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US-12616821-B2 - Abscess catheter

US12616821B2US 12616821 B2US12616821 B2US 12616821B2US-12616821-B2

Abstract

System and methods for draining an abscess with a catheter. The system includes a catheter and a stiffener. The catheter has a first lumen and a second lumen. The stiffener is sized to fit inside the first lumen. The stiffener defines a channel sized to fit the second lumen such that a distal end of the stiffener can pass into and through the first lumen of the catheter with the second lumen positioned in the channel of the stiffener while the stiffener slides through the first lumen.

Inventors

  • Andrew Bunney

Assignees

  • Andrew Bunney

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20231017

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . A system for draining an abscess, the system comprising: a catheter having a first lumen and a second lumen; and a stiffener sized to fit inside the first lumen, wherein the stiffener defines: a channel sized to fit the second lumen such that a distal end of the stiffener can pass into and through the first lumen of the catheter with the second lumen positioned in the channel of the stiffener while the stiffener slides through the first lumen; and a guidewire passage positioned at a center of a diameter defining the stiffener.
  2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the catheter defines a first lumen inlet at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the stiffener defines a dilator at the distal end of the stiffener, and wherein the stiffener is sized such that the dilator extends out of the first lumen inlet when the catheter and dilator are combined to be inserted into a patient.
  3. 3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second lumen further comprises a second lumen outlet at the distal end of the catheter, the first lumen inlet and the second lumen outlet are coplanar.
  4. 4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the first lumen inlet is farther from a proximal end than a second lumen outlet.
  5. 5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein a second lumen outlet is farther from a proximal end than the first lumen inlet.
  6. 6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the channel is defined along a perimeter edge of the stiffener.
  7. 7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second lumen is positioned inside the first lumen.
  8. 8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the second lumen is coupled to an interior surface of the first lumen.
  9. 9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a wall of the first lumen further comprises a plurality of side holes.
  10. 10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the catheter further comprises a plurality of voids extending from the first lumen through an outer wall to a space exterior of the first lumen.
  11. 11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the catheter further comprises: a first lumen outlet at a proximal end of the catheter; and a second lumen inlet at the proximal end of the catheter.
  12. 12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising a hub positioned at the proximal end of the catheter, the hub comprising: an inlet conduit coupled to the second lumen inlet; and an outlet conduit coupled to the first lumen outlet.
  13. 13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion at the distal end of the catheter conforms to at least one of a C-shape or a spiral shape responsive to a removal of the stiffener.
  14. 14 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tip coupled to and extending from the distal end of the first lumen, the tip narrowing to a diameter less than the diameter of the first lumen.
  15. 15 . A system for draining an abscess, the system comprising: a catheter sized and configured for percutaneous use in draining the abscess, the catheter defining a drainage lumen and an irrigation lumen; a negative pressure source configured to be connected to the drainage lumen at a proximal end of the catheter; an irrigation source configured to be connected to the irrigation lumen at the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the irrigation source is configured to irrigate the abscess while the negative pressure source operates to drain the abscess; a stiffener sized to fit inside the drainage lumen about the irrigation lumen, the stiffener comprising a channel positioned at an outer diameter of the stiffener and configured to allow the channel of the stiffener to pass about the irrigation lumen as the stiffener passes into and through the drainage lumen, the stiffener comprising a guidewire passage positioned at a center of the outer diameter defined by the stiffener; and a guidewire configured to engage the guidewire passage to couple to the stiffener.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/417,149, filed on Oct. 18, 2022, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to treating an abscess or fluid collection, in particular, by using a catheter. BACKGROUND An abscess is a focal infection within an infected individual. Abscesses can occur in any organ structure and any potential space. Some abscesses occur spontaneously. Other abscesses occur when an internal organ (i.e., a colon or an intestine) containing microbial organisms (such as bacteria) ruptures and the microbial organisms leaks into an internal volume of the infected individual. The internal volume of the infected individual, for example, a peritoneum, is not designed to safely contain the microbial organisms. For example, an abscess can occur in an abdominal void as a result of appendicitis or a ruptured gallbladder. When the microbial organisms are present in the internal volume outside the internal organ, the microbial organisms begin to multiply at an infection site (i.e., an infection). The body of the infected individual senses the presence and growth of the microbial organisms in the internal volume at the infection site. The body of the infected individual, as a defense mechanism, builds an enclosing bubble around the microbial organisms at the infection site. The enclosing bubble forms a thick wall which contains the microbial organisms at the infection site in the infected individual. The thick wall separates the microbial organisms from the rest of the body of the infected individual and a circulatory system (i.e., a bloodstream) of the infected individual. The thick wall of the enclosing bubble and the contained microbial organisms are the abscess. Sometimes, an immune system of the infected individual is not strong enough to overcome a growth rate of the microbial organisms in the abscess. When this occurs, the microbial organisms can overpopulate the abscess, leading the microbial organisms to invade the bloodstream of the infected individual. The release of the microbial organisms into the blood stream can cause sepsis in the infected individual. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition which, if untreated, can lead to a multi-system organ failure and death. SUMMARY This disclosure describes systems and methods related to treating an abscess using a catheter. This approach can simultaneously drain and irrigate the abscess with the catheter. The catheter can have two lumens—a first lumen and a second lumen. The second lumen can be positioned inside the first lumen. The abscess can be drained via the first lumen and simultaneously irrigated via the second lumen while draining via the first lumen. In one aspect, a system for draining an abscess includes a catheter and a stiffener. The catheter has a first lumen and a second lumen. The stiffener is sized to fit inside the first lumen. The stiffener defines a channel sized to fit the second lumen such that a distal end of the stiffener can pass into and through the first lumen of the catheter with the second lumen positioned in the channel of the stiffener while the stiffener slides through the first lumen. In some implementations, the catheter defines a first lumen inlet at a distal end of the catheter. The stiffener defines a dilator at a distal end of the stiffener. The stiffener is sized such that the dilator extends out of the first lumen inlet when the catheter and dilator are combined to be inserted into a patient. In some cases, the second lumen further includes a second lumen outlet at the distal end of the catheter and the first lumen inlet and the second lumen outlet are coplanar. In some cases, the first lumen inlet is farther from a proximal end than a second lumen outlet. In some cases, a second lumen outlet is farther from the proximal end than the first lumen inlet. In some cases, a diameter of the first lumen inlet is 0.035 inches. In some implementations, the stiffener defines a guidewire passage in a center of the stiffener and the channel is defined along a perimeter edge of the stiffener. In some implementations, the second lumen is positioned inside the first lumen. In some implementations, the second lumen is coupled to an interior surface of the first lumen. In some implementations, a wall of the first lumen further includes multiple side holes. In some implementations, a wall of the catheter that defines the first lumen has multiple side holes. In some implementations, the catheter further includes multiple voids extending from the first lumen through an outer wall to a space exterior of the first lumen. In some implementations, the catheter further includes a first lumen outlet at a proximal end of the catheter and a second lumen inlet at the proximal end of the catheter. In some cases, the system further includes a hub positioned at the proximal end of the catheter. The hub includes an inlet conduit c