Low profile catheter assembly

Abstract

A medical catheter assembly includes a catheter hub, an elongate catheter member extending from the catheter hub and having at least one longitudinal lumen for passage of fluids, an extension tube extending from the catheter hub and defining an internal lumen in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal lumen of the catheter member and a clamp positionable about the extension tube. The catheter hub defines a reduced profile. The clamp includes first and second clamp sections and defines a longitudinal clamp axis. The clamp has a longitudinal opening for passage of the extension tube and a movable member adapted to move from a first position to a second position to substantially close the internal lumen. The first and second clamp sections are separable to facilitate positioning of the extension tube within the longitudinal opening.

1 . A medical catheter assembly, which comprises:
 a catheter hub;   an elongate catheter member extending from the catheter hub and having at least one longitudinal lumen for passage of fluids;   an extension tube extending from the catheter hub and defining an internal lumen in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal lumen of the catheter member; and   a clamp including first and second clamp sections and defining a longitudinal clamp axis, the clamp having a longitudinal opening for passage of the extension tube and a movable member adapted to move from a first position to a second position to substantially close the internal lumen, the first and second clamp sections being separable to facilitate positioning of the extension tube within the longitudinal opening.   
   
   
       2 . The medical catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second clamp sections are releasably mounted to each other along the longitudinal clamp axis to facilitate lateral positioning of the extension tube within the longitudinal opening of the clamp. 
   
   
       3 . The medical catheter assembly according to  claim 2  wherein the first and second clamp sections include a pin and corresponding slot mechanism for effecting releasable mounting of the first and second clamp sections. 
   
   
       4 . The medical catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the clamp includes a clamp base defining the longitudinal opening and having the movable member mounted thereto. 
   
   
       5 . The medical catheter assembly according to  claim 4  wherein the movable member is pivotally mounted to the clamp base and is adapted to pivot relative to clamp base between the first and second positions thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The medical catheter assembly according to  claim 5  including means for releasably securing the movable member in the second position. 
   
   
       7 . The medical catheter assembly according to  claim 5  wherein the clamp base includes an internal locking shelf dimensioned to engage the movable member to secure the movable member in the second position. 
   
   
       8 . The medical catheter assembly according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second clamp sections are connected by a tether. 
   
   
       9 . The medical catheter assembly according to  claim 1  including first and second extension tubes connectable to the catheter hub. 
   
   
       10 . The medical catheter apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the catheter hub defines first and second extension conduits for respectively receiving the first and second extension tubes. 
   
   
       11 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the first and second extension conduits are arranged in side by side relation. 
   
   
       12 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the first extension conduit is arranged about an axis in substantial parallel relation with a longitudinal hub axis of the catheter hub. 
   
   
       13 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the second extension conduit is arranged about an axis in oblique relation with the longitudinal hub axis of the catheter hub. 
   
   
       14 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 10  including first and second adapters mounted to each of the first and second extension tubes. 
   
   
       15 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the first extension tube and the first adapter define a first effective length which is substantially less than a corresponding second effective length of the second extension tube and the second adapter. 
   
   
       16 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the first effective length is less than a length of the second extension tube to permit the first extension tube and the first adapter to be positioned in adjacent side by side relation with respect to the second extension tube thereby reducing the profile thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the catheter hub defines a pair of suture wing holes for receiving a suture utilized in securing the catheter hub. 
   
   
       18 . The medical apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the catheter hub defines an outer groove dimensioned for accommodating a suture utilized in securing the catheter hub. 
   
   
       19 . A low profile catheter hub for an elongate dual lumen catheter, which comprises:
 a catheter hub member adapted for connection to a dual lumen catheter, the catheter hub member defining a longitudinal hub axis and having first and second conduits therein adapted for fluid connection to respective fluid supply and/or withdrawal tubing, the first fluid conduit being arranged about a first axis extending in substantial parallel relation with the longitudinal hub axis, the second fluid conduit being arranged about a second axis in oblique relation with the longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       20 . A surgical clamp for closing compressible medical tubing, which comprises:
 a clamp member defining a longitudinal clamp axis, the clamp member including first and second clamp sections and having a longitudinal opening for passage of a compressible tubing, the clamp member including a movable member adapted to move from a first position to a second position to substantially close a lumen of the compressible tubing, the first and second clamp sections being releasably mountable to each other whereby the first and second clamp sections may be separable generally along the longitudinal clamp axis to permit access to the longitudinal opening to facilitate positioning of the compressible tubing within the longitudinal opening.   
   
