Right-Angled Connectors and Catheter Kinking in Shunt Kits
Why silicone catheters kink at a tight bend, how a right-angled connector guides the turn, what it does not do, and which DESU kits already include one.
A right-angled connector takes a ventricular or peritoneal catheter through a fixed turn, so that the silicone does not have to bend sharply on its own, which is where kinking and clogging can start. In the DESU range this part is the L-type catheter connector, and it is already included in Defit, Decurve and Depus ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt kits.
Key takeaways
- A kink forms when a flexible tube is bent more tightly than its wall can support, narrowing or closing the lumen.
- A right-angled connector carries the turn in a formed part, so the catheter wall does not have to.
- It manages one turn at one joint; it does not protect the rest of the catheter route.
- DESU VP shunt kits, ventricular catheter kits and VP catheter kits already include it.
The connector is used with the catheters in our neurosurgical catheters range. For the three DESU connectors side by side, see catheter connectors in shunt surgery. Where and whether to use a connector is the surgeon’s decision, following the instructions for use.
What is catheter kinking?
A kink is a sharp fold in a tube. When a flexible tube is bent more tightly than its wall can support, the wall gives way on the inside of the bend and the lumen narrows or closes. Up to that point the tube simply curves; past it, the shape changes abruptly.
Silicone is soft and flexible, which suits an implanted catheter. The same softness means the tube does not hold a tight angle by itself. For scale, the DESU ventricular catheter has a 1.3 mm inner and 2.5 mm outer diameter, and the peritoneal catheter a 1.1 mm inner and 2.5 mm outer diameter, so there is not much lumen to spare.
Why does a kink matter in a shunt?
A shunt depends on an open path for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), from the ventricle through the valve to the peritoneal cavity. A narrowed lumen restricts that path and a closed one stops it. Either way, the effect is the same as any other obstruction: CSF is not diverted as intended.
Kinking and clogging go together. A narrowed point in a line is also a place where a blockage can form.
Where does a catheter have to change direction?
The clearest example is the burr hole. The ventricular catheter leaves the skull roughly perpendicular to its surface, then has to turn to run beneath the scalp towards the valve. That turn is tight and sits in a small space. Here the connector helps to orient the ventricular catheter at an appropriate anatomical angle and forms the catheter–valve connection.
The connector is also used with the peritoneal catheter, so the part is not limited to the ventricular side. The route of any given catheter, and whether it needs a connector, depends on the case.
How does a right-angled connector help?
The connector is a formed part whose angle does not depend on the catheter wall. The catheter runs straight into the joint on each side, and the connector makes the turn between them. The bend is taken out of the soft tube and put into a part that holds its shape.
That gives it two jobs:
- It orients the catheter at an appropriate angle and helps prevent kinking and clogging.
- It joins catheter parts together during surgery.
What does the connector not do?
- It manages one turn at one joint. The rest of the catheter route still depends on how the catheter is placed.
- It does not control flow or pressure. That is the job of the valve.
- It does not address siphoning, which is the role of the antisiphon device.
- It does not replace the placement steps in the instructions for use.
Which DESU products include one?
The connector is a kit component, so a team using these kits already has it in the packaging. For a full view of what a kit contains, see the VP shunt kit contents checklist.
| Product | Example codes | Right-angled connector |
|---|---|---|
| Defit VP shunt kit | DFS-M-VCK | Included |
| Decurve VP shunt kit | DCA-M-VCK | Included |
| Depus VP shunt kit | DP-M-VCK | Included |
| Ventricular catheter kit | SVCK, ASVCK | Included |
| Ventriculoperitoneal catheter kit | SVPCK, ASVPCK | Included |
| Valve ordered alone | DFS-M | — |
| Peritoneal catheter kit | SPCK, ASPCK | — |
| Lumbar and lumboperitoneal kits | LCK, LPCK | — |
| L-type connector on its own | PPRAC | Yes, as a separate accessory |
The ventricular catheter kit and the ventriculoperitoneal catheter kit include it in both their standard and antibiotic-impregnated versions. A department that orders valves and catheters separately should check which of its line items supply the connector, and keep PPRAC on the list if it wants spares.
Talk to a DESU product specialist
For codes, instructions for use, figures for a tender or help planning connector stock, write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page, or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Are a right-angled connector and an L-type connector the same part?
Yes. DESU calls it the L-type catheter connector, and it appears in shunt kit contents under the name right-angled connector.
Can a catheter’s course be seen on imaging?
DESU shunt catheters are radiopaque silicone with tantalum length marks, so their position can be followed under imaging. Reading those images and deciding what to do about them belongs to the clinical team.
Related standards
- ISO 7197: Neurosurgical implants — Sterile, single-use hydrocephalus shunts and components
- ISO 13485: Medical devices — Quality management systems