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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to bio-compatible surfaces, in particular to
non-thrombogenic surfaces, and is particularly concerned with the
provision of vascular catheters and cardiac assist devices incorporating
such non-thrombogenic surfaces.
That blood remains fluid in blood vessels is partly due to the fact that
normal vascular endothelium does not promote blood coagulation. Foreign
surfaces, both endogenous and exogenous, promote clotting in varying
degrees. The degree of clotting appears to depend, inter alia, on the
surface electrical charge and the property of wettability of the surface.
The inactive coagulation factors, factor XII (Hageman factor) and factor
XI, are activated by contact with foreign surfaces, and then the
coagulation process is initiated. This process may be initiated in the
intravascular space by such foreign surfaces as tumor cells, disrupted
villi as in accidental ante-partum hemorrhage, endothelial cells damaged
by trauma and infarction, or by the introduction of foreign bodies such as
catheters or the like.
Some silicone surfaces and a number of plastics materials have a weak
effect in promoting blood clotting. However, even a weak thrombogenic
effect makes such materials unacceptable for use in situations were clots
which may be formed could block the flow of blood to vital organs such as
the brain or heart. Non-thrombogenic properties are particularly desirable
for intravascular prostheses, catheters and extracorporeal equipment such
as heart-lung machines and the like.
Attempts have been made to impart non-thrombogenic properties by adding to,
or otherwise modifying, the surface of various polymeric materials but
such attempts have not been as successful as desired. In particular, such
materials have not totally alleviated the problem associated with
catheters and the like so that periodic replacement, for example during
long term treatment, is necessary. Repeated replacement may cause
extensive damage to blood vessels including partial or total collapse of
the vessel or may cause scar tissue to form at the site of introduction
thus making subsequent procedures more difficult.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a
bio-compatible surface which is non-thrombogenic for use in medical and
related arts. It is another object of the invention to provide a catheter
suitable for insertion into the venous or arterial system and comprised of
such a surface. It is a further object of the invention to provide a
cardiac assist device which is minimally invasive in its implantation and
can be permanently placed for usage.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a reservoir having in
use at least one bio-compatible non-thrombogenic surface, said reservoir
being defined by flexible spaced-apart walls at least one of which is a
bio-compatible polymeric material through which anticoagulant solution
contained in use by said reservoir may permeate.
According to one preferred embodiment, the reservoir of the invention may
be used in the formation of a catheter although it will be understood that
the invention is not limited to this application. A catheter using the
reservoir of the invention includes essentially a collapsible, flexible
tube having a hollow wall consisting of an inner wall defining a central
lumen and an outer wall separable from the inner wall so as to define a
substantially annular interwall passageway. The inner and outer walls
merge or are sealed at each end to fully enclose the interwall passageway
thus forming the reservoir of the invention into which anticoagulant
solution may be introduced.
The inner and outer walls of the catheter are sealed together at their
distal ends or a hollow-walled tube in which the distal ends of the walls
merge may be formed by turning one end of a single-walled tube back upon
itself and drawing the end back over or through the tube until a
hollow-walled tube half the length of the original tube is formed. The
proximal ends of the tube walls may be separately connected to a common
sealing member, or to coacting sealing members.
Tubing of this type may be formed from permeable bio-combatible polymeric
material by conventional techniques such as extrusion, or fabrication from
appropriate sheet stock.
The catheter may be introduced initially within the bore of a needle
inserted into a vein or artery. (Unless otherwise indicated, reference
herein to a vein is to be understood as including reference to an artery.)
In this method of introduction, the hollow-walled tube reservoir of the
invention also serves to allow a blunt-ended introducing device such as a
flexible wire or rod to be passed into the annular space between the inner
and outer walls of the catheter until the device reaches the distal end of
the catheter. At this stage, the distal end of the catheter may still be
within the needle but can then be pushed from the needle into the vein by
advancing the introducing device. When the desired length of catheter has
been pushed from the needle, anticoagulant solution can be introduced into
the reservoir and the introducing device withdrawn. The distention of the
catheter by the anticoagulant solution maintains the catheter in the vein
after the needle has been withdrawn.
Although rolling catheters are known, they have found little general
medical application prior to the present invention. A rolling catheter may
be introduced into a vein via a conventional wide-bore hypodermic needle
and syringe. The present invention is applicable to the formation of
rolling catheters where the required catheter diameter is large enough to
avoid mechanical difficulties. In this application, use of hollow-walled
tubing in accordance with the invention may assist the introduction of
such catheters.
