Catheter needle having surface indication thereon and process for forming such catheter

• US 5,484,422 A
• Filed: 09/10/1993
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medex Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Critikon, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Altman, Zinovy, Sloane, Thomas E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDERMOTT, CORRINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US08/120,109
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164, 604/166, 604/264, 604/272-274, 604/280
• US Class Current: 604/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/001 Forming the tip of a catheter, e.g. bevelling process, join or taper
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles

Abstract

A catheter needle having surface indication thereon and process for forming such catheter by laser marking of the needle with a visual surface indicator of the terminus of the catheter tube.

Claims

1. A catheter assembly comprising:

an insertion needle having a sharpened point and a passage defined therein;

a catheter having a hub and a distal portion of tubular material disposed over said needle and ending in a distal tip;

said needle having a surface finish of a first visual quality over a major portion thereof and a second visual portion immediately adjacent the distal tip of said catheter indicating the tip of the catheter on the surface of the needle wherein said second visual portion is a modified surface finish which is more reflective than the remainder of the surface finish of the needle.

2. The catheter according to claim 1 wherein said second visual portion is formed of a higher concentration of chromium at the surface of said second portion than is present at the surface of the remaining portion of said needle.

3. The catheter according to claim 1 wherein the needle has an at least partially oxidized outer layer and said second visual portion is defined by removal of said oxidized outer layer of said needle.