Angled hole ventricular catheter and method of making same

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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a ventricular catheter having specifically angled apertures which facilitate access to or drainage of cerebral spinal fluid and certain methods of making and using same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The four ventricles of the human brain are interconnected cavities that produce and circulate cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Procedures involving ventriculostomy, i.e., placement of a catheter into the ventricular system of the brain, form a major part of a neurosurgeon's clinical practice. General areas of application of ventricular catheter placement include intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP), draining or shunting of CSF and the instillation of pharmacological therapeutic agents.

CSF drainage is essential for patients with congenital or acquired hydrocephalus. CSF drainage, which can only be performed with an intraventricular catheter, is a life-preserving procedure, because it can immediately reduce intracranial pressure. The ventricular catheter, used to drain CSF, is connected to a peripheral subcutaneous drainage system, i.e., to the peritoneal cavity or systemic circulation via the heart or in the case of ICP to an external drainage collection system. Standard procedures for ventricular catherization are disclosed in the textbook literature. See, for example, Neurosurgery, edited by Robert H. Wilkins and Setti S. Rengachary, Section A, Chapter 13, Techniques of Ventricular Puncture (McGraw Hill 1984).

The most frequently chosen site for ventricular catheterization is coronal. In most cases, a catheter is inserted in the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle through an orifice or burr hole drilled just anterior to the coronal suture in the midpupillary line of the cranium, i.e., in the frontal bone over the ventricle. This is known in the field as Kocher's point. The burr hole, only slightly larger than the diameter of the selected catheter to insure a snug fit and provide a seal against CSF leakage, is placed approximately 1 cm anterior to the coronal suture, approximately 10 to 12 cm above the nasion, and approximately 2 to 3 cm from the midline over the nondominant hemisphere. After the burr hole is made, the dura and underlying pia-arachnoid are opened and coagulated, for example, with a fine-tipped blade after cauterizing the dural surface.

The lateral ventricles of the human brain form an arc parallel to the arc of the cranium, i.e., the contour of the lateral ventricles parallels the arc of the surface of the skull. Thus, a catheter guided perpendicular to the cranial surface at the point of entry into the cranium will enter the ventricular system. Specifically, any line penetrating a burr hole in the surface of the skull at a 90.degree. angle also bisects the lateral ventricle.

A more recently developed procedure to ensure correct catheter placement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,324. The apparatus comprises a guide assembly which, when positioned over an orifice drilled in the cranium above the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle, guides a catheter and obturator through the orifice and into the lateral ventricle at an angle normal to an imaginary plane formed by a tangent to the cranium at the orifice, while the corresponding method comprises providing an orifice in the cranium just anterior to a coronal suture in a midpupillary line of the cranium and inserting a ventricular catheter containing an obturator through the orifice towards a lateral ventricle, wherein the catheter containing the obturator is guided through the orifice, by means of a novel guide assembly, at an angle normal to an imaginary plane formed by a tangent to the cranium at the orifice.

A wide variety of catheters are known in the prior art for the purpose of penetrating the ventricular cavity. Such catheters are typically in the form of a hollow tube which is provided with a plurality of apertures at the ventricular or inflow end to permit the passage of CSF from the brain into the catheter and thence to the blood stream or peritoneal cavity of the patient or to an external drainage system. However, malfunctions frequently occur with such a catheter due to the blockage of the apertures in the inflow end of the catheter. Such blockage is usually caused by the growth of choroid plexus or ependymal tissue within the ventricle into the apertures in the inflow end of the catheter. This tissue may block the apertures in the inflow end of the catheter in a relatively short period of time after the catheter has been inserted into the ventricle thereby rendering the cathether inoperative in relieving excess pressure due to the build-up of CSF within the ventricle. Furthermore, prior art catheter apertures are cut perpendicular to the length of the catheter, thus causing abrasion of brain tissue when the catheter is inserted.

