Telescoping catheter shunt system

Claim 1

A telescoping catheter shunt system comprising first and second telescoping tubings, said first tubing being coupled to a catheter adapted to be inserted into a body cavity to be drained and being received within said second tubing which has a larger diameter than said first tubing, a valve assembly which is mounted to said second tubing and which has means for controlling the drainage of fluid from the cavity in response to pressure of the draining fluid and flexible means that can be pressed from an area external to the body to provide a flushing/pumping action, said first tubing having a seal forming and stop forming flange at the proximal end thereof which has an outer diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of said second tubing in which it is received to establish a friction, sealing fit between the outer surface of said flange and the inner surface of said second tubing that defines a primary seal for keeping body fluids other than the draining fluid out of said system, said second tubing having an annular stop member at the distal end thereof through which said first tubing extends such that upon telescoping of the tubings, relative movement between them is limited by engagement of said flange with said annular stop member to prevent disengagement of the tubing so that said tubings cannot separate, the proximal end of said second tubing being attached to the said valve assembly, and a lower drainage catheter being attached to said valve assembly and positioned in a body cavity into which the draining fluid is to be deposited.

Claim 13

A method for draining fluid from a body cavity utilizing a telescoping catheter shunt system of the type including first and second telescoping tubings, said first tubing being coupled to a catheter adapted to be inserted into a body cavity to be drained and being received within said second tubing which has a larger diameter than said first tubing, a valve assembly which is mounted to said second tubing and which has means for controlling the drainage of fluid from the cavity in response to pressure of the draining fluid and flexible means that can be pressed from an area external to the body to provide a flushing/pumping action, said first tubing having a seal forming and stop forming flange at the proximal end thereof which has an outer diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of said second tubing in which it is received to establish a friction, sealing fit between the outer surface of said flange and the inner surface of said second tubing that defines a primary seal for keeping body fluids other than the draining fluid out of said system, said second tubing having an annular stop member at the distal end thereof through which said first tubing extends such that upon telescoping of the tubings, relative movement between them is limited by engagement of said flange with said annular stop member to prevent disengagement of the tubings so that said tubings cannot separate, the proximal end of said second tubing being attached to the said valve assembly, and a lower drainage catheter being atached to said valve assembly and positioned in a body cavity into which the draining fluid is to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: positioning the valve assembly through a small incision of the skin in a selected location on the chest; tunneling and installing the drainage catheter under the skin to a second incision over the peritoneal entry site where any excess drain catheter is placed into the peritoneum; making a third incision over the burr hole location on the head; performing a second tunneling operation to pull the pre-assembled telescoping tubings from the valve assembly to the burr hole location, care being taken to assure the telescoping tubings are completely telescoped; making a burr hole in the skull; installing a ventricular catheter into the ventricles of the brain; trimming the ventricular catheter and the telescoping first tubing to a desired length; and securely fastening the ventricular catheter and the first tubing to a right angle connector mounted through the burr hole thereby anchoring one end of the telescoping catheter system to the burr hole and the other end to the valve in the chest at the location of the valve assembly.

Claim 14

A method for draining fluid from a body cavity utilizing a telescoping catheter shunt system of the type including first and second telescoping tubings, said first tubing being coupled to a catheter adapted to be inserted into a body cavity to be drained and being received within said second tubing which has a larger diameter than said first tubing, a valve assembly which is mounted to said second tubing and which has means for controlling the drainage of fluid from the cavity in response to pressure of the draining fluid and flexible means that can be pressed from an area external to the body to provide a flushing/pumping action, said first tubing having a seal forming and stop forming flange at the proximal end thereof which has an outer diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of said second tubing in which it is received to establish a friction, sealing fit between the outer surface of said flange and the inner surface of said second tubing that defines a primary seal for keeping body fluids other than the draining fluid out of said system, said second tubing having an annular stop member at the distal end thereof through which said first tubing extends such that upon telescoping of the tubings, relative movement between them is limited by engagement of said flange with said annular stop member to prevent disengagement of the tubings so that said tubings cannot separate, the proximal end of said second tubing being attached to the said valve assembly, and a lower drainage catheter being atached to said valve assembly and positioned in a body cavity into which the draining fluid is to be deposited, said method comprising the steps of: positioning the valve assembly through a small incision of the skin in a selected location on the chest; tunneling and installing the drainage catheter under the skin to a second incision over the peritoneal entry site where any excess drain catheter is placed into the peritoneum; making a third incision over the burr hole location on the head; performing a second tunneling operation to pull the pre-assembled telescoping tubings from the valve assembly to the burr hole location, care being taken to assure the telescoping tubings are completely telescoped; making a burr hole in the skull; installing a ventricular catheter into the ventricles of the brain; trimming the ventricular catheter and the telescoping first tubing to a desired length; and securely fastening the ventricular catheter and the first tubing to a right angle connector mounted through the burr hole thereby anchoring one end of the telescoping catheter system to the burr hole and the other end to the valve in the chest at the location of the valve assembly.