of the at least one wing in the intermediate section is less than the height of the proximal end and less than the height of the distal end.

8. The catheter according to claim 7, wherein the height of the proximal end is equal to the height of the distal end.

9. The catheter according to claim 6, wherein the top surface of the at least one wing is concave in the intermediate section.

10. The catheter according to claim 6, wherein the at least one wing is curved between the proximal end and the distal end.

11. The catheter according to claim 6, wherein the at least one wing is curved from the proximal end to the distal end.

12. The catheter according to claim 6, wherein the at least one wing is linear from the proximal end to the distal end.

13. The catheter according to claim 1, wherein the tubing comprises a structural component extending spirally along the tubing and having a winding direction, and the at least one wing has a winding orientation from the proximal end to the distal end.

14. The catheter according to claim 13, wherein the winding direction and the winding orientation include a right-handed winding. **Claim 15** The catheter according to claim 13, wherein the winding direction and the winding orientation include a left-handed winding. **Claim 16** A hub for use with medical tubing, a hub body having a proximal portion and a distal portion with an axis extending therebetween, the hub being configured to be coupled to the medical tubing at the distal portion, the hub body; a plurality of wings located on the hub body, including a first wing having a proximal end located at the proximal portion and a distal end located at the distal portion, the proximal end being rotationally offset from the distal end in a circumferential direction along the hub body, the plurality of wings; a hub comprising. **Claim 17** The hub according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of wings are equally spaced apart around the periphery of the hub body. **Claim 18** The hub according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of wings include at least a first wing and an adjacent wing, and the proximal end of the first wing and the distal end of the adjacent wing are both rotationally offset from the distal end of the first wing by a first angular distance. **Claim 19** The hub according to claim 16, further comprising a threaded portion located at the proximal end of the proximal portion. **Claim 20** The hub according to claim 16, wherein the height of each of the plurality of wings is maximum in the vicinity of the proximal end. **Claim 21** The hub according to claim 16, wherein at least one wing includes an intermediate section between the proximal end and the distal end. **Claim 22** The hub according to claim 21, wherein the height of the plurality of wings in the intermediate section is less than the height of the proximal end and less than the height of the distal end. **Claim 23** The hub according to claim 22, wherein the height of the proximal end is equal to the height of the distal end. **Claim 24** The hub according to claim 21, wherein the top surface of the plurality of wings is concave in the intermediate section. **Claim 25** The hub according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of wings are curved between the proximal end and the distal end. **Claim 26** The hub according to claim 21, wherein each wing of the plurality of wings is curved from the proximal end to the distal end. **Claim 27** The hub according to claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of wings has a linear contour from the proximal end to the distal end. **Claim 28** The medical tubing comprises a structural component that extends spirally along the medical tubing and has a winding direction, and the plurality of wings have a winding orientation from the proximal end to the distal end, the hub according to claim 16.

29. The hub according to claim 28, wherein the winding direction and the winding orientation include a right-handed winding.

30. The hub according to claim 28, wherein the winding direction and the winding orientation include a left-handed winding.

31. A hub for use with medical tubing, a hub body having a proximal portion and a distal portion with an axis extending therebetween, the hub being configured to be coupled to the medical tubing at the distal portion, the hub body; a plurality of wings on the hub body, the plurality of wings extending in a helical contour around the hub body between the proximal portion and the distal portion such that a proximal end of each of the plurality of wings is circumferentially offset from a distal end thereof; a hub comprising.

32. The hub according to claim 31, wherein the plurality of wings are equally spaced around the periphery of the hub body.

33. The hub according to claim 32, wherein the plurality of wings include at least a first wing and an adjacent wing, and the proximal end of the first wing and the distal end of the adjacent wing are both rotationally offset from the distal end of the first wing by a first angular distance.

34. The hub according to claim 31, further comprising a threaded portion located at the proximal end of the proximal portion.

35. The hub according to claim 31, wherein the height of each of the plurality of wings is maximum in the vicinity of the proximal end.

36. The hub according to claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of wings includes an intermediate section between the proximal end and the distal end.

37. The hub according to claim 36, wherein the height of at least one of the plurality of wings in the intermediate section is less than the height of the proximal end and less than the height of the distal end.

38. The hub according to claim 37, wherein the height of the proximal end is equal to the height of the distal end.

39. The hub according to claim 36, wherein the top surface of each of the plurality of wings is concave in the intermediate section.

40. The hub according to claim 36, wherein at least one of the plurality of wings is curved between the proximal end and the distal end.

41. The hub according to claim 36, wherein at least one of the plurality of vanes is curved from the proximal end to the distal end.

42. The hub according to claim 36, wherein at least one of the plurality of vanes has a linear profile from the proximal end to the distal end.

43. The medical tubing comprises a structural component that extends helically along the medical tubing and has a winding direction, and at least one of the plurality of vanes has a winding orientation from the proximal end to the distal end in the same direction as the winding direction. The hub according to claim 31.

44. The hub according to claim 43, wherein the winding direction and the winding orientation include a right-handed winding.

45. The hub according to claim 43, wherein the winding direction and the winding orientation include a left-handed winding.

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