The likelihood of ventricular catheter malfunction by aperture plugging with brain tissue can be lessened by angling the aperture holes in the wall of the catheter such that there is "no see through" flow from the outside to the inside of the lumen. Also, by positioning the rows of apertures 120.degree. apart there is essentially no chance for direct ingrowth of ventricular tissue therethrough. In addition, the apertures are angled away from the direction of the insertion of the catheter into the brain thus lessening the chance of brain abrasion. Further, by slightly stretching the catheter by means of the stylet (which is integral to the catheter and used for placement of it into the brain) the holes will close so that no opening will be visible during the placement thereof, with the holes reopening after the tension on the catheter is relieved by removal of the stylet.

As such, it would be desirable to provide a catheter which overcomes the problems of previously devised ventricular catheters which are emplaceable within a ventricle of a human brain to control the flow of excess fluids to or from the brain. The present invention provides a simple solution which resolves the problems of prior art catheters in a novel and unexpected manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a catheter for placement into the ventricular system of the brain of a subject comprising a flexible elongated body having a wall thickness sufficient to contain and transport fluid therein. The body has a forward end and tip for insertion into the ventricular system and a plurality of spaced apertures located in the forward end of the body spaced from the tip. Each of the apertures extends through the wall thickness at an angle such that a portion of the wall thickness is visible when viewing the aperture perpendicular to the axis of the body. This arrangement facilitates closure of the apertures by slightly stretching the body with a placement stylet to minimize abrasion of brain tissue upon insertion of the catheter. This arrangement also helps prevent choroid plexus tissue from growing into the catheter apertures, thereby providing improved flow of fluid into or from the ventricular system.

Preferably, each of the apertures extends through the wall thickness at an angle of about 35.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, and a plurality of apertures are aligned in a number of rows. Also, rows of these apertures are spaced 120.degree. apart around the circumference of the body for maximizing the structural integrity of the catheter forward end.

If desired, the forward end of the body can be made of a radioopaque material at least in the area surrounding the apertures to facilitate monitoring of catheter placement. The body may include means to indicate the depth of penetration of the catheter forward end to assist in proper placement thereof. These depth penetration indication means may be markings of a radioopaque material to facilitate monitoring of the placement of the catheter.

The invention also relates to method of accessing CSF in a ventricle within a human cranium which comprises drilling an orifice in the cranium just anterior to a coronal suture in a midpupillary line of the cranium, and guiding a catheter through the orifice by means of a guide assembly in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to the cranium at the orifice. The catheter thus accurately penetrates the ventricle on the first insertion with minimal abrasion of brain tissue. The catheter, described above, i.e., one having the appropriate positioning and configuration of apertures to minimize ventricular tissue growth thereinto, is preferred so that increased flow of fluid to or from the ventricle is obtained.

The catheter of this method utilizes a guide assembly comprising tubular means and support means for the tubular means. Therefore, the method further comprises placing the support means so as to rest unsecured on the human cranium in surrounding spaced relation to the orifice, and guiding the catheter through the tubular means, into the orifice and into the ventricle. The support means and tubular means are related to each other such that the catheter is guided through the orifice by the tubular means in a direction perpendicular to an imaginary plane defined by a tangent to the cranium of the orifice, independent of the orifice. To accomplish this, the tubular means is supported through a support means comprising a plurality of legs of equal length.

Also, this method further comprises inserting a removable insert within the tubular means to reduce the diameter thereof for receiving the catheter. A stylet may be utilized to assist in the insertion of the catheter in a manner such that the catheter is stretched so as to flatten the apertures to further reduce abrasion of brain tissue upon insertion therein. In a preferred arrangement, the catheter body includes means for indicating the depth of penetration of the catheter forward end so that the method further comprises inserting the catheter to a predetermined depth into the ventricle. The indicating means may be radioopaque markings so that the placement of the catheter in the ventricle can be monitored.

The invention also contemplates an apparatus for cutting apertures in a hollow elongated member which comprises a cutting assembly having means for cutting a plurality of apertures of a predetermined size, and a holding assembly. The holding assembly includes means for supporting and substantially completely surrounding a portion of a hollow elongated member in the vicinity where apertures are to be made; means adjacent the supporting means for guidably directing the cutting assembly through the supporting means for cutting contact with the hollow elongated member at a predetermined angle thereto; and means operatively associated with the directing and supporting means for positioning the portion of the hollow elongated member at a predetermined orientation with respect to the cutting assembly so that the hollow elongated member can be placed into the holding assembly in a manner to receive a plurality of apertures therein at a predetermined position, orientation and dimension.

