Baxter International Inc.

American Hospital Supply Corporation

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

Clement E Lieber

Miriam H Taimisto

Edward E Elson

Mark A Konno

David L Swendson

Robert P Cooper

Ronald L McCartney

Michael D Rold

Wallace F Cook

Lawrence Webster Blake

Michael S Estes

Robert Roelandt

William Ganz

Lawrence J Busse

Robert Skidmore

William E Webler

Jaime E Siman

Ronald J Solar

Earnest Lane

Nancy Shadforth

Harold J Swan

A system for sensing a characteristic of fluid flowing to or from the body of a human or animal comprising a conduit having a first end adapted to be outside the body, a second end adapted to be received within the body, and a flow passage through which fluid can flow between the first and second ends and a probe including a sensor for sensing a characteristic of the fluid. The probe is mounted on the conduit with the sensor in the flow passage. The sensor is isolated from the fluid flowing in the flow passage.

System for sensing a characteristic of fluid flowing to or from a body

A system for sensing a characteristic of fluid flowing to or from the body of a human or a comprising a conduit having a first end adapted to be outside the body, a second end adapted to be received within the body, and a flow passage through which fluid can flow between the first and second ends and a probe including a sensor for sensing a characteristic of the fluid. The probe is mounted on the conduit with the sensor in the flow passage. The sensor is isolated from the fluid flowing in the flow passage.

A catheter with several independent lumens extending longitudinally through the catheter for accepting probes and for introducing fluid through the catheter and into a body cavity is disclosed. The catheter outer body has a cross-sectional maximum outer dimension. The first lumen is circular in cross-section, and has a cross-sectional dimension of approximately half the maximum outer dimension of the catheter body. The first lumen is capable of accepting various probes, as well as allowing simultaneous fluid flow through the lumen. The second lumen is crescent-shaped in cross-section and occupies at least a quarter of an arc around the cross-section of the catheter body. The large cross-section of the second lumen allows for a high fluid flow rate through the lumen. The third lumen allows for inflation of an inflation balloon (when present), and the fourth lumen allows for the passing of a portion of an instrument along the length of the lumen.

Method of use of a transport catheter

A catheter with several independent lumens extending longitudinally through the catheter for accepting probes and for introducing fluid through the catheter and into a body cavity is disclosed. The cathater outer body has a cross-sectional maximum outer dimension. The first lumen is circular in cross-section, and has a cross-sectional dimension of approximately half the maximum outer dimension of the catheter body. The first lumen is capable of accepting various probes, as well as allowing simultaneous fluid flow through the lumen. The second lumen is crescent-shaped in cross-section and occupies at least a quarter of an arc around the cross-section of the catheter body. The large cross-section of the second lumen allows for a high fluid flow rate through the lumen. The third lumen allows for inflation of an inflation balloon (when present), and the fourth lumen allows for the passing of a portion of an instrument along the length of the lumen.

Transport catheter

A catheter for monitoring heart function comprises a catheter tube having a plurality of lumens. The catheter includes an inflatable balloon at a distal tip of the catheter tube for positioning the catheter in a wedged position within a pulmonary artery within the heart of a patient. Dual injectate ports are formed in a side wall of the catheter tube. Each port communicates with a respective injectate lumen carried in the catheter tube. When inserted into the heart of a patient, either the first or second injectate port is positioned within the desired distance from the tricuspid valve for thermodilution depending upon the size of the heart. Thermodilution to obtain cardiac output and/or right heart ejection fraction is implemented by injecting injectate through the lumen associated with the port properly positioned relative the tricuspid valve and discharged through the corresponding port.

Dual port thermodilution catheter and method for manufacture

Polymer blends having improved torque transmitting properties are disclosed. The polymer blends include polyetherurethane and a concentration of polyetherester sufficient to provide the polymer blend with a 37.degree. C. dynamic torque value greater than 40% of the polymer blend's 25.degree. C. dynamic torque value. The polymer blend can be thermally processed to form small diameter tubing suitable for general purpose catheters requiring both a high degree of maneuverability and sufficient resiliency to avoid tissue perforation.