   
       21 . The clamp according to  claim 20  wherein the first and second clamp sections include a pin and corresponding slot mechanism for providing a releasable mounting of the first and second clamp sections. 
   
   
       22 . The clamp according to  claim 21  wherein the clamp member includes a clamp base defining the longitudinal opening and having the movable member pivotally mounted thereto, the movable member being adapted to pivot relative to the clamp base between the first and second positions thereof. 
   
   
       23 . The clamp according to  claim 22  wherein the clamp base includes an internal locking shelf dimensioned to engage the movable member to secure the movable member in the second position. 
   
   
       24 . The clamp according to  claim 20  wherein the first and second clamp portions are connected by a tether. 
   
   
       25 . A surgical clamp for closing compressible medical tubing, which comprises:
 a clamp member defining a longitudinal clamp axis, the clamp member including a clamp base defining a generally longitudinal opening for passage of a compressible tubing and a movable member, the clamp base having a first lateral opening in communication with the longitudinal opening to permit the compressible tubing to be positioned within the longitudinal opening from one lateral side of the clamp member and a second lateral opening in communication with the longitudinal opening to permit the compressible tubing to be positioned within the longitudinal opening from the other lateral side of the clamp member, the movable member adapted to move from a first position to a second position to substantially close a lumen of the compressible tubing.   
   
   
       26 . The surgical clamp according to  claim 25  wherein portions of the clamp base defining the first and second lateral openings are dimensioned to substantially retain the compressible tubing within the longitudinal opening upon positioning of the compressible tubing therein. 
   
   
       27 . A method for performing a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of:
 providing a catheter including a catheter hub and an elongated catheter extending from the housing, the elongated catheter having at least one longitudinal lumen for passage of fluids;   accessing an underlying tissue site through an opening in the skin of a patient;   advancing a distal end of the elongated catheter through the tissue site and into the patient;   creating a surgical tunnel from the tissue site and out through a second opening in the skin remote from the first opening;   passing the catheter through the surgical tunnel by introducing the catheter hub through the first opening and advancing the catheter hub with the elongated catheter following there along within the surgical tunnel; and   fluidly coupling the at least one longitudinal lumen of the catheter with an external fluid source.   
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein the step of creating includes introducing a tunneler instrument and passing the tunneler between the tissue site and the second opening. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28  including the step of operatively connecting the catheter hub with the tunneler instrument and wherein the step of passing the catheter includes advancing the tunneler through the surgical tunnel to cause corresponding advancement of the catheter hub through the surgical tunnel. 
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29  wherein the catheter includes an extension tube extending proximally from the catheter hub and wherein the step of operatively connecting the catheter hub includes the step of coupling the extension tube with the tunneler instrument. 
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the extension tube includes a fluid connector and wherein the step of coupling the extension tube includes coupling the tunneler instrument with the fluid connector. 
   
   
       32 . The method according to  claim 31  wherein the fluid connector of the extension tube and the tunneler instrument include cooperative coupling means and wherein, during the step of coupling the tunneler instrument with the fluid connector, the cooperative coupling means are coupled. 
   
   
       33 . The method according to  claim 30  wherein the catheter includes first and second longitudinal lumens and wherein the step of fluidly coupling includes fluidly coupling each of the first and second longitudinal lumens with an external fluid source. 
   
   
       34 . The method according to  claim 33  wherein the catheter includes first and second extension tubes extending proximally from the catheter hub and in fluid communication with the first and second longitudinal lumens and including the step of fluid coupling the first and second extension tubes with at external fluid source. 
   
   
       35 . The method according to  claim 34  including the step of positioning a sheath at least partially about the fluid connector of the extension tube and the tunneler instrument. 
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 29  wherein the step of passing the catheter includes at least partially exposing the catheter hub through the second opening. 
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 36  wherein the step of passing includes at least partially removing the catheter hub from the surgical tunnel through the second opening. 
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 36  wherein the catheter includes an extension tube extending proximally from the catheter hub and including the step of mounting a clamp about the extension tube, the clamp adapted to move from a first position to a second position to substantially close a lumen of the extension tube.