Medtronic, Inc.

Douglas O Hankner

Mary M Morris

Duane Frion

Jeff Novotny

Stuart Lahtinen

Dennis D Elsberry

Chris C Christiansen

Paul S Kratoska

Robert M Pearson

Robert Cushing Hamlen

Weiping Yu

Larry D Kuecker

Larry A Lundeen

A catheter system and method for intracranial infusion of therapeutic substances to a patient. An anchor formed of generally flexible, elastomeric material is used to mount the catheter to the outer surface of the skull of the patient. The anchor has a through hole for receiving the catheter, a channel, extending substantially from the through hole, into which a portion of the catheter may be inserted to retain the portion substantially parallel to the surface of the skull, and at least one flange for engaging the outer surface of the skull. An anchor clip may be provided to engage the anchor adjacent the through hole to further stabilize the catheter.

Catheter anchor system and method

A medical catheter comprising a proximal end having an opening for fluid containing a therapeutic drug, a distal end, the distal end defining at least one opening, and a porous portion covering the opening defined by the distal end. In one embodiment, the medical catheter comprises a proximal end having an opening for fluid containing a therapeutic drug, at least two distal ends, the proximal end connected to the two distal ends with a connector, the distal ends each defining at least one opening, a diffuser covering the opening of each distal end, and a separate restrictor downstream of the connector and upstream of each distal end to provide substantially equal flow through each distal end. An additional restrictor can also be placed upstream of the connector. In another embodiment, a combination diffuser and restrictor covers the opening of each distal end. In one embodiment, the diffuser can define tubes that extend from the inside surface of the diffuser to the outside surface of the diffuser, to permit more equal drug flow through the tubes defined therein.

Catheter for target specific drug delivery

The present invention provides an anchor for securely positioning a catheter intended to deliver drug or other medicaments to a desired position in tissue wherever found in the body or in epidural or intrathecal space of a spinal cord or brain. The present invention comprises, in the preferred embodiment, a generally tubular body for receiving the catheter and a pair of wings to assist in securing the device. The body has a slot that extends through the body between the wings. The wings and the slot cooperate so that the opposed edges of the slot just come together as the wings are brought into contact with each other. The wings interact with the slot to radially compress the catheter within the lumen of the tubular body to hold the catheter in a fixed relation to the tubular body. In addition, the wings allow the device to be sutured to tissue to secure and fix the device to tissue. A first suture is placed around the base of the wings very near where the wings contact the body of the anchor. A second suture secures the wings together and affixes the anchor to the patient's tissue.

Medical catheter anchor

A medical catheter comprising a proximal end having an opening for fluid containing a therapeutic drug, a distal end, the distal end defining at least one opening, and a porous portion covering the opening defined by the distal end. In one embodiment, the medical catheter comprises a proximal end having an opening for fluid containing a therapeutic drug, at least two distal ends. the proximal end connected to the two distal ends with a connector, the distal ends each defining at least, one opening, a diffuser covering the opening of each distal end, and a separate restrictor downstream of the connector and upstream of each distal end to provide substantially equal flow through each distal end. An additional restrictor can also be placed upstream of the connector. In another embodiment, a combination diffuser and restrictor covers the opening of each distal end.

An apparatus and method for limiting access to a septum in a body implanted device. The apparatus includes a screen member which covers the septum. The screen member has a plurality of openings which are sized such that needles larger than a predetermined size will not pass through the openings. Needles of a size less than the predetermined size of the openings will pass through and be provided access to the septum.

Apparatus and method for limiting access to septum

An implantable fluid dispensing device has an accessory housing set into the biocompatible shape of its device canister. A shelf is set into the canister to accept the accessory housing which contains a filter, an externally accessible infusion septum, or other accessory. The function of accessories in the accessory housing is independently tested. After an accessory is selected to match the particular application, the accessory module is mounted on the canister.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Douglas O Hankner