Two-way valved catheter

Abstract

A catheter and method for transporting a fluid between a body vessel of a patient and a site external of the patient. The catheter comprises a catheter body sized to at least partially extend between the body vessel and the external site. The catheter body has a proximal portion extending toward the external site and a distal portion extending to the body vessel. An inwardly contoured segment is formed in the catheter body at the distal portion, and a valve is formed at the inwardly contoured segment. The valve is operable to open in a first direction when subjected to a first pressure from a side of the valve to permit fluid flow therethrough in the first direction, and in a second direction opposite the first direction when subjected to a second pressure from another side of the valve to permit fluid flow therethrough in the second direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the distal end of a catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the two-way valve in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a mold and mandril for forming the two-way valve in the catheter, showing the catheter positioned between upper and lower mold portions;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of mandril 20;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contoured portion of the catheter body following removal from the mold;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the distal end of another embodiment of a valved catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of a valved catheter, wherein the catheter is co-extruded from a stiff and a soft material;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the distal end of another embodiment of a valved catheter according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the catheter includes a one-way valve and a two-way valve;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the catheter of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

Claims

1. A catheter for use in fluid transport between a body vessel of a patient and a site external of the patient, comprising: a catheter body sized to at least partially extend between said body vessel and said external site, said catheter body having a proximal portion extending toward said external site and a distal portion extending to said body vessel, said catheter body comprising an inwardly contoured segment at said distal portion; anda valve formed at said inwardly contoured segment, said valve operable to open in a first direction when subjected to a first pressure from a side of the valve to permit fluid flow therethrough in said first direction, said valve operable to open in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, when subjected to a second pressure from another side of the valve to permit fluid flow therethrough in said second direction, said valve structured to remain substantially closed in the absence of said first and second pressures.

2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said valve comprises a longitudinal slit formed at said contour.

3. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter is formed of a performance material.

4. The catheter of claim 1, wherein said catheter is formed of a thermoplastic polymer.

5. The catheter of claim 3, wherein said catheter is formed of polycarbonate urethane.

6. The catheter of claim 2, wherein a longitudinal portion of said catheter axially adjacent to said inwardly contoured segment is buttressed.

7. The catheter of claim 2, wherein a longitudinal portion of said catheter beyond each axial end of said inwardly contoured segment is buttressed.

8. The catheter of claim 2, wherein said catheter comprises a co-extrusion, said co-extrusion comprising a relatively stiff outer catheter portion, and comprising a relatively soft inwardly contoured segment.

9. The catheter of claim 2, wherein said catheter comprises two lumens, and wherein said valve provides communication between a first one of said lumens and a space exterior of said catheter, further comprising a second valve for providing communication between a second one of said lumens and a space exterior of said catheter.

10. The catheter of claim 9, wherein said second valve comprises a one-way valve.

11. A method of forming a two-way valved catheter suitable for use in transporting a fluid between a body vessel of a patient and a site external of the patient, comprising: providing a tubular catheter body, said catheter body sized such that a proximal portion extends substantially to said external site and a distal portion extends to said body vessel;forming an inwardly contoured segment at said distal portion of said tubular catheter body; andforming a valve at said inwardly contoured segment, said valve comprising a longitudinal slit formed in said segment, said valve being sized and dimensioned such that upon exposure to a first predetermined pressure from a first side thereof, said valve opens in a first direction to permit fluid flow therethrough in said first direction, and upon exposure to a second predetermined pressure from a second side thereof, said valve opens in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, to permit fluid flow therethrough in said second direction, said valve structured to remain closed in the absence of said predetermined first and second pressures.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said valve is formed by: positioning a distal portion of said catheter in a mold;molding said distal portion to form said inwardly contoured segment; andcutting said slit in said inwardly contoured segment.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said molding step comprises: positioning a mandril in an interior space of said distal portion, said mandril sized and shaped for forming said inwardly contoured segment; andmolding said segment with said mandril positioned therein.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said tubular catheter body is formed by extrusion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the extruded tubular catheter body is partially cured, and said inwardly contoured segment is formed in said partially cured catheter body, and wherein said catheter body having said inwardly contoured segment formed therein is substantially fully cured.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said catheter body is formed from a performance material.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said catheter body is formed from a polycarbonate urethane.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said tubular catheter body comprises a co-extrusion, and wherein said inwardly contoured segment is relatively soft, and a non-contoured outer portion is relatively stiff.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said tubular catheter body comprises two lumens, and wherein said valve provides communication between one of said lumens and a space exterior of said catheter, and wherein a second valve is formed in said catheter body for providing communication between the other lumen and a space exterior of said catheter.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said second valve comprises a one-way valve.