Dual-lumen catheter-connecting system

Claim 2

A dual-lumen catheter assembly comprising: a dual-lumen catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, flow diversion means having one end fastened to the proximal end of said catheter, and a pair of flexible extension tubes each having one end fastened to the opposite end of said flow diversion means from said catheter, each of said extension tubes being bent back toward the distal end of said catheter to form a bend having a predetermined shape, each bend being adapted to flex and deform from said predetermined shape in response to an external force and being adapted to return to said predetermined shape in response to removal of said external force.

Claim 3

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said extension tubes, including the bends therein, are flexible.

Claim 4

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the bent extension tubes and the flow diversion means lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 5

The catheter assembly of claim 1 which includes a pair of luer fittings fastened to the proximal ends of said extension tubes, and a closure cap on each of said luer fittings.

Claim 6

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said connector includes a pair of ferrules on said opposite end thereof, and said extension tubes are fastened to said ferrules.

Claim 7

The catheter assembly of claim 1 which includes flow control means on each of said extension tubes, on the proximal sides of said bends in said tubes.

Claim 8

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said flow diversion means includes a pair of internal passageways communicating with the dual lumens of said catheter at said one end of said flow diversion means and with said extension tubes at said opposite end of said flow diversion means.

Claim 9

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are generally U-shaped.

Claim 10

The catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein said dual-lumen catheter comprises a cylindrical body portion having an internal longitudinal septum forming a pair of elongated lumens having D-shaped cross sections, the distal end of said body portion terminating in a smooth conical tapered tip, one of said lumens extending longitudinally through said tip, and the other lumen terminating at an opening formed in the side wall of said catheter proximally of the distal end of said tip.

Claim 11

A blood treatment system comprising a dual-lumen catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, flow diversion means having one end fastened to the proximal end of said catheter, a pair of flexible extension tubes each having one end fastened to the opposite end of said flow diversion means from said catheter, each of said extension tubes being bent back toward the distal end of said catheter to form a bend having a predetermined shape, each bend being adapted to flex and deform from said predetermined shape in response to an external force and being adapted to return to said predetermined shape in response to removal of said external force, a blood treatment unit for receiving blood withdrawn from a patient through one of the lumens of said catheter, purifying the withdrawn blood, and returning the purified blood to the patient through the other lumen of said catheter, a pair of flexible tubes connecting said extension tubes to said blood treatment unit, flow control means for controlling the flow of blood between said catheter and said blood treatment unit, and coupling means for coupling the proximal ends of said extension tubes to said flexible tubes.

Claim 12

A blood treatment system comprising a dual-lumen catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, flow diversion means having one end fastened to the proximal end of said catheter, a pair of flexible extension tubes each having one end fastened to the opposite end of said flow diversion means from said catheter, each of said extension tubes being bent back toward the distal end of said catheter to form a bend having a predetermined shape, each bend being adapted to flex and deform from said predetermined shape in response to an external force and being adapted to return to said predetermined shape in response to removal of said external force, a blood treatment unit for receiving blood withdrawn from a patient through one of the lumens of said catheter, purifying the withdrawn blood, and returning the purified blood to the patient through the other lumen of said catheter, a pair of flexible tubes connecting said extension tubes to said blood treatment unit, flow control means for controlling the flow of blood between said catheter and said blood treatment unit, and coupling means for coupling the proximal ends of said extension tubes to said flexible tubes.

Claim 13

The system of claim 10 wherein said catheter is inserted into a patient and which includes a bandage fastening said flow diversion means to the skin of the patient, with the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends positioned on top of said bandage.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11 which includes means fastening to the top of said bandage the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends.

Claim 15

The system of claim 11 which includes flow control means and luer fittings installed, said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends.

Claim 16

The system of claim 10 wherein said extension tubes, including said bends, are flexible.

Claim 17

The system of claim 11 wherein the bent extension tubes and said flow diversion means lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 18

The system of claim 10 which includes a pair of luer fittings fastened to the proximal ends of said extension tubes, and a closure cap on each of said luer fittings.

Claim 19

The system of claim 10 wherein said connector includes a pair of ferrules on said opposite end thereof, and said extension tubes are fastened to said ferrules.

Claim 20

The system of claim 10 which includes flow control means on each of said extension tubes, on the proximal sides of said bends in said tubes.

Claim 21

The system of claim 10 wherein said flow diversion means forms a pair of internal passageways coimmunicating with the dual lumens of said catheter at said one end of the connector and with said extension tubes at said opposite end of the connector.

Claim 22

The system of claim 10 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are generally U-shaped.

Claim 25

The method of claim 21 wherein said flow diversion means and extension tubes are attached to the skin of the patient by a bandage, and the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends are positioned on top of said bandage.

Claim 26

The method of claim 22 which includes the step of fastening to the top of said bandage the portions of said extension tubes on proximal sides of said bends.

Claim 27

The method of claim 22 wherein said extension tubes have flow control means and luer fittings installed on the proximal sides of said bends.

Claim 28

The method of claim 21 wherein said extension tubes, including said bends, are flexible.

Claim 29

The method of claim 21 wherein the bent extension tubes and said flow diversion means lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 30

The method of claim 21 wherein said extension tubes have a pair of luer fittings fastened to the proximal ends thereof, and a closure cap on each of said luer fittings.

Claim 31

The method of claim 21 wherein said connector includes a pair of ferrules on said opposite end thereof, and said extension tubes are fastened to said ferrules.

Claim 32

The method of claim 21 wherein said extension tubes have flow control means installed on the proximal sides of said bends in said tubes.

