WO1998056687A1

WO1998056687A1 - Catheter/guide-wire bowl

Info

Publication number: WO1998056687A1
Application number: PCT/US1998/012338
Authority: WO
Inventors: J. Michael Cude; William J. Cude, Iii
Original assignee: Deroyal Industries, Inc.
Priority date: 1997-06-12
Filing date: 1998-06-11
Publication date: 1998-12-17

Abstract

A catheter/guide-wire bowl (10) for the storage of a catheter/guide-wire during a medical procedure is disclosed. The bowl has a positioning means (16, 20) for positioning the catheter/guide-wire in such a manner as to allow the easy gripping of the catheter/guide-wire when it is retrieved from the bowl. In a preferred embodiment, the bowl also has a retention ledge (21) to prevent a coiled catheter/guide-wire from creeping up and out of the bowl. The retention ledge has a sloped upper surface (26) to prevent the catheter/guide-wire from catching on the retention ledge (21) when placed into the bowl (10).

Description

CATHETER/GUIDE-WIRE BOWL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates to containers for storing medical

tubing and in particular to bowls for storing catheters and/or

guide-wires for insertion of catheters.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:

Flexible catheters/guide-wires are often inserted into a

patient's body so that fluids can be introduced to the body,

removed from the body, or certain examinations can be made. For

example, catheters/guide-wires are introduced into a vein so that

an examination of internal organs such as the heart can be

conducted. Such catheters/guide-wires have outside diameters

generally ranging from about 1 to about 3 millimeters. One such

catheter/guide-wire known as a J-wire catheter includes a

flexible core guide wire .

Before a catheter/guide-wire can be introduced into the

body, it is necessary that it be both sterile and wetted with an agent such as saline. The reason for wetting the catheter/guide-

wire is to insure that it properly slides through a lumen such as

a blood vessel without causing damage. This is most easily done

by placing the catheter/guide-wire in a container filled with a

saline or sterilizing solution.

Cases for storage of catheters/guide-wires are often

included as part of a surgical kit which contains components

needed for a particular surgical procedure. Such kits usually

consist of an inner tray having a number of compartments sized to

store a particular component. In such cases, the catheter/guide-

wire is placed in a narrow channel into which the catheter/guide-

wire fits.

Several drawbacks are present with such cases. First, such

cases are quite bulky due the length and resiliency of the

catheter/guide-wire. In addition, such cases are quite expensive

due to the costs of fabrication of the case.

In place of a case defining a narrow channel, it has been found that the catheter/guide-wire can Pe coiled and placed m a

bowl to prepare it for use. However, when a bowl is used with a

catheter/guide-wire , certain problems can arise. Because the

catneter/guide-wire generally resists being curved or bent, there

is a tendency for the coiled catheter/guide-wire to lift itself

out of the bowl. To reduce this tendency, the bowl is provided

with generally vertical sides to limit the tendency of the

catheter/guide-wire to lift itself out of the bowl prematurely.

However, even vertical sides on a catheter/guide-wire bowl are

often not enough. If the catheter/guide-wire is not placed

perfectly parallel to the bottom of a bowl, it can still force

its way out of the bowl .

In the current use of catheter/guide-wire bowls, it is often

necessary to move the coiled catheter/guide-wire in order, for

example, to allow it flow more freely from the bowl or to provide

the doctor or technician with a better angle on the opening of

the lumen. Since the doctors and technicians using this procedure

are wearing gloves and the catheter/guide-wire is lubricated with

a sterile wetting agent, it is often difficult for the doctor or technician to secure a proper grip on the catheter/guide-wire at

the time needed.

Furthermore, catheters/guide-wires are sometimes provided

coiled wich binders used to hold the coil together. While this

package takes up less space than a straight catheter, it may

prevent some difficulties when being placed in a guide-wire bowl

or basin. Sterile handling procedures mandate that a sterile

field be maintained while the equipment is being set up.

However, the outside of packages containing sterile components

are usually non-sterile and cannot be brought within the sterile

field. In use, the package containing the sterile coiled

catheter is opened outside the sterile field and the catheter is

literally dropped into the bowl from outside the field to prevent

entry of non-sterile items into the sterile field. In current

catheter/guide-wire bowls, unless the coiled catheter falls

exactly right, the coiled catheter often catches on retention

ledges in the basin (since the retention ledges are basically

just flat shelves in the bowl) and the catheter must be

manipulated for proper placement of the catheter within the bowl . This requires additional handling and the possibility that the

sterile field will be violated.

