Catheter and introducer needle assembly with needle shield

• US 20040204681A1
• Filed: 01/13/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher N. Cindrich, Glade H. Howell, Greg L. Brimhall, Stephen L. Thoresen, Weston F. Harding
• Original Assignee: Christopher N. Cindrich, Glade H. Howell, Greg L. Brimhall, Stephen L. Thoresen, Weston F. Harding
• Inventors: Harding, Weston F., Cindrich, Christopher N., Howell, Glade H., Brimhall, Greg L., Thoresen, Stephen L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,604,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/164.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/325 Means obstructing the needle passage at distal end of a needle protection sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0625 with a permanent connection to the needle hub, e.g. a guiding rail, a locking mechanism or a guard advancement mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3273 freely sliding on needle shaft without connection to syringe or needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3275 being connected to the needle hub or syringe by radially deflectable members, e.g. longitudinal slats, cords or bands

Abstract

A catheter and introducer needle assembly with a needle shield is provided. The needle shield includes a means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle once the needle has been withdrawn into the needle shield. The needle shield also includes a means for connecting the needle shield to the catheter hub until the sharp distal tip of the introducer needle has been withdrawn into the needle shield. Thus, when the distal end of the introducer needle extends from the distal portion of the needle shield, the needle shield is connected to the catheter hub and when the sharp distal end of the introducer needle is withdrawn into the needle shield, the needle shield is disconnected from the catheter hub. At that point, the sharp needle tip is secured within the needle shield.

Claims

1. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the catheter hub includes a side port;

an extension tube attached to the catheter hub at the side port and in fluid communication with the catheter hub;

an introducer needle removably disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion having a substantially constant outer diameter;

a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub proximal, at least in part, to the side port and slidingly mounted to the introducer needle for movement from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield including;

a clip adapted to flex between a biased position and an unbiased position in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis on the introducer needle; and

a tether connected to the needle hub and the preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle;

wherein, in the biased position, the clip engages the-catheter hub and, in the unbiased condition, the clip disengages the catheter hub; and

wherein, when the distal end of the introducer needle extends from the distal portion of the needle shield, the clip is held to one side of the introducer needle so it is flexed into the biased position and, when the sharp distal end of the introducer needle is withdrawn into the needle shield, the introducer needle flexes to the unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub.

2. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip includes a spring arm and at least one clip arm that extends from the spring arm.

3. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 2 wherein the clip arm includes a finger thereon and wherein the finger mechanically engages the catheter hub to hold the catheter hub to the needle shield when the introducer needle contacts the clip.

4. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 3 wherein the finger has a proximal face and a distal face and wherein at least a portion of the finger proximal face engages the catheter hub and at least a portion of the finger distal face engages the shield when the clip is in the biased condition.

5. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 4 wherein, when the clip is in the biased position, the shield engages the distal face of the finger to resist axial movement of the finger.

6. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 5 wherein the catheter hub includes a thread or detent which is mechanically engaged by the finger when the introducer needle contacts the clip so the catheter hub is connected to the needle shield until the distal end of the introducer needle is withdrawn into the needle shield.

7. The catheter and introducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the clip comprises a transverse barrier which prevents proximal movement of the needle shield when the needle shield is in the second position.

8. The catheter and introducer assembly of claim 7 wherein the clip comprises a spring arm and a clip arm and the transverse barrier is mounted to the spring arm.

9. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter;

an introducer needle removably disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion;

a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and moveable with respect to the introducer needle from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield comprising a clip having a pair of legs, which clip is adapted to flex out of engagement with the catheter hub; and

a transverse barrier attached to one of the pair of legs;

wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the introducer needle contacts at least a portion of the clip so that the pair of legs is retained to one side of the introducer needle in a biased position engaging the catheter hub, and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the introducer needle disengages the clip so it can flex to its unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub; and

wherein, when the clip is in its unbiased position, the transverse barrier is moved into position to restrict the proximal movement of the needle shield with respect to the introducer needle.

10. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 9 further comprising a tether engaged to the needle shield and the needle, thereby restricting the distal movement of the needle shield with respect to the needle.

11. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 10 wherein the clip has a generally V-shaped configuration and the catheter hub is a ported catheter hub including an extension tube in fluid communication with the catheter.

12. The catheter and introducer assembly of claim 11 wherein the needle shield is disposed, at least in part, at a position proximal to the extension tube when it is in the first position.

13. The catheter and introducer assembly of claim 9 wherein the introducer needle further comprises a discontinuity disposed on the needle.

14. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 13 wherein the needle shield further comprises a means for engaging the discontinuity on the introducer a needle.

15. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:

a flexible catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the catheter;

an extension tube connected to the catheter hub such that the extension tube is in fluid communication with the catheter hub;

an introducer needle removably disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a sharpened distal end, the introducer needle having a substantially constant cross section;

a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and moveable with respect to the introducer needle from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield comprising a housing including a clip, wherein the clip has a generally V-shaped configuration including a spring arm and a clip arm, which clip is adapted to flex out of engagement with the catheter hub; and

a transverse barrier attached to the spring arm;

wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the introducer needle contacts the spring arm so that the clip is retained to one side of the introducer needle in a biased position engaging the catheter hub, and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the introducer needle disengages the sp ring arm such that it disengages the catheter hub; and

wherein, when the clip is in its unbiased position, the transverse barrier is moved into position to restrict the proximal movement of the needle shield with respect to the introducer needle.

16. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 15 further comprising a tether engaged to the needle shield for restricting the movement of the needle shield with respect to the needle in the distal direction.

17. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 16 further comprising a needle hub attached to the proximal end of the introducer needle, wherein the tether is attached to the needle hub.

18. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 17 further comprising a flash chamber attached to a proximal end the needle hub.

19. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 15 wherein the tether comprises a plurality of pleats, at least one of such pleats defining a hole in which the needle is disposed.

20. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 15 wherein the housing includes an underside and defines a cavity in which the clip is disposed, which cavity is exposed at its underside.

21. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end;

a side port in fluid communication with the catheter hub;

an introducer needle slidingly disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end, a distal end and an axis;

a needle hub attached to the proximal end of the introducer needle, the needle hub having finger grips;

a needle shield having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a push tab disposed near the distal portion of the needle shield;

wherein the needle shield is engaged to the catheter hub when the distal end of the introducer needle extends from the distal portion of the needle shield and disengaged from the catheter hub when the distal end of the introducer needle is withdrawn into the needle shield;

a tether attached to the needle hub and the needle shield; and

a transverse barrier selectively positionable within the needle shield to prevent distal motion of the distal end of the needle.

22. The catheter and introducer assembly of claim 21 wherein the tether is contained within the needle shield or the catheter hub when the needle shield is engaged to the catheter hub.

23. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 22 further comprising a clip within the needle shield to selectively engage the catheter hub.