Adjustable catheter assembly
First Claim
1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
- a cannula having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal duct therethrough from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion;
a needle having a distal and a proximal end and having a sharpened insertion tip at the distal end, the needle being positioned within the distal end portion of the longitudinal duct of the cannula with the insertion tip extending beyond the distal end of the cannula;
a catheter inserter having inserter distal and proximal ends and having a cannula guide channel extending from the inserter distal end to the inserter proximal end, the cannula being positioned in slidable relationship through the channel such that the distal end portion of the cannula extends beyond the distal end of the channel; and
a means for selectively restricting the cannula and needle from sliding relative to the channel;
material which when inserted into a body of a living subject and maintained therein;
(a)(i) softens with a softening ratio of at least about 2;
1; and
/or(ii) swells with a swelling ratio of at least about 1.3;
1;
(b) has a tensile energy to break of at least about 700 N-cm/cm3 ; and
(c) has a 2.5% Secant modulus of less than about 7,000 N/cm2.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a catheter assembly comprising a cannula, needle and catheter inserter wherein the inserter is in slidable relationship to the cannula and wherein the inserter or other device also serves to selectively restrict the cannula and needle from sliding relative to the inserter. The cannula comprises a material which, when inserted into the body of a living subject, softens and/or swells and has a tensile energy to break of at least about 700 N-cm/cm3 and a 2.5% Secant modulus of less than about 7,000 N/cm2. The invention also relates to a method of inserting a cannula into a living subject using an inserter which is positioned such that the desired length of cannula for initial insertion extends beyond the inserter. The method also relates to further inserting the cannula into the living subject after initial insertion of the cannula.
185 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
-
a cannula having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal duct therethrough from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion; a needle having a distal and a proximal end and having a sharpened insertion tip at the distal end, the needle being positioned within the distal end portion of the longitudinal duct of the cannula with the insertion tip extending beyond the distal end of the cannula; a catheter inserter having inserter distal and proximal ends and having a cannula guide channel extending from the inserter distal end to the inserter proximal end, the cannula being positioned in slidable relationship through the channel such that the distal end portion of the cannula extends beyond the distal end of the channel; and a means for selectively restricting the cannula and needle from sliding relative to the channel; material which when inserted into a body of a living subject and maintained therein; (a) (i) softens with a softening ratio of at least about 2;
1; and
/or(ii) swells with a swelling ratio of at least about 1.3;
1;(b) has a tensile energy to break of at least about 700 N-cm/cm3 ; and (c) has a 2.5% Secant modulus of less than about 7,000 N/cm2. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method of inserting a catheter into a living subject comprising:
-
(A) selecting a catheter assembly comprising; a cannula having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal duct therethrough from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion; a needle having a distal and a proximal end and having a sharpened insertion tip at the distal end, the needle being positioned within the distal end portion of the longitudinal duct of the cannula with the insertion tip extending beyond the distal end of the cannula; a catheter inserter having inserter distal and proximal ends and having a cannula guide channel extending from the inserter distal end to the inserter proximal end the cannula being positioned in slidable relationship through the channel such that the distal end portion of the cannula extends beyond the distal end of the channel; and means for selectively restricting the cannula and needle from sliding relative to the channel; wherein at least a portion of the cannula is made of a material which when inserted into a body of a living subject and maintained therein; (a) (i) softens with a softening ratio of at least about 2;
1; and
/or(ii) swells with a swelling ratio of at least about 1.3;
1;(b) has a tensile energy to break of at least about 700 N-cm/cm3 ; and (c) has a 2.5% Secant modulus of less than about 7,000 N/cm2 ; (B) positioning the inserter on the cannula such that the desired length of the distal end of the cannula extends beyond the distal end of the channel; (C) engaging the means such that the cannula and the needle are restricted from sliding relative to the channel; and (D) inserting the needle and the cannula partially into the living subject. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
Specification