Accordingly, what is needed is a means by which a

catheter/guide-wire can be easily placed within a bowl in such a

way that it will be retained within the bowl without the danger

of being prematurely forced from the bowl . Such a catheter/guide-

wire bowl should also allow the catheter/guide-wire to be easily

removed from the bowl when desired. The catheter/guide-wire bowl

should not only provide easy retention of the catheter/guide-

wire, but also provide for efficient storage of not only the

catheter/guide-wire but the bowl itself. In addition, the

catheter/guide-wire bowl should allow the immediate and sure

handling of the catheter/guide-wire when needed. The

catheter/guide-wire bowl of present invention meets these

desires .

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to

provide a catheter/guide-wire bowl within which a catheter/guide-

wire can be easily placed within a bowl in such a way that it will be retained within the bowl without the danger of being

prematurely orced from the bowl .

It is another object of the present invention to provide a

catheter/guide-wire bowl which allows the catheter/guide-wire to

be easily removed from the bowl when desired.

It is yet: a further object of the present invention to

provide means for preventing the catheter/guide-wire from

catching on a retention shelf during placement of the

catheter/guide-wire within the bowl.

In addition, it is another object of the present invention

to provide a catheter/guide-wire bowl which allows the immediate

and sure handling of the catheter/guide-wire when needed.

Consideration of the specification, including the several

figures to follow, will enable one skilled m the art to

determine additional objects and advantages of the invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

Having regard to the above and other objects and advantages,

the present invention generally provides for a bowl for providing

storage of a catheter/guide-wire wherein the bowl has a center

axis. The bowl of the present invention comprises a bottom and a

continuous side wall. The bottom has a plurality of adjoining

layers generally parallel to the bottom. Each adjoining layer is

at a different height and is joined by bottom side layers that

are generally perpendicular to the adjoining layers. The

continuous side wall has an inner surface and an outer surface

generally parallel to one another. The side wall joins the bottom

and is generally perpendicular to the bottom. The side wall is

formed such that, at some first distance from the bottom, the

side wall is formed generally parallel to the bottom for a second

distance. This defines a lower edge for engaging the

catheter/guide-wire. The side wall is then formed generally at an

angle away from the bottom and outward from the center axis of

the bowl. The side wall then formed generally perpendicular to

and away from the bottom of the bowl . In a preferred embodiment of the catheter/guide-wire bowl of

the present invention, the bottom comprises a first bottom set of

adjoining layers at a first height and a second bottom set of

adjoining layers at a second height. The number of adjoining

layers m the first bottom set is the same as the number of

adjoining layers m the second bottom set and the number of

bottom side layers is equal to the sum of the number of adjoining

layers m the first bottom set and the number of adjoining layers

m the second bottom set. Thus, the bottom of the catheter/guide-

wire bowl is stepped m a fashion that the bottom goes from one

level to another level and then back to the first level. This

arrangement allows the coiled catheter/guide-wire to rest above

the bottom the bowl. Therefore, a person required to handle the

coiled catheter/guide-wire need only reach into the bottom of the

bowl to obtain a complete grasp of the coiled catheter/guide-

In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the

side wall comprises a plurality of adjoining layers, a first side

wall set of adjoining layers and a second side wall set of adjoining layers, and s de wall connecting surfaces. The first

side wall set of adjoining layers is generally formed to join the

first bottom set of adjoining layers and the second side wall set of adjoining layers is generally formed to join the second bottom

set of adjoining layers. The first side wall set of adjoining

layers is generally formed to join to the second set of side wall

set of adjoining layers by the side wall connecting surfaces. The

first side wall set of adjoining layers is generally formed

perpendicular to the bottom. The second side wall set of

adjoining layers is generally formed perpendicular to the bottom

and then, at some first distance from the bottom, the second side

wall is generally formed parallel to the bottom for a second

distance which defines a lower edge for engaging the

catheter/guide-wire . The side wall is then formed generally at an

angle away from the bottom and outward from the center axis of

the bowl. Finally, the side wall is then formed generally

perpendicular to and away from the bottom of the bowl. This

arrangement of the side wall allows the coiled catheter/guide-

wire to be engaged and secured at some distance from at least a

portion of the side of the catheter/guide-wire bowl. Again, this allows easy access to the coiled catheter/guide-wire by a person

needing that access.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

The above and other features and advantages of the invention

will become further known from the following detailed description

of preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the

drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment

of a catheter/guide-wire bowl according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference

characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the

several views, FIGURE 1 shows the top view of a catheter/guide-

wire bowl 10 for holding a catheter/guide-wire embodying the

present invention. The catheter/guide-wire bowl 10 is generally

circular in nature. As seen from the top, the catheter/guide-wire

bowl 10 has two sets of adjoining layers, a first bottom set of adjoining layers 14 and a second bottom set of adjoining layers

16. The second bottom set of adjoining layers 16 is formed such

that the height of the second bottom set of adjoining layers 16

is above that of the first bottom set of adjoining layers 14.

