IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR WASHING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE

Abstract: Improvement in double track catheter for washing, drainage, monitoring and control of intracranial pressure, composed of a tubular body (1), made of a substantially flexible material, having internally three longitudinal and independent ducts, an intermediary duct being called guide (2) and two side ducts called instillation (3) and drainage (4) ducts, closed by the lower ends; however, those called side ducts (3-4) have passageways groups (3' and 4') that communicate with the catheter external part and the internal part of each mentioned instillation (3) and drainage (4) side ducts which, as previously mentioned, are internally incorporated to the body (1) that, beside having an external stopper (5), also has its upper terminal provided with a flat thickening (6), wherein the guide duct end (2) is simply exposed; however, exactly in this point, the other two ducts (3-4) are interconnected or connected in equally tubular and flexible prolongers (3" and 4"), although in a completely independent fashion among each other, and both are also identical, particularly concerning the construction and inclusion of usual valve (7) and connection (8) devices, thus embodying means to allow, at the same time, the drainage and washing of the intraventricular system and control of the intracranial pressure.

Description: Descriptive Report of Patent of Invention "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE". The present Patent of Invention refers to an "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE", or more particularly to technical and functional improvements specially created and introduced in a catheter aiming the characterization of means which enable to significantly improve and ease the care about neurological patients who, due to their pathological condition, need the use of external drainage of the cephalo- rachidian liquid outside the cranial-rachidian box and, further, allow the measurement and control of the intracranial pressure. As it is known by the skilled in the art, there are presently several devices generically called "external ventricular derivation assembly", basically composed of a simple and single tube that, by means of the neurosurgical technique, one of the end is implemented inside the cerebral ventricular cavity, while the opposite end, which is disposed outside the cranial box, is connected to a traditional reservoir suitable for collecting the drained liquid through said catheter. In the present external ventricular derivation systems, mechanical and/or electronic sensors may be coupled or not which allow the measurement of the intracranial pressure in continuous or alternate fashion. In the presently existing systems, the intraventricular liquid drainage is a result from the gravity action, resulting in differential pressure between the pressure of the liquid contained in the ventricular cavity and the pressure exerted by gravity which acts directly with the height the collector reservoir is placed. The height in question refers to the distance defined by the lower limit of the reservoir in relation to the height of the cerebral ventricles. In this situation, the flow in question is determined by Pouseville law: wherein the flow is = the pressure difference x constant (determined by the viscosity of the fluid to be drained, by the diameter and length of the tube used.) As described above, it can be observed that the intraventπcular liquid drainage is made by pressure gradient, wherein only the liquid drainage speed can be controlled by means of interference in the pressure differential, that is, by- varying the height differential by means of the head height mobilization or the collector reservoir height relative therewith. The instructions for the use of the external drainage devices relate to acute conditions, where there are intracranial hypertension crisis due to the drainage tracks blockage or infections and/or intraventricular hemorrhages which also cause the intracranial pressure increase. It is known that the normal production of cephalo-rachidian liquid is approximately 0,4 ml/minute, however, in intracranial pressure increase situations, half of the volume is physiologically produced, that is, 0,2 ml per minute. This protection physiologic mechanism further reduces the liquid volume that can be drained by means of the present external derivation systems, extending the time needed to the pathologic status stabilization and consequently increasing the number of possible complications, such as contamination and infections. By virtue of the disadvantages above, and aiming to overcome them, the present "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE" was created, which is characterized in that it has in its catheterizing body the double track embodiment that, after being inserted in the intraventricular cavity, leaves two external catheters disposed outside the cranial cavity, on the contrary of the existing systems which have a single external catheter. Thus, one of the catheters is connected as usual to a collector reservoir, whether connected or not to any electronic and/or mechanical intracranial pressure measuring mechanism, while the other catheter is connected to a sterile and preferably sealed reservoir which allows, by means of pressure gradient or mechanical pumps, the appropriate liquid instillation into the ventricular cavities. Thus, it is possible continuously or alternately wash the cerebral ventricles, that is, the catheter connected to the reservoir with the physiologically adequate liquid penetrates the ventricular cavities when it exceeds the pressure gradient needed to initiate said liquid flow, the increase of liquid volume inside the ventricular cavities, thus making it, when already mixed with the cephalo-rachidian liquid, to be eliminated to the drainage reservoir. This procedure allows the ventricular system washing in a single fashion. The system can be further connected to an infusion/suction system, thus allowing through the said system the intracranial pressure control. The present "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE", is a novelty since it is the only system which allows all the possible procedures to be performed with the already existing systems, however, it is unique in its nature for allowing the drainage and washing of the intraventricular system and control of the intracranial pressure at the same time. Therefore, with the present improvement, the catheter in question is characterized in that it shows a double track mechanism which allows the INFUSION associated with the EXTRACTION of the appropriate liquid in the ventricular cavities. For a better understanding of the present Patent of Invention, the following detailed description is made with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external details of the catheter in question; Figures 