The rolling catheter may be introduced through the bore of an introducing
needle or alternatively over the exterior of a needle or guidewire. The
catheter may then be advanced within the vein by injecting anticoagulant
solution at moderately high pressure into the interwall passageway of the
catheter, thus inflating the catheter and forcing it to extend into the
vein. To further extend the catheter after its initial inflation and
extension, the pressure of the injected solution may be increased, thereby
rolling the catheter out into the vein.
In use the central lumen of the catheter allows either aspiration of the
blood or the introduction of conventional intravenous solutions.
In accordance with the present invention, catheters preferably include
injection means so that anticoagulant solution may be injected into the
interwall passageway of the catheter. The pressure of the anticoagulant
solution in the interwall passageway of the catheter is maintained in use
at least at, and preferably above, the pressure of the blood in the vein
or other blood vessel in which the catheter is being used. The injection
of anticoagulant solution may occur after the catheter has been placed in
the desired position or the catheter may be advanced to the desired
position under the hydrostatic pressure of the injected anticoagulant
solution.
There may be provided reserve or additional catheter forming material,
external to the point of entrance to the vein, for later further
insinuation as considered appropriate by the user. Such reserve or
additional material will preferably be integral with the catheter material
within or around the introducing needle or guidewire and may be located
within a reservoir or other container.
If necessary, the flexible walls of catheters using the present invention
may be reinforced by the insertion of a stiffer material along part or all
of the length of the catheter. For example, where a catheter is to be used
for the aspiration of blood, the flexible walls may be reinforced by
inserting a stiffer tube within the interwall passageway. The reinforcing
tube may be withdrawn after aspiration has been completed and the catheter
retained in the vein for intravenous infusion.
A further embodiment of the invention relates to the provision of a cardiac
assist device. In this embodiment there is provided an inflatable bladder
which may be percutaneously introduced into the recipient's heart. At the
time of a cardiac arrest, the bladder may be introduced directly into the
left ventricle percutaneously. Depending on the time available, the
introduction may be performed under X-ray control. It is preferred that
the bladder be introduced via a 14 or 12 gauge needle.
The bladder may comprise a sausage-like balloon, defined by an inner wall
of flexible gas tight material, such as polyethylene. An outer wall of
permeable bio-compatible polymeric material spaced from the inner wall
defines a reservoir in which the inner and outer walls merge with an
integral hollow walled entry tube to the interior of the bladder. In
accordance with the invention, anti-coagulant solution is introduced into
the reservoir formed between the two walls to permeate through the outer
wall of the implanted bladder and entry tube. Thus, the cardiac assist
device will further include means to introduce anticoagulant solution into
the reservoir.
The dual walled bladder may be introduced in toto as later described with
reference to an accompanying drawing, or it may be formed in situ. Where
the bladder is formed in situ a permeable membrane comprised of the
bio-compatible polymeric material, impregnated with anticoagulant, is
introduced by needle to form the outer wall of the bladder. A gas tight
membrane comprised of, for example, polyethylene is then introduced such
that it forms the inner wall of the bladder and is not in contact with
blood circulating in the ventricular space. Means are also included as
part of the cardiac assist device to enable the controlled inflation and
deflation of the bladder.
For example, after anticoagulant solution is introduced into the so-formed
reservoir, the needle used to introduce the inner wall is withdrawn and
replaced by a stiff catheter of polyethylene or the like. This stiff
catheter thus extends from within the implanted bladder to a position
external to the patient's body. The end of the catheter within the bladder
is open or may be provided with a plurality of holes along its length,
through which carbon dioxide or other suitable gas may be admitted to, and
removed from, the interior of the implanted bladder to thus alternately
expand and contract the bladder. The admission and removal of the gas is
preferably conducted by a low pressure pump connected to the distal end of
the stiff catheter.
It is preferred that the volume of gas pumped in and out of the implanted
bladder per second be slightly less than the volume defined by the bladder
itself. Accordingly, for a bladder approximately 10 cm long and 4 cm in
diameter, a pumping rate of 70 cc in and out/second for a patient at rest
is preferred.
The inflation and deflation of the implanted bladder inside the left
ventricle provides a propulsive force for the blood in the case of a
severely failing heart. For cases of permanent heart failure it may be
useful to insert two such devices into the left ventricle which could be
used alternately, or to provide a back-up should one fail. A similar
device could operate in the right ventricle if necessary. If desired, the
bladder may be directed to lie inside the mitral valve as well as take
over its functions, if necessary.
