Biliary Diversion Catheter

Abstract

Biliary diversion catheters for diverting bile fluid from a part of the patient's biliary tree to the patient's distal small intestine. The catheter comprises a system of interconnected or interconnectable tubes: a biliary tube segment, an intestinal (e.g. ileal or jejunal) tube segment, and a flush tube segment. The biliary diversion catheter is designed such that bile fluid flows into the biliary tube segment and is shunted into the distal small intestine via the intestinal tube segment. The flush tube segment is used to infuse flush fluid into the catheter (e.g. to clear out any debris within the tube system of the catheter). The biliary tube segment and the intestinal tube segment may together form a drainage tube or an anastomotic component. The flush tube segment and the intestinal tube segment may together form a transabdominal tube.

1 . A method of treating a metabolic disorder in a patient by implanting a biliary diversion catheter into the patient, wherein the biliary diversion catheter comprises:
 (a) a biliary tube segment having a proximal end and a proximal terminal portion encompassing the proximal end of the biliary tube segment, and an opening configured to allow inflow of bile fluid into the biliary tube segment;   (b) an intestinal tube segment that is in fluid communication with the biliary tube segment and having a distal end and a distal terminal portion that encompasses the distal end of the intestinal tube segment, and an opening configured to allow outflow of bile fluid;   (c) a flush tube segment that is in fluid communication with the intestinal tube segment and having a proximal end and a proximal terminal portion that encompasses the proximal end of the flush tube segment, and an opening configured to receive flush fluid;   (d) a directional control valve that is operable to control flow of fluid between the flush tube segment and the intestinal tube segment;   wherein implanting of the biliary diversion catheter comprises:   inserting the proximal terminal portion of the biliary tube segment into a part of the patient's biliary tree such that bile fluid flows into the biliary tube segment via the biliary tube segment's opening;   inserting the distal terminal portion of the intestinal tube segment into the patient's distal small intestine such that bile fluid flows out of the intestinal tube segment's opening;   positioning the proximal terminal portion of the flush tube segment outside the patient's abdominal cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distal terminal portion of the intestinal tube segment is inserted into the patient's ileum. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal terminal portion of the biliary tube segment is inserted into a gallbladder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal terminal portion of the biliary tube segment is inserted into a common bile duct. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein implanting of the biliary diversion catheter is performed laparoscopically. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising fixing the distal terminal portion of the distal terminal portion of the intestinal tube segment to the patient's abdominal wall. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising flushing the catheter by steps comprising:
 from outside the abdominal cavity, infusing a volume of liquid medium flush fluid into the flush tube segment;   flowing the flush fluid into the intestinal tube segment.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the directional control valve is further operable to control flow of fluid between the flush tube segment and the biliary tube segment;
 and further comprising flushing the catheter by steps comprising:   from outside the abdominal cavity, infusing a volume of liquid medium flush fluid into the flush tube segment;   flowing the flush fluid into the biliary tube segment.