Kit for inserting a multiple catheter assembly

Abstract

A method for inserting a double catheter assembly into an area of a body to be catheterized is provided. A formula is included for determining the optimal size of dilator device to be used in the method provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for inserting a multiple catheter assembly into an area of a body to be catheterized, the assembly comprising a first and a second catheter, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) accessing an area to be catheterized and creating an access site,    (b) inserting an introducer sheath into the area to be catheterized,    (c) inserting a first guide wire and a second guide wire into the introducer sheath,    (d) at least partially inserting a first dilator and a second dilator into the area to be catheterized,    (e) removing the first dilator and the second dilator and blocking the flow of one or more of blood and air into and out of the area to be catheterized,    (f) passing the distal portion of the first catheter over the first guide wire and passing the distal portion of the second catheter over the second guide wire, and    (h) inserting each of the first and second catheters in juxtaposed relation into the area to be catheterized and blocking the flow of one or more of blood and air into and out of the area to be catheterized.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein-the multiple catheter assembly further comprises a retaining sleeve, and wherein the method further comprises making an incision at the access site and creating a recessed area directly under the incision, which recessed area is sized to contain the retaining sleeve.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first dilator and the second dilator has a diameter of 11 French, which diameter is measured in the transverse direction.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the incision made at the access site is from about 1 centimeter in length to about 1.5 centimeters in length.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising closing the incision made at the access site.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , the method further comprising attaching removable connectors having fluid passageways therethrough to the proximal portions of the first and second catheters.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the removable connectors each include an extension tube having a clamp for controlling fluid flow through the connector.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising subcutaneously securing a proximal portion of the first catheter and a proximal portion of the second catheter.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , the method further comprising forming at least one subcutaneous tunnel and threading the proximal portion of at least one of the first and second catheters therethrough.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two wires is from about 100 centimeters in length to about 120 centimeters in length.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sum of the diameters of the first and second dilators is at least 3 French greater than the sum of the diameters of the first and second catheters.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) further comprises maneuvering each of the first and second dilators vigorously and circumferentially within the area to be catheterized.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portions of the first and second catheters each include at least one subcutaneous securement device.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the area to be catheterized is a blood vessel.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the area to be catheterized is an internal jugular vein of a human, which vein is proximal to the right atrium of the heart of the human, and wherein the distal portion of the first catheter is closer to the heart than the distal portion of the second catheter.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first catheter is longer than the second catheter, as measured longitudinally.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising closing the incision made at the access site.  
     
     
         18 . A kit for performing an insertion of a multiple catheter assembly into a human, the kit comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of a multiple catheter assembly comprising a first catheter and a second catheter, an introducer sheath, a dilator, a guide wire, and an instructional material, wherein the instructional material provides one or more of an outline, an illustration, and a description of a method for inserting a multiple catheter assembly into an area of a human to be catheterized, 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) accessing an area to be catheterized and forming an access site,  
 (b) inserting an introducer sheath into the area to be catheterized,  
 (c) inserting a first guide wire and a second guide wire into the introducer sheath,  
 (d) at least partially inserting a first dilator and a second dilator into the area to be catheterized,  
 (e) removing the first dilator and the second dilator and blocking the flow of one or more of blood and air into and out of the area to be catheterized,  
 (f) passing the distal portion of the first catheter over the first guide wire and passing the distal portion of the second catheter over the second guide wire, and  
 (g) inserting each of the first and second catheters in juxtaposed relation into the area to be catheterized and blocking the flow of one or more of blood and air into and out of the area to be catheterized.  
   
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18 , further comprising one or more of a replacement catheter, a syringe, a tunneling device, a connector, and a clamp.  
     
     
         20 . A kit for performing insertion of a multiple catheter assembly into a human, the kit comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of a multiple catheter assembly comprising a first catheter, a second catheter and a retaining sleeve, an introducer sheath, a dilator, a guide wire, and an instructional material, wherein the instructional material provides one or more of an outline, an illustration, and a description of a method for inserting a multiple catheter assembly into an area of a human to be catheterized, 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) accessing an area to be catheterized and creating an access site,  
 (b) inserting an introducer sheath into the area to be catheterized,  
 (c) inserting a first guide wire and a second guide wire into the introducer sheath,  
 (d) making an incision at the access site and creating a recessed area directly under the incision, which recessed area is sized to contain the retaining sleeve  
 (e) at least partially inserting a first dilator and a second dilator into the area to be catheterized and maneuvering each of the first and second dilators vigorously and circumferentially within the area to be catheterized,  
 (f) removing the first dilator and the second dilator and blocking the flow of one or more of blood and air into and out of the area to be catheterized,  
 (g) passing the distal portion of the first catheter over the first guide wire and passing the distal portion of the second catheter over the second guide wire, and  
 (h) inserting each of the first and second catheters in juxtaposed relation into the area to be catheterized and blocking the flow of one or more of blood and air into and out of the area to be catheterized.  
   
     
     
         21 . The kit of claim  20 , firther comprising one or more of a replacement catheter, a syringe, a tunneling device, a connector, and a clamp.