Catheter Assemblies for Controlled Movement of Fluid

Abstract

A catheter assembly for infusion or aspiration of an internal body site includes a catheter comprised of a tubular sidewall extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the sidewall bounding a lumen. At least one port is formed on the catheter so as to communicate with the lumen. At least one filament extends outwardly from the first catheter. The filament is configured to form a fluid pathway within a body of a patient for fluid entering or exiting the at least one port of the catheter when the catheter is implanted within the body of the patient.

1 . A catheter assembly for infusion or aspiration of an internal body site, the catheter assembly comprising:
 a first catheter comprised of a tubular sidewall extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the sidewall bounding a lumen, at least one port extending through the sidewall of the first catheter so as to communicate with the lumen; and   at least one filament outwardly extending from the first catheter at or directly adjacent to the at least one port, the filament being configured to form a fluid pathway within a body of a patient for fluid entering or exiting the at least one port of the first catheter when the first catheter is implanted within the body of the patient.   
   
   
       2 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the filament is non-metallic. 
   
   
       3 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one port comprises a first port and a longitudinally spaced apart second port, the second port being disposed distal of the first port and being larger than the first port. 
   
   
       4 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one port comprises a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart ports formed on the sidewall of the first catheter, the concentration of ports increasing toward the distal end of the sidewall. 
   
   
       5 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one port comprises a plurality of longitudinally and/or radially spaced apart ports formed on the sidewall of the first catheter; and   the at least one filament comprises a filament outwardly projecting from or adjacent to each of the ports.   
   
   
       6 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filament extends through the at least one port. 
   
   
       7 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filament extends through the sidewall of the first catheter at a distance of 2 mm or less from the at least one port. 
   
   
       8 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filament longitudinally extends within the lumen of the first catheter. 
   
   
       9 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for securing the at least one filaments to the first catheter. 
   
   
       10 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one filament is integrally formed with the first catheter. 
   
   
       11 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a second catheter discrete from the first catheter, the at least one filament extending from the first catheter to the second catheter. 
   
   
       12 . A catheter assembly for infusion or aspiration of an internal body site, the catheter assembly comprising:
 a first catheter comprised of a tubular sidewall having an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the sidewall bounding a lumen, at least one port being formed on the first catheter so as to provide fluid communication between the lumen and the exterior of the first catheter; and   at least one filament outwardly extending through the at least one port or outwardly extending through the sidewall of the first catheter at a distance of 10 mm or less from the at least one port, the filament being attached to the first catheter.   
   
   
       13 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the filament is removably attached to the first catheter. 
   
   
       14 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the filament is non-metallic. 
   
   
       15 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the first catheter terminates at a distal terminus, the at least one port being formed at the distal terminus or on the sidewall of the first catheter. 
   
   
       16 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the at least one filament extends through the sidewall of the first catheter at a distance of 10 mm or less from the at least one port. 
   
   
       17 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of radially and/or longitudinally spaced apart filaments outwardly projecting from the first catheter. 
   
   
       18 . A catheter assembly for infusion or aspiration of an internal body site, the catheter assembly comprising:
 a first catheter comprised of a tubular sidewall having an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the sidewall bounding a lumen, a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart ports being formed on the first catheter so as to provide fluid communication between the lumen and the exterior surface of the sidewall; and   a plurality of filaments, each filament from the plurality of filaments outwardly projecting from or adjacent to a corresponding one of each port of the plurality of ports.   
   
   
       19 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of filaments extends through the sidewall of the first catheter at a distance of 10 mm or less from a corresponding port. 
   
   
       20 . A catheter assembly as recited in  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the plurality of filaments extends through a corresponding port.