It is anticipated that the membranes comprising the bladder will require
periodic replacement as some deterioration when used in vivo may be
expected due to mechanical wear as well as protein and calcium deposition.
Among useful permeable bio-compatible polymeric materials which may be used
to fabricate the permeable wall(s) of reservoirs according to the
invention are Celanese CELGARD membrane, Tyvek polyethylene by Du Pont,
expanded PTFE as used for arterial grafts, haemodialysis membrane material
based upon cuprophane, polyhydroxy methyl methacrylate, haemodialysis
membrane materials based on cellulose or acrylonitrile as produced by
Rhone Poulenc, polycarbonate such as the polycarbonate dialysis membrane
produced by Gambro, and polysulphonate or other dialysis membranes.
The thickness of the bio-compatible polymeric materials used will depend
upon the particular application. However, permeable materials from 25 to
150 microns in thickness may be used with typical catheter materials being
around 50 microns thick. Catheter materials do not need to be as thick as
materials used for heart devices as they do not have to withstand the
higher pressures applied in the heart devices. For heart devices,
permeable materials of about 100 micron thick are typical. Where
impermeable materials are used, thicknesses of 75 to 100 microns are
typical and again, greater thickness materials are used for heart devices.
It is noted that prior art composite anti-thrombotic materials are
typically not less then 1 mm thick and are stiffer (less flexible) than
the materials used to make up the reservoirs of the present invention.
Conventional haemotological agents used as antithrombotics and/or
anticoagulants may be used in forming the solutions used in this
invention. Among these may be mentioned heparin (particularly low
molecular weight heparin), disodium or dipotassium ethylenediamine
tetraacetic acid (hereinafter referred to as EDTA), ammonium and potassium
oxalate mixtures (hereinafter oxalate) and sodium citrate.
Calcium chelating agents, including lipid soluble agents such as
diethyldithiocarbamate, ethylene diamine derivatives, penicillamine and
hydroxy quinoline may also prove useful anticoagulants in the performance
of the invention.
A further class of antithrombotic agents which may find application in the
performance of this invention are the anti-platelet aggregation agents
such as prostaglandin derivatives including PGE 1 and prostacyclin
(including stable prostacyclin derivatives such as iloprost).
The anticoagulants may be formulated into physiologically acceptable
concentrations with suitable conventional carriers. After injection into
the interwall passageway, the anticoagulant solution may then diffuse
through the permeable wall of the reservoir into the bloodstream thus
reducing the tendency of clots to form on the reservoir surface.
Where high molecular weight heparin is used in the anticoagulant solution
in a high concentration in order to assist the permeation of this
anticoagulant, reservoirs fabricated from cuprophane as used in
haemodialysis membranes are preferred. Such polymeric material is designed
to transmit molecules of up to 15,000 daltons. Where low molecular weight
heparins are used in the anticoagulant solution, the cellulose or
acrylonitriles referred to above are preferred. From a haematological and
biological point of view, the low molecular weight heparins are most
preferred as bleeding at the site of a membrane/tissue interface is
minimized.
If EDTA, oxalate or citrate anticoagulants are used, any of the above
hydrophilic polymeric materials may be used.
Where lipophilic calcium chelators or prostaglandin derivatives are
employed as the anticoagulant it is preferred that lipophilic polymeric
membranes be used. Such membranes include polyethylene, polyethylene
terephthalate (Mylar), polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride.
In order to avert or treat infection sited on the semi-permeable membrane,
there may be added to the anticoagulant solution conventional agents such
as antibacterials, e.g. antiseptics or antibiotics, as considered
appropriate. These can also diffuse out of the membrane to avert or treat
infection in the surrounding tissue.
The prevention of infection is particularly desirable where a catheter
enters and passes through the skin and tissue leading to the vein, or
where a cardiac assist device passes through the skin and tissue leading
to the heart. Accordingly a further feature of the invention is the
provision of a collar of permeable material attached to the outer wall of
the catheter or cardiac assist device and extending along said outer wall
where the infection may arise in use. The collar defines, with the outer
wall, an annular chamber into which an antibacterial or other suitable
solution can be injected.
Continued bleeding from the site at which the skin has been broken and/or
bleeding into the tissue between this site and the vein or other vessel
may also be a problem which can, however, be readily overcome. If the
pressure transmitted by the outer wall of the catheter or heart assist
device is insufficient to stop the bleeding of the surrounding tissue, or
if such bleeding is promoted by the outwardly permeating anticoagulant
solution, the application of a surgical sealant to the site and/or to the
relevant portion of the outer wall will generally stop the bleeding. Such
sealants are currently available for spray dispensing.
