Multiple lumen microcatheter tube and method for manufacturing multiple lumen microcatheter tubes
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10758707-B2
Publication Date
2020-09-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A multiple-lumen microcatheter tube has at least two tube lumens and a closed distal tube end. In the area of the distal tube end, a separation strip has between the two tube lumens at least one passage opening. There results a multiple-lumen tube, whose use as for example a probe for measuring tissue parameters, is improved.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an improved multiple-lumen microcatheter tube for delivering and/or withdrawing media to a distal region and enabling media exchange between a tube lumen and an environment. The tube includes at least two tube lumens, a closed distal tube end, and a separation strip disposed between the two lumens. The separation strip and an inter-lumen passage opening allow a media passage between the tube lumens.
One of the tube lumens comprises at least one window passage opening that makes possible a medium exchange between the tube lumens and an environment. In the area of the window passage opening, a permeable material is introduced into the tube lumen, where the permeable material is a fibrous material formed by a plurality of fibers. The fibrous material is axially longer than the associated window passage opening, so that the fibrous material extends beyond the window region in the longitudinal direction of the tube.
The permeable fibrous material is fixed and sealed fluid-tightly against the lumen inner wall by an adhesive/glue layer, thereby forcing fluid flow through the permeable material and avoiding short-circuit flow. The distal tube end is hermetically sealed with an adhesive sealing plug in a manner that does not close an inter-lumen passage opening created by removing the separation strip near the distal end. Variants of the window passage opening geometry are disclosed, including arrangements with multiple windows and axially offset windows, to improve mechanical stability.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim directed to the multiple-lumen microcatheter tube and one dependent-claim family of refinements. Across the independent claim and the listed dependent claims, the coverage includes the inter-lumen passage via a separation strip, media exchange via a window passage opening, and the use of axially longer permeable fibrous material in the window region, with further constraints on window arrangement and structural/dimensional features.
Multiple-lumen tube with inter-lumen passage opening
A multiple-lumen microcatheter tube comprising at least two tube lumens, a closed distal tube end, and a separation strip with at least one passage opening disposed between and fluidically connecting the two tube lumens, wherein the at least one passage opening enables a media passage between the tube lumens.
Window passage opening for media exchange with environment
The tube of claim 1 wherein at least one of the tube lumens comprises at least one window passage opening, through which is made possible a medium exchange between the tube lumens and an environment.
Axially longer permeable fibrous material in window region
A tube of claim 1 wherein a permeable material is introduced into the tube lumen in an area of the window passage opening, wherein the permeable material is a fibrous material in the form of a plurality of fibers, and wherein, in direction of a longitudinal axis of the tube, the permeable material is axially longer than the associated window passage opening.
Multiple window passage openings in one lumen
The multiple-lumen microcatheter tube wherein at least one of the tube lumens comprises a plurality of window passage openings.
Exactly one window passage opening in one lumen
The multiple-lumen microcatheter tube wherein at least one tube lumen comprises exactly one window passage opening.
Adhesive fixing of permeable material at window region
The multiple-lumen microcatheter tube includes an adhesive fixing the permeable material in the tube lumen where at least one window passage is formed.
Fibrous material fills complete lumen cross section at window region
The microcatheter tube is configured so that the fibrous material fills up the complete cross section of the tube lumen in the region of the associated window passage opening.
Lumen inner diameter range
The multiple-lumen microcatheter tube wherein the tube lumens have an inner diameter in the range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.
Across the claims presented, the core inventive structure is a multiple-lumen microcatheter tube with an inter-lumen passage opening defined by a separation strip, together with a window passage opening for exchange with an environment. The window region includes a permeable fibrous material introduced into the lumen and axially longer than the window passage opening, with dependent refinements specifying window arrangement, adhesive fixing, and fibrous cross-sectional coverage, plus a lumen inner diameter range.
Stated Advantages
Enables media passage between the tube lumens via the separation strip and passage opening.
Enables medium exchange between the tube lumen and an environment through the window passage opening.
Forces fluid flow through the permeable fibrous material to avoid short-circuit flow.
Provides improved mechanical stability through disclosed window opening geometry variants.
Hermetic sealing of the distal tube end without closing an inter-lumen passage opening.
Documented Applications
A dialysis probe.
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