Intravascular catheter insertion device

• US 10,136,917 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Truecath Inc.
• Original Assignee: Truecath Inc.
• Inventors: Farley, Sean S., Ratiner, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Schmidt, Emily
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swanson, Leah
• Application Number:
  US15/230,333
• Publication Number:
  US 20160361089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 604143, 604144, 60416402, 60416408, 60416412
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0631 having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers

Abstract

A catheter insertion device includes a hollow needle having a distal skin-piercing end opposite a proximal base end, and an insertable catheter that is extended by a spring loaded plunger. A housing for the catheter insertion device includes a slot which extends from a slot open end to a slot closed end with a slot turn there between. At least a portion of the slot extending from the slot open end to the slot turn is non-linear with respect to a longitudinal axis of the hollow needle. A plunger moves with a button and a portion of the button is configured to be movable within the slot between a stored position, an armed position and an extended position. The plunger is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the needle as the portion of the button passes through the non-linear portion of the slot.

Claims

1. A catheter insertion device, comprising:

a hollow needle having a distal skin-piercing end opposite a proximal base end, the hollow needle defining a channel in fluidic or pneumatic communication between the distal skin-piercing end and the proximal base end, the hollow needle extending along a longitudinal axis;

a plunger slidably disposed over at least a portion of the hollow needle, where the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle extends through a distal end of the plunger;

a spring mechanically engaged between at least a portion of the proximal base end of the hollow needle and a portion of the plunger, the spring biasing the plunger towards the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle;

a catheter slidably disposed over at least a second portion of the hollow needle where the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle extends through a distal insertion end of the catheter, the catheter comprising the distal insertion end opposite a proximal connection end, where a surface of the catheter contacts the distal end of the plunger during catheter insertion;

an expandable chamber having a first opening in fluidic or pneumatic communication with the channel of the hollow needle, the expandable chamber at least partially formed by the proximal base end of the hollow needle and a proximal end of the plunger, the expandable chamber configured to increase in volume as the plunger moves towards the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle;

a housing attached to the proximal base end of the hollow needle, the housing having an open distal end opposite the proximal base end of the hollow needle;

a first circumferential seal of the expandable chamber disposed about the proximal base end of the hollow needle, the first circumferential seal configured to seal the proximal base end to the plunger when the plunger is moved to its furthest proximal position;

a second circumferential seal of the expandable chamber disposed about the plunger, the second circumferential seal configured to seal the plunger to the housing when the plunger is moved to its furthest proximal position;

a button non-movably attached to the plunger and extending outside of the housing;

wherein the housing includes a slot, wherein the slot extends from a slot open end to a slot closed end with a slot turn there between, wherein the slot open end is located at the open distal end of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the slot extending from the slot open end to the slot turn is non-linear with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hollow needle, the slot turn changing direction of the slot between the slot open end and the slot closed end;

wherein the plunger moves with the button and a portion of the button is configured to be movable within the slot between a stored position, an armed position and an extended position, wherein the stored position comprises when the portion of the button is located at the slot closed end, wherein the armed position comprises when the portion of the button is located at the slot turn, and wherein the extended position comprises when the portion of the button is located at and/or past the slot open end;

wherein the plunger is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the needle as the portion of the button passes through the non-linear portion of the slot.

2. The catheter insertion device of claim 1, wherein the plunger at the plunger distal end comprises a male rotation coupling feature, and wherein the catheter at the proximal connection end comprises a female rotation coupling feature, wherein the male and female rotation coupling features are configured to rotatably move the catheter in unison with the plunger as the plunger rotates about the longitudinal axis of the needle as the portion of the button passes through the non-linear portion of the slot.

3. The catheter insertion device of claim 1, wherein the plunger at the plunger distal end comprises a first rotation coupling feature, and wherein the catheter at the proximal connection end comprises a second rotation coupling feature, wherein the first and second rotation coupling features are configured to rotatably move the catheter in unison with the plunger as the plunger rotates about the longitudinal axis of the needle as the portion of the button passes through the non-linear portion of the slot.

4. The catheter insertion device of claim 1, wherein the plunger and/or the catheter includes a means for rotatably coupling the plunger and the catheter in rotational unison as the plunger rotates as it moves from the armed position to the extended position.

5. The catheter insertion device of claim 1, wherein in the armed position a small gap is disposed between the proximal connection end of the catheter and the distal end of the plunger.

6. The catheter insertion device of claim 5, wherein the plunger comprises a circumferential recess, and wherein the housing comprises a needle guard flexure having a distal engagement tip.

7. The catheter insertion device of claim 6, wherein the first and second circumferential seals are each configured to abut only one of either the plunger or the housing when the plunger is in the extended position and stored position.

8. The catheter insertion device of claim 7, wherein the expandable chamber comprises a substantially zero volume when the plunger is in the armed position.