Claim 33

The method of claim 21 wherein said flow diversion means forms a pair of internal passageways communicating with the dual lumens of said catheter at said one end of said flow diversion means and with said extension tubes at said opposite end of said flow diversion means.

Claim 34

The method of claim 21 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are generally U-shaped.

Claim 35

The method of claim 26 wherein the bent extension tubes are attached to the skin of the patient by a first tape extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the catheter and extending beyond the bends in the extension tubes at one end and beyond the catheter insertion point at the other end.

Claim 36

The method of claim 32 which includes a second tape covering the bent extension tube and said first tape and attached to the skin of the patient at opposite ends of the second tape.

Claim 37

A dual-lumen catheter assembly comprising a dual-lumen catheter, and connecting means attached to the proximal end of said catheter and forming a pair of internal passageways which communicate at one end thereof with the dual lumens in said catheter, said passageways curving back toward the distal end of said catheter so that forces exerted on said connecting means at the other ends of said passageways will tend to move said catheter in a direction opposite that of said exerted forces.

Claim 38

A dual-lumen catheter assembly comprising a dual-lumen catheter, and connecting means attached to the proximal end of said catheter and forming a pair of internal passageways which communicate at one end thereof with the dual lumens in said catheter, said passageways curving back toward the distal end of said catheter so that forces exerted on said connecting means at the other ends of said passageways will tend to move said catheter in a direction opposite that of said exerted forces.

Claim 39

The catheter assembly of claim 34 wherein said connecting means comprises a connector fastened to the proximal end of said catheter, and a pair of extension tubes fastened to said connector, said connector forming a pair of internal passageways connecting each of the catheter lumens to one of said extension tubes, and said extension tubes forming said curved passageways.

Claim 40

The catheter assembly of claim 34 wherein each of said curved passageways is U-shaped.

Claim 41

The catheter assembly of claim 34 wherein said dual-lumen catheter comprises a cylindrical body portion having an internal longitudinal septum forming a pair of elongated lumens having D-shaped cross sections, the distal end of said body portion terminating in a smooth conical tapered tip, one of said lumens extending longitudinally through said tip, and the other lumen terminating at an opening formed in the side wall of said catheter proximally of the distal end of said tip.

Claim 42

A blood treatment system comprising a dual-lumen catheter, connecting means attached to the proximal end of said catheter and forming a pair of internal passageways which communicate at one end thereof with the dual lumens in said catheter, said passageways curving back toward the distal end of said catheter so that forces exerted on said connecting means at the other ends of said passageways will tend to move said catheter in a direction opposite that of said exerted forces, a blood treatment unit for receiving blood withdrawn from a patient through one of the lumens of said catheter, purifying the withdrawn blood, and returning the purified blood to the patient through the other lumen of said catheter, and a pair of flexible tubes connecting said extension tubes to said blood treatment unit.

Claim 43

A blood treatment system comprising a dual-lumen catheter, connecting means attached to the proximal end of said catheter and forming a pair of internal passageways which communicate at one end thereof with the dual lumens in said catheter, said passageways curving back toward the distal end of said catheter so that forces exerted on said connecting means at the other ends of said passageways will tend to move said catheter in a direction opposite that of said exerted forces, a blood treatment unit for receiving blood withdrawn from a patient through one of the lumens of said catheter, purifying the withdrawn blood, and returning the purified blood to the patient through the other lumen of said catheter, and a pair of flexible tubes connecting said extension tubes to said blood treatment unit.

Claim 44

The system of claim 38 wherein said connecting means comprises a connector fastened to the proximal end of said catheter, and a pair of extension tubes fastened to said connector, said connector forming a pair of internal passageways connecting each of the catheter lumens to one of said extension tubes, and said extension tubes forming said curved passageways.

Claim 45

The system of claim 38 wherein each of said curved passageways is U-shaped.

Claim 46

The system of claim 38 wherein said dual-lumen catheter comprises a cylindrical body portion having an internal longitudinal septum forming a pair of elongated lumens having D-shaped cross sections, the distal end of said body portion terminating in a smooth conical tapered tip, one of said lumens extending longitudinally through said tip, and the other lumen terminating at an opening formed in the side wall of said catheter proximally of the distal end of said tip.

Claim 49

The method of claim 42 wherein said connector and extension tubes are attached to the skin of the patient by a bandage, and the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends are positioned on top of said bandage.

Claim 50

The method of claim 43 which includes the step of fastening to the top of said bandage the portions of said extension tubes on the proximal sides of said bends.

Claim 51

The method of claim 43 wherein said extension tubes have flow control means and luer fittings installed on the proximal sides of said bends.

Claim 52

The method of claim 42 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are permanently set in said tubes.

Claim 53

The method of claim 47 wherein said extension tubes, including said bends, are flexible.

Claim 54

The method of claim 42 wherein the bent extension tubes and the connector lie in substantially the same plane.

Claim 55

The method of claim 42 wherein said extension tubes have a pair of luer fittings fastened to the proximal ends thereof, and a closure cap on each of said luer fittings.

Claim 56

The method of claim 42 wherein said connector includes a pair of ferrules on said opposite end thereof, and said extension tubes are fastened to said ferrules.

Claim 57

The method of claim 42 wherein said extension tubes have flow control means installed on the proximal sides of said bends in said tubes.

Claim 58

The method of claim 42 wherein said Y-shaped connector forms a pair of internal passageways communicating with the dual lumens of said catheter at said one end of the connector and with said extension tubes at said opposite end of the connector.

Claim 59

The method of claim 42 wherein the bends in said extension tubes are generally U-shaped.