The holding assembly preferably comprises a holding block containing an elongated aperture of a size and dimension slightly larger than that of the hollow elongated member so that the member can be easily and removably inserted into the elongated aperture, while the cutting assembly comprises a plurality of elongated rods. The directing means correspondingly comprises a plurality of elongated guide apertures corresponding to the rods of the cutting apparatus but being of slightly greater size and dimension so as to allow the rods to easily and removably pass therethrough for cutting the apertures in the hollow elongated member.

The positioning means includes a stop member for prevention of insertion of an end of the hollow elongated member beyond a predetermined point in the elongated aperture of the holding block, which is advantageously in the shape of a cube with the elongated aperture extending along a diagonal line passing through the center of the cube.

In the most preferred construction, the directing means comprises three sets of elongated apertures, each set being spaced from the others so that the hollow elongated member is provided with rows of apertures spaced 120.degree. apart along its outer periphery. Thus, each of the sets of elongated apertures of the directing means would extend along a diagonal line across a face of the holding block cube to achieve this result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for holding the catheter during the cutting of apertures therein;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 5 over which is shown an apparatus for cutting apertures in the catheter; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the cutting apparatus piercing the catheter sidewall when the catheter is placed in the holding apparatus of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1 there is illustrated catheter 10 which is intended for insertion into a ventricle of the human brain for access to or drainage of CSF such as; for example, would be necessary to drain excess CSF during treatment of hydrocephalus. Since the present invention is primarily concerned with the forward or insertion end of the catheter, a detailed description of the opposite or out flow end of the catheter is not provided as such details are well known in the relevant surgical art.

This catheter 10 is a flexible, hollow, elongated member having a sufficient wall thickness for the containment and or transport of fluids therein and therethrough. The forward end 12 of the catheter includes a plurality of apparatus 14 for access to CSF in the ventricle of the brain. By "access" what is meant is contact of CSF for removal or drainage from the brain or, conversely, to enable medicaments or other fluids to be directed or delivered into the brain from the catheter through the apertures 14. These apertures 14 are positioned and configured in a predetermined manner so as to allow for a better and more continuous flow of fluids in and through the catheter with less chance of plugging the holes due to ingrowth of a brain tissue when the catheter is placed in the ventricle. Further, the design of the holes enables the catheter placement to be made in an improved, easier manner while causing less abrasion damage to tissue during insertion of the catheter.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the catheter 10 is designed with 3 sets of holes set 120.degree. apart. These holes are cut at an angle into the wall of the catheter such that the angle of the cut is measured along the longitudinal axis of the catheter in the direction of movement of the catheter when it is inserted into the ventricle. Further, the diameter of each hole in the catheter is proportional to the thickness of the catheter wall so that, as best illustrated in FIG. 3, there is no direct linear visual access to the interior of the catheter when the holes are viewed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

By preparing the holes in this manner, abrasion of brain tissue is minimized upon insertion of the catheter into the ventricle, so less brain tissue is destroyed as a direct result of such decreased abrasion. Further, by stretching the catheter slightly, the holes in the catheter are closed thus preventing such tissue as may come in contact with the catheter from entering the lumen upon insertion. The stretching of the catheter can easily be accomplished when a rigid placement stylet is used: the body of the catheter being slightly pulled back from the insertion end while the stylet is held, thus allowing the holes to be somewhat flattened. This lack of direct access to the inside of the catheter prevents the growth of brain cells or tissue therein, thus resolving one of the major causes of plugging and malfunction of prior art catheters which utilize 90.degree. or perpendicular apertures. The 120.degree. peripheral offset for each set of holes further minimizes the possibility that choroid plexus or brain cell growth will extend across the inner diameter of the catheter even if such growth does penetrate into one or more of the holes.

Although the holes are advantageously shown as being cut at an angle of 35.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, it is to be noted that other angles can also be used in this invention provided that direct access to the inside of the catheter is prevented. Th