Patent ID: 7654996
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for intermittently flushing the lumen of an indwelling catheter with fluid comprising flush solution derived from an external fluid source when the catheter is no longer in fluid communication with the external fluid source, the catheter lumen having an indwelling portion beneath the skin of a patient and extending into a blood vessel, the method comprising steps of: a. disposing a patient mounted tubing system comprising a single extension tube in fluid connection with the indwelling portion, the tubing system defining an internal volume and at least one proximal terminal, b. flowing flush solution from the external fluid source, through said at least one proximal terminal and through the tubing system into the indwelling portion, at least a portion of the solution at least partially filling the internal volume, promptly sealing the proximal terminal of the tubing system such that at least a portion of the flush solution remains sealed within the tubing system thereby defining a residual volume of flush solution within the tubing system, and c. progressively reducing the internal volume of the tubing system to displace at least sequential portions of the residual volume into the indwelling portion to intermittently flush the indwelling catheter portion with the flush solution, wherein the steps of progressively reducing comprises reducing the volume of the single extension tube a first time, to thereby define a first residual volume of the extension tube, and reducing the volume of the single extension tube a second time to thereby define a second residual volume of the extension tube, the second residual volume of the extension tube being less than the first residual volume of the extension tube.