Semi-automatic cannulation device

• US 5,480,388 A
• Filed: 12/03/1993
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Filiberto P. Zadini, Giorgio C. Zadini
• Original Assignee: Filiberto P. Zadini, Giorgio C. Zadini
• Inventors: Zadini, Giorgio C., Zadini, Filiberto P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARKE, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US08/162,457
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 604/157, 604/158, 604/156, 604/900, 604/164, 604/165, 604/161, 604/168, 604/171, 604/173, 604/174, 604/177, 604/180, 604/233, 606/167, 606/170
• US Class Current: 604/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1587 suitable for being connected to an infusion line after insertion into a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1588 having means for monitoring, controlling or visual inspection, e.g. for patency check, avoiding extravasation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3112 Incorporating self-aspirating means, e.g. to provide flashback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0612 Devices for protecting the needle; Devices to help insertion of the needle, e.g. wings or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body

Abstract

An improved intravascular catheter placement device for semi-automatic insertion, i.e. manually triggered self-propelled insertion, of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising a hollow needle, an intravascular catheter concentric with said hollow needle, a chamber in communication with said hollow needle wherein the pressure within said chamber is a vacuum pressure and self-propelling means for moving said catheter into a blood vessel upon penetration of the wall of the blood vessel by the tip of the hollow needle.

The self-propelling means acting upon the catheter is manually actuated by the operator of the device upon visualization of the backflow of blood occurring upon penetration of the blood vessel by the tip of the needle, said backflow of blood being accelerated into said chamber by the vacuum pressure present within said chamber.

As a result of the combination of accelerated blood backflow and of manually triggered self-propelled advancement of the catheter, catheters insertion into blood vessels is significantly improved.

Claims

1. The intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

a chamber, wherein the pressure within said chamber is a vacuum pressure after the needle is inserted in body tissue, said chamber being in communication with said hollow needle;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration, said blood being drawn by said vacuum pressure toward said chamber, said actuating means being manually actuable.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing wherein said chamber and said propelling means are housed, said hollow needle projecting forward from said housing and communicating with said chamber;

wherein said intravascular catheter comprises a hollow catheter shaft slideable along said hollow needle, and a catheter hub adapted to engage with said propelling means, said hollow catheter shaft projecting from said catheter hub;

wherein said manually actuating means includes

a manually operable lever provided with a retaining tooth, releasably retaining the catheter hub in a rearward position, said catheter hub being urged forward by said self-propelling means and self-propelled to an advanced position upon manual displacement of said lever.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said means for manually actuating said self-propelling means comprises:

a manually operable lever provided with a retaining tooth, releasably retaining an interface member interposed between said propelling means and said catheter in a rearward position, said interface member being urged forward by said self-propelling means and self-propelled to an advanced position upon manual displacement of said lever.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for allowing the operator to visualize the backflow of the blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration to manually actuate said propelling means, said blood being drawn by a vacuum pressure within said chamber.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said means for visualization of the blood by the operator includes:

at least one transparent wall of said chamber.

6. The device of claim 4 further comprising:

a vacuum capsule with at least one transparent wall.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said self-propelled means is magnetic.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said self-propelled means is pneumatic.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said self-propelled means is expandable material.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for creation of a vacuum pressure within said vacuum chamber, said means for creation of a vacuum pressure being actuable upon insertion of said needle into tissues overlaying the blood vessel to create vacuum pressure within said chamber, said vacuum pressure being sustainable by the sealing of said hollow needle upon insertion of said needle into said tissues overlaying the blood vessel, said hollow needle being sealable by said tissues, upon said insertion of the needle into said tissues, said vacuum pressure causing backflow of blood to accelerate into said vacuum chamber upon penetration of said needle into said blood vessel, said self-propelling means being manually releasable upon visualization of said blood, thereto to insert said catheter into said blood vessel.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a piston axially slideable in an airtight fashion within said chamber communicating with said hollow needle, said piston being urged to rearwardly withdraw by withdrawing means and being retainable in a forward position within said chamber, said piston being releasable from its forward position upon insertion of said needle into the tissues overlaying said blood vessel, to withdraw by said withdrawing means to a partial rearward position as far as allowed by said vacuum pressure being created in said vacuum chamber in front of said piston as a result of a combined rearward movement of said piston and of airtight sealing of said hollow needle, said hollow needle being sealed by said tissues overlaying the blood vessel, upon said insertion of the needle into said tissues, said vacuum pressure causing backflow of blood to accelerate into said vacuum chamber upon penetration of said needle into said blood vessel, said self-propelling means being manually releasable upon visualization of said blood, thereto to insert said catheter into said blood vessel.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a vacuum capsule having a plug pierceable by a posterior segment of said hollow needle in air-fluids communication with said hollow needle, said plug being pierceable upon insertion of said needle into tissues overlaying said blood vessel, said pierceable plug being airtightly sealable around said posterior segment of said hollow needle, to form said vacuum chamber in air-fluids communication with said hollow needle, to create a vacuum pressure extending to said hollow needle, said vacuum pressure being sustainable by the sealing of said hollow needle upon insertion of said needle into said tissues overlaying the blood vessel, said hollow needle being sealable by said tissues, upon said insertion of the needle into said tissues, said vacuum pressure causing backflow of blood to accelerate into said vacuum chamber upon penetration of said needle into said blood vessel, said self-propelling means being manually releasable upon visualization of said blood, thereto to insert said catheter into said blood vessel.

