IV CATHETER WITH A TIP PROTECTOR

• US 20190314614A1
• Filed: 04/09/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Krause, Eric Jason, Johnson, Daniel Casey, Goral, David J., Breindel, Jay T.
• Application Number:
  US16/378,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20190314614A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0618 having means for protecting only the distal tip of the needle, e.g. a needle guard
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0625 with a permanent connection to the needle hub, e.g. a guiding rail, a locking mechanism or a guard advancement mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers

Abstract

A passive safety catheter assembly configured to inhibit access to the distal tip of a needle cannula prior to release of a catheter insertion assembly from a catheter hub. The passive safety catheter assembly includes a safety clip assembly configured to transition between a first position in which the safety clip assembly selectively couples the catheter insertion assembly to the catheter hub, and a second position in which the safety clip assembly traps the sharp distal tip of the needle cannula within the safety clip assembly prior to release of the coupling between the catheter insertion assembly and the catheter hub.

Claims

1. A passive safety catheter assembly, comprising:

a catheter hub and a catheter tube extending distally thereof;

a catheter insertion device including—

a needle cannula having a proximal portion, an elongate body and a sharp distal tip;

a handle operably coupled to the proximal portion of the needle cannula; and

a safety clip assembly including a housing and a safety clip, the safety clip including a first and second guard arm, each guard arm including a respective first and second retention tab including structure defining a respective first and second aperture configured to enable passage of the elongate body and sharp distal tip of the needle cannula therethrough and a respective first and second hook feature configured to enable the safety clip to selectively grip the catheter hub, the safety clip further including one or more safety clip retention tabs configured to secure the safety clip at least partially within the housing, wherein the safety clip assembly is configured to transition between—

a first position in which the first and second guard arms are restrained against their natural bias by the passage of the needle cannula through an alignment of the first and second apertures of the first and second retention tabs, such that the first and second hook features are in gripping contact with the catheter hub, and

a second position in which the needle cannula is proximally withdrawn through the first and second apertures to enable the first and second guard arms to be naturally biased apart, such that the first and second apertures of the retention tabs become unaligned to trap the sharp distal tip of the needle cannula within the safety clip, and the first and second hook features release gripping contact with the catheter hub.

2. The passive safety catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the safety clip is constructed of a resilient thin web of metal.

3. The passive safety catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second hook features are shaped and sized to closely conform to an outer diameter and extending ridge and/or external ears of the catheter hub.

4. The passive safety catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the safety clip further includes a proximal wall to which the first and second guard arms are operably coupled.

7. The passive safety catheter assembly of claim 4, wherein one or more safety clip retention tabs are operably coupled to the proximal wall.

8. The passive safety catheter assembly of claim 7, wherein one or more safety clip retention tabs are constructed of a resilient material and extend from the proximal wall at an oblique angle.

9. The passive safety catheter assembly of claim 8, wherein one or more safety clip retention tabs are configured to flex to enable the safety clip to be inserted into a chamber of the housing, and inhibit removal of the safety clip from the chamber once inserted.

5. The passive safety catheter assembly of claim 5, wherein the proximal wall includes an aperture size to enable the elongate body of the needle cannula to pass therethrough, but inhibits passage of a needle feature of the needle cannula therethrough.

6. The passive safety catheter assembly of claim 5, wherein in the second position, proximal movement of the sharp distal tip relative to the safety clip is inhibited by interference between the needle feature and the aperture of the proximal wall, and distal movement of the sharp distal tip relative to the safety clip is inhibited by the unaligned first and second apertures of the retention tabs.

10. A catheter insertion device configured to inhibit release of a catheter hub of a catheter assembly from the catheter insertion device until a sharp distal tip of a needle cannula utilized to insert the catheter assembly is safely captured in a needle clip, thereby reducing the risk of an inadvertent needle stick, the catheter insertion device comprising:

a needle cannula having a sharp distal tip and a proximal end;

a handle operably coupled to the proximal end of the needle cannula; and

a safety clip assembly including a housing and a safety clip, the safety clip including first and second guard arms configured to selectively grip a catheter hub of a catheter assembly, each guard arm including a respective first and second retention tab including structure defining a respective first and second aperture configured to enable passage of the needle catheter therethrough, wherein the safety clip assembly is configured to transition between—

a first position in which the first and second guard arms are restrained against their natural bias by the passage of a needle cannula through an alignment of the first and second apertures of the first and second retention tabs, such that the first and second hook features are in gripping contact with the catheter hub, and

a second position in which the needle cannula is proximally withdrawn through the first and second apertures to enable the first and second guard arms to be naturally biased apart to release gripping contact with the catheter hub, such that the first and second apertures of the first and second retention tabs become unaligned to trap the sharp distal tip of the needle cannula within the safety clip.

11. The catheter insertion device of claim 10, wherein the first and second guard arms are shaped and sized to closely conform to an outer diameter and extending ridge and/or external ears of the catheter hub.

12. The catheter insertion device of claim 10, wherein the safety clip further includes a proximal wall to which the first and second guard arms are operably coupled.

13. The catheter insertion device of claim 12, wherein the proximal wall includes an aperture size to enable the elongate body of the needle cannula to pass therethrough, but inhibits passage of a needle feature of the needle cannula therethrough.

14. The catheter insertion device of claim 10, wherein the safety clip further includes one or more safety clip retention tabs configured to secure the safety clip at least partially within the housing.

15. The catheter insertion device of claim 14, wherein one or more safety clip retention tabs are constructed of a resilient material and extend from the proximal wall at an oblique angle.