CATHETER DEVICE HAVING BENDABLE EXTENSION LEGS

Abstract

Catheter devices can have bendable extension legs. The extension legs may be designed to include armature wire that enables the extension legs to be bent into and to retain a variety of orientations. As a result, a clinician can easily position the luers of the extension legs into positions that are suitable for a particular patient and/or the clinician.

Claims

1. A catheter device comprising: a catheter; a hub from which the catheter extends distally; and one or more extension legs that extend proximally from the hub, each of the one or more extension legs including an armature wire.

2. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein the one or more extension legs comprise two or more extension legs.

3. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more extension legs includes a first length of tubing and a second length of tubing, the armature wire being contained in the second length of tubing.

4. The catheter device of claim 3, wherein the second length of tubing is connected to the first length of tubing by a length of connecting material.

5. The catheter device of claim 3, wherein the second length of tubing is shorter than the first length of tubing.

6. The catheter device of claim 3, wherein a distal end of the second length of tubing is spaced from the hub and a proximal end of the second length of tubing is spaced from a luer that is connected to a proximal end of the first length of tubing.

7. The catheter device of claim 3, wherein the first length of tubing and the second length of tubing are extruded together.

8. The catheter device of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more extension legs comprises a length of tubing that includes a first lumen and a second lumen, the armature wire being contained in the second lumen.

9. The catheter device of claim 8, wherein the first lumen has a crescent cross-sectional shape.

10. The catheter device of claim 9, wherein the crescent cross-sectional shape of the first lumen extends partially around the second lumen.

11. The catheter device of claim 10, wherein a septum extends between and separates the first and second lumens.

12. A catheter device comprising: a catheter; a hub from which the catheter extends distally; and one or more extension legs that extend proximally from the hub, each of the one or more extension legs including a first lumen and a second lumen, the second lumen being configured to retain an orientation of the extension leg.

13. The catheter device of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more extension legs includes an armature wire that extends within the second lumen, the armature wire retaining the orientation of the extension leg.

14. The catheter device of claim 12, wherein the first lumen is formed within a first length of tubing and the second lumen is formed within a second length of tubing that is connected to the first length of tubing.

15. The catheter device of claim 12, wherein the first and second lumens are formed within a length of tubing.

16. The catheter device of claim 12, wherein each of the one or more extension legs includes a luer.

17. A method for creating an extension leg of a catheter device comprising: forming a first lumen and a second lumen; and positioning an armature wire in the second lumen.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first lumen is formed in a first length of tubing and the second lumen is formed in a second length of tubing that is connected to the first length of tubing.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second lumens are formed in a length of tubing.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein positioning the armature wire in the second lumen comprises inserting the armature wire into the second lumen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Example embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] FIGS. 1A and 1B provide examples of prior art catheter devices that include pre-formed, rigid extension legs;

[0032] FIG. 2A provides an example of a catheter device that includes extension legs that are configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of an extension leg of the catheter device in FIG. 2A;

[0034] FIG. 3A provides an example of another catheter device that includes extension legs that are configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 3B-3D are cross-sectional views of an extension leg of the catheter device in FIG. 3A;

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0036] A catheter device configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may be in the form of a PICC, a dialysis catheter or another catheter device that includes extension legs. Also, a catheter device configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure may include two or more extension legs, any of which may be configured to be bendable in accordance with the techniques of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 2A provides an example of a catheter device 200 that is configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Catheter device 200 includes a catheter 201, a hub 202, extension legs 210 each having a luer 204 at its proximal end, a clamp 205 on one or both of extension legs 210, and a securement platform 206. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of extension leg 210.

[0038] Extension leg 210 includes a first length of tubing 211 which forms a first lumen 211a. Luer 204 is connected to first length of tubing 211. Extension leg 210 also includes a second length of tubing 212 which forms a second lumen 212a. Second length of tubing 212 may extend along and be connected to a portion of first length of tubing 211 via a length of connecting material 213 such that the cross-sectional shape of extension leg 210 resembles a FIG. 8. First length of tubing 211, second length of tubing 212 and connecting material 213 may be formed of a flexible material, which in some embodiments may be the same material. In some embodiments, a distal end 212d of second length of tubing 212 may be spaced from hub 202, and a proximal end 212p of second length of tubing 212 may be spaced from luer 204 so as to not interfere with these components.