Thus, the bottom of the catheter/guide-wire bowl 10 is stepped in

a fashion that the bottom goes from one level to another level

and then back to the first level . This arrangement allows the

coiled catheter/guide-wire to rest above the bottom the bowl 10.

Therefore, a person required to handle the coiled catheter/guide-

wire need only reach into the bottom of the bowl 10 to obtain a

complete grasp of the coiled catheter/guide-wire.

The first bottom set of adjoined layers 14 is joined to a

first set of side-wall segments 18 and the second bottom set of

adjoined layers 16 is joined to a second set of side-wall

segments 20. The second set of side-wall segments 20 are formed

such that there is a lower edge 21 for engaging the coiled

catheter/guide-wire. The second set of side-wall segments 20 is

formed such that the coiled catheter/guide-wire is held away from

the first set of side-wall segments 18. This arrangement of the side wall 18, 20 allows the coiled catheter/guide-wire 12 to be

engaged and secured at some distance from at least a portion of

the side 18 of the catheter/guide-wire bowl 10. Again, this

allows easy access to the coiled catheter/guide-wire by a person

needing that access.

The coiled catheter/guide-wire is secured above the first

bottom set of adjoined layers 14 and resting on the second bottom

set of adjoined layers 16. In addition, the coiled

catheter/guide-wire may be secured away the first side set of

adjoined layers 18 and in contact with the second side set of

adjoined layers 20. The second side set of adjoined layers 20 is

formed to provide a lower edge 24 which engages the coiled

catheter/guide-wire 12 and generally nolds it m place. The

second side set of adjoined layers 20 is also formed to have a

angled portion 26 extending inward from the side-wall and sloping

downward. Another portion of the second side set of adjoined

layers 20 is formed generally perpendicular to the bottom 14, 16

of the catheter/guide-wire bowl 10 to form lower edge 21 which

performs the retention function. The angled portion 26 allows a coiled catheter to be dropped into the bowl without catching the

top of a flat topped retention shelf, yet provides a retention

means (provided by the lower edge 21) for preventing the coiled

catheter/guide-wire from riding up and out of the bowl.

Thus, the present invention provides a catheter/guide-wire

bowl within wnich a catheter/guide-wire can be easily placed

within a bowl m such a way that it will be retained within the

bowl without the danger of being prematurely forced from the

bowl. Further, the present invention provides a catheter/guide-

wire bowl which allows the catheter/guide-wire to be easily

removed from the bowl when desired. In addition, the present

invention provides a catheter/guide-wire bowl which allows the

immediate and sure handling of the catheter/guide-wire when

needed.

Having thus described various preferred embodiments of the

invention and several of its benefits and advantages, it will be

understood by those of ordinary skill that the foregoing

description is merely for the purpose of illustration and that numerous substitutions, rearrangements and modifications may be

made in the invention without departing from the scope and spirit

of the appended claims. For example, a relatively plain

cylindrical or round basin or bowl could be substituted for the

preferred embodiment and retention shelves and gripping features

could be added. For adding a retention shelf, a shelf having a

triangular cross-section could be substituted. For providing

ease in gripping the catheter/guide wire, ribs designed to

elevate the guide-wire above the bottom of the bowl could be

used, or a depression could be formed in the bottom of the bowl

to allow space for the fingers to grasp the catheter/guide-wire.

Alternatively, a depression could be provided in an otherwise

regular bottom of a basin to allow the fingers to get under the

catheter/guide-wire. These a further modifications could be made

without departing from the scope of the invention.

The appended claims set forth various novel and useful

features of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

Claim 1. A bowl for providing storage of a catheter/guide-

wire, the bowl having a center axis, the bowl comprising:

a bottom having a plurality of adjoining layers generally

parallel to the bottom, each adjoining layer at a different

height and joined by bottom side layers generally perpendicular

to the adjoining layers; and

a continuous side wall having an inner surface and an outer

surface generally parallel to one another, wherein the side wall

joins the bottom and is generally perpendicular to the bottom,

wherein the side wall is formed such that, at some first distance

from the bottom, the side wall is formed generally parallel to

the bottom for a second distance and defining a lower edge for

defining a retention ledge, for at least a portion of the inner

periphery of catheter/guide-wire bowl for preventing a coiled

catheter/guide-wire in said catheter/guide-wire bowl from

unintentionally exiting the catheter/guide-wire bowl.

