High flow rate dialysis catheters and related methods
View Patent ↗High flow rate catheters, and related methods, are useful in dialysis and other procedures. A catheter according to the invention comprises a hub and a generally elongated conduit. The conduit has a substantially continuous and smooth wall. The conduit also defines at least one lumen and has a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the conduit. The proximal end is coupled to a hub and the distal end has an opening in communication with the lumen. The conduit has a conical shape which tapers along the length.
1. A catheter, comprising: (a) a huh; and
(b) a flexible, generally elongated extruded conduit including an outer wall and defining at least one lumen, the conduit comprising:
(1) a cylindrical proximal section extending from a proximal end coupled to the hub to a first point and having a constant first cross-sectional area along the length of the proximal section;
(2) a frusto-conical middle section extending from the first point to a second point and having a second cross-sectional area at the second point, wherein the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area; and
(3) a cylindrical distal section extending from the second point to a distal end and having the second cross-sectional area constantly along the length of the distal section,
wherein a thickness of the outer wall smoothly increases in a distal to proximal direction over at least a transition zone of the conduit with a concomitant increase in cross-sectional area in a distal to proximal direction of each of the at least one lumen over at least the transition zone,
wherein the conduit further comprises at least one internal divider dividing said at least one lumen into at least two lumens, and
wherein a first one of the lumens extends from the proximal end to the distal end and a second one of the lumens extends from the proximal end to a point distally beyond the distal end.