In order to assist in the understanding of the invention, drawings of
preferred embodiments are attached. The drawings are to be understood as
showing example constructions only, so that their particularity is not to
be understood as superceding the generality of the preceding description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the insertion of a standard
catheter tube incorporating a reservoir in accordance with this invention;
FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows the insertion of a rolling catheter according
to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows an alternate means of insertion of a rolling
catheter according to another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a dilatation catheter according to a further
embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows a left ventricular assist device according to
a still further embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 1, skin and associated tissue 1 is punctured by inserting a needle
2 and the tip of needle 2 is introduced into a vein 3. A tubular catheter
4 comprising an outer wall 5 and an inner wall 6 defining an interwall
passageway 7 is initially within the needle 2. After the introduction of
needle into the vein 3, an introducing device 8 having a blunt end 9 and
lying within the interwall passageway 7 is used to push the catheter 4
into the vein 3. When the catheter has been inserted into the vein to the
desired extent, the introducing device 8 is withdrawn. An anticoagulant
solution is preferably injected to fill the interwall passageway 7 prior
to insertion of the introducing device 8 and the pressure of the
anticoagulant solution in passageway 7 is maintained after the 8 is
withdrawn, so that anticoagulent solution can permeate through the
biocompatible permeable walls 5 and 6.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the reservoir of the invention forms a
hollow-walled tube of a rolling catheter. As illustrated, an introducing
needle 10 is attached to the tip 11 of a syringe 12 with a free end
portion of an outer wall 13 of the hollow-walled catheter wedged between
the needle 10 and the tip 11. A reserve length 14 of catheter tubing
comprising a permeable membrane in accordance with the invention is held
in a barrel 15 of the syringe 12 with its free end 16 held by the cylinder
17 of a syringe plunger 18 which is hollow stemmed. Anticoagulant solution
surrounds the reserve catheter tubing 14 in the barrel 15. The hollow stem
of plunger 18 is connected at 19 for intravenous infusion or whatever
other purpose may be intended for the catheter.
After the needle 10 has been inserted through the skin 1 into the vein 3,
plunger 18 and the cylinder 17 are depressed thereby forcing anticoagulant
solution from the barrel 15 into the hollow wall of the catheter within
the needle 10. The pressure of the solution also forces the end of the
catheter out of the needle 10 into the vein 3 and draws the reserve
catheter tubing from the barrel 15 to form the extended length of catheter
within the vein 3. When the desired length of catheter has been forced
into the vein 3, the needle 10 may be withdrawn and appropriate protection
placed over the catheter entry site.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative form of a rolling catheter incorporating the
present invention. In this form, a fine gauge introducing needle or wire
20 is inserted along the bore of a hollow-walled catheter tubing 21 formed
in accordance with the invention. The tubing 21 is compressed in somewhat
corrugated form and lightly adhered to the needle 20. The outer wall of
tubing 21 is shown as breached at 23 to allow connection of a syringe 24
containing anticoagulant solution so that the solution can be driven, when
desired, into the interwall passageway of the catheter tubing 21. The
location of breach 23 will, of course, allow all the tubing 21 to be used.
A reserve length of catheter tubing 21 is held within a pressurized
storage chamber 25. A syringe 26 may be used to maintain the pressure in
chamber 25.
After the needle 20 is inserted through the skin and tissue 1 into the vein
3, anticoagulant solution is forced from the syringe 24 into the interwall
passageway of tubing 21, in turn forcing the tubing 21 into the vein 3.
When the desired length of tubing 21 has been forced into the vein 3, the
pressure of solution in tubing 21 is maintained. Connection of the bore of
tubing 21 to intravenous fluid supply or similar purpose is made at the
junction of tubing 21 with chamber 25.
FIG. 4 illustrates a further alternative use of the reservoir of the
present invention. In this figure the invention is shown as applied to the
construction of a dilatation catheter.
The dilatation catheter diagrammatically illustrated is shown in position
to dilate stenosis 40 formed in an artery 41. In this embodiment, the
catheter 42 is of generally tubular form with its walls formed throughout
of a permeable membrane allowing passage of anticoagulant solution forced
into the lumen of the tube 42 from the syringe 43. The catheter tube 42
may be expanded at its inner end portion 44 by the anticoagulant solution
which thus also serves to dilate this portion of the catheter.
