Catheter needle safety device and method of using same
First Claim
1. An automatic sheathing system, comprising:
- an introducing catheter including a catheter tip and a catheter hub;
a needle including a needle tip, and a needle hub, wherein said needle is sized to fit within said introducing catheter; and
,a needle sheath disposed around said introducing catheter and said needle, wherein said sheath further comprises a flanged end configured for releasably gripping said catheter hub, and wherein said catheter hub is released when said flanged end is squeezed.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety apparatus and method of use for a catheter and needle combination. An automatic sheathing system protects clinical personnel from accidental needle sticks after withdrawing the needle from a patient. The device consists of a clear, plastic needle guard with a flanged-end opening that allows a polytetrafluoroethylene catheter and needle to protrude (covered by a protective cap), but prevents the hubs of each from passing outside. For venipuncture, the cap is removed and the needle tip passes through the catheter. The user, employing a one-handed method, punctures the skin of the patient with the needle tip and locates a vein. The needle is then withdrawn as the catheter slides over the needle tip into the vein. A needle guard, including a one-way detent and a restraining ledge, captures the needle hub when the needle is withdrawn. At all times during the withdrawal process the needle guard encloses the needle tip. As the guard captures the needle, the catheter continues to be gripped by a flanged end of the guard. When the user is ready to release the catheter, the guard is squeezed near the flanged end expanding the opening and allowing the user to remove the guard leaving the catheter in place.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An automatic sheathing system, comprising:
-
an introducing catheter including a catheter tip and a catheter hub; a needle including a needle tip, and a needle hub, wherein said needle is sized to fit within said introducing catheter; and
,a needle sheath disposed around said introducing catheter and said needle, wherein said sheath further comprises a flanged end configured for releasably gripping said catheter hub, and wherein said catheter hub is released when said flanged end is squeezed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An automatic sheathing system, comprising:
-
means for contacting an internal vein of a patient; means for puncturing the skin of said patient and introducing said means for contacting into said vein; and means for sheathing said means for puncturing, wherein said sheathing means further comprises trapping means for trapping said means for puncturing within said sheathing means and means for releasably gripping said means for contacting, wherein said means for releasably gripping can release said means for contacting when said means for sheathing are squeezed after said means for puncturing has been trapped by said means for trapping. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for the automatic sheathing of a needle after inserting a catheter into a patient, wherein said catheter includes a catheter tip and a catheter hub, wherein said needle includes a needle tip, a needle hub, wherein said needle tip is disposed within said catheter tip, wherein a needle sheath is used to prevent accidental sticks from said needle, wherein said needle sheath includes a trapping mechanism for trapping said needle hub so that said needle tip is contained within said sheath and wherein said needle sheath includes a flanged end for releasably gripping said catheter hub so that said catheter hub can be released when said needle hub is trapped by the trapping mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
-
pushing said needle tip through said catheter tip so that said needle tip forms a puncture in the skin of a patient; inserting said catheter into said puncture by sliding said catheter tip over said needle tip; withdrawing said needle into said needle sheath until said needle hub is trapped within said trapping system; pressing inward on opposing sides of said sheath near said flanged end, thereby releasing said hub of said catheter; and removing said sheath with said needle contained inside from said catheter hub. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification