Catheter introducer assembly with needle shielding device

• US 5,409,461 A
• Filed: 09/28/1993
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Steinman, Christopher P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/127,722
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• Field of Search: 604/53, 604/93, 604/110, 604/117, 604/164-168, 604/174, 604/192, 604/198, 604/256, 604/264, 604/272, 604/283, 604/177, 128/917, 128/169
• US Class Current: 604/110
• 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 25/0637 Butterfly or winged devices, e.g. for facilitating handling or for attachment to the skin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/917 Body fluid, devices for protection therefrom, e.g. aids, hepatitus

Abstract

A winged catheter introducer is disclosed. The catheter introducer has a catheter, a robe attached to the catheter and a winged intermediate member between the catheter and the robe. Within the catheter and the robe is a needle with a stylet attached to it. The stylet is attached to a hub which facilitates the pulling of the needle out of the catheter and through the robe. Attached to the robe is an adapter with a septum attached to it. The needle is provided with an opening extending from the needle wall to the needle lumen. A shielding device is provided which is attached to the adapter. The shielding device includes a needle container which is designed to trap the needle. A needle shield is provided inside the needle container. The needle is provided with an area of enlarged diameter. This area of enlarged diameter interacts with the needle shield when the needle is withdrawn from the catheter and robe and into the needle container. The needle shield is provided with an orifice through which the needle and stylet can fit but through which the area of enlarged diameter cannot pass. When the needle is withdrawn from the catheter and tube and into the needle container, it is trapped by the needle shield. The needle shield is also provided with a transverse wall which snaps over the point of the needle.

Claims

1. A catheter introducer assembly, comprising:

a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;

an adaptor in fluid communication with the catheter;

a needle defining a needle lumen and having a sharp distal tip and a proximal end, the needle being initially disposed coaxially within the catheter such that the sharp distal tip extends-beyond the distal end of the catheter and wherein the needle has a region of enlarged diameter adjacent to the sharp distal tip and wherein the needle further defines a side opening adjacent to and proximal to the region of enlarged diameter;

a stylet having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the needle;

a hub connected to the proximal end of the stylet;

a needle container removably connected to the adaptor, the needle container defining a distal opening through which the stylet and the needle may extend and which is sized to allow the region of enlarged diameter on the needle to pass therethrough and a proximal opening proximal of the distal opening and through which the stylet and the needle may extend and which is sized to create an interference fit with the needle;

a support disposed in the needle container, the support defining an intermediate opening proximal of the distal opening and through which the stylet and the needle may extend but which is sized so as not to allow the region of enlarged diameter on the needle to pass therethrough; and

a needle shield associated with the needle container, the needle shield having a transverse wall that covers the distal opening in the needle container when the sharp distal tip of the needle is moved proximally into the needle container; and

wherein the side opening is located in the needle container when the sharp distal tip of the needle is in the needle container and the region of enlarged diameter on the needle is adjacent to the support.

2. The catheter introducer assembly of claim 1 wherein the hub initially substantially surrounds the needle container.

3. The catheter introducer assembly of claim 1 further comprising a septum secured to the proximal end of the adaptor.

4. The catheter introducer assembly of claim 3 wherein the hub initially substantially surrounds the needle container.

5. The catheter introducer assembly of claim 4 wherein the stylet is connected to the needle to close the needle lumen and prevent fluid flow through the proximal end of the needle.