Catheter introducer having an expandable tip
First Claim
1. A catheter introducer, comprising:
- (a) a body including an outer surface defining a lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end; and
(b) an expandable tip on the distal end, the expandable tip including a sidewall that is continuous and non-convoluted in an unexpanded state and including an opening axially extending therethrough and configured, upon insertion of a device having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the expandable tip, to permit passage of the device therethrough, the expandable tip being configured to expand commensurately with a difference between the outer diameter of the device and the inner diameter of the expandable tip,wherein the expandable tip comprises a tubular wall having an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least two axially aligned slit segments and (2) at least two segments that are axially aligned with one another and with the slit segments and that are strengthened when compared to the slit segments, one of the strengthened segments being positioned between two of the slit segments and another, distal-most strengthened segments being formed between a distal-most slit segment and a distal end of the expandable tip and being weakened when compared to portions of the tubular wall that are circumferentially adjacent to the distal-most strengthened segment.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter includes a body having an outer surface defining a lumen and an expandable tip on a distal end thereof. The tip includes an opening axially extending therethrough. Upon insertion of a device having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the expandable tip, the opening permits passage of the device therethrough. The tip expands commensurately with a difference between the outer diameter of the device and the inner diameter of the expandable tip. The expandable tip includes a tubular wall having an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least two axially aligned slit segments and (2) at least two axially aligned segments that are strengthened when compared to the slit segments. One of the strengthened segments is positioned between two of the slit segments. Another of the strengthened segments is formed between a distal-most slit segment and a distal end of the expandable tip.
-
Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A catheter introducer, comprising:
-
(a) a body including an outer surface defining a lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end; and (b) an expandable tip on the distal end, the expandable tip including a sidewall that is continuous and non-convoluted in an unexpanded state and including an opening axially extending therethrough and configured, upon insertion of a device having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the expandable tip, to permit passage of the device therethrough, the expandable tip being configured to expand commensurately with a difference between the outer diameter of the device and the inner diameter of the expandable tip, wherein the expandable tip comprises a tubular wall having an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least two axially aligned slit segments and (2) at least two segments that are axially aligned with one another and with the slit segments and that are strengthened when compared to the slit segments, one of the strengthened segments being positioned between two of the slit segments and another, distal-most strengthened segments being formed between a distal-most slit segment and a distal end of the expandable tip and being weakened when compared to portions of the tubular wall that are circumferentially adjacent to the distal-most strengthened segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A catheter introducer, comprising:
-
(a) an elongate, hollow body having a distal end and a proximal end; (b) a hub disposed at the proximate end, the hub being configured to permit communication between the hub and the body; and (c) a tip disposed at the distal end and including a sidewall that is continuous and non-convoluted in an unexpanded state and including an opening extending axially therethrough, the opening being selectively radially expandable to permit passage through the tip of a device having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the tip, the tip being configured to expand commensurately with a difference between the outer diameter of the device and the inner diameter of the expandable tip, wherein the expandable tip comprises a tubular wall having an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least two axially aligned slit segments and (2) at least two axially aligned segments that are strengthened when compared to the slit segments, one of the strengthened segments being positioned between the slit segments and another of the strengthened segments being formed between a distal-most slit segment and a distal end of the expandable tip, a distal-most one of the strengthened segments comprising a scored segment having a wall thickness greater than a thickness of the expandable tip wall at the slit segments but less than a thickness of the remainder of the expandable tip wall. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of inserting a medical device having a larger outer diameter than an inner diameter of a catheter tip of a catheter introducer through an opening in the catheter tip, the method comprising:
-
(a) cannulating a vein or artery with a needle and the catheter introducer, the catheter introducer being disposed over the needle and the catheter introducer including an expandable tip on a distal end thereof, the expandable tip including (i) a body including an outer surface defining a lumen and having a distal end and a proximate end; and
;(ii) an expandable tip on the distal end, the expandable tip having a tubular wall, including an opening axially extending therethrough and an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least two axially aligned slit segments and (2) at least two segments that are axially aligned with the slit segments and with one another and that are strengthened when compared to the slit segments, one of the strengthened segments being positioned between two of the slit segments and another, distal-most strengthened segment being formed between a distal-most slit segment and the distal end of the expandable tip and being weakened when compared to portions of the tubular wall that are circumferentially at to the distal-most strengthened segment, (b) removing the needle from the catheter introducer; (c) inserting a medical device into the body, the device having a larger outer diameter than a minimum inner diameter of the expandable tip; (d) inserting the medical device through the lumen of the body; and (e) inserting the medical device through the opening of the expandable tip, thereby expanding the expandable tip as a result of the insertion of the medical device through the tip; and
then(f) removing the catheter introducer from the patient'"'"'s body while leaving the device in place. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A catheter introducer, comprising:
-
(a) a body including an outer surface defining a lumen and having a proximal end and a distal end; and (b) an expandable tip on the distal end, the expandable tip including a sidewall that is continuous and non-convoluted in an unexpanded state and including an opening axially extending therethrough and configured, upon insertion of a device having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the expandable tip, to permit passage of the device therethrough, the expandable tip being configured to expand commensurately with a difference between the outer diameter of the device and the inner diameter of the expandable tip, wherein the expandable tip comprises a tubular wall having an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least one slit segment and (2) at least first and second scored segments that are axially aligned with each other and with the slit segment, the first scored segment being positioned between a proximal-most slit segment and a proximal end of the expandable tip, and the second scored segment extending from a distal-most slit segment to a distal end of the expandable tip. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A method of inserting a medical device having a larger outer diameter than an inner diameter of a catheter tip of a catheter introducer through an opening in the catheter tip, the method comprising:
-
(a) cannulating a vein or artery with a needle and the catheter introducer, the catheter introducer being disposed over the needle and the catheter introducer including an expandable tip on a distal end thereof, the expandable tip including (i) a body including an outer surface defining a lumen and having a distal end and a proximate end; and
;(ii) an expandable tip on the distal end, the expandable tip including an opening axially extending therethrough and an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least one slit segment and (2) at least first and second scored segments that are axially aligned with each other and with the slit segment, the first scored segment being positioned between a proximal-most slit segment and a proximal end of the expandable tip, and the second scored segment extend from a distal-most slit segment to a distal end of the expandable tip; (b) removing the needle from the catheter introducer; (c) inserting a medical device into the body, the device having a larger outer diameter than a minimum inner diameter of the expandable tip; (d) inserting the medical device through the lumen of the body; and (e) inserting the medical device through the opening of the expandable tip, thereby expanding the expandable tip as a result of the insertion of the medical device through the tip; and
then(f) removing the catheter introducer from the patient'"'"'s body while leaving the device in place. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
-
Specification