Anti-thrombogenic catheter and method

摘要

A medical catheter assembly is provided including an inner catheter member, where that inner catheter member includes a plurality of inner catheter lumens, and an outer sheath with at least one patent sheath lumen. The inner catheter is slidably disposed through a length of the at least one patent sheath lumen in a manner providing a substantially sealing contact between an exterior surface of the inner catheter and an inward surface of the at least one patent sheath lumen. A first of the plurality of inner catheter lumens includes a plurality of apertures to the exterior surface of the inner catheter, and a second of the plurality of inner catheter lumens includes at least one distal end-tip opening. A method of using the assembly is also provided.

主权项

1. A method for installing a catheter assembly having an inner catheter member comprising a plurality of inner catheter lumens, and an outer sheath comprising at least one patent sheath lumen; where the inner catheter is slidably disposed through a length of the at least one patent sheath lumen in a manner providing a substantially sealing contact between an exterior surface of the inner catheter and an inward surface of the at least one patent sheath lumen; a first of the plurality of inner catheter lumens comprising a plurality of apertures to the exterior surface of the inner catheter; and a second of the plurality of inner catheter lumens comprising at least one distal end-tip opening; the method comprising the steps of:
directing the catheter assembly into proximity with a blood vessel; further directing the inner catheter member through a wall of the blood vessel into a vessel lumen thereof, and further directing the outer sheath into close proximity with the blood vessel such that substantially none of the plurality of inner catheter apertures are open outside the blood vessel, said inner catheter apertures being open into the vessel lumen or sealingly covered by the outer sheath; directing a first therapeutic agent through the first inner catheter lumen and at least one inner catheter aperture; and, directing a second therapeutic agent through the second inner catheter lumen; wherein the plurality of apertures comprises at least four apertures, the apertures being distributed around a circumference and along a length of the inner catheter; wherein a more distal aperture of the plurality of apertures comprises a larger surface area than a surface area of a more proximal aperture such that the flow of the first therapeutic agent through the more distal aperture and the more proximal aperture is the same when the more distal aperture and the more proximal aperture are open into the vessel lumen; and, wherein the plurality of apertures open into the vessel lumen provide for a low-level flow of the first therapeutic agent to deliver a minimum effective concentration of the first therapeutic agent to the exterior surface of the inner catheter.