Multilumen catheter for minimizing limb ischemia

Abstract

A multilumen catheter that maximizes the blood flow into and out of the patient's vasculature while also providing for passive and / or active perfusion of tissue downstream of where the catheter resides in the vasculature. The inventive catheter comprises a proximal end, a first distal and a second distal end. Lumens extending from the proximal end to each of these distal ends provide for blood circulation within one or between two blood vessels. At least one aperture in one of the lumens positioned near the proximal end provides for active perfusion of blood to the patient's vasculature downstream of where the aperture resides in the vasculature when the catheter is inserted into the patient for treatment. The inventive catheter may comprise a third lumen positioned entirely within the patient's vasculature, providing passive perfusion of blood to the patient's vasculature downstream of where the third lumen resides in the vasculature when the catheter is inserted into the patient for treatment.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 876,281, filed Jun. 6, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a multilumen catheter and, in particular, to multilumen catheters designed to prevent ischemia in patients when the catheter is positioned within the body. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] It is often necessary to divert the flow of blood from a patient's blood vessel back to the same or a different blood vessel as part of treating a patient suffering from one or more of numerous health impairments, including cardiovascular disease, such as congestive heart failure. Although surgical cut-down procedures can achieve this, percutaneous insertion of catheters has made this procedure less invasive and therefore less traumatic to the patient. Still, insertion of a cannula into the circulatory...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] Overcoming many if not all of the limitations of the prior art, the present invention comprises a multilumen catheter for directing the flow of blood to and from a patient through a single cannulation site. The catheter comprises a proximal end, a first distal end and a second distal end. The first distal end extends further from the proximal end than the second distal end. A first lumen extends between the first distal end and the proximal end and a second lumen extends between the second distal end and the proximal end. At least one aperture, but preferably a plurality of apertures may be formed in one of the first or second lumens positioned near the proximal end so that the aperture permits active maintenance or enhancement of perfusion of blood to the patient's vasculature downstream of where the aperture resides in the vasculature when the catheter is inserted into the patient for treatment. In an alternative embodiment, the multilumen catheter further comprises a third lumen with distal and proximal ends configured to be positioned entirely within the patient's vascular system. This third lumen is configured to permit the passive flow of blood downstream of the catheter site to maintain or enhance perfusion.

Problems solved by technology

Still, insertion of a cannula into the circulatory system can cause complex, and sometimes adverse, reactions within the body.

One problem with using two single lumen catheters is that it subjects the patient to multiple percutaneous insertion procedures, which complicates the procedure and increases the potential for infection and other complications.

While multilumen catheters require only a single puncture of the epidermis, their performance is limited in at least two ways.

This has the potential to cause damage to the vessel as blood comes jetting out of the return lumen.

Also, it may put further stress upon blood cells, even causing hemolysis.

As a result, limited blood supply reaches tissues and organs located downstream of the catheter in the vascular system.

With insufficient perfusion, the tissues downstream of the lumen insertion site suffer from ischemia and become oxygen deprived.

Prolonged oxygen deprivation can lead to tissue damage, as is well known in the art.

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