Multilumen catheter

Claim 2

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube with at least a portion of said outer wall of said dual lumen catheter abutting at least a portion of said inner wall of said first catheter tube thereby defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending throughout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first catheter tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen begin proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single, independent lumen.

Claim 3

The catheter of claim 1 further comprising: extension tubing separately coupled to each of said first and second lumens at the proximal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube; extension tubing separately coupled to said single lumen at said proximal end of said first catheter tube; a protective hub encapsulating and securing the proximal end of said first catheter, tube, the proximal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, and extension tubing coupling said single lumen, and said first and second lumens.

Claim 4

The catheter of claim 2 wherein said extension tubing is further configured for coupling to fluid transfer devices.

Claim 5

The catheter of claim 2 wherein said dual-lumen catheter tube extends beyond the proximal end of first catheter tube.

Claim 6

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube and defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending througout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first catheter tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen being proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen, said distal end of said first catheter tube being tapered distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen.

Claim 7

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube and defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending througout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first catheter tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen being proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen, said distal end of said first catheter tube being tapered distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen.

Claim 8

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said second lumen of said dual-lumen catheter tube is eliminated distal to said distal terminus of said second lumen.

Claim 9

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube and defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending throughout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first catheter tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen being proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen, wherein said distal terminus of said single independent lumen defines at least one side opening in said first catheter tube slightly proximal to said distal end of said first catheter tube.

Claim 10

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube and defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending throughout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first catheter tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen being proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen, wherein said distal terminus of said single independent lumen defines at least one side opening in said first catheter tube slightly proximal to said distal end of said first catheter tube.

Claim 11

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said distal terminus of said single lumen terminates coextensively with the distal end of said first catheter tube.

Claim 12

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said distal terminus of said second lumen defines a side opening proximal to the distal terminus of the first lumen of said dual-lumen catheter tube and distal to the distal terminus of the single lumen of the first catheter tube.

Claim 13

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said first catheter tube and said dual-lumen catheter tube are made from materials selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, silicone polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and nylon.

Claim 14

The catheter of claim 1 wherein said first catheter tube and said dual-lumen catheter are made from polyurethane.

Claim 15

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube and defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending throughout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first cathether tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen being proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen, wherein said first catheter tube and said dual-lumen catheter tube are made from materials selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, silicone polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and nylon, and wherein said dual-lumen catheter tube is made from a material which is less rigid than the material from which the first catheter tube is made.

Claim 16

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube and defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending throughout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first cathether tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen being proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen, wherein said first catheter tube and said dual-lumen catheter tube are made from materials selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, silicone polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and nylon, and wherein said dual-lumen catheter tube is made from a material which is less rigid than the material from which the first catheter tube is made.

Claim 17

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube and defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending throughout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first catheter tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen being proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen, wherein said first catheter tube and said dual-lumen catheter tube are made from polyurethane, and wherein said dual-lumen catheter tube is made from a less rigid polyurethane than is the first catheter tube.

Claim 18

A multilumen catheter comprising: a first catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall; and a dual-lumen catheter tube having a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall and a cross-section which is smaller than the cross-section of said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube disposed within said first catheter tube and defining a single, independent lumen in the space between the inner wall of said first catheter tube and the outer wall of said dual-lumen catheter tube, said single, independent lumen extending throughout the length of the first catheter tube and terminating with at least one distal terminus defining at least one opening in said first catheter tube, said dual-lumen catheter tube extending beyond said distal end of said first catheter tube and including first and second independent lumens integrally formed and extending throughout said dual-lumen catheter tube and each of said first and second independent lumens having a distal terminus defining an opening in said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said first lumen being coextensive with the distal end of said dual-lumen catheter tube, the distal terminus of said second lumen being proximal to the distal terminus of said first lumen, and the distal terminus of each of the first and second independent lumens being distal to said distal terminus of said single independent lumen, wherein said first catheter tube and said dual-lumen catheter tube are made from polyurethane, and wherein said dual-lumen catheter tube is made from a less rigid polyurethane than is the first catheter tube.