Catheter with direction orientation

Abstract

A regional anesthesia catheter used with a guide, for example a cannula, has a distal portion integrally connected to its main portion by a junction portion that has a cross-sectional profile different from the distal and main portions, so as to predispose the distal portion of the catheter to move in a given direction when it is not constrained by the guide. The cross-sectional profile of the junction portion may be configured in a particular shape, or be constructed to have a flexibility that predisposes the distal portion to bend, curve or move toward a given direction. A number of portions of a catheter may be configured to bend at a predefined direction. Further, a catheter may be configured to have a cross sectional profile or a predefined flexibility along its entire length to cause the catheter to move in a predefined direction.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of introducing a catheter into a patient, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a hollow cannula having a proximal end and a distal end;   b) providing a catheter insertable into and movable along said cannula, said catheter having at least one portion between its distal and proximal ends configured to cause the distal end of said catheter to be predisposedly moved toward a direction not in alignment with said cannula when said one portion is not confined within said cannula;   c) inserting said cannula into the patient proximate to a desired location where said catheter is to be located in the patient;   d) inserting said catheter into said cannula by first inserting the distal end of said catheter into said cannula; and   e) continuing to move said catheter into said cannula until at least said one portion of said catheter extends beyond the distal end of said cannula to move the distal end of said catheter to the desired location within the patient.   
     
     
         22 . Method of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of:
 orientating said one portion of said catheter relative to the cannula so that the distal end of said catheter is effected to move toward said direction when said one portion of said catheter is not confined by said cannula.   
     
     
         23 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . Method of  claim 21 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the step of:
 forming said catheter from a tubing having a circular cross sectional profile except at said one portion.   
     
     
         43 . Method of  claim 21 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the step of:
 configuring the cross sectional profile of said one portion of said catheter to be oval shaped.   
     
     
         44 . Method of  claim 21 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the step of:
 providing said one portion of said catheter to be approximately 3 mm to 15 cm in length proximate to a distal end of said catheter.   
     
     
         45 . Method of  claim 21 , wherein said cannula comprises an epidural needle, the method further comprising the step of:
 inserting the epidural needle into the spine of the patient.   
     
     
         46 . Method of  claim 21 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the step of:
 configuring at least one section of said one portion of said catheter to have a wall thickness less than that of the rest of said tubing.   
     
     
         47 . Method of  claim 21 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the step of:
 configuring said one portion of said catheter to have a flexibility that is different from that of the rest of said catheter.   
     
     
         45 . Method of  claim 21 , wherein said catheter comprises a regional anesthesia catheter, the method further comprising the step of:
 applying an anesthetic or other treatment agent to the desired location within the patient.   
     
     
         46 . A method of manufacturing a catheter to be used with and passable through a guide for insertion into a patient, comprising the steps of:
 forming a plastic tubing;   configuring said tubing to have a cross sectional profile that causes the tubing to have a naturally biased orientation in a given direction when said one portion of said tubing extends out of said guide, said tubing being routed in said given direction.   
     
     
         47 . Method of  claim 46 , wherein the configuring step comprises configuring the cross sectional profile of said tubing to be oval shaped. 
     
     
         48 . Method of  claim 46 , wherein the configuring step comprises configuring the cross sectional profile of said tubing to be C shaped. 
     
     
         49 . Method of  claim 46 , wherein the configuring step comprises configuring the cross sectional profile of said tubing to be partially concaved inwards toward the center axis of said tubing. 
     
     
         50 . Method of  claim 46 , wherein the configuring step comprises configuring the cross sectional profile of said tubing to be non-circular. 
     
     
         51 . A method of directing a distal end of a tubing to move in a given direction, comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a tubing having a distal portion connected to a main portion by a junction that has a cross section different from the respective cross sections of said main and distal portions;   (b) configuring said junction to have a cross sectional profile that causes said distal portion to point to and movable along a first direction and said main portion to point to and move along a second direction not in alignment with said first direction if said tubing is unguided;   (c) positioning a hollow guide relative to said given direction; and   (d) inserting said tubing into and moving said tubing along said guide;   wherein when said distal portion and said junction are no longer confined within said guide, the distal end of said distal portion is caused to move in said given direction.   
     
     
         52 . Method of  claim 51 , wherein said guide comprises a cannula and said tubing comprises a regional anesthesia catheter, the method further comprising the steps of:
 positioning said cannula relative to a desired location within the patient; and   inserting said catheter into and moving said catheter along said cannula to position the distal end of the catheter proximate to said desired location so that an anesthetic may be applied directly to said desired location of the patient.   
     
     
         53 . Method of  claim 51 , wherein said tubing is a catheter and said guide is a cannula, wherein the step (b) comprises the steps of:
 configuring said catheter to have a substantially circular cross section along its entire length except at said junction; and   configuring said junction to have a non-circular cross section configured to cause the distal portion of said catheter to move in a direction when the distal portion when not confined.