The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 26, 2012
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2008
Shekhar D. Nimkar, Swampscott, MA (US);
Stephen E. Albrecht, South Walpole, MA (US);
Paramjith Anand, Ayer, MA (US);
Eric Tobin, North Andover, MA (US);
Shekhar D. Nimkar, Swampscott, MA (US);
Stephen E. Albrecht, South Walpole, MA (US);
Paramjith Anand, Ayer, MA (US);
Eric Tobin, North Andover, MA (US);
Bard Access Systems, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Abstract
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.