Fluid management catheter and methods of using same

Abstract

A catheter and method for managing fluid in a patient, the catheter having an elongated shaft with a distal end and a proximal end. The shaft defines at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, with the drainage holes in fluid communication with the lumen. The catheter further has a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft with an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist insertion through tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid management catheter, comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft defining at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, the drainage holes being in fluid communication with the lumen; and   a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft and having an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist insertion through tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the tip portion defines at least one opening in fluid communication with one of (i) the shaft lumen and (ii) an irrigation lumen. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 2  wherein the at least one opening is substantially arcuate. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1  further including at least one substantially transparent insert disposed along the distal portion of the shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 4  wherein the shaft carries an optical conduit in optical communication with the at least one insert. 
     
     
         6 . A fluid management catheter suitable for implantation into a ventricle in a brain of a patient, comprising:
 an elongated shaft having a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft defining at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, the drainage holes being in fluid communication with the lumen; and   a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft and having an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist blunt dissection through tissue.   
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 6  wherein the tip portion defines at least one opening in fluid communication with the shaft lumen and the exterior of the catheter. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 7  wherein the at least one opening is substantially arcuate. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 6  further including an irrigation lumen, the tip portion defining at least one opening in fluid communication with the irrigation lumen to direct irrigation fluid along at least a portion of the outer distal leading surface of the distal tip. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter of  claim 9  wherein the at least one opening is substantially arcuate. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter of  claim 6  further including a plurality of substantially transparent inserts disposed along the distal portion of the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter of  claim 11  wherein the shaft carries an optical conduit in optical communication with the inserts. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the tip portion includes a wide angle lens. 
     
     
         14 . The catheter of  claim 1  wherein the tip portion includes a fisheye-type lens. 
     
     
         15 . A method for managing fluid within a brain of a patient, comprising:
 selecting a catheter having an elongated shaft with a distal end and a proximal end, the shaft defining at least one lumen extending substantially therethrough, the shaft further defining a plurality of drainage holes along a distal portion of the shaft, the drainage holes being in fluid communication with the lumen, the catheter further having a substantially transparent tip portion attached to the distal end of the shaft with an outer distal leading surface that is substantially rounded to assist insertion through tissue;   inserting the catheter through tissue in the brain to enter a selected ventricle; and   visualizing through the tip portion of the catheter while positioning the tip portion within the selected ventricle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the tip portion defines at least one opening in fluid communication with one of (i) the shaft lumen and (ii) an irrigation lumen separate from the shaft lumen. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including delivering fluid into the brain through at least the opening in the tip portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further including placing a distal end of a fiber-optic shaft into the shaft lumen of the catheter and against the tip portion to view, indirectly and substantially continuously through the tip portion, tissue within the selected ventricle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further including removing the fiber-optic shaft from the catheter after the tip portion has been positioned at a desired location. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein inserting the catheter includes applying force to the fiber-optic shaft to assist insertion of the distal tip through tissue. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15  further including delivering therapeutic optical radiation through at least the tip portion.