Catheter Adapter With Distal Inner Diameter Curvature Providing Kink Resistance

• US 20170120008A1
• Filed: 10/05/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Burkholz, Jonathan Karl, O'Bryan, Jeffrey C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,806,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0059 having means for preventing the catheter, sheath or lumens from collapsing due to outer forces, e.g. compressing forces, or caused by twisting or kinking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0098 having a strain relief at the proximal end, e.g. sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/062 used with a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0023 by the form of the lumen, e.g. cross-section, variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0067 characterised by the distal end, e.g. tips A61M25/0054, A61M25/04 take precedence; balloon catheters A61M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/06 Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof

Abstract

Catheter adapters and vascular access device including catheter adapters are discloses. The catheter adapter tip opening has an internal curvature defining a tapered region in the lower portion, but not the upper portion, to support a flexured portion of the catheter to prevent kinking and occlusion.

Claims

1. A vascular access device comprising:

a catheter including a flexured portion; and

a catheter adapter having a distal end, a proximal end, an overall length extending from the distal end to the proximal end, an internal cavity, an upper portion, a lower portion and a distal tip having a catheter adapter tip opening having a circumference and through which the catheter extends, wherein the overall length is substantially equivalent at the upper portion and the lower portion, and the catheter adapter tip opening having an internal curvature defining a tapered region in the lower portion, wherein the tapered region supports the flexured portion of the catheter to provide an angle of insertion for the catheter without restricting a flow through the catheter, the tapered region being less than the overall length.

2. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the internal curvature of the lower portion of the catheter adapter tip opening defines a chamfer.

3. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the internal curvature of the lower portion of the catheter adapter tip opening is rounded.

4. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the internal curvature of the lower portion of the catheter adapter tip opening is trumpet shaped.

5. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the catheter adapter tip opening defines a radius at the distal tip that incrementally decreases moving away from the distal tip.

6. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the vascular access device is selected from a group including a central venous catheter, a peripherally inserted central catheter, a peripheral intravenous cannula, an arterial catheter, and a mid-line catheter.

7. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the catheter adapter tip opening does not include an internal curvature extending from the distal tip.

8. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the catheter is housed within the internal cavity of the catheter adapter.

9. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the catheter is fixedly attached to the catheter adapter.

10. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the angle of insertion is within a range of about 1°

to about 60°

.

11. The vascular access device of claim 10, wherein the angle of insertion is about 15-45°

.

12. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein a radius of the upper portion is asymmetrical in relation to the radius of the lower portion.

13. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the catheter adapter is oriented tangentially to the catheter.

14. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the internal curvature in the lower portion of the adapter extends across a portion of a circumference of catheter adapter tip opening and defines an arc forming an angle in a range of 90°

to 360°

.

15. The vascular access device of claim 14, wherein the angle is in the range of 180°

to 360°

.

16. The vascular access device of claim 1 further comprising an introducer needle in the internal cavity, the needle having a distal end a proximal end and a needle hub connected to the proximal end of the introducer needle.

17. The vascular access device of claim 16, further comprising further comprising an extension tube extending from the catheter adapter and in fluid communication with the internal cavity of the catheter adapter.

18. The vascular access device of claim 17, further comprising at least one at of a luer access, a blood control septum, an air vent and a notch in the introducer needle.

19. The vascular access device of claim 1, further comprising a wing element extending radially outward from the catheter adapter.

20. The vascular access device of claim 19, wherein the wing element comprises a first wing member extending from one side of the catheter adapter.

21. The vascular access device of claim 20, wherein the wing element comprises a second wing member extending opposite the one side of the catheter adapter.

22. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the catheter adapter is made from a first material and at least a portion of the distal tip is made from a second material that is more flexible than the first material.

23. The vascular access device of claim 22, wherein at least a majority of the catheter adapter is made from a first material and at least a portion of the distal tip is made from a second material that is more flexible than the first material.

24. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the distal tip includes a flexible, kink resistant extension extending from the catheter adapter tip opening to provide support for the catheter.

25. The vascular access device of claim 23, further comprising a wing element extending radially outward from the catheter adapter.

26. The vascular access device of claim 24, wherein the wing element comprises a first wing member extending from one side of the catheter adapter.

27. The vascular access device of claim 25, wherein the wing element comprises a second wing member extending opposite the one side of the catheter adapter.

28. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the catheter is made from polyurethane.

29. The vascular access device of claim 17, wherein the tapered region provides conical relief to the catheter.

30. The vascular access device of claim 28, wherein the needle further includes a bevel on the distal tip and the bevel of the needle is oriented in an asymmetrical orientation in relation to the conical relief.

31. The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is absent a catheter adapter tip opening having an internal curvature defining a tapered region.

32. An apparatus for preventing a restricted flow within a catheter comprising:

a catheter adapter having a distal end, a proximal end, an overall length extending from the distal end to the proximal end, an internal cavity, an upper portion, a lower portion and a distal tip having a catheter adapter tip opening through which a catheter including a flexured portion extends, wherein the overall length is substantially equivalent at the upper portion and the lower portion, the lower portion of the adapter has a curved surface to support the flexured portion of the catheter at a desired angle of insertion into a patient and to prevent kinking of the catheter, the upper portion of the adapter in contact with the catheter having a substantially straight surface and constant thickness to maintain rigidity of the catheter during insertion of the catheter into a patient.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the upper portion of the catheter adapter tip opening defines in cross section a semicircular arc forming an angle in a range of 0°

to 270°

.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the lower portion of the catheter adapter tip opening defines in cross section a partial ellipse

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the lower portion of the catheter adapter tip opening forms an angle in a range of 0°

to 270.