US5336164A — Intravascular membrane lung apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 210 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus configured for percutaneous venous insertion into cavities of a living body through which blood flows including an inferior vena cava, a right ventricle, and a pulmonary artery, said apparatus comprising: elongated multi lumen catheter means having a longitudinal axis receivable in the inferior vena cava, the right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery; and a plurality of elongated gas exchange means having means for delivering a first gas to the blood and for removing a second gas from the blood, each having a tethered end and a free sealed end and being tethered only at said tethered end to said catheter means and being in fluid communication with at least one lumen of said catheter means and extending transversely of the longitudinal axis to said free sealed end distant from said catheter means; said catheter means including a first conduit operably connecting said gas exchange means to a source of a first gas for delivery of the first gas to said gas exchange means and thence to the blood and a second conduit operably connecting said gas exchange means to an outlet for discharging the second gas from the blood and thence from said gas exchange means by displacement of the second gas by the first gas.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 210 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus configured for percutaneous venous insertion into cavities of a living body through which blood flows including an inferior vena cava, a right ventricle, and a pulmonary artery, said apparatus comprising: elongated multi lumen catheter means having a longitudinal axis receivable in the inferior vena cava, the right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery; and a plurality of elongated gas exchange means having means for delivering a first gas to the blood and for removing a second gas from the blood, each having a tethered end and a free sealed end and being tethered only at said tethered end to said catheter means and being in fluid communication with at least one lumen of said catheter means and extending transversely of the longitudinal axis to said free sealed end distant from said catheter means; said catheter means including a first conduit operably connecting said gas exchange means to a source of a first gas for delivery of the first gas to said gas exchange means and thence to the blood and a second conduit operably connecting said gas exchange means to an outlet for discharging the second gas from the blood and thence from said gas exchange means by displacement of the second gas by the first gas.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 116 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said catheter means has an external nominal transverse dimensions and extends between a proximal end and a distal end being a leading end for insertion, by way of an incision, into and through the inferior vena cava, then into and through the right ventricle, then into and through the pulmonary artery, each of the body cavities having an inner nominal transverse dimension; and wherein said distal end includes a selectively inflatable balloon having an enlarged size larger than the external nominal transverse dimension of said catheter means and smaller than the inner nominal transverse dimensions of any of the body cavities into which it extends.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 110 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said catheter means includes: an elongated flexible tubular member having a plurality of first and second apertures at spaced locations: a plurality of manifold sleeves sealingly fixed to said tubular member at spaced apart locations, each of said manifold sleeves overlying and containing a pair of the first and second apertures of said tubular member, each of the first apertures being in communication with said first conduit and each of the second apertures being in communication with said second conduit; each of said manifold sleeves having a plurality of spaced holes therein for reception of said gas exchange means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 65 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said catheter means is composed of extruded polyvinyl chloride which is heparin-coated; and wherein each of said manifold sleeves is composed of polycarbonate which is heparin-coated; and wherein said elongated gas exchange means includes a plurality of tubular microporous polypropylene fibers, said fibers being sealingly fixed to said manifold sleeves at the holes therein.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 110 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said tubular member is cylindrical and has an outer peripheral surface; and wherein each of said manifold sleeves includes: a cylindrical wall having an outer peripheral surface parallel to that of said tubular member and defining an annular space between said outer peripheral surface of said tubular member and said cylindrical wall, the holes therein being at a plurality of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced locations; and a pair of end caps with perforations therein lying in spaced parallel planes, said end caps sealingly attached to said tubular member at the perforations therein and integrally extending to said cylindrical wall.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 145 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tubular member has a length and has an outer diameter, the outer diameter being in the range of approximately 2.5 mm to 5.0 mm and has a wall thickness in the range of approximately 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm; wherein each of said manifold sleeves is approximately 1.0 cm long and has an outer diameter in the range of approximately 4.6 mm to 5.0 mm and has a wall thickness in the range of approximately 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm; wherein said manifold sleeves are spaced approximately 1.0 cm apart along the length of said tubular member; and wherein each of said microporous fibers has an outer diameter in the range of approximately 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm and has a wall thickness in the range of approximately 0.03 mm to 0.06 mm.