Multilumen catheter assembly and methods for making and inserting the same

Abstract

A multilumen catheter assembly and methods for making and inserting the same are provided. The catheter assembly includes a unitary catheter and at least two distal end tubes which extend distally from the unitary catheter. The at least two lumens in the unitary catheter are in fluid communication with passageways through the distal end tubes. The catheter assembly may be made by extruding a unitary catheter tube having internal longitudinally extending lumens, then splitting the tube on its distal end portion to form distal end tubes. The tubes are then ground and polished to form a smooth surface on the exterior of the tubes. The catheter assembly may also be made by forming an outer layer on at least two longitudinally extending catheters while leaving two distally extending portions of the tubes outside the outer layer to form the distal end tubes. The multilumen catheter assembly may be inserted in a patient for acute and chronic catheterization and subcutaneously tunneled and inserted using a single insertion procedure while leaving the distal end tubes within the vessel capable of free movement and sealing the insertion site into an area to be catheterized.

1. A multilumen catheter assembly having a distal portion, wherein the catheter assembly comprises:
 a unitary catheter body having a plurality of lumens disposed therein, wherein the entire body has a generally oval cross section, wherein the unitary catheter body includes a longitudinal plane generally bisecting the unitary catheter body;  
 wherein the plurality of lumens comprises: 
 a first lumen disposed within the unitary catheter body on a first side of the longitudinal plane, wherein the first lumen is generally circular in cross section and has a first length; and  
 a second lumen disposed within the unitary catheter body on a second side of the longitudinal plane, opposing the first side of the longitudinal plane, wherein the second lumen is generally circular in cross section and has a second length, different from the first length;  
 wherein the distal portion of the catheter assembly is split along the longitudinal plane such that each of the first and second lumens is capable of free movement independent of the other of the first and second lumens,  
 
 wherein the catheter assembly further comprises a first extension tube in fluid communication with the first lumen and a second extension tube in fluid communication with the second lumen.  
 
     
     
       2. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first extension tube in fluid communication with a first lumen and a second extension tube in fluid communication with the second lumen. 
     
     
       3. The multilumen catheter assembly according to claim  2    1 , further comprising a hub disposed at distal ends of each of the first and second extension tubes, respectively, wherein the hub is configured to divert the distal ends of the extension tubes away from each other. 
     
     
       4. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a connector and a clamp releasably attached to each extension tube. 
     
     
       5. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of holes formed through each of the first and second distal end tubes to provide fluid flow from outside the first and second distal end tubes into the passageways in the first and second distal end tubes. 
     
     
       6. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first distal end opening in the first distal end tube and a second distal end opening in the second distal end tube. 
     
     
       7. A multilumen catheter assembly having a distal portion, wherein the catheter assembly comprises:
 a unitary catheter body having a plurality of lumens disposed therein, wherein the entire body has a generally circular cross section, wherein the unitary catheter body includes a longitudinal plane generally bisecting the unitary catheter body;  
 wherein the plurality of lumens comprises: 
 a first lumen disposed within the unitary catheter body on a first side of the longitudinal plane, wherein the first lumen is generally circular in cross section and has a first length; and  
 a second lumen disposed within the unitary catheter body on a second side of the longitudinal plane, opposing the first side of the longitudinal plane, wherein the second lumen is generally circular in cross section and has a second length, different from the first length;  
 wherein the distal portion of the catheter assembly is split along the longitudinal plane such that each of the first and second lumens is capable of free movement independent of the other of the first and second lumens,  
 
 wherein the catheter assembly further comprises a first extension tube in fluid communication with the first lumen and a second extension tube in fluid communication with the second lumen.  
 
     
     
       8. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising a connector and a clamp releasably attached to each extension tube. 
     
     
       9. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of holes formed through each of the first and second distal end tubes to provide fluid flow from outside the first and second distal end tubes into the passageways in the first and second distal end tubes. 
     
     
       10. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising a first distal end opening in the first distal end tube and a second distal end opening in the second distal end tube. 
     
     
       11. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tissue ingrowth cuff provided on the exterior of the unitary catheter body between the first and second extension tubes and the distal portion of the catheter assembly. 
     
     
       12. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lumen and the first extension tube are of a unitary assembly. 
     
     
       13. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the second lumen and the second extension tube are of unitary construction. 
     
     
       14. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second extension tubes further comprises graduated indicia printed on an exterior thereof. 
     
     
       15. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first detachable tube detachably connected to the first extension tube. 
     
     
       16. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 15 , further comprising a second detachable tube detachably connected to the second extension tube. 
     
     
       17. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising a hub disposed at distal ends of each of the first and second extension tubes, respectively. 
     
     
       18. The multilumen catheter assembly according to  claim 7 , further comprising a tissue ingrowth cuff provided on the exterior of the unitary catheter body between the first and second extension tubes and the distal portion of the catheter assembly. 
     
     
       19. A multilumen catheter assembly having a distal portion, wherein the catheter assembly comprises:
   a unitary catheter body having a plurality of lumens disposed therein, wherein the entire body has a generally oval cross section, wherein the unitary catheter body includes a longitudinal plane generally bisecting the unitary catheter body;        wherein the plurality of lumens comprises:      a first lumen disposed within the unitary catheter body on a first side of the longitudinal plane, wherein the first lumen is generally circular in cross section and has a first length; and        a second lumen disposed within the unitary catheter body on a second side of the longitudinal plane, opposing the first side of the longitudinal plane, wherein the second lumen is generally circular in cross section and has a second length, different from the first length;          wherein the distal portion of the catheter assembly is split along the longitudinal plane such that each of the first and second lumens is capable of free movement independent of the other of the first and second lumens,        wherein the catheter assembly further comprises a first extension tube in fluid communication with the first lumen and a second extension tube in fluid communication with the second lumen such that the first extension tube and the first lumen are of unitary construction, and such that the second extension tube and the second lumen are of unitary construction;        a first detachable tube detachably connected to the first extension tube; and        a second detachable tube detachably connected to the second extension tube.