Safety catheter

• US 8,628,497 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kpr U.S., LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Finnestad, Mark B., Holley, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): STOHR, LEAH C
• Application Number:
  US13/625,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/164.01, 604/164.08, 604/192
• US Class Current: 604/164.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3494 with safety means for protection against accidental cutting or pricking, e.g. limiting insertion depth, pressure sensors for the peridural space A61B17/3401
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0618 having means for protecting only the distal tip of the needle, e.g. a needle guard
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3273 freely sliding on needle shaft without connection to syringe or needle

Abstract

A needle assembly including a needle tip guard and needle is provided. The needle tip guard includes a proximal base defining an opening that is dimensioned for passage of the needle therethrough, first and second clamp members extending from the proximal base and defining an internal cavity, and a finger tab extending from the proximal base. Each of the first and second clamp members define an inner surface including a protrusion extending into the internal cavity. A distal end of each of the clamp members includes a clamp arm, the clamp arms being supported for movement between an open position and a closed position. The finger tab includes a contacting portion for engagement by a user.

Claims

1. A needle assembly comprising:

a needle tip guard comprising;

a proximal base defining an opening dimensioned for passage of a needle therethrough;

first and second clamp members extending from the proximal base and defining an internal cavity, each of the first and second clamp members having an inner surface including a protrusion extending into the internal cavity and a distal end supporting a clamp arm, the clamp arms being supported for movement between an open position and a closed position; and

a finger tab extending from the proximal base and including a contacting portion for engagement by a user; and

a needle dimensioned for insertion through the proximal base and clamp members, the needle having a needle cannula including a distal portion having at least one indentation dimensioned to receive the protrusion of the clamp members, the needle cannula of the needle being positionable between the clamp members to retain the clamp arms in the open position, whereby receipt of the protrusions within the at least one indentation of the needle upon retraction of the distal portion of the needle within the internal cavity of the clamp members allows the clamp arms to move to the closed position.

2. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein the contacting portion of the finger tab extends laterally along the clamp members in spaced relation therefrom.

3. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein the finger tab extends orthogonally outwardly from the proximal base.

4. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein a housing extends from the proximal base coaxially around the first and second clamp members.

5. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein the clamp members are different lengths.

6. The needle assembly of claim 1, wherein each clamp arm is integrally formed with a respective clamp member.

7. A catheter and needle assembly comprising:

a catheter configured for placement in a patient, the catheter having a catheter hub attached to a proximal end thereof;

a needle dimensioned for insertion within the catheter, the needle having a proximal portion attached to a needle hub and a distal portion including at least one indentation, the distal portion terminating in a needle tip; and

a needle tip guard comprising;

a proximal base defining an opening dimensioned for passage of the needle therethrough;

first and second clamp members extending from the proximal base and defining an internal cavity, each of the first and second clamp members having an inner surface including a protrusion extending into the internal cavity and a distal end supporting a clamp arm, the clamp arms being supported for movement between an open position in which the needle is positioned between the clamp arms and a closed position in which the protrusions of the clamp members are received within the at least one indentation of the needle when the distal end of the needle is retracted within the internal cavity of the clamp members; and

a finger tab extending from the proximal base and including a contacting portion for engagement by a user.

8. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 7, wherein the finger tab is positioned externally of the catheter hub.

9. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 7, wherein the needle tip guard is positioned within the catheter hub.

10. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 9, wherein the catheter hub includes a slot defined in a proximal end thereof and the finger tab is dimensioned to be received within the slot.

11. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 7, wherein the needle tip guard includes a housing extending from the proximal base coaxially around the first and second clamp members.

12. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 11, wherein a distal end of the housing is positioned to abut a proximal end of the catheter hub.

13. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 11, wherein the needle tip guard is positioned between a distal end of the needle hub and a proximal end of the catheter hub.

14. The catheter and needle assembly of claim 7, further comprising a cap including an open proximal end releasably connectable to the needle hub.