Splittable Multiple Catheter Assembly

Abstract

A multiple catheter assembly including first and second catheters. The first catheter includes a first catheter outer surface defining a first lumen, a first distal end terminating in a first distal tip, and a first transition region. The second catheter includes a second catheter outer surface defining a second lumen, a second distal end terminating in a second distal tip, and a second transition region. At least a portion of each of the first and second catheters resides in a cannulating portion. The first and second transition regions of the first and second catheters transition cross sections of the first and second catheter outer surfaces at the first and second distal tips to cross sections of the first and second catheter outer surfaces in the cannulating portion. In exemplary embodiments, the portions of each of the first and second catheters in the cannulating portion are releasably bonded to one another.

1 . A multiple catheter assembly, comprising:
 a first catheter comprising a first proximal end, a first lumen extending through the first catheter, and a first distal end terminating in a first distal tip, at least a portion of the first catheter residing in a cannulating portion, the first catheter further comprising a first catheter outer surface defining at least the first lumen extending through the first catheter, the first catheter outer surface further defining a cross section at the first distal tip and a cross section in the cannulating portion, the first lumen defining a cross section at the first distal tip and a cross section in the cannulating portion, the first distal end comprising a first transition region transitioning the first catheter outer surface from the cross section defined by the first catheter outer surface at the first distal tip to the cross section defined by the first catheter outer surface in the cannulating portion, the first transition region further transitioning the first lumen from the cross section defined by the first lumen at the first distal tip to the cross section defined by the first lumen in the cannulating portion; and   a second catheter comprising a second proximal end, a second lumen extending through the second catheter, and a second distal end terminating in a second distal tip, at least a portion of the second catheter residing in the cannulating portion, the second catheter further comprising a second catheter outer surface defining at least the second lumen extending through the second catheter, the second catheter outer surface further defining a cross section at the second distal tip and a cross section in the cannulating portion, the second lumen defining a cross section at the second distal tip and a cross section in the cannulating portion, the second distal end comprising a second transition region transitioning the second catheter outer surface from the cross section defined by the second catheter outer surface at the second distal tip to the cross section defined by the second catheter outer surface in the cannulating portion, the second transition region further transitioning the second lumen from the cross section defined by the second lumen at the second distal tip to the cross section defined by the second lumen in the cannulating portion,   wherein the first and second lumens are independent from each other for facilitating simultaneous flow in opposite directions.   
     
     
         2 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the first catheter is releasably joined to a second portion of the second catheter by a splittable bond for allowing the first and second catheters to be at least partially longitudinally split from each other. 
     
     
         3 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first catheter outer surface comprises a first generally flat portion, and   the second catheter outer surface comprises a second generally flat portion.   
     
     
         4 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of first generally flat portion is bonded to a portion of the second generally flat portion to form a unitary catheter and the splittable bond. 
     
     
         5 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cross section defined by the first lumen at the first distal tip is different from the cross section defined by the second lumen at the second distal tip. 
     
     
         6 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cross section defined by the first lumen at the first distal tip comprises an oval shape and the cross section defined by the second lumen at the second distal tip comprises a circular shape. 
     
     
         7 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the cross section defined by the first lumen in the cannulating portion comprises a D-shape,   the cross section defined by the second lumen in the cannulating portion comprises a D-shape,   the first transition region transitions the oval shape of the cross section defined by the first lumen at the first distal tip to the D-shape of the cross section defined by the first lumen in the cannulating portion, and   the second transition region transitions the circular shape of the cross section defined by the second lumen at the second distal tip to the D-shape of the cross section defined by the second lumen in the cannulating portion.   
     
     
         8 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second catheter further comprises a side opening for insertion of a guide member through the second lumen, out the side opening, and into the second lumen, the side opening disposed in a region of the second catheter outer surface of the second catheter between the first and second distal tips. 
     
     
         9 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the side opening is disposed in a most proximal portion of the second transition region. 
     
     
         10 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the side opening is elongated in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second catheter. 
     
     
         11 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cross section defined by the first catheter outer surface at the first distal tip is different from the cross section defined by the second catheter outer surface at the second distal tip. 
     
     
         12 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second catheter outer surfaces form a unitary catheter in which the cannulating portion comprises an outer surface comprising a circular cross section. 
     
     
         13 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a shape of the circular cross section of the outer surface is the same as a shape as the cross section defined by the second catheter outer surface at the second distal tip. 
     
     
         14 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a distal length of the first catheter is shorter than a distal length of the second catheter. 
     
     
         15 . A multiple catheter assembly, comprising:
 a first catheter comprising a first proximal end, a first lumen extending through the first catheter, and a first distal end terminating in a first distal tip, at least a portion of the first catheter residing in a cannulating portion, the first catheter further comprising a first catheter outer surface defining at least the first lumen extending through the first catheter, the first catheter outer surface further defining a cross section at the first distal tip and a cross section in the cannulating portion, the first lumen defining a cross section at the first distal tip and a cross section in the cannulating portion, the first distal end comprising a first transition region transitioning the first catheter outer surface from the cross section defined by the first catheter outer surface at the first distal tip to the cross section defined by the first catheter outer surface in the cannulating portion, the first transition region further transitioning the first lumen from the cross section defined by the first lumen at the first distal tip to the cross section defined by the first lumen in the cannulating portion;   a second catheter comprising a second proximal end, a second lumen extending through the second catheter, and a second distal end terminating in a second distal tip, at least a portion of the second catheter residing in the cannulating portion, the second catheter further comprising a second catheter outer surface defining at least the second lumen extending through the second catheter, the second catheter outer surface further defining a cross section at the second distal tip and a cross section in the cannulating portion, the second lumen defining a cross section at the second distal tip and a cross section in the cannulating portion, the second distal end comprising a second transition region transitioning the second catheter outer surface from the cross section defined by the second catheter outer surface at the second distal tip to the cross section defined by the second catheter outer surface in the cannulating portion, the second transition region further transitioning the second lumen from the cross section defined by the second lumen at the second distal tip to the cross section defined by the second lumen in the cannulating portion;   a first extension tube assembly releasably connected to the first proximal end of the first catheter, the first extension tube assembly comprising a first extension tube; and   a second extension tube assembly releasably connected to the second proximal end of the second catheter, the second extension tube assembly comprising a second extension tube,   wherein the first and second lumens are independent from each other for facilitating simultaneous flow in opposite directions.   
     
     
         16 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first extension tube assembly further comprises a first clamp disposed on the first extension tube for selectively occluding the first extension tube, and   the second extension tube assembly further comprises a second clamp disposed on the second extension tube for selectively occluding the second extension tube.   
     
     
         17 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first luer connector connected to the first proximal end of the first catheter; and   a second luer connector connected to the second proximal end of the second catheter, wherein:   the first extension tube assembly further comprises a luer connector for releasably connecting the first extension tube assembly to the first proximal end of the first catheter by releasably connecting to the first luer connector connected to the first proximal end of the first catheter, and   the second extension tube assembly further comprises a luer connector for releasably connecting the second extension tube assembly to the second proximal end of the second catheter by releasably connecting to the second luer connector connected to the second proximal end of the second catheter.   
     
     
         18 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a first portion of the first catheter is releasably joined to a second portion of the second catheter by a splittable bond for allowing the first and second catheters to be at least partially longitudinally split from each other. 
     
     
         19 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first catheter outer surface comprises a first generally flat portion, and   the second catheter outer surface comprises a second generally flat portion.   
     
     
         20 . The multiple catheter assembly of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of first generally flat portion is bonded to a portion of the second generally flat portion to form a unitary catheter and the splittable bond.