9. A catheter insertion device, comprising:

a generally hollow housing having a closed base end opposite an open distal end;

a hollow needle having a distal skin-piercing end opposite a proximal needle end, where the proximal needle end is non-movably attached to the closed base end of the generally hollow housing and where the proximal needle end is disposed within the generally hollow housing, wherein the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle extends beyond the open distal end of the generally hollow housing, where the hollow needle defines a channel in fluidic or pneumatic communication between the distal skin-piercing end and the proximal needle end;

a plunger slidably disposed over at least a portion of the hollow needle, the plunger comprising a plunger proximal chamber end opposite a plunger distal end, where the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle extends through the plunger distal end;

an expandable chamber at least partially formed by the plunger proximal chamber end and at least an inside surface of the closed base end of the generally hollow housing, where the expandable chamber is in fluidic or pneumatic communication with the channel of the hollow needle through the proximal needle end, where the expandable chamber is configured to increase in volume as the plunger moves towards the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle;

a first seal attached to either an inside surface of the plunger or the generally hollow housing, and a second seal attached to either an outside surface of the plunger or the generally hollow housing, where the first seal is configured to seal between the inside surface of the plunger and the generally hollow housing when the plunger is at its furthest proximal position and the second seal is configured to seal between the outside surface of the plunger and the generally hollow housing when the plunger is at its furthest proximal position;

a spring mechanically engaged between the generally hollow housing and the plunger, the spring biasing the plunger towards the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle;

a catheter slidably disposed over at least a second portion of the hollow needle where the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle extends through a distal insertion end of the catheter, the catheter comprising the distal insertion end opposite a proximal connection end, where a surface of the catheter contacts the plunger distal end during catheter insertion;

a button non-movably attached to the plunger and extending outside of the generally hollow housing;

the housing including a slot, where the plunger moves with the button as the button is configured to be movable within the slot between a stored position, an armed position and an extended position, wherein the stored position comprises when the button is located at a closed end of the slot, wherein the armed position comprises when the plunger and button are moved to their furthest proximal position, and wherein the extended position comprises when the plunger and button are moved to their furthest distal position;

wherein the housing includes a means for rotating the plunger as the plunger moves from the armed position to the extended position.

10. The catheter insertion device of claim 9, wherein the plunger at the plunger distal end comprises a first rotation coupling feature, and wherein the catheter at the proximal connection end comprises a second rotation coupling feature, wherein the first and second rotation coupling features are configured to rotatably move the catheter in unison with the plunger as the plunger rotates as it moves from the armed position to the extended position.

11. The catheter insertion device of claim 9, wherein the plunger and/or the catheter includes a means for rotatably coupling the plunger and the catheter in rotational unison as the plunger rotates as it moves from the armed position to the extended position.

12. The catheter insertion device of claim 9, wherein in the armed position a small gap is disposed between the proximal connection end of the catheter and the plunger distal end.

13. A catheter insertion device, comprising:

a hollow needle having a distal skin-piercing end opposite a proximal base end, the hollow needle extending along a longitudinal axis;

a plunger slidably disposed over at least a portion of the hollow needle, where the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle extends through a distal end of the plunger;

a spring mechanically engaged between at least a portion of the proximal base end of the hollow needle and a portion of the plunger, the spring biasing the plunger towards the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle;

a catheter slidably disposed over at least a second portion of the hollow needle where the distal skin-piercing end of the hollow needle extends through a distal insertion end of the catheter, the catheter comprising the distal insertion end opposite a proximal connection end, where a surface of the catheter contacts the distal end of the plunger during catheter insertion;

a housing attached to the proximal base end of the hollow needle, the housing having an open distal end opposite the proximal base end of the hollow needle;

a button non-movably attached to the plunger and extending outside of the housing;

wherein the housing includes a slot, wherein the slot extends from a slot open end to a slot closed end with a slot turn there between, wherein the slot open end is located at the open distal end of the housing, wherein at least a portion of the slot extending from the slot open end to the slot turn is non-linear with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hollow needle, the slot turn changing direction of the slot between the slot open end and the slot closed end;

wherein the plunger moves with the button and a portion of the button is configured to be movable within the slot between a stored position, an armed position and an extended position, wherein the stored position comprises when the portion of the button is located at the slot closed end, wherein the armed position comprises when the portion of the button is located at the slot turn, and wherein the extended position comprises when the portion of the button is located at and/or past the slot open end;

wherein the plunger is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the needle as the portion of the button passes through the non-linear portion of the slot.

14. The catheter insertion device of claim 13, wherein the plunger at the plunger distal end comprises a male rotation coupling feature, and wherein the catheter at the proximal connection end comprises a female rotation coupling feature, wherein the male and female rotation coupling features are configured to rotatably move the catheter in unison with the plunger as the plunger rotates about the longitudinal axis of the needle as the portion of the button passes through the non-linear portion of the slot.

15. The catheter insertion device of claim 13, wherein the plunger at the plunger distal end comprises a first rotation coupling feature, and wherein the catheter at the proximal connection end comprises a second rotation coupling feature, wherein the first and second rotation coupling features are configured to rotatably move the catheter in unison with the plunger as the plunger rotates about the longitudinal axis of the needle as the portion of the button passes through the non-linear portion of the slot.

16. The catheter insertion device of claim 13, wherein the plunger and/or the catheter includes a means for rotatably coupling the plunger and the catheter in rotational unison as the plunger rotates as it moves from the armed position to the extended position.

17. The catheter insertion device of claim 13, wherein in the armed position a small gap is disposed between the proximal connection end of the catheter and the distal end of the plunger.