Claim 2. A bowl for providing storage of a catheter/guide- wire, the bowl having a center axis, the bowl comprising:

a bottom having a plurality of adjoining layers generally

parallel to the bottom, each adjoining layer at a different

height and joined by bottom side layers generally perpendicular

to the adjoining layers; and

a continuous side wall having an inner surface and an outer

surface generally parallel to one another, wherein the side wall

joins the bottom and is generally perpendicular to the bottom,

wherein the side wall is formed such that, at some first distance

from the bottom, the side wall is formed generally parallel to

the bottom for a second distance and defining a lower edge for

engaging the catheter/guide-wire, the side wall then formed

generally at an angle away from the bottom and outward from the

center axis of the bowl and the side wall then formed generally

perpendicular to and away from the bottom.

Claim 3. The catheter/guide-wire bowl of Claim 2 wherein

the bottom comprises a first bottom set of adjoining layers at a

first height and a second bottom set of adjoining layers at a

second height wherein the number of adjoining layers in the first bottom set is the same as the number of adjoining layers in the

second bottom set and the number of bottom side layers is equal

to the sum of the number of adjoining layers in the first bottom

set and the number of adjoining layers in the second bottom set.

Claim 4. The catheter/guide-wire bowl of Claim 3 wherein

the side wall comprises a plurality of adjoining layers, a

first side wall set of adjoining layers and a second side

wall set of adjoining layers, and side wall connecting

surfaces, wherein the first side wall set of adjoining

layers is generally formed to join the first bottom set of

adjoining layers, the second side wall set of adjoining

layers is generally formed to join the second bottom set of

adjoining layers and the first side wall set of adjoining

layers is generally formed to join to the second set of side

wall set of adjoining layers by the side wall connecting

surfaces, wherein the first side wall set of adjoining

layers is generally formed perpendicular to the bottom and

wherein the second side wall set of adjoining layers is

generally formed perpendicular to the bottom for a first distance, the side wall is formed generally parallel to the

bottom for a second distance and defining a lower edge for

engaging the catheter/guide-wire, the side wall is then

generally formed at an angle away from the bottom and

outward from the center axis of the bowl and the side wall

then generally formed perpendicular to and away from the

bottom.

Claim 5. A catheter/guide-wire bowl for the placement and

storage of a catheter/guide-wire for use during a medical

procedure comprising:

a bowl having a bottom and sidewalls; and

a depression formed within said bottom wherein the

catheter/guide-wire will be supported by said bottom, said

depression having dimensions sufficient to allow for fingers to

be placed around or under the catheter/guide-wire for gripping

the catheter/guide-wire.

Claim 6. A catheter/guide-wire bowl for the retention and

storage of a catheter/guide-wire during a medical procedure comprising : a bowl comprising sidewalls and a bottom formed to provide a

generally watertight container; and

catheter/guide-wire supports, wherein said catheter/guide-

wire supports space the catheter/guide-wire a distance above said

bottom to allow for the grasping of the catheter/guide-wire.

Claim 7. A catheter/guide-wire bowl for the retention and

storage of a catheter/guide-wire during a medical procedure

comprising:

a bowl comprising sidewalls and a bottom formed to provide a

generally watertight container; and

said bottom further comprising:

a catheter/guide-wire support surface upon which a

catheter/guide-wire placed with the bowl rests; and

a gripping region formed adjacent to said

catheter/guide-wire support surface which allows for

the fingers of a user to be placed around or under the

catheter/guide-wire .

Claim 8. A catheter/guide-wire bowl for the retention and

storage of a catheter/guide-wire during a medical procedure

comprising;

a bowl comprising sidewalls and a bottom formed to provide a

generally watertight container, said sidewalls having an interior

surface and an exterior surface; and

at least one retention shelf provided on the interior

surface of said sidewalls, said retention shelf having a sloped

upper surface, sloping down and in from the sidewall at the top

of said shelf toward to interior of the bowl, and said retention

shelf defining a catheter/guide-wire retaining lower surface.

Claim 9. The catheter/guide-wire of Claim 8 wherein said

bottom further comprises :

a catheter/guide-wire support surface upon which a

catheter/guide-wire placed with the bowl rests; and

a gripping region formed adjacent to said catheter/guide-

wire support surface which allows for the fingers of a user to be

placed around or under the catheter/guide-wire.