Catheter systems and methods of use

Abstract

A method of using a catheter system which includes inserting a first distal end portion of an outer catheter into a first body lumen, coupling a first key joint component on an inner catheter with a second key joint component on a proximal end portion of the outer catheter to fix a rotational orientation of the inner catheter relative to a rotational orientation of the outer catheter about a longitudinal axis of the first body lumen, wherein the second key joint component runs along a partial length of the outer catheter, and wherein a distal end portion of the inner catheter includes a pre-formed bend that extends at a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first body lumen, and advancing the distal end portion of the inner catheter through a lumen of the outer catheter, away from the distal end portion of the outer catheter, and into a second body lumen, the second body lumen branching from the first body lumen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a catheter system, comprising:
 inserting a first distal end portion of an outer catheter into a first body lumen;   coupling a first key joint component on an inner catheter with a second key joint component on a proximal end portion of the outer catheter to fix a rotational orientation of the inner catheter relative to a rotational orientation of the outer catheter about a longitudinal axis of the first body lumen, wherein the second key joint component runs along a partial length of the outer catheter, and wherein a distal end portion of the inner catheter includes a pre-formed bend that extends at a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first body lumen; and   advancing the distal end portion of the inner catheter through a lumen of the outer catheter, away from the distal end portion of the outer catheter, and into a second body lumen, the second body lumen branching from the first body lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the proximal end portion of the outer catheter comprises a detachable fitting defining a first opening, the fitting being selectively coupled to a proximal end portion of an elongated body of the outer catheter,   wherein the second key joint component includes the first opening, the first opening having a non-circular shape that corresponds to a non-circular outer contour of the inner catheter,   wherein coupling the first key joint component on the inner catheter with the second key joint component on the outer catheter comprises inserting the inner catheter through the first opening in the fitting, and   wherein a direction at which the distal end portion extends from the longitudinal axis of the first body lumen is aligned with the second body lumen.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising aspirating a substance from the second body lumen using a lumen defined by the inner catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 retracting the distal end portion of the inner catheter from the second body lumen and the first opening of the fitting;   coupling the first key joint component on the inner catheter with a third key joint component on the fitting to fix a second rotational orientation of the inner catheter relative to the rotational orientation of the outer catheter about the longitudinal axis of the first body lumen such that the direction at which the distal end portion extends from the longitudinal axis of the first body lumen is aligned with a third body lumen, the third body lumen branching from the first body lumen, wherein the third key joint component includes a second opening defined by the fitting, the second opening having a non-circular shape that corresponds to the non-circular outer contour of the inner catheter, and wherein coupling the first key joint component with the third key joint component includes inserting the inner catheter through the second opening defined by the fitting; and   advancing the distal end portion of the inner catheter through the lumen of the outer catheter, away from the distal end portion of the outer catheter, and into the third body lumen.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising aspirating the third body lumen using a lumen defined by the inner catheter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 retracting the distal end portion of the inner catheter from the second body lumen; 
 rotating the first opening such that the direction at which the distal end portion of the inner catheter extends from the longitudinal axis of the first body lumen is aligned with a third body lumen, the third body lumen branching from the first body lumen; and 
 advancing the distal end portion of the inner catheter into the third body lumen. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein rotating the first opening comprises
 uncoupling the fitting from the outer catheter;
 rotating the fitting about 180 degrees; and 
   recoupling the fitting to the outer catheter.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first body lumen is a trachea, and wherein the second body lumen is one of the main bronchi. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 retracting the distal end portion of the first inner catheter from the second body lumen and the first opening of the fitting; 
 coupling a third key joint component on a second inner catheter with the second key joint component on the fitting to fix a first rotational orientation of the second inner catheter relative to the rotational orientation of the outer catheter about the longitudinal axis of the first body lumen such that the direction at which a distal end portion extends from the longitudinal axis of the first body lumen is aligned with a third body lumen, the third body lumen branching from the first body lumen, wherein coupling the third key joint component of the second inner catheter with the second key joint component on the fitting includes inserting the second inner catheter through the first opening defined by the fitting; and 
 advancing the distal end portion of the second inner catheter through the lumen in the outer catheter, away from the distal end portion of the outer catheter, and into the third body lumen.