[0039] An armature wire 214 can extend within second lumen 212a between distal end 212d and proximal end 212p. In some embodiments, distal end 212d and proximal end 212p may be configured to retain armature wire 214 within second lumen 212a. For example, distal end 212d and proximal end 212p may be crimped, heated, or otherwise configured to prevent armature wire 214 from extending out from second lumen 212a. In some embodiments, armature wire 214 may be 14 gauge, however, any suitable diameter could be used.

[0040] Armature wire 214 allows second length of tubing 212 to be bent into and retained in a variety of orientations. Because second length of tubing 212 is connected to first length of tubing 211 via connecting material 213, this bending of second length of tubing 212 will also cause first length of tubing 211 to be bent into and retained in the variety of orientations. For example, FIG. 2A represents a use case in which the clinician has bent one extension leg 210 into a curved orientation while retaining the other extension leg 210 in a straight orientation. The respective armature wires 214 can retain extension legs 210 in these orientations unless and until the clinician or patient desires to reorient them. Notably, in these embodiments, because armature wire 214 is contained in second lumen 212a, first lumen 211a can have a typical circular cross-sectional shape and size.

[0041] In some embodiments, extension legs 210 can be formed by extruding first length of tubing 211, second length of tubing 212 and connecting material 213 as a unitary component. Then, second length of tubing 212 could be trimmed away to the desired length. Armature wire 214 could then be inserted into second lumen 212a and distal end 212d and proximal end 212p could be crimped, heated, or otherwise configured to maintain armature wire 214 within second length of tubing 212. Luer 204 could be coupled to first length of tubing 211 either before or after armature wire 214 is inserted into second length of tubing 212.

[0042] FIG. 3A provides another example of a catheter device 300 that is configured in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Catheter device 300 includes a catheter 301, a hub 302, extension legs 310 each having a luer 304 at its proximal end, a clamp 305 on one or both of extension legs 310, and a securement platform 306. FIGS. 3B-3D are cross-sectional views of extension leg 310.

[0043] Extension leg 310 includes a single length of tubing that forms a first lumen 311 and a second lumen 312. In some embodiments, including the depicted embodiments, first lumen 311 may have a crescent cross-sectional shape, and second lumen 312 may have a circular cross-sectional shape. In some embodiments, the crescent shape of first lumen 311 may extend around a portion of second lumen 312 so that a septum 313 extends between and separates first lumen 311 and second lumen 312. Armature wire 314 may be inserted into second lumen 312 to enable extension leg 310 to be bent into and to retain a variety of orientations. In some embodiments, luer 304 may be molded onto extension leg 310 after inserting armature wire 314 into second lumen 312. In some embodiments, luer 304 could include a protrusion that inserts slightly into second lumen 312 to thereby retain armature wire 314 within second lumen 312.

[0044] FIG. 3C represents embodiments in which extension leg 310 has an outside diameter of 0.177 inches (4.496 mm), which is a typical outside diameter of an extension leg, and a wall thickness of 0.0285 inches (0.724 mm), which is a typical wall thickness of an extension leg. In such embodiments, second lumen 312 may have a diameter of 0.069 inches (1.753 mm) and septum 313 may have a thickness of 0.008 inches (0.203 mm) such that the cross-sectional area of first lumen 311 may be approximately 0.0075 in.sup.2 (4.839 mm.sup.2). In comparison, the lumen of a typical extension leg may have a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.0113 in.sup.2 (7.29 mm.sup.2).

[0045] FIG. 3D represents embodiments in which extension leg 310 has a larger outside diameter of 0.0195 inches (12.581 mm) and a wall thickness of 0.0260 inches (16.774 mm). In such embodiments, second lumen 312 may have the same 0.069-inch diameter and septum 313 may have the same 0.008-inch thickness which allows first lumen 311 to have a larger cross-sectional area of 0.0119 in.sup.2 (7.677 mm.sup.2) to support higher fluid flow rates.

[0046] Extension legs that are configured to be bendable in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure enable the clinician to position the extension legs in orientations that are best for the patient and/or the clinician. These bendable extensions legs can be produced without requiring special machinery and with minimal additional steps.

[0047] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.