A guide 45 extends through the lumen of tube 42 to assist insertion of the
catheter and is preferably adhered to one side of the wall to prevent the
tube from riding back over the guide as it is inserted. The guide 45 may
itself be tubular in form to permit the continued flow of blood past the
blockage of the artery caused when the catheter is dilated.
The cardiac assist device illustrated in FIG. 5 in the left ventricle of
the heart is a further application of this invention. The diagrammatic
drawing shows the left ventricular chamber 50 in part section, the aorta
51, mitral valve 52 and papillary muscle 53. The cardiac assist device
includes an outer permeable membrane 54 surrounding inner gas- and
liquid-impermeable membrane 55 which defines an inflatable bladder 56. The
device 56 thus has an interwall passageway 57 into which anticoagulant
solution may be introduced in accordance with the invention. Bladder 56
and outer membrane 54 are narrowed at a neck portion 58 to merge with an
integral hollow-walled entry tube 59. (In FIG. 5 the diameter of entry
tube 59 is exaggerated in relation to that of bladder 56 for greater
clarity; the entry tube diameter is preferably as small as possible, for
example 3-4 mm, while the diameter of the bladder when inflated may be
approximately 4 cm.)
A feed tube 60 from a pump device (not shown) extends through the entry
tube 59 into the bladder 56. Bladder 56 may be inflated by pumping a
suitable gas through the feed tube 60 to exit holes 61. Feed tube 60 is
also shown as provided with a collar 62. As described above, the collar 62
may be simply an impervious layer applied in the course of manufacture or
during use of the device to prevent the anticoagulant solution from
permeating through this part of the outer membrane 54. Alternatively or
additionally, collar 62 may be formed to contain antibacterial solution
which can diffuse outwards to prevent entry track infection
For the desired percutaneous insertion of the cardiac assist device of FIG.
5, the bladder 56 is wound around the inner portion of the feed tube 60.
The insertion of the device through the skin surface 63, heart wall 64 and
intervening tissue 65 can then be made by passing the device through a
needle of an appropriate internal diameter.
Laboratory tests conducted to date include the incubation of 2 ml of blood
in pockets formed in double walled membranes in which anticoagulant
solution was maintained in the interwall passageway. These severe static
tests were performed at 20.degree. C. using 10% citrate anticoagulant
solution in double walled membranes formed from
(a) polyacrylonitrile membrane approximately 25 microns thick (Rhone
Poulenc),
(b) polycarbonate membrane approximately 25 microns thick (Gambro), and
(c) CELGARD membrane approximately 125 microns thick (Celanese).
Microscope examination of the blood after 45 minutes of static incubation
revealed the formation in some cases of two or three platelet aggregates
less than 25 microns in greatest dimension but no clotting. The formation
of such platelet aggregates would not be clinically significant.
An in-vitro test in which a cardiac assist device of the kind described
above was run for 160 hours to simulate the beating effect of an implanted
device and did not lead to any deterioration of the device.
Catheters for intravenous infusion made in accordance with the invention
have been successfully introduced into the veins of dogs. However the
catheters were pulled out by the animals less then 16 hours after
insertion so that the data on the antithrombogenic effect was not
considered to be conclusive.
Catheters made and used according to the present invention provide several
significant advantages over the prior art. Among these may be mentioned:
1. they are non-thrombogenic,
2. they are much softer than conventional catheters and as a consequence
mechanical trauma to the blood and blood vessels is less likely to occur
upon insertion or removal or while the catheter remains
3. they are better able to negotiate bends because the introducing force is
not necessarily along the line of the catheter, but may be hydrostatic.
As previously mentioned, the catheter may be introduced via a conventional
hypodermic needle or over a guide wire. This latter technique is
particularly useful where arterial dilation is required. In this
application the catheter would also be designed to dilate at the correct
arterial site. An arteriotomy wherein such a catheter was employed would
be considerably smaller than with conventional techniques.
For both catheters and other non-thrombogenic devices which can be made
incorporating the present invention, the anticoagulant solution can, if
desired, be replaced while the device is still in use. With the composite
non-thrombogenic materials proposed in the prior art, such replacement
would involve replacement of the whole material or the device from which
it was formed.
Because the devices of the invention are made from relatively thin,
light-weight materials, they can be used in applications where thicker,
heavier materials would be inappropriate. In particular, the power
requirement to drive the pump which provides the beating action for a
cardiac assist device using the present invention will be far less than
that for a bladder of polyurethane or other elastomer.
From the foregoing it will be also appreciated that non-thrombogenic
surfaces constructed in accordance with the invention will find a
multitude of other applications in the field of medical and veterinary
science.
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