Catheter device and system for continuous chemical analysis of body fluids in vivo

Claim 1

A catheter for use with a system for obtaining body fluids from fluid carrying members for a continuous chemical analysis thereof comprising: (a) an elongated solid body portion having at least three ducts disposed therein, each said ducts being provided with an entrance at one end of said body portion and providing a fluid flow path to the surface of said body portion; (b) a semi-permeable membrane filter means circumscribing said body portion and supported thereby, leaving at least one of said ducts uncovered, said membrane being permeable to the substances to be analyzed and impermeable to high molecular weight and corpuscular portions of said fluids; (c) continuous channel means formed on the surface of said body portion for communicating with at least two of said ducts to provide a continuous fluid flow path, said membrane means covering said channels.

Claim 5

A system for obtaining body fluids for a continuous chemical analysis thereof, comprising in combination: (a) catheter means adapted to be inserted into the fluid carrying members of a living being for obtaining continuous samples of said fluid, said catheter means including; (i) an elongated body portion having at least three ducts therein each duct having an opening provided at one end of said body portion and providing a fluid flow path to the surface of said body portion, the surface of said body portion being provided with channels disposed about the circumference of said body portion, said channels providing a continuous fluid flow path with two of said ducts; (ii) a semi-permeable membrane means circumscribing part of said body portion and supported thereby, leaving at least one of said ducts uncovered, said membrane being a filter and permeable to the substances to be analyzed and impermeable to high molecular weight and corpuscular portions of said fluid, said channels being disposed beneath said membrane; (b) means for guiding away the filtrate from the inside of said filter membrane by providing a reduced pressure into one of said ducts; (c) means for continually analyzing said fluids operatively coupled to said guiding away means; (d) means coupled to said second duct for supplying a rinsing liquid thereto; and (e) means coupled to said third duct for supplying medicaments thereto.

Claim 6

A system for obtaining body fluids for a continuous chemical analysis thereof, comprising in combination: (a) catheter means adapted to be inserted into the fluid carrying members of a living being for obtaining continuous samples of said fluid, said catheter means including; (i) an elongated body portion having at least three ducts therein each duct having an opening provided at one end of said body portion and providing a fluid flow path to the surface of said body portion, the surface of said body portion being provided with channels disposed about the circumference of said body portion, said channels providing a continuous fluid flow path with two of said ducts; (ii) a semi-permeable membrane means circumscribing part of said body portion and supported thereby, leaving at least one of said ducts uncovered, said membrane being a filter and permeable to the substances to be analyzed and impermeable to high molecular weight and corpuscular portions of said fluid, said channels being disposed beneath said membrane; (b) means for guiding away the filtrate from the inside of said filter membrane by providing a reduced pressure into one of said ducts; (c) means for continually analyzing said fluids operatively coupled to said guiding away means; (d) means coupled to said second duct for supplying a rinsing liquid thereto; and (e) means coupled to said third duct for supplying medicaments thereto.

Claim 7

A system for obtaining body fluids for a continuous chemical analysis thereof, comprising in combination: (a) catheter means adapted to be inserted into the fluid carrying members of a living being for obtaining continuous samples of said fluid, said catheter means including; (i) an elongated body portion having at least three ducts therein each duct having an opening provided at one end of said body portion and providing a fluid flow path to the surface of said body portion, (ii) a semi-permeable membrane means circumscribing part of said body portion and supported thereby, leaving at least one of said ducts uncovered, said membrane being a filter and permeable to the substances to be analyzed and impermeable to high molecular weight and corpuscular portions of said fluid; (b) means for guiding away the filtrate from the inside of said filter membrane by providing a reduced pressure into one of said ducts; (c) means for continually analyzing said fluid operatively coupled to said guiding away means; (d) means coupled to said second duct for supplying a rinsing liquid thereto; and (e) means coupled to said third duct for supplying medicaments thereto.

Claim 8

A system for obtaining body fluids for a continuous chemical analysis thereof, comprising in combination: (a) catheter means adapted to be inserted into the fluid carrying members of a living being for obtaining continuous samples of said fluid, said catheter means including; (i) an elongated body portion having at least three ducts therein each duct having an opening provided at one end of said body portion and providing a fluid flow path to the surface of said body portion, (ii) a semi-permeable membrane means circumscribing part of said body portion and supported thereby, leaving at least one of said ducts uncovered, said membrane being a filter and permeable to the substances to be analyzed and impermeable to high molecular weight and corpuscular portions of said fluid; (b) means for guiding away the filtrate from the inside of said filter membrane by providing a reduced pressure into one of said ducts; (c) means for continually analyzing said fluid operatively coupled to said guiding away means; (d) means coupled to said second duct for supplying a rinsing liquid thereto; and (e) means coupled to said third duct for supplying medicaments thereto.