CONTROLLED FLASHBACK FOR VASCULAR ACCESS DEVICES

• US 20070233007A1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Adams, Chad M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/168.10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/10 Flow characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/20 having means for promoting or enhancing the flow, actively or passively
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers

Abstract

An extravascular system for accessing the vasculature of a patient may include a catheter assembly and an internal construct within the catheter assembly. At least one fluid flow space may exist between the internal construct and the catheter assembly.

Claims

1. An extravascular system for accessing the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

a catheter assembly including a catheter housing and a catheter tubing secured to the catheter housing, the catheter housing including an internal surface;

an internal construct at least partially housed within the catheter assembly, the internal construct including an external surface;

at least one flow groove between the internal surface of the catheter housing and the external surface of the internal construct; and

at least one ridge adjacent the at least one flow groove and between the internal surface of the catheter housing and the external surface of the internal construct.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one ridge varies in height and the at least one flow groove varies in depth.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one flow groove extends along the entire length of the internal construct.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one flow groove includes at least six flow grooves and wherein the at least one ridge includes at least six ridges.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising a retention construct and a corresponding retention structure in communication with the catheter assembly and the internal construct, wherein the retention construct and the corresponding retention structure are capable of at least temporarily retaining the internal construct in a position relative to the catheter assembly.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the corresponding retention structure includes a retention space that permits fluid to flow past the retention construct when the retention construct is engaged with the corresponding retention structure.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the internal construct is a septum having a septal disk.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the retention construct and the corresponding retention structure are configured to selectively meter fluid flow past the retention construct by varying a flow space between the retention construct and the corresponding retention structure.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the retention construct and the corresponding retention structure are configured to provide a first flow position configured to meter fluid flow past the retention construct to within a target insertion flow rate range.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the retention construct and the corresponding retention structure are configured to provide a first flow position configured to meter fluid flow past the retention construct to about one inch per minute.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the retention construct and the corresponding retention structure are configured to provide a second flow position configured to allow fluid flow past the retention construct at a rate greater than the target insertion flow rate range.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the internal construct is of unitary construction.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein various separate vascular access devices may be employed with the catheter assembly and wherein the internal construct is positioned within the catheter housing to accommodate for various lengths of the separate vascular access devices that may be employed with the catheter assembly.

14. An extravascular system for accessing the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

means for accessing the vascular system of a patient and allowing fluid flow therethrough;

means for controlling fluid flow at least partially housed within the means for accessing the vascular system of a patient; and

means for channeling fluid between the means for controlling fluid flow and the means for accessing the vascular system of a patient.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for at least temporarily retaining the means for controlling fluid flow in a position relative to the means for accessing the vascular system of a patient.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the means for channeling fluid is capable of channeling fluid past the means for at least temporarily retaining.

17. A method of optimizing the fluid flow parameters of an extravascular system used to access an extravascular system of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a catheter assembly having a catheter tubing and a catheter housing;

providing an internal construct within the catheter housing such that fluid is allowed to flow between the internal construct and the catheter housing;

determining a first fluid flow rate through the catheter housing, wherein determining the first fluid flow rate includes determining the rate at which fluid flows between the internal construct and the catheter housing;

determining a second fluid flow rate through the catheter tubing, wherein determining the second fluid flow rate includes estimating a rate at which fluid would flow through the catheter assembly in the absence of the internal construct; and

disposing the internal construct within the catheter housing in a first configuration such that fluid is metered to flow between the internal construct and the catheter housing at a first fluid flow rate less than the second fluid flow rate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein disposing the internal construct within the catheter housing in a first configuration meters the flow between the internal construct and the catheter housing to provide a first fluid flow rate within a target insertion flow rate range.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the target insertion flow rate range includes a first fluid flow rate of about one inch per minute.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising disposing the internal construct within the catheter housing in at least one indwelling configuration providing a first fluid flow rate greater than or equal to the second fluid flow rate.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the internal construct and the catheter housing are adapted to provide at least two indwelling configurations, and wherein each of the indwelling configurations provide a customized first fluid flow rate.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the first fluid flow rate includes calculating a flow (Q) using the equation

$Q=\frac{\pi }{}$

·

deq 4 ·

( P 



3 - P 



2 ) 128 ·

μ

·

L ·

K 



3 

_ 

2 ;

and wherein determining the second fluid flow rate includes estimating a flow (Q_c) using the equation

$Q_c=\frac{{\mathrm{\pi <br><br>}<br><br>\left(d<br><br><br><br>1\right)}^4·<br><br>\left(P<br><br><br><br>3-P<br><br><br><br>1\right)}{128·<br><br>\mathrm{\mu <br><br>}·<br><br>L<br><br><br><br>1<br><br>\_<br><br>2·<br><br>K<br><br><br><br>1<br><br>\_<br><br>2}.$