Claims
- 1. A tunneler, comprising:
a tip containing gripping means; and a plurality of flexible shaft members extending from the tip, the plurality of shaft members having dissimilar lengths.
- 2. The tunneler of claim 1, wherein each shaft member contains means for retaining the shaft member in the lumen of a catheter.
- 3. The tunneler of claim. 2, wherein the retaining means comprises a protrusion on the shaft member.
- 4. The tunneler of claim 1, wherein the difference in the lengths of the shaft member ranges up to about 20%.
- 5. A tunneling system, comprising:
a tip containing gripping means; and a plurality of flexible shaft members extending from the tip, the plurality of shaft members having dissimilar lengths.
- 6. The system of claim 5, wherein each shaft member contains means for retaining the shaft member in the lumen of a catheter.
- 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the retaining means comprises a protrusion on the shaft member.
- 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the difference in the lengths of the shaft member ranges up to about 20%.
- 9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a shaft that is removably connected to the tip.
- 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a sheath the covers the portion of the tip and sheath that are connected.
- 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sheath contains first means for retaining the sheath on the tip and second means for retaining the sheath on the shaft.
- 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first retaining means comprises a retaining ring.
- 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first retaining means complements the protrusion on a shaft member.
- 14. The system of claim 5, wherein only one shaft member contains means for retaining the shaft member in the lumen of a catheter.
- 15. A tunneling system, comprising:
a tip containing gripping means and a plurality of flexible shaft members extending therefrom, the plurality of shaft members having dissimilar lengths; a shaft removable connected to the tip; and a sheath covering the portion of the tip and sheath that are connected.
- 16. The system of claim 15, wherein each shaft member contains a protrusion thereon.
- 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sheath contains first means for retaining the sheath on the tip and second means for retaining the sheath on the shaft.
- 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first retaining means comprises a retaining ring.
- 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first retaining means complements the protrusion on a shaft member.
- 20. The system of claim 15, wherein only one shaft member contains a protrusion thereon.
- 21. A medical device, comprising:
a multi-lumen catheter; and a tunneler with a tip containing gripping means and a plurality of flexible shaft members extending therefrom, the plurality of shaft members having dissimilar lengths.
- 22. A method for connecting a tunneler and a catheter, the method comprising:
providing a tunneler with a tip containing gripping means and a plurality of flexible shaft members extending therefrom, the plurality of shaft members having dissimilar lengths; providing a multi-lumen catheter; and inserting the plurality of shaft members into the lumens of the catheter.
- 23. The method of claim 22, including providing each shaft member with means for retaining the shaft member in the lumen of the catheter.
- 24. A method for inserting a catheter in the body, the method comprising:
providing a tunneler with a tip containing gripping means and a plurality of flexible shaft members extending therefrom, the plurality of shaft members having dissimilar lengths; providing a multi-lumen catheter; inserting the plurality of shaft members into the lumens of the catheter; pulling the tunneler through a pair of incisions in the body; and detaching the tunneler from the catheter.
- 25. A method for creating a tunnel in a patient, the method comprising:
providing a tunneler with a tip containing gripping means and a plurality of flexible shaft members extending therefrom, the plurality of shaft members having dissimilar lengths; providing a multi-lumen catheter; inserting the plurality of shaft members into the lumens of the catheter; pulling the tunneler through a pair of incisions in the body; and detaching the tunneler from the catheter.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/459,746 (filed Apr. 1, 2003), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60459746 |
Apr 2003 |
US |