Catheter assembly having a fenestrated dilator
First Claim
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1. A catheter assembly comprising:
- an elongated hollow introducer needle adapted for insertion into a biological liquid containing region of a patient;
a flexible, hollow tubular dilator for forming a first stage dilation of an access opening in a patient, said dilator having a main lumen in which said needle is removably and operatively slidably disposed, said dilator defining a first dilator fenestration through a side wall thereof;
a flexible, hollow tubular sheath having a main lumen in which said dilator is removably and operatively, slidably disposed for forming a second stage dilation of the access opening in the patient which is larger than said first stage dilation, said sheath including at least one sideport which communicates with the main lumen of said sheath, and means for conducting a biological liquid from said patient, as a result of insertion of said needle into said region, into said sideport through said first dilator fenestration said sideport communicating with the main lumen of said dilator at least under circumstances wherein said needle is retracted proximally beyond said first dilator fenestration.
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Abstract
An improved catheter assembly featuring a hollow introducer needle, a hollow, flexible dilator containing at least one fenestration through a sidewall thereof, the dilator being slidably disposed over the needle, and a sheath slidably disposed over the dilator. A passageway is formed in the assembly to either show a rapid blood flashback along a lengthwise portion of the assembly or to conduct blood or other biological liquid from the patient to a sideport on the sheath for connection to blood pressure monitoring equipment, infusion/blood sampling equipment, or both, without the necessity of altering connections on or with the assembly after insertion of the needle into the patient.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A catheter assembly comprising:
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an elongated hollow introducer needle adapted for insertion into a biological liquid containing region of a patient;
a flexible, hollow tubular dilator for forming a first stage dilation of an access opening in a patient, said dilator having a main lumen in which said needle is removably and operatively slidably disposed, said dilator defining a first dilator fenestration through a side wall thereof;
a flexible, hollow tubular sheath having a main lumen in which said dilator is removably and operatively, slidably disposed for forming a second stage dilation of the access opening in the patient which is larger than said first stage dilation, said sheath including at least one sideport which communicates with the main lumen of said sheath, and means for conducting a biological liquid from said patient, as a result of insertion of said needle into said region, into said sideport through said first dilator fenestration said sideport communicating with the main lumen of said dilator at least under circumstances wherein said needle is retracted proximally beyond said first dilator fenestration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A catheter assembly comprising:
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an elongated, hollow introducer needle having a sharp tip on a distal end for insertion into a liquid containing region of a biological organism;
an elongated, hollow, flexible tubular dilator having a main lumen in which said needle is operatively and removably slidably disposed, said dilator being adapted to form a first stage dilation of an access opening in a patient, said dilator defining at least one fenestration through a sidewall thereof which is spaced proximally from an open distal end of said dilator;
an elongated, hollow flexible tubular sheath having a main lumen in which said dilator is operatively and removably slidably disposed for forming a second stage dilation of the access opening in the patient which is larger than said first stage dilation, an open distal end of said sheath being proximally spaced from said distal end of said dilator when said dilator and sheath are disposed in position for insertion into said organism, a distal end portion of said sheath being in close fitting, liquid tight relationship with said dilator, a portion of said sheath extending proximally from said sheath distal end portion having an inside diameter which is greater than an outside diameter of said dilator to form a passageway between said dilator and sheath, said at least one fenestration being located so as to open into a distal end portion of said passageway when said dilator and sheath are operatively disposed on said needle for commencement of said insertion such that a biological liquid can flow into a distal end of said dilator, thence through said fenestration and into and along said passageway as said dilator enters a liquid containing region of said organism, and as said needle is withdrawn proximally from said region through said dilator and proximally past said fenestration.
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15. A catheter assembly comprising:
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an elongated, hollow, introducer needle defining a fenestration which is proximally spaced from a distal end thereof;
an elongated, hollow, flexible tubular dilator removably, slidably disposed over said needle, said dilator defining a fenestration which is proximally spaced from a distal end of said dilator, said dilator distal end being proximally spaced from said needle distal end when said dilator is operatively positioned over said needle for commencement of an insertion of said needle and dilator into a liquid containing region of a biological organism such that said needle fenestration communicates with said dilator fenestration;
an elongated, hollow, flexible tubular sheath removably slidably disposed over said dilator, a distal end of said sheath being proximally spaced from said dilator distal end when said sheath is operatively positioned over said dilator for commencement of an insertion of said needle, dilator and sheath into said region, such that a distal end portion of said sheath, extending from said sheath distal end to a position distally spaced from said dilator fenestration, fits over said dilator in a liquid tight manner; and
means for viewing the presence of a liquid flowing through said needle and dilator fenestrations from said region by way of a lumen in said needle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification