Multilumen catheter

Abstract

A multilumen catheter having tubings extending into lumens within the catheter. The lumens may be used for blood, drugs or other medicants. The lumens may also be used for sensors. The junction element, external to the patient, connects the tubings to the lumens. The tubings, also external to the patient, connect to infusion members, to which one or more infusion systems may be connected to deliver blood, drugs and other medicants to the patient. A sensor having a sensing element may extend through the sensor lumen and be positioned internal to the patient for physiological parameter sensing. An external portion of the sensor may be connected to associated electronics to provide automatic monitoring of the physiological parameters and automatic delivery and control of the infusants. Also, a central line catheter for delivering fluids directly into a main artery or vein near the heart, which contains a first lumen to deliver a fluid through the central line catheter and a second lumen containing a sensor capable indicating a characteristic level in blood. The first lumen delivers the fluid downstream of the sensor to prevent any interference between the fluid delivery and the sensor readings. In other versions, the central line catheter can have additional lumens for additional purposes. In addition, the central line catheter can further include a flush sleeve to remove debris around the sensor.

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A multilumen catheter comprising:
 a first tubing having a length dimension and a plurality of lumens;   the plurality of lumens disposed within the first tubing and extending along the length dimension of the first tubing, the plurality of lumens including a sensor lumen and a first infusion lumen;   a sensor lead extending within the sensor lumen along the length dimension of the first tubing to a sensor location;   a sensor connected to the sensor lead and arranged at the sensor location;   the first infusion lumen having an exit outlet on the first tubing at a location spaced apart along the length dimension of the first tubing from the sensor location.   
     
     
         40 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 39 , wherein the sensor location is within the sensor lumen of the first tubing. 
     
     
         41 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the first tubing has a distal end and a connection end;   the sensor location is closer to the distal end of the first tubing than the exit outlet is to the distal end of the first tubing.   
     
     
         42 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 41 , wherein the sensor lumen terminates before the distal end of the first tubing. 
     
     
         43 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 41 , further comprising a junction element connected to the connection end of the first tubing, the junction element connected to at least one second tubing. 
     
     
         44 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 41 , further comprising a junction element connected to the connection end of the first tubing, the junction element connected to a plurality of second tubings. 
     
     
         45 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 44 , wherein the plurality of second tubings comprises a first infusion tubing and a second infusion tubing. 
     
     
         46 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 45 , wherein:
 the first tubing includes a second infusion lumen; and   the first infusion tubing extends into the first infusion lumen and the second infusion tubing extends into the second infusion lumen.   
     
     
         47 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 39 , wherein:
 the first tubing has a distal end and a connection end;   the sensor location along the length dimension of the first tubing, is between the exit outlet and the distal end of the first tubing.   
     
     
         48 . A multilumen catheter of  claim 47 , wherein the exit port is closer to the connection end than the sensor location is to the connection end. 
     
     
         49 . A method of making a multilumen catheter, the method comprising:
 forming a first tubing having a length dimension and a plurality of lumens, the plurality of lumens disposed within the first tubing and extending along the length dimension of the first tubing, the plurality of lumens including a sensor lumen and a first infusion lumen;   extending a sensor lead within the sensor lumen along the length dimension of the first tubing to a sensor location;   connecting a sensor to the sensor lead and arranging the sensor at the sensor location; and   forming an exit outlet of the first infusion lumen in the first tubing at a location spaced apart along the length dimension of the first tubing from the sensor location.   
     
     
         50 . A method of  claim 49 , wherein the sensor location is within the sensor lumen of the first tubing. 
     
     
         51 . A method of  claim 49 , wherein:
 the first tubing has a distal end and a connection end;   the sensor location is closer to the distal end of the first tubing than the exit outlet is to the distal end of the first tubing.   
     
     
         52 . A method of  claim 51 , further comprising terminating the sensor lumen before the distal end of the first tubing. 
     
     
         53 . A method of  claim 51 , further comprising connecting a junction element to the connection end of the first tubing, the junction element connected to at least one second tubing. 
     
     
         54 . A method of  claim 51 , further comprising connecting a junction element to the connection end of the first tubing, the junction element connected to a plurality of second tubings. 
     
     
         55 . A method of  claim 54 , wherein the plurality of second tubings comprises a first infusion tubing and a second infusion tubing. 
     
     
         56 . A method of  claim 55 , wherein the first tubing includes a second infusion lumen, the method further comprising:
 extending the first infusion tubing into the first infusion lumen; and   extending the second infusion tubing extends into the second infusion lumen.   
     
     
         57 . A method of  claim 49 , wherein:
 the first tubing has a distal end and a connection end;   the sensor location along the length dimension of the first tubing, is between the exit outlet and the distal end of the first tubing.   
     
     
         58 . A method of  claim 57 , wherein the exit port is closer to the connection end than the sensor location is to the connection end.