Polymer blends for torque transmitting catheters

A probe for use within a catheter is disclosed. The probe transducer portion is constructed of a crystal hollow cylinder with an inside lead attached to the inner surface of the crystal cylinder. One end of the outside lead is positioned close to the outer surface, in a plane tangential to the outer surface, and is coupled to the outer surface of the crystal cylinder by a thin sputtered layer of conductive material. The probe transducer also includes a layer of acoustically absorbing material on the proximal end of the crystal, and layer of acoustically coupling material on the distal end of the crystal cylinder. The transducer element simultaneously generates an axially oriented signal beam at one frequency and a radially oriented signal beam at 2 different frequency. The signal beams are analyzed to calculate the blood flow area and the blood flow velocity, the product of which is the blood flow rate.

Ultrasound probe for use with transport catheter and method of making

A method of sequentially analyzing various body conditions with a plurality of probes is disclosed. Also disclosed, is a catheter which can be used to practice the method. The catheter has several independent lumens extending longitudinally therethrough for accepting probes and for introducing fluid therethrough and into a body cavity. The catheter outer body has a cross-sectional maximum outer dimension. The first lumen is circular in cross-section, and has a cross-sectional dimension of approximately half the maximum outer dimension of the catheter body. The first lumen is capable of accepting various probes, as well as allowing simultaneous fluid flow through the lumen. The second lumen is crescent-shaped in cross-section and occupies at least a quarter of an arc around the cross-section of the catheter body. The large cross-section of the second lumen allows for a high fluid flow rate through the lumen. The third lumen allows for inflation of an inflation balloon (when present), and the fourth lumen allows for the passing of a portion of an instrument along the length of the lumen.

Transport catheter and multiple probe analysis method

Dual port thermodilution catheter

The present invention provides conformable intralumen electrodes for use with medical catheters. The electrodes are made of a conductive polymeric material that is introduced into the lumen of a catheter through an opening cut in the peripheral wall in the catheter. A conductive lead threaded through the lumen of the catheter terminates in a distal end at the opening in the catheter and is completely embedded within the polymeric material introduced into the opening, thereby establishing electrical contact between the conductive polymeric electrode and the conductive lead. The conductive polymeric material fills the opening adhering to the walls of the catheter tube, thereby ensuring secure, long lasting attachment.

Comformable intralumen electrodes

A flexible tip catheter for electrically stimulating the heart comprising an elongated body having an elongated passage therein and an elongated conductor partially in the passage. The elongated conductor has a distal end portion outside of the passage which is flexible and resilient along its length. The distal end portion includes a flexible resilient electrode exposed at the outer periphery of the catheter so that current can be passed along the conductor to the electrode to electrically stimulate the heart. The distal end portion is more flexible at distal locations than at proximal locations along its length. The flexibility of the distal end portion and of the electrode greatly reduces the risk of penetration of the heart wall.

Flexible tip cardiac pacing catheter

A guiding catheter adapted to be passed through the right side of the heart into the pulmonary artery and comprising a catheter body having at least first and second lumens extending longitudinally in the catheter body and a port extending from the first lumen to the exterior of the catheter body. The port is between the ends of the catheter and is in the right heart when the catheter is in use. An elongated stiffening element is locked within the second lumen and extends from a location on the proximal side of the port to a location on the distal side of the port. The stiffening element is flexible, but it is sufficiently stiff to cause the catheter to be gently curved along the stiffening element without forming a kink when the catheter is in use. The first lumen is adapted to have an inner catheter passed through it and out of the port into the right heart.

Guiding catheter and method of use

An apparatus for making electrical contact within the heart of a patient for pacing the heart and ECG sensing comprising an elongated tube sized to be received through a vein or artery into the heart and having a peripheral wall, at least one lumen and an opening in the peripheral wall which extends from the lumen to the exterior of the tube. An electrode is mounted in the lumen with the electrode being exposed at the opening. At least one conductive lead is coupled to the electrode and extends proximally within the tube. The tube has a body line, and the electrode extends radially outwardly no farther than the body line.

Lumen mounted electrodes for pacing and intra-cardiac ECG sensing

A catheter comprising an elongated flexible tube having an elongated passage extending axially through the tube between proximal and distal openings and a helically wound wire engaging the peripheral wall of the tube and providing a portion of the peripheral wall with an uneven contour. The tube includes a radiopaque marker at the distal end of the catheter. The radiopaque marker is molded from a biocompatible metal powder and a thermoplastic binder. The catheter is adapted for use with an angiography catheter, and it is configured to provide automatic orientation of the distal end portion of the catheter as such distal end portion emerges from the distal opening of the angiography catheter.

Growing community of inventors

Yorba Linda, CA, United States of America

Clement E Lieber