Chase Medical, Inc.

Jill Wright Giannoble

Delos M Cosgrove, Iii

Mitta Suresh

A catheter and method of use may include an aortic balloon catheter having an integral expandable/collapsible lumen. The catheter comprises a main catheter body having a either a single or a plurality of lumens extending therethrough, and further includes an expandable/collapsible lumen disposed thereabout and carried by the main catheter body. The expandable/collapsible lumen has a relatively large diameter when inflated with respect to the main catheter body, and is self-inflating by fluid pressure when the fluid flows therethrough. The large inflatable/collapsible lumen is attached at its distal end to the main catheter body and thus is carried therewith into a body vessel, and thus is also supported by the catheter body to avoid kinking. The present invention also achieves technical advantages as a catheter for insertion into any body vessel having a limited diameter and which is susceptible to trauma, such as a urethra.

Catheter having integral expandable/collapsible lumen

A venous return catheter suitable for use in an extracorporeal circuit having a helical support member supporting the catheter about venting openings. A two-stage catheter is provided with a plurality of proximal openings at the midsection thereof with a substantially rigid helical support member being defined thereabout to prevent collapse or kinking of the catheter about the proximal openings when bent or twisted. The catheter has a proximal helical support member and a distal helical support member reinforcing the catheter body therealong. The spacing of the substantially rigid helical support member about the proximal openings is sufficient to permit large proximal openings. The cross section diameter of the substantially rigid helical support member is greater than the cross section diameter of the proximal and distal support members. The three helical support members are continuous with one another to support the length of the catheter body. The more rigid helical support member maintains its shape when twisted or bent, and also maintains a sufficient lumen diameter within the catheter during bending to facilitate an adequate flow rate of venous blood. A single stage catheter has a spaced helical support member and venting openings at the catheter distal end, with a more closely spaced helical support member extending proximal thereof.

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Plano, TX, United States of America

Jill Wright Giannoble