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. 2009 Jun;26(2):106-14.
doi: 10.1055/s-0029-1222453.

A review of evolving dialysis catheter technologies

Martha-Grace Knuttinen  1 , Sonia Bobra, Julian Hardman, Ron C Gaba, James T Bui, Charles A Owens
Affiliations

A review of evolving dialysis catheter technologies

Martha-Grace Knuttinen et al. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2009 Jun.

Abstract

Dialysis catheters continue to play a vital role in the delivery of hemodialysis to patients for both temporary vascular access, serving as a bridge to permanent access, and for long-term access for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). During the past decade, there has been an emergence of technological advancements in the design of dialysis catheters in an attempt to reduce catheter malfunction, decrease infection rates, and improve their long-term efficiency. New improvements in catheter design are aimed at translating into improved catheter performance. This review article summarizes some of the novel catheter designs developed within the last decade.

Keywords: Dialysis; catheters; end-stage renal disease; tunneled catheters.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Hydrotip catheter design of the Duraflow® dialysis catheter. (Courtesy of Angiodynamics.) (B) Demonstration of placement over the wire. Note how the arterial lumen is oriented superiorly (arrow). (Courtesy of Angiodynamics.)
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) Widely separated reversed tip catheter design of the NextStep® dialysis catheter. Note the characteristic widely separated lumens in this catheter. (Courtesy of Arrow International.) (B) Note the reversal of lumens. The arterial lumen draws blood from the right atrium (red arrows), while the superiorly placed venous lumen is positioned in the SVC (blue arrows). (Courtesy of Arrow International.)
Figure 3
Figure 3
(A) Close end-on view of the characteristic set of three independent arterial lumen of the Hemostream® catheter. (Courtesy of Angiotech.) (B) View of how blood flow can be directed separately into the distinct arterial lumens, thereby offering the possibility of bypassing an occluded lumen if need be. (Courtesy of Angiotech.)
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Symmetrical spiral “Z-tip” design of the Tal Palindrome® catheter. (Courtesy of Covidien.) (B) Demonstration of how flow is directed through the side slots and exiting through the tip (arrows). (Courtesy of Covidien.)
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