Safety catheter system and method
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter integral with a valved needle-free connector provides a safety catheter device configured to receive a blunt cannula and sharp needle forming an insertion mechanism. The sharp needle is mounted within a needle tube and a control handle is used to slide the sharp needle out of and into the protective needle tube. When the insertion mechanism is mounted to the connector and the control handle is used to slide the sharp needle out of the tube, a blunt cannula first moves into contact with and enters the bore of the valve mechanism of the connector opening it and protecting it from damage that may be caused by the sharp needle. The sharp needle is then extended through the connector and extends out the distal end of the catheter so that a venipuncture procedure may be performed to properly locate the catheter in the patient'"'"'s circulatory system. Once located, the needle may be retracted into the insertion mechanism, the insertion mechanism disconnected from the connector, and discarded.
194 Citations
43 Claims
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1-14. -14. (canceled)
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15. A safety catheter system that provides access to a biological site, the system comprising:
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a catheter defining a lumen and having a first end for insertion into the biological site and a second end;
a connector for controlling the flow of fluid through the lumen of the catheter, the connector having an internal fluid passageway by which fluid may flow through the connector, the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter, the connector comprising a housing and a movable element positioned within the housing;
the housing having a first port and a second port, the first port being adapted to receive a male Luer connector, and the second port being connected to the second end of the catheter, the movable element having a lumen forming a part of the fluid passageway of the connector and a septum adapted to move axially from a first position at which position the septum is disposed within a first section of the housing at which section the septum is closed and blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway to a second position at which position the septum is disposed within a second section of the housing at which section the septum is open and permits fluid flow through the fluid passageway when the first port receives the male Luer connector; and
an insertion mechanism comprising;
a blunt cannula adapted for insertion through the first port of the housing and into contact with the movable element to move the movable element to the second position at which position the septum opens, the blunt cannula also configured to slide through the septum when the septum is open; and
a needle having a sharp tip slidably engaged with the blunt cannula and adapted to extend through the blunt cannula after the blunt cannula has slid through the septum of the movable element, and to slide through the catheter until the sharp tip projects beyond the first end of the catheter so that the sharp tip may penetrate the biological site to properly locate the catheter in the biological site;
wherein the blunt cannula protects the movable element from possible damage by the sharp needle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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22-28. -28. (canceled)
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34. A safety catheter system that provides access to a biological site, the system comprising:
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a catheter defining a lumen and having a first end for insertion into the biological site and a second end;
a connector for controlling the flow of fluid through the lumen of the catheter, the connector having an internal fluid passageway by which fluid may flow through the connector, the fluid passageway being in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter, the connector comprising a housing and a movable element positioned within the housing;
the housing having a first port and a second port, the first port being adapted to be connected to a medical connector, and the second port being connected to the second end of the catheter, the movable element having a lumen forming a part of the fluid passageway of the connector and a valve mechanism adapted to move axially from a first position at which position the valve mechanism is disposed within a first section of the housing at which section the valve mechanism is closed and blocks fluid flow through the fluid passageway to a second position at which position the valve mechanism is disposed within a second section of the housing at which section the valve mechanism is open and permits fluid flow through the fluid passageway; and
an insertion mechanism comprising;
a blunt cannula adapted to be connected to the first port of the housing and into contact with the movable element to move the valve mechanism to the second position at which position the valve mechanism opens, the blunt cannula also configured to slide through the valve mechanism when the valve mechanism is open; and
a needle having a sharp tip slidably engaged with the blunt cannula and adapted to extend through the blunt cannula after the blunt cannula has slid through the valve mechanism of the movable element, and to slide through the catheter until the sharp tip projects beyond the first end of the catheter so that the sharp tip may penetrate the biological site to properly locate the catheter in the biological site;
wherein the blunt cannula protects the valve mechanism from possible damage by the sharp needle. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification