Importance

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Abstract

A dual lumen catheter is disclosed for providing extracorporeal treatment such as hemodialysis, which is percutaneously inserted for either short-term or long-term vascular access. The catheter includes a main body having proximal and distal segments connected to a pair of clamping limbs via a manifold. The distal segment includes two tubular members laterally attached to each other, one of which is thinner than the other and collapsible for inserting the catheter through a much smaller diameter peel-away sheath. Contrary to existing practices, the lengths of the arterial and venous tubular members are reversed such as to provide a longer negative pressure intake lumen. A hydrophilic slip coating covers the distal segment to further ease the insertion of the distal segment into the peel-away sheath. The cross-sectional area of the proximal segment is generally elliptical shaped for providing a leak proof fit through the vascular access site. A ring-like grommet moveable along the proximal segment anchors the catheter to the surrounding tissue. The lumens extending throughout the entire catheter are generally circular in nature and substantially equal in cross-sectional area to provide substantially equal flows of intake and return blood and to minimize clotting. The wall thickness of the negative pressure intake member is approximately one and a half to three times as thick as that of the thin-walled positive pressure tubular wall to maintain adequate flows of blood without collapsing or stretching.

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First Claim