Bard Access Systems, Inc.

Paramjith Anand

Shekhar Nimkar

Stephen E Albrecht

Eric Tobin

A medical kit, including a split-tip catheter, a first intra-catheter stiffener element, a second intra-catheter stiffener element, a first guidewire, and a second guidewire. The split-tip catheter includes a first lumen in fluid communication with a first distal opening and a second lumen in fluid communication with a second distal opening with the first distal opening proximal to the second distal opening. The first intra-catheter stiffener element is designed for disposition in the first lumen, and the second intra-catheter stiffener element is designed for disposition in the second lumen. The first intra-catheter stiffener element includes a first guidewire lumen, and the second intra-catheter stiffener element includes a second guidewire lumen.

Methods and apparatus for inserting multi-lumen split-tip catheters into a blood vessel

A method of performing a medical procedure, includes providing a catheter including a first lumen in fluid communication with a first distal opening and a second lumen in fluid communication with a second distal opening, advancing a distal end of a first intra-catheter stiffener element through the first lumen and out of the first distal opening, coupling the first intra-catheter stiffener element to the catheter, advancing a distal end of a second intra-catheter stiffener element through the second lumen and out of the second distal opening, coupling the second intra-catheter stiffener element to the catheter, and advancing the catheter into a patient.

Splitable-tip catheters are disclosed with bioresorbable adhesive to provide spatial separation of distal tip elements during use. The invention can be particularly useful in hemodialysis applications where it is desirable to separate blood extraction and return lumens. The adhesive facilitates insertion of the distal end of the catheter as an assembly, e.g., into a blood vessel using a single guidewire, while the bioresorbable nature of the adhesive allows the tip elements to separate in vivo.

Splitable tip catheter with bioresorbable adhesive

A catheter assembly includes a catheter, a first intra-catheter stiffener element, and a second intra-catheter stiffener element. The catheter includes a first lumen in fluid communication with a first distal opening and a second lumen in fluid communication with a second distal opening. The first intra-catheter stiffener element is configured for disposition through the first lumen such that a distal end thereof extends distally of the first distal opening, the first intra-catheter stiffener element including a first coupler at a proximal end thereof. The second intra-catheter stiffener element is configured for disposition through the second lumen such that a distal end thereof extends distally of the second distal opening, the second intra-catheter stiffener element including a second coupler at a proximal end thereof.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for inserting flexible, multi-lumen catheters into blood vessels, and in particular, for inserting flexible, split-tip catheters into blood vessels. The invention accomplishes these objects by temporarily stiffening each catheter lumen and tip independently through use of intra-catheter stiffener elements disposed within the catheter lumens. This provides means for advancing the catheter/stiffeners assembly through a subcutaneous tunnel, and over a plurality of guidewires until a distal tip of the catheter is at a desired position within the vessel. The intra-catheter stiffener elements are sufficiently stiffening to allow advancing the catheter over guidewires, but sufficiently flexible to allow bending and looping of the catheter for proper placement within the vessel.

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Ayer, MA, United States of America

Paramjith Anand