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 273 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of the body cavities has an inner nominal transverse dimension; and wherein said catheter means includes: a first region for placement generally within and substantially coterminous with the pulmonary artery; a second region for placement generally within and substantially coterminus with the right ventricle; and a third region for placement generally within and substantially coterminous with the inferior vena cava; and wherein a first plurality of said manifold sleeves are mounted on said tubular member at said first region; wherein a second plurality of said manifold sleeves are mounted on said tubular member at said second region; and wherein a third plurality of said manifold sleeves are mounted on said tubular member at said third region; and wherein said microporous fibers have tip ends and extend generally radially away from said manifold sleeves at said first region to said tip ends by a first substantially uniform distance; wherein said microporous fibers have tip ends and extend generally radially away from said manifold sleeves at said second region to said tip ends by a second substantially uniform distance; and wherein said microporous fibers have tip ends and extend generally radially away from said manifold sleeves at said third region to said tip ends by a third substantially uniform distance; the external nominal transverse dimension of said catheter means as measured from said tip ends on one side of said manifold sleeves across to said tip ends on the opposite side thereof being substantially similar to the nominal inner transverse dimensions of the associated body cavities into which said catheter means is inserted.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said catheter means is heparin coated for minimizing a risk of hemorrhage at a location of insertion thereof into the living body.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 88 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said catheter means extends between a proximal end and a distal end being a leading end for insertion, by way of an incision, into and through the inferior vena cava, then into and through the right ventricle, then into and through the pulmonary artery and includes: a third conduit; and fiberoptic means extending through said third conduit between said proximal and distal ends for monitoring oxygenation of the blood which had passed over said gas exchange means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said catheter means extends between a proximal end and a distal end and includes: a fourth conduit; and sensing means extending between said proximal and distal ends for sampling the blood at the distal end thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 272 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus adapted for percutaneous venous insertion into an inferior vena cava, a right ventricle, and a pulmonary artery of a living body, through all of which blood flows, comprising: elongated multi lumen catheter means having a longitudinal axis and including first, second, and third gas exchange regions; and a plurality of hollow gas exchange means having means for delivering a first gas to the blood and for removing a second gas from the blood, each having a tethered end and a free sealed end and being tethered only at said tethered end to said catheter means at each of said first, second, and third gas exchange regions and being in fluid communication with at least one lumen of said catheter means and extending multi directionally transversely of the longitudinal axis to said free sealed end distant from said catheter means; said catheter means including a first conduit operably connecting said gas exchange means to a source of a first gas for delivery of the first gas to said gas exchange means and thence to the blood and a second conduit operably connecting said gas exchange means to an outlet for discharging the second gas from the blood and thence from said gas exchange means by displacement of the second gas by the first gas, such that, when placed in the living body, said first gas exchange region is positioned within and substantially coextensive with the pulmonary artery, said second gas exchange region is positioned within and substantially coextensive with the right ventricle, and said third gas exchange region is positioned within and substantially coextensive with the inferior vena cava.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 272 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus adapted for percutaneous venous insertion into an inferior vena cava, a right ventricle, and a pulmonary artery of a living body, through all of which blood flows, comprising: elongated multi lumen catheter means having a longitudinal axis and including first, second, and third gas exchange regions; and a plurality of hollow gas exchange means having means for delivering a first gas to the blood and for removing a second gas from the blood, each having a tethered end and a free sealed end and being tethered only at said tethered end to said catheter means at each of said first, second, and third gas exchange regions and being in fluid communication with at least one lumen of said catheter means and extending multi directionally transversely of the longitudinal axis to said free sealed end distant from said catheter means; said catheter means including a first conduit operably connecting said gas exchange means to a source of a first gas for delivery of the first gas to said gas exchange means and thence to the blood and a second conduit operably connecting said gas exchange means to an outlet for discharging the second gas from the blood and thence from said gas exchange means by displacement of the second gas by the first gas, such that, when placed in the living body, said first gas exchange region is positioned within and substantially coextensive with the pulmonary artery, said second gas exchange region is positioned within and substantially coextensive with the right ventricle, and said third gas exchange region is positioned within and substantially coextensive with the inferior vena cava.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said gas exchange means includes a plurality of elongated microporous fibers sealingly fixed to said catheter means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said microporous fibers are composed of polypropylene.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said catheter means is heparin coated for minimizing a risk of hemorrhage at a location of insertion thereof into the living body.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 157 words

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said catheter means includes a tubular member and has an outer peripheral surface; and including a plurality of manifold sleeves, wherein each of said manifold sleeves includes: a cylindrical wall having an outer peripheral surface parallel to that of said tubular member and having holes therethrough and defining an annular space between said outer peripheral surface of said tubular member and said cylindrical wall, the holes therein being at a plurality of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced locations; and a pair of end caps with perforations therein lying in spaced parallel planes, said end caps being sealingly attached to said tubular member at the perforations therein and integrally extending to said cylindrical wall; and wherein said hollow gas exchange means includes a plurality of tubular microporous polypropylene fibers, said fibers being sealingly fixed to said manifold sleeves at the holes therein for communication with the annular space.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-08-08	1998-02-07	1998-08-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-08-08	2002-02-07	2002-08-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-08-08	2006-02-07	2006-08-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Intravascular membrane lung apparatus

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