Bard Access Systems, Inc.

C. R. Bard, Inc.

Deka Products Limited Partnership

Stephen E Albrecht

Shekhar Nimkar

Paramjith Anand

Eric Tobin

Laurence W Tremaine

Robert Sakal

Glen French

Roger E Darois

Karen E Kullas

Dean Kamen

Kevin L Grant

Augustus Felix

Bradley D Miller

Nancy Drainville

Joan Kinniburgh

Nancy Drainville Chomyszak

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.

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.

A medical suction and irrigation apparatus includes a suction/irrigation tip removably connected to a conventional suction/irrigation handpiece. Suction is provided through a suction tube which has a bypass conduit in the tip. The bypass conduit is directly connectable to a suction source so that aspirated debris passes through the tip to the suction source. The suction tube thus prevents aspirated debris from entering the conventional suction tube in the handpiece and contaminating the handpiece. The suction tube is also designed to have a maximum size to prevent the tip from clogging. The tip also has an irrigation tube for directing irrigation liquid to the irrigation site, and a connector which connects the irrigation tube to the handpiece so that the handpiece pumps fluid through the tip in a conventional manner. A flexible splash shield, slidably mounted to the irrigation tube, confines irrigation fluid to the local site.

Suction and irrigation handpiece and tip

A medical irrigation pump and pump system utilize a permanent non-sterile drive motor capable of operating disposable sterile single use pump units each of which is specifically designed for a particular medical procedure. The pump units have housing which are adapted to be interchangeable within the permanent controller system. Only the sterilized and disposable pump units come into contact with the fluid pathway during pumping. A pattern of bumps on each pump unit is unique for the medical procedure for which the pump unit was designed. The pattern of bumps engages switches on the controller, enabling the controller to identify what type of pump unit has been installed. After automatically identifying the type of pump unit and the intended medical procedure, the controller automatically selects a default motor speed that will provide an appropriate fluid pressure for that particular procedure. Buttons on a control panel also enable the user to manually adjust the pressure delivered by the pump. The orientation of the pump unit during the loading procedure allows easy purging of all air from the pump unit before the pump is started.

Medical irrigation pump and system

An apparatus for irrigating a local irrigation site includes a suction/irrigation tip that is removably connected to a suction/irrigation handpiece. The tip has an irrigation tube for directing irrigation liquid to the irrigation site, and a suction tube coaxially aligned within the irrigation tube. The handpiece pumps irrigation liquid from an external reservoir, through the annular space between the irrigation tubes and the suction tube to the irrigation site. Suction is applied to the site through the central suction lumen which has a large unobstructed opening to reduce clogging. A flexible splash shield, slidably mounted to the tip, is conically shaped and extends distally from a collar to a rim. The rim is sized to fit around and about the local site.

Growing community of inventors

South Walpole, MA, United States of America

Stephen E Albrecht