INTRODUCER HAVING A FLOW SENSOR

• US 20140180066A1
• Filed: 12/18/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Volcano Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Stigall, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US14/133,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20140180066A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/424
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0215 by means inserted into the body catheters A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150396 Specific tip design, e.g. for improved penetration characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150748 Having means for aiding positioning of the piercing device at a location where the body is to be pierced means for aiding positioning of devices for bringing media into the body A61M5/427, locating blood vessels A61B5/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150992 Blood sampling from a fluid line external to a patient, such as a catheter line, combined with an infusion line; blood sampling from indwelling needle sets, e.g. sealable ports, luer couplings, valves tubing connectors and couplings A61M39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1535 comprising means for indicating vein or arterial entry A61B5/1545 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6848 Needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0002 with a pressure sensor at the distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers

Abstract

An introducer, including a needle, a guide shaft, and a sheath, that can be used to place an access cannula into a blood vessel. In an embodiment, the guide shaft includes a Doppler flow sensor, allowing a user to easily identify a vein or artery beneath the skin. In another embodiment, the guide shaft also includes a pressure sensor.

Claims

1. A vascular insertion device comprising a needle, a pressure sensor, and a flow sensor, the pressure sensor and the flow sensor being located within a lumen defined by the needle.

2. The vascular insertion device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor and the flow sensor are located at a distal tip of the needle.

3. The vascular insertion device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor and the flow sensor are integrated into a guide shaft located within the lumen defined by the needle.

4. The vascular insertion device of claim 1, wherein the needle is 18 gauge or smaller.

5. The vascular insertion device of claim 1, wherein the flow sensor comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

6. The vascular insertion device of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

7. The vascular insertion device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a port.

8. An introducer comprising a flow sensor.

9. The introducer of claim 8, wherein the introducer comprises a needle, a guide shaft, and a sheath, the guide shaft located inside the needle, and the sheath contacting an outside of the needle.

10. The introducer of claim 9, wherein the flow sensor is coupled to the guide shaft.

11. The introducer of claim 10, wherein the flow sensor is an ultrasonic flow sensor.

12. The introducer of claim 9, further comprising a pressure sensor.

13. The introducer of claim 12, wherein the pressure sensor is coupled to the guide shaft.

14. The introducer of claim 9, further comprising a radiopaque label.

15. The introducer of claim 9, wherein the guide shaft is 30 cm or less in length.

16. A flow sensor guide shaft, having a length of 30 cm or less and an outer diameter of 1 mm or less, comprising a distal end having an ultrasonic transducer and a proximal end having an electrical connector, the ultrasonic transducer and the electrical connector being operatively coupled.

17. The flow sensor guide shaft of claim 16, further comprising a polymer tube.

18. The flow sensor guide shaft of claim 16, wherein the ultrasonic transducer produces acoustic waves at a frequency of 5 MHz to 15 MHz.

19. The flow sensor guide shaft of claim 16, wherein the ultrasonic transducer detects reflected acoustic waves at a frequency of 5 MHz to 15 MHz.

20. The flow sensor guide shaft of claim 16, further comprising a pressure sensor.