2, 3 and 4 show greater details of the double track body, emphasizing its cross section; and Figure 5 illustrates a schematic view of the use of the catheter double track at the same time, drainage and instillation of sterile liquid. According to these illustrations and their details, more particularly Figures 1 to 4. the present "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE" is characterized in that its tubular body ( 1), made of a substantially flexible material, in spite of being showed in an elongated single piece, internally incorporates three longitudinal and independent ducts, an intermediary duct being called guide (2) and two side ducts called instillation (3) and drainage (4) ducts, all of them being covered with only one mass which forms the body ( 1 ), wherein all their front ends are closed, however, those called side ducts (3-4) radially distribute a convenient number of small bores which form passageways groups (3') and (4') that communicate with the catheter external part and the internal part of each mentioned instillation (3) and drainage (4) side ducts which, as previously mentioned, are internally incorporated to the body ( 1 ) that, besides having an external stopper (5), also has its upper terminal provided with a flat thickening (6), wherein the guide duct end (2) is simplv exposed, however, exactly in this point, the other two ducts (3-4) are interconnected or connected in equally tubular and flexible prolongers (3") and (4"), although in a completely independent fashion among each other, and both are also identical, particularly concerning the construction and inclusion of usual valve (7) and connection (8) devices. Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the shape of the central duct called guide is preferably circular, however, concerning the side ducts (3 and 4), their shape may vary within a commonly circular range and thus said ducts may show, a varied cross section, for example, the variations of figures 3 and 4. where it is seen that, by virtue of said variations, the cross section of body ( 1 ) may be circular or slightly flat, however, regardless said aspects, the assembly functioning is exactly the same, as shown in figure 5, where we can see that after being inserted in the intraventricular cavity, two external catheters (3" and 4") are disposed outside the intracranial cavity, one of them (4") being connected as usual to the collector reservoir (C), whether connected or not to any electronic and/or mechanical mechanism (M) for intracranial pressure measuring and/or flow control, while the other catheter (3") is connected to a sterile and preferably sealed reservoir (E) which allows, by means of pressure gravitational or mechanical/electronic gradient (M 1 ), the appropriate liquid instillation into the ventricular cavities. The devices (M and M') may be independent mechanical/electronic arrangements or coupled/incorporated in an appropriate computer, so that the measurement of the intracranial pressure can be carried out and, at the same time, the control of injection/suction of liquid related to the pressure to be maintained or modified. Thus, on the contrary of the usual single track catheters, it is possible to simultaneously carry out the continuous or alternate drainage and washing of the cerebral ventricles and control the intracranial pressure, that is, the external catheter (3"), connected to the reservoir (E) with physiologically appropriate liquid, penetrates the ventricular cavity when it exceeds the pressure gradient needed to initiate said liquid flow, the increase of liquid volume inside the ventricular cavities thus eliminates it by means of duct (4 M ) to the drainage reservoir (C). As previously mentioned, this procedure allows the ventricular system washing in a single fashion.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1) "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE", characterized in that its tubular body (1), made of a substantially flexible material, in spite of being showed in an elongated single piece, internally incorporates three longitudinal and independent ducts, wherein the first is defined as being an intermediary duct and constitutes a guide channel (2). while the other two are side ducts, one for instillation (3) and the other for drainage (4), all of them being covered with only one mass which forms the body (1 ), wherein all their front ends are closed, however, those called side ducts (3-4) radially distribute a convenient number of small bores which form passageways groups (3') and (4') that communicate with the catheter external part and the internal part of each mentioned instillation (3) and drainage (4) side ducts which, as previously mentioned, are internally incorporated to the body (I) that, besides having an external stopper (5), also has its upper teπninal provided with a flat thickening (6), wherein the guide duct end (2) is simply exposed, however, exactly in this point, the other two ducts (3-4) are interconnected or connected in equally tubular and flexible prolongers (3") and (4"), although in a completely independent fashion among each other, and both are also identical, particularly concerning the construction and inclusion of usual valve (7) and connection (8) devices. 2) "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE", according to claim 1 , characterized in that the shape of the central duct called guide is preferably circular, however, concerning the side ducts (3 and 4), their shape may van witliin a commonly circular range and thus said ducts may show a varied cross section. 3) "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE", according to claim 1. characterized in that after being inserted in the intraventricular cavity, two external catheters (3" and 4") are disposed outside the intracranial cavity, one of them (4") being connected as usual to the collector reservoir (C), whether comiected or not to any electronic and/or mechanical mechanism (M) for intracranial pressure measuring and/or flow control, while the other catheter (3") is connected to a sterile and preferably sealed reservoir (E) which allows, by means of pressure gravitational or mechanical/electronic gradient (M'). the appropriate liquid instillation into the ventricular cavities. 4) "IMPROVEMENT IN DOUBLE TRACK CATHETER FOR VVASHIING, DRAINAGE, MONITORING AND CONTROL OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE", according to claim 1, characterized in that the devices (M and M') may be independent mechanical and/or electronic arrangements or coupled (incorporated) in an appropriate computer, so that the measurement of the intracranial pressure can be carried out and, at the same time, the control of injection/suction of liquid related to the pressure to be maintained or modified.

Inventors: NEWTON PAES, NEWTON, PAES
Applicants: NEWTON PAES, NEWTON, PAES
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A61M
IPC codes: A61M3, A61M25