Low-profile intravenous catheter device

• US 8,641,677 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2010
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James T. Rawls
• Original Assignee: James T. Rawls
• Inventors: Rawls, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, QUYNH-NHU HOANG
• Application Number:
  US12/657,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20110178464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 604/168.1, 604/164.01, 604/164.04, 60417001-17002, 604523-524, 604526-528, 604/168
• US Class Current: 604/168.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1587 suitable for being connected to an infusion line after insertion into a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0059 having means for preventing the catheter, sheath or lumens from collapsing due to outer forces, e.g. compressing forces, or caused by twisting or kinking
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/006 having a special surface topography or special surface properties, e.g. roughened or knurled surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0293 Catheter, guide wire or the like with means for holding, centering, anchoring or frictionally engaging the device within an artificial lumen, e.g. tube natural lumen, e.g. vessels A61M25/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0052 Localized reinforcement, e.g. where only a specific part of the catheter is reinforced, for rapid exchange guidewire port
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/12 for joining a flexible tube to a rigid attachment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body

Abstract

An intravenous catheter device and system includes: (a) a medical tubing connector at a first end of the intravenous catheter device; (b) a length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing, a first end of the non-kinking tubing being connected to a first end of the medical tubing connector; (c) an intravenous catheter portion having a first end attached to a second end of the non-kinking tubing, the non-kinking tubing extending between the intravenous catheter portion and the tubing connector; and (d) a cylindrical-shaped cuff attached to a first outside end portion of the intravenous catheter portion, and a second outside end portion of the non-kinking tubing; wherein a central channel of the intravenous catheter portion is in fluid communication with a channel of the non-kinking, flexible tubing when the intravenous catheter device is in use. This simplified abstract is not intended to limit, and should not be interpreted as limiting, the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for inserting an intravenous catheter of an intravenous catheter device, the method comprising:

inserting a removable needle from an intravenous catheter device into a patient'"'"'s vein, the intravenous catheter device comprising a medical tubing connector, a length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing, and the removable needle, wherein a first end of the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing is joined to the medical tubing connector and a second end of the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing is joined to an intravenous catheter portion having a diameter of from about 0.7 millimeters to about 2.2 millimeters, and wherein the medical tubing connector, the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing, and the intravenous catheter portion each define a channel in fluid communication with one another, the removable needle passing through each channel and extending from the intravenous catheter portion as it is being inserted into the patient'"'"'s vein;

inserting the intravenous catheter portion into the patient'"'"'s vein after insertion of the removable needle;

withdrawing the removable needle from the vein after insertion of the intravenous catheter portion;

bending the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing after withdrawing the removable needle from the vein and securing the bent length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing to the patient, wherein the bent length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing does not require an external device to hold open the length when bent in a curvilinear shape, at least a portion of the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing being outside of the patient'"'"'s vein; and

dispensing fluid into the intravenous catheter device after insertion of the intravenous catheter portion in the patient'"'"'s vein such that the fluid travels through each channel into the patient'"'"'s vein.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing comprises a wire mesh within a wall of the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the non-kinking supported tubing comprises a plastic netting within a wall of the non-kinking tubing;

and wherein the non-kinking tubing and the intravenous catheter portion are about equal in length.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the non-kinking supported tubing comprises a flexible tubing support arrangement incorporated within a wall of the non-kinking tubing.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the bent length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing has a U-shape.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the bent length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing is secured to the patient by tape.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising disposing of the removable needle.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein intravenous catheter device further comprises a cylindrical-shaped cuff attached to an outside of the intravenous catheter portion adjacent the second end of the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the cuff comprises a cylindrical-shaped cuff band and a plurality of cuff fibers, an end of each of the plurality of cuff fibers being attached to the cuff band, the plurality of cuff fibers extending outwardly from the cuff band.

10. A method as in claim 8, wherein the cuff comprises a cylindrical-shaped cuff band and a plurality of cuff fibers, an end of each of the plurality of cuff fibers being attached to the cuff band, the plurality of cuff fibers being substantially criss-crossed with one another.

11. A method as in claim 8, wherein the intravenous catheter portion is attached to the second end of the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing end-to-end, the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing underlying the cuff band, wherein a first portion of the cuff band is attached to an outside end portion of the intravenous catheter portion and a second portion of the cuff band is attached to the outside end portion of the length of flexible, non-kinking, supported medical tubing.