13. An intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

a chamber, wherein the pressure within said chamber is a partial vacuum pressure, said chamber being in communication with said hollow needle.

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration, said blood being drawn by said vacuum pressure toward said chamber, said actuating means being manually actuable.

14. An intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

a chamber, wherein the pressure within said chamber is below the atmospheric pressure, said chamber being in communication with said hollow needle;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration, said blood being drawn by said vacuum pressure toward said chamber, said actuating means being manually actuable.

15. An intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

a chamber in communication with said hollow needle, said chamber being adapted to receive vacuum pressure upon body tissues sealing of said hollow needle;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration, said blood being drawn by said vacuum pressure toward said chamber, said actuating means being manually actuable.

16. An intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

side wall means for defining a blood-receiving chamber having an opening in communication with said hollow needle, through which blood is receivable into said chamber, said chamber including at least one displaceable member to change the volume within said chamber;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration, said blood being drawn by said vacuum pressure toward said chamber, said actuating means being manually actuable.

17. An intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

side wall means for defining a blood -receiving chamber having an opening in communication with said hollow needle, through which blood is receivable into said chamber, said chamber including at least one deformable member to change the volume within said chamber;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for manually actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration, said blood being drawn by said vacuum pressure toward said chamber.

18. An intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

means for applying a suction to said hollow needle to cause blood to backflow within said hollow needle upon blood vessel penetration by said hollow needle;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for manually actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon said backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration.

19. An intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

means for accelerating the backflow response time upon blood vessel penetration to cause said propelling means to advance the intravascular catheter immediately upon blood vessel penetration by said hollow needle;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for manually actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon said accelerated backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration.

20. An intravascular catheter device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

means for enhancing the pressure differential between the pressure within the blood vessel and the atmospheric pressure within a chamber in communication with said blood vessel via said hollow needle;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel, upon backflow of blood occurring upon blood vessel penetration, said blood being drawn toward said chamber by said enhanced pressure differential, said actuating means being manually actuable.

21. An intravascular catheter placement device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

means for sensing pressure differential between the pressure within a penetrated blood vessel and the pressure within a chamber in communication with said blood vessel via said hollow needle, said means for sensing pressure differential resulting in backflow of blood toward said chamber occurring upon blood vessel penetration;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for manually actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel.

22. An intravascular catheter placement device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

side wall means for defining a blood-receiving chamber having an opening in communication with said hollow needle, through which blood is receivable into said chamber, said chamber including at least one displaceable member, said displaceable member being displaceable in response to pressure changes occurring within said chamber;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for manually actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel.

23. An intravascular catheter placement device for insertion of an intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel comprising:

an intravascular catheter;

a hollow needle, said catheter being concentric to said hollow needle;

side wall means for defining a blood-receiving chamber having an opening in communication with said hollow needle, through which blood is receivable into said chamber, said chamber including at least one deformable member, said deformable member being deformable in response to pressure changes occurring within said chamber;

means for self-propelled advancement of said intravascular catheter into the interior of a blood vessel;

means for manually actuating said means for self-propelled advancement of said catheter into the interior of a blood vessel.