Dialysis catheter

Abstract

A dialysis catheter including a first portion having an outer wall having a first diameter, an elongated distal portion having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a transition region between the first portion and distal portion. A first longitudinally extending venous lumen is configured to deliver blood. First and second independent longitudinally extending arterial lumens are configured to withdraw blood from a patient. The venous lumen and arterial lumen have first and second regions each positioned a first distance from the outer wall of the catheter and a third region positioned a second shorter distance from the outer wall of the catheter to form an arch shaped wall portion progressively increasing in thickness from the third region toward the first region and from the third region to the second region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A dialysis catheter for delivering and withdrawing blood from a patient's body, the dialysis catheter comprising a dialysis catheter body defining first, second, third and fourth quadrants in a transverse cross-section at an intermediate portion and having first and second arterial lumens and a venous lumen, the venous lumen being circular in configuration and positioned off-center of a central longitudinal axis of the catheter, the venous lumen having an equal portion in each of the third and fourth quadrants, the first and second arterial lumens being asymmetric in configuration, the first arterial lumen positioned in a portion of the second and third quadrants with a major portion positioned in the second quadrant and having a first convex outer wall and a first curved inner wall, and the second arterial lumen positioned in a portion of the first and fourth quadrants with a major portion of the second arterial lumen positioned in the first quadrant, the second arterial lumen having a second convex outer wall and a second curved inner wall, the first and second inner walls being closer to the venous lumen than the first and second outer walls. 
     
     
         21 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the first outer wall has a length greater than a length of the first inner wall. 
     
     
         22 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the second outer wall has a length greater than a length of the second inner wall. 
     
     
         23 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the second outer wall has a length greater than a length of the second inner wall. 
     
     
         24 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the length of the first outer wall is equal to the length of the second outer wall. 
     
     
         25 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the length of the first inner wall is equal to the length of the second inner wall. 
     
     
         26 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 24 , wherein the length of the first inner wall is equal to the length of the second inner wall. 
     
     
         27 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the first outer wall and first inner wall are joined by a radiused wall. 
     
     
         28 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 27 , wherein the second outer wall and second inner wall are joined by a radiused wall. 
     
     
         29 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second arterial lumens are spaced a same distance from a center point of the transverse cross section of the dialysis catheter. 
     
     
         30 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 29 , wherein the venous lumen is adjacent the center point of the transverse cross section of the dialysis catheter. 
     
     
         31 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the venous lumen is adjacent the center point of the transverse cross section of the dialysis catheter. 
     
     
         32 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second inner walls are concave. 
     
     
         33 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the first and second arterial lumens are of a same configuration. 
     
     
         34 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second inner walls are concave and face the venous lumen. 
     
     
         35 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 20 , wherein the first arterial lumen does not extend into the first and fourth quadrants. 
     
     
         36 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 35 , wherein the second arterial lumen does not extend into the second or third quadrants. 
     
     
         37 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 36 , wherein the venous lumen is adjacent the center point of the transverse cross section of the dialysis catheter. 
     
     
         38 . The dialysis catheter of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second arterial lumens are of a similar configuration.