multilumen

Multilumen refers to an object that contains more than one internal channel, or lumen, within a single external structure. The lumens are separated by walls and can be used for independent flows, signals, or functions. The term is used across several fields, including medicine, engineering, and microfluidics, and contrasts with single-lumen devices that have only one channel.

In medical contexts, multilumen devices are common, especially in catheters and tubes used for vascular access, anesthesia, and critical care. Configurations often include triple-lumen or quadruple-lumen central venous catheters, providing separate pathways for infusion, aspiration, sampling, or pressure monitoring. The separate lumens help prevent interactions between incompatible drugs and allow simultaneous therapies through a single entry point. Lumens are sized to balance flow requirements with the overall diameter of the device. Many multilumen catheters incorporate radiopaque markers for imaging guidance and are constructed from biocompatible polymers such as polyurethane or silicone.

Applications span infusion therapy, hemodynamic monitoring, parenteral nutrition, and targeted drug delivery in intensive care. In anesthesia, multilumen catheters enable concurrent administration of anesthetics, fluids, and vasopressors while allowing venous pressure measurements. In interventional settings, they support selective infusion into different vascular beds or sampling from multiple sites.

Beyond medicine, multilumen designs appear in microfluidic systems where multiple channels route distinct reagents, and in tissue engineering or airway management devices that require concurrent pathways. Potential limitations include a higher risk of occlusion, thrombosis, or infection relative to simpler devices, as well as increased manufacturing complexity and cost. Selection depends on clinical needs, patient anatomy, and the required separation of flows.