Systems And Methods For Locking And Detecting The Presence Of A Catheter

• US 20070179473A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Masters, Donald, Harshman, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/533
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1005 Detection of disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for locking and detecting the presence of a catheter. In an embodiment, a catheter system comprises a catheter and a magnet attached to a proximal end of the catheter. The catheter system further comprises a lock receptacle configured to receive and lock the proximal end of the catheter therein, and a Hall-effect sensor configured to detect the presence of the magnet, and hence the catheter, when the catheter is locked in the lock receptacle.

Claims

1. A catheter system, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end;

a magnet attached to the proximal end of the catheter;

a lock receptacle configured to receive and lock the proximal end of the catheter therein; and

a Hall-effect sensor configured to detect the presence of the magnet when the proximal end of the catheter is locked in the lock receptacle.

2. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising:

protection circuitry coupled to the Hall-effect sensor; and

a motor coupled to the protection circuitry, wherein the protection circuitry is configured to disable the motor when the Hall-effect sensor does not detect the presence of the magnet.

3. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising an indexing pin extending radially from the proximal end of the catheter, wherein the magnet is attached to the indexing pin.

4. The catheter system of claim 3, wherein the lock receptacle further comprises:

a radial groove configured to receive the indexing pin therein; and

a plunger extending from a side wall of the radial groove, wherein the plunger is configured to lock the indexing pin between the plunger and a retaining wall of the radial groove.

5. The catheter of claim 4, wherein the Hall-effect sensor is configured to detect the magnet when the indexing pin is locked between the plunger and the retaining wall.

6. The catheter system of claim 5, further comprising:

protection circuitry coupled to the Hall-effect sensor; and

a motor coupled to the protection circuitry, wherein the protection circuitry is configured to disable the motor when the Hall-effect sensor does not detect the presence of the magnet.

7. The catheter system of claim 4, wherein the plunger is spring loaded.

8. The catheter system of claim 4, wherein the plunger has a ball-shaped tip.

9. The catheter system of claim 4, wherein the lock receptacle further comprises an inner cavity configured to receive the proximal end of the catheter therein, and an axial groove within the inner cavity connected to the radial groove, wherein the axial groove is configured to allow the indexing pin to pass therethrough to be received in the radial groove.

10. The catheter system of claim 9, wherein the plunger is configured to lock the indexing pin when the indexing pin is rotated between 15 and 45 degrees within the radial groove.

11. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising:

multiple magnets at different positions on the proximal end of the catheter; and

multiple Hall-effect sensors, wherein each Hall-effect sensor is configured to detect a different one of the magnets when the proximal end of the catheter is locked in the lock receptacle.