Catheter Assembly Including Transitioning Lumens

Abstract

A catheter assembly including an elongate catheter tube is disclosed. The number of lumens defined by the catheter tube can vary as a function of longitudinal length along the catheter tube. For instance, the catheter tube can define three lumens from the proximal end of the catheter tube and terminate one of the lumens at an intermediate termination point such that only two lumens are defined further distally along the catheter tube. A sensor can be placed in the terminating lumen so as to isolate it from the other lumens and from blood or other body fluids while still enabling the sensor to reside within the patient body when the catheter tube is positioned in the patient for use. In addition to this, various other lumen transition and sensor configurations are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter assembly, comprising:
 an elongate catheter tube formed of a catheter tube material, the catheter tube defining at least one fluid-carrying lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the catheter tube; and   at least one terminating lumen defined by the catheter tube, the terminating lumen extending to a closed termination point positioned intermediately between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter tube, the termination point being defined by the catheter tube material, the terminating lumen configured to be isolated from fluids.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the terminating lumen distally extends from a proximal end of the catheter tube. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the catheter tube is configured to be inserted into a body of a patient. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the termination point of the terminating lumen is disposed within the body of a patient when the catheter assembly is disposed within the body of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor disposed in the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the sensor is at least one of a light-based sensor, a glucose meter, a blood oxygen sensor, a temperature sensor, and a thermistor. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 5 , further comprising at least one wire that extends along the terminating lumen configured to operably connect the sensor to an apparatus separate from the catheter assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the catheter tube is reduced in size distal to the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the catheter tube includes a plurality of fluid-carrying lumens. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 10 , wherein a cross-sectional size of at least one of the fluid-carrying lumens changes at a point distal to the termination point of the terminating lumen relative to a point proximal to the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 10 , wherein cross-sectional sizes of the fluid-carrying lumens remain substantially the same at a point distal to the termination point of the terminating lumen relative to a point proximal to the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         13 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the terminating lumen includes an access port on a proximal portion of the catheter assembly. 
     
     
         14 . A catheter assembly, comprising:
 an elongate catheter tube;   at least one fluid-carrying lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the catheter tube;   at least one sensor disposed in a distal portion of the catheter tube, the at least one sensor configured to be isolated from fluids; and   at least one sensor wire extending between a proximal portion of the catheter tube and the at least one sensor.   
     
     
         15 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensor wire is disposed in a sensor lumen, the sensor lumen being centrally disposed in the catheter tube. 
     
     
         16 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensor wire is disposed in a sensor lumen, the sensor lumen being disposed in an offset configuration in the catheter tube. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one fluid-carrying lumen includes a side hole opening proximate a distal end of the catheter tube, the at least one sensor disposed distal to the side hole opening. 
     
     
         18 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the catheter tube includes at least two fluid-carrying lumens, at least one of the fluid-carrying lumens including a side hole opening proximate a distal end of the catheter tube, the at least one sensor disposed distal to the side hole opening, at least one of the fluid-carrying lumens including a distal end opening at the distal end of the catheter tube. 
     
     
         19 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the sensor wire is integrated into at least one of a septum and a tube wall of the catheter tube. 
     
     
         20 . A catheter assembly, comprising:
 an elongate catheter tube defining at least one fluid-carrying lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the catheter tube;   at least one terminating lumen defined by the catheter tube, the terminating lumen distally extending from a proximal portion of the catheter tube to a closed distal termination point positioned intermediately between the proximal and distal ends of the catheter tube, the terminating lumen configured to be isolated from fluids;   a sensor disposed in the terminating lumen; and   a sensor wire operably connected to the sensor.   
     
     
         21 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the sensor is disposed proximate the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         22 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the terminating lumen distally extends from a proximal end of the catheter tube. 
     
     
         23 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the catheter tube is configured to be inserted into a body of a patient. 
     
     
         24 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the termination point of the terminating lumen is disposed within the body of a patient when the catheter assembly is disposed within the body of the patient. 
     
     
         25 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the sensor is at least one of a light-based sensor, a glucose meter, a blood oxygen sensor, a temperature sensor, and a thermistor. 
     
     
         26 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the at least one fluid-carrying lumen increases in cross-sectional size at a point distal to the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         27 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 20 , wherein an outer diameter of the catheter tube is reduced in size distal to the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         28 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the catheter tube includes a plurality of fluid-carrying lumens. 
     
     
         29 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 28 , wherein a cross-sectional size of at least one of the fluid-carrying lumens changes at a point distal to the termination point of the terminating lumen relative to a point proximal to the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         30 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 28 , wherein cross-sectional sizes of the fluid-carrying lumens remains substantially the same at a point distal to the termination point of the terminating lumen relative to a point proximal to the termination point of the terminating lumen. 
     
     
         31 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the sensor wire is disposed along an outer surface of the catheter tube. 
     
     
         32 . The catheter assembly as defined in  claim 31 , wherein the sensor wire is covered by a cover material including at least one of a polyurethane film and a shrink material. 
     
     
         33 . A method for manufacturing a catheter tube, the method comprising:
 extruding continuous tubing defining a plurality of lumens from an extrusion material along an extrusion pathway, the extrusion pathway including a plurality of extrusion pins;   while extruding the continuous tubing, removing at least one of the extrusion pins from the extrusion pathway to reduce the number of lumens defined by the continuous tubing;   altering at least one of a extrusion pull rate and an injection air pressure employed in extruding the continuous tubing after removal of the at least one extrusion pin; and   cutting the continuous tubing to define the catheter tube, the catheter tube including at least one terminating lumen that terminates at an intermediate position between a proximal end and a distal end of the catheter tube.