Catheter assembly with joinable catheters

Abstract

A multiple lumen catheter assembly comprising a first catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a second catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and a connecting means for selectively joining at least a portion of the distal ends of the first and second catheters.

1 . A multiple lumen catheter assembly comprising: 
 a) a first catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;    b) a second catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; and    c) a connecting means for selectively joining at least a portion of the distal ends of the first and second catheters,    wherein a first fluid flow in the first catheter is in a direction different from a second fluid flow in the second catheter.    
   
   
       2 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first catheter and the second catheter are selectively joinable at at least one position along generally flat side surfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The catheter assembly claimed in  claim 1 , whereby the joining of the first catheter and second lumens catheter decreases the distance between the first catheter and the second catheter proximal to the distal ends of the first catheter and the second catheter.  
   
   
       4 . The catheter assembly claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first catheter and the second catheter each have a generally semi-circular cross section and each comprise at least one of the generally flat side surfaces.  
   
   
       5 . The catheter assembly claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting means includes at least one lockable junction comprising a male end and female end, whereby the first catheter and the second catheter are joined selectively along a portion of the distal ends of the first catheter and the second catheter through the joining of the male end with female end.  
   
   
       6 . The catheter assembly claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting means is an adhesive.  
   
   
       7 . The catheter assembly claimed in  claim 4  further comprising a third catheter.  
   
   
       8 . A multiple lumen catheter assembly comprising: 
 a) a first catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;    b) a second catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;    c) a connecting means for selectively joining together at least a portion of the distal ends of the first catheter and second catheter, wherein the connecting means allows the first lumen catheter and the second catheter to be selectively joined together at the discretion of a practitioner at a position proximal to the distal ends of the first catheter and second catheter,    wherein a first fluid flow in the first catheter is in a direction different from a second fluid flow of the second catheter, and    whereby the selective joining of the first catheter and second catheter decreases the distance between the first catheter and second catheter proximal to the distal ends of the first catheter and second catheter.    
   
   
       9 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the distal end of the first catheter extends beyond the distal end of the second catheter.  
   
   
       10 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the distal end of the first catheter extends beyond the distal end of the second catheter within a patient and the first catheter is for introducing a fluid into a blood vessel in the patient and the second catheter is for removing a fluid from another blood vessel.  
   
   
       11 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first catheter and the second catheters cannot be joined beyond a preselected point between the proximal end and the distal end of each of the first catheter and the second catheter.  
   
   
       12 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the connecting means includes at least one lockable junction comprising a male end and female end, whereby the first catheter and the second catheter are joined selectively along a portion of the distal ends of the first catheter and the second catheter through the joining of the male end with female end.  
   
   
       13 . A multiple lumen catheter assembly, comprising: 
 a) a first lumen catheter defined by a first outer wall and having a proximal end and a distal end;    b) a second catheter defined by a second outer wall and having a proximal end and a distal end,    wherein a first fluid flow in the first catheter is in a direction different from a second fluid flow in the second catheter, the first catheter and the second catheter are joinable at at least one point along the first outer wall and the second outer wall by a connecting means, and the connecting means allows the first lumen catheter and the second catheter to be selectively joined at the discretion of a practitioner,    whereby the selectively joining of the first catheter and the second catheter decreases the separation distance between the first catheter and the second catheter proximal to the distal ends of the first lumen catheter and the second catheter.    
   
   
       14 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the connecting means is at least one lockable junction comprising a male end and female end, whereby the first catheter and the second catheter are joined selectively along a portion of the distal ends of the first n catheter and the second catheter through the joining of the male end with female end.  
   
   
       15 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the connecting means is an adhesive on the outer wall of at least one of the catheters.  
   
   
       16 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first catheter and the second catheter cannot be joined beyond a preselected point set between the proximal end and the distal end of each of the first catheter and the second catheter.  
   
   
       17 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein catheter assembly is a hemodialysis catheter assembly.  
   
   
       18 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first catheter is introduced into a blood vessel and the second catheter is introduced into a blood vessel.  
   
   
       19 . A multiple lumen hemodialysis catheter assembly, comprising: 
 a) a first lumen catheter defined by a first outer wall and having a proximal end and a distal end;    b) a second catheter defined by a second outer wall and having a proximal end and a distal end,    wherein a first fluid flow in the first catheter is in a direction different from a second fluid flow in the second catheter, the first catheter and the second catheter are joinable at at least one point along the first outer wall and the second outer wall by a connecting means, the connecting means allows the first lumen catheter and the second catheter to be selectively joined at the discretion of a practitioner, and the first catheter and the second catheter cannot be joined beyond a preselected point set between the proximal end and the distal end of each of the first catheter and the second catheter,    whereby the selectively joining of the first catheter and the second catheter decreases the separation distance between the first catheter and the second catheter proximal to the distal ends of the first lumen catheter and the second catheter.    
   
   
       20 . The catheter assembly as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the connecting means is selected from the group consisting of lockable junctions and adhesives.