US4784638A — Angled hole ventricular catheter and method of ma…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

A catheter for placement into the ventricular system of the brain of a subject comprising a flexible elongated body having a wall thickness sufficient to contain and transport fluid therein and having a forward end and tip for insertion into the ventricular system of the brain of a subject; and a plurality of spaced apertures located in said forward end of said body spaced from said tip, each of said apertures extending through the wall thickness at an angle such that a portion of said wall thickness is visible when viewing said aperture perpendicular to the axis of said body, and such that upon slight stretching of the catheter by means of a placement stylet the apertures will close upon themselves and reopen upon removal of the tension on the catheter, thereby to minimize abrasion of brain tissue upon insertion of said catheter and to prevent choroid plexus and ependymal tissue from growing into said catheter apertures, thereby providing improved flow of fluid into or from said ventricular system.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 169 words

A catheter for placement into the ventricular system of the brain of a subject comprising a flexible elongated body having a wall thickness sufficient to contain and transport fluid therein and having a forward end and tip for insertion into the ventricular system of the brain of a subject; and a plurality of spaced apertures located in said forward end of said body spaced from said tip, each of said apertures extending through the wall thickness at an angle such that a portion of said wall thickness is visible when viewing said aperture perpendicular to the axis of said body, and such that upon slight stretching of the catheter by means of a placement stylet the apertures will close upon themselves and reopen upon removal of the tension on the catheter, thereby to minimize abrasion of brain tissue upon insertion of said catheter and to prevent choroid plexus and ependymal tissue from growing into said catheter apertures, thereby providing improved flow of fluid into or from said ventricular system.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The catheter of claim 1 wherein each of said apertures extends through said wall thickness at an angle of about 35° with respect to the longitudinal axis of said body.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said apertures are aligned in rows which are spaced about 120° apart around the circumference of said body.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said forward end of said body is made of a radioopaque material at least in the area surrounding said apertures to facilitate monitoring of the placement of said catheter in the ventricular system.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said body further comprises means to indicate the depth of penetration of said catheter forward end.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The catheter of claim 5 wherein said means comprises markings of a radioopaque material to facilitate monitoring of the placement of said catheter.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 198 words

A method of accessing cerebral spinal fluid in a ventricle within a human cranium which comprises: drilling an orifice in the cranium just anterior to a coronal suture in a midpupillary line of the cranium; and guiding a catheter through the orifice by means of a guide assembly in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to the cranium at the orifice, whereby the catheter accurately penetrates the ventricle on the first insertion with minimum abrasion of brain tissue, said catheter comprising a flexible elongated body having a wall thickness sufficient to contain and transport fluid therein and having a forward end and tip for insertion into said ventricle, and a plurality of spaced apertures located in said forward end of said body spaced from said tip, each of said apertures extending through the wall thickness at an angle such that a portion of said wall thickness is visible when viewing said aperture perpendicular to the axis of said body, whereby the position and configuration of said apertures of said catheter minimizes or prevents choroid plexus or ependymal tissue growth thereinto, so that increased flow of fluid to or from said ventricle is obtained.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 198 words

A method of accessing cerebral spinal fluid in a ventricle within a human cranium which comprises: drilling an orifice in the cranium just anterior to a coronal suture in a midpupillary line of the cranium; and guiding a catheter through the orifice by means of a guide assembly in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to the cranium at the orifice, whereby the catheter accurately penetrates the ventricle on the first insertion with minimum abrasion of brain tissue, said catheter comprising a flexible elongated body having a wall thickness sufficient to contain and transport fluid therein and having a forward end and tip for insertion into said ventricle, and a plurality of spaced apertures located in said forward end of said body spaced from said tip, each of said apertures extending through the wall thickness at an angle such that a portion of said wall thickness is visible when viewing said aperture perpendicular to the axis of said body, whereby the position and configuration of said apertures of said catheter minimizes or prevents choroid plexus or ependymal tissue growth thereinto, so that increased flow of fluid to or from said ventricle is obtained.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 105 words

The method of claim 7 wherein said guide assembly comprises tubular means and support means for said tubular means, said method further comprising placing said support means so as to rest unsecured on said human cranium in surrounding spaced relation to said orifice, and guiding said catheter through said tubular means and into said orifice and said ventricle, said support means and said tubular means being related to each other such that said catheter is guided through said orifice by said tubular means in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to the cranium of the orifice, independent of said orifice.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 7 which further comprises supporting said tubular means through a support means comprising a plurality of legs of equal length, and inserting a removable insert within said tubular means to reduce the diameter thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 7 which further comprises utilizing a stylet to assist in the insertion of said catheter in a manner such that the catheter is stretched so as to flatten said apertures to further reduce abrasion of brain tissue upon insertion therein.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 7 wherein said catheter body further comprises means for indicating the depth of penetration of said catheter forward end and wherein said method further comprises inserting said catheter to a predetermined depth into the ventricle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said indicating means comprises radioopaque markings and wherein said method further comprises monitoring the placement of said catheter in the ventricle.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 149 words

A catheter for placement into a host comprising a flexible elongated body having a wall thickness sufficient to contain and transport fluid therein and having a forward end and tip for insertion into the host; and a plurality of spaced apertures located in said forward end of said body spaced from said tip, each of said apertures extending through the wall thickness at an angle such that a portion of said wall thickness is visible when viewing said aperture perpendicular to the axis of said body, and such that upon slight stretching of the catheter by means of a placement stylet the apertures will close upon themselves and reopen upon removal of the tension on the catheter, thereby to minimize abrasion of tissue upon insertion of said catheter and to prevent tissue from growing into said catheter apertures, thereby providing improved flow of fluid into or from said host.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 149 words

A catheter for placement into a host comprising a flexible elongated body having a wall thickness sufficient to contain and transport fluid therein and having a forward end and tip for insertion into the host; and a plurality of spaced apertures located in said forward end of said body spaced from said tip, each of said apertures extending through the wall thickness at an angle such that a portion of said wall thickness is visible when viewing said aperture perpendicular to the axis of said body, and such that upon slight stretching of the catheter by means of a placement stylet the apertures will close upon themselves and reopen upon removal of the tension on the catheter, thereby to minimize abrasion of tissue upon insertion of said catheter and to prevent tissue from growing into said catheter apertures, thereby providing improved flow of fluid into or from said host.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The catheter of claim 13 wherein each of said apertures extends through said wall thickness at an angle of about 35° with respect to the longitudinal axis of said body.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

The catheter of claim 13 wherein said apertures are aligned in rows which are spaced about 120° apart around the circumference of said body.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 38 words

The catheter of claim 13 wherein said forward end of said body is made of a radioopaque material at least in the area surrounding said apertures to facilitate monitoring of the placement of said catheter in the host.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The catheter of claim 13 wherein said body further comprises means to indicate the depth of penetration of said catheter forward end.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The catheter of claim 17 wherein said indication means comprises markings of a radioopaque material to facilitate monitoring of the placement of said catheter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-11-15	1992-05-16	1992-11-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-11-15	1996-05-16	1996-11-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-11-15	2000-05-16	2000-11-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Angled hole ventricular catheter and method of making same

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