Venipuncture device

• US 4,353,369 A
• Filed: 01/17/1980
• Issued: 10/12/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories North Chicago IL
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Muetterties, Andrew J., Genese, Joseph N., Seberg, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/112,970
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214.4, 128/214 R, 128/214.2, 128/214.4, 128/DIG. 26, 128/221
• US Class Current: 604/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0637 Butterfly or winged devices, e.g. for facilitating handling or for attachment to the skin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

An improved venipuncture device comprises a catheter having a catheter hub at one end, with a needle having a needle hub at one end and a sharpened tip at the second end extending through the catheter and catheter hub. A resilient reseal is mounted in the catheter hub for sealing the catheter upon removal of the needle. The improvement comprises a wing hub having an axial bore adapted for telescopic reception and attachment to the catheter portion. A pair of oppositely extending flexible wings are integrally formed and extend from the wing hub. An area of reduced thickness on each of the flexible wings along a portion of the width of the wings adjacent to the wing hub allows the wings to be easily folded upward. As a result, the wings may be pinched together between the thumb and index finger, thus, making it easier to insert the needle into the vein of the patient.

Claims

1. An improved venipuncture device comprising:

a needle portion including needle hub means at its proximal end and a sharpened tip at its distal end,

a catheter portion having a catheter hub means at its proximal end with a reseal member fixedly attached thereto, said needle portion extending coaxially through said catheter portion;

a modular wing assembly defining a wing hub member having an axial cylindrical bore therethrough adapted for telescopic reception of and attachment to said catheter hub portion;

said catheter hub means having a tubular portion at its distal end adapted for telescopic insertion and attachment to said modular wing assembly, and means for mechanically removably locking said modular wing assembly to said tubular portion whereby said tubular portion may be removably locked onto and thereby fixedly attached to said modular wing assembly; and

a pair of oppositely extending flexible wing sections flexibly attached to said wing hub member, said flexible wing sections having an area of reduced thickness on each of said flexible wing sections along a portion of the width thereof, substantially adjacent to said wing hub member, said area of reduced thickness being effective to facilitate the folding of said flexible wing sections together so as to be easily held thereby facilitating insertion of said device into the patient'"'"'s vein.

2. The venipuncture device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a tab member integrally formed and extending from said modular wing assembly, said tab member being constructed and arranged for digital application of force thereon so as to facilitate separation of said needle portion from said catheter portion.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said modular wing assembly comprises a substantially flexible plastic material.

4. The invention according to claim 2 further comprising:

a tab member integrally formed and extending from said modular wing assembly, said tab member being constructed and arranged for the digital application of force thereon so as to facilitate insertion of said device into the patient'"'"'s vein.

5. An improved venipuncture device comprising:

a needle portion including needle hub means at its proximal end and a sharpened tip at its distal end,

a catheter portion having a catheter hub means at its proximal end with a reseal member fixedly attached thereto, said needle portion extending coaxially through said catheter portion;

a modular wing assembly defining a wing hub member having an axial bore therethrough adapted for telescopic reception of and attachment to said catheter hub portion;

said catheter hub means having a tubular portion at its distal end adapted for telescopic insertion and attachment to said modular wing assembly, said tubular portion having an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of said axial bore of said modular wing assembly whereby said tubular portion may be press-fit into and fixedly attached to said modular wing assembly; and

a pair of oppositely extending flexible wing sections flexibly attached to said wing hub member, said flexible wing sections having an area of reduced thickness on each of said flexible wing sections along a portion of the width thereof, substantially adjacent to said wing hub member, said area of reduced thickness being effective to facilitate the folding of said flexible wing sections together so as to be easily held thereby facilitating insertion of said device into the patient'"'"'s vein.

said wing hub member and said catheter portion having snap lock means for the selective attachment of said wing hub member to said catheter portion.

6. A method of performing venipuncture utilizing an improved venipuncture device comprising a needle portion having hub means at its proximal end and a sharpened tip at its distal end and a catheter portion having said needle portion extending coaxially therethrough, a pair of oppositely extending flexible wing sections fixedly attached to a wing hub member having an axial bore therethrough, said catheter portion being coaxially disposed through and attached to said wing hub member, said wing hub member further having a tab member attached to and extending from said wing hub member, said method comprising the steps of:

pinching said flexible wing members between the thumb and index finger of the user;

inserting said needle portion and said catheter portion partially into the vein of the patient;

releasing said flexible wing members;

grasping said needle hub means between the thumb and middle finger of the user;

pushing said posterior tab member by means of the index finger of the user, thereby separating said needle hub from said catheter portion and consequently withdrawing said sharpened tip within said catheter; and

inserting said catheter portion further into the vein of the patient.