Catheterization device and method

• US 8,882,715 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carlos Jaramillo, Timothy M. Holt
• Original Assignee: Carlos Jaramillo, Timothy M. Holt
• Inventors: Jaramillo, Carlos, Holt, Timothy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosworth, Kami A
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYMAN, IMANI N
• Application Number:
  US11/823,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20080027390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,693 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/21, 604/164.01, 604/164.08, 604/164.12, 604/170.02, 604/170.03, 604/164.06, 604/164.13
• US Class Current: 604/170.03
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3415 for introducing tubes or catheters, e.g. gastrostomy tubes, drain catheters A61B17/3417 takes precedence; body piercing catheter guide needles A61M25/06

Abstract

An improved catheterization device of the type in which a flexible catheter overlays a rigid or semi-rigid stylet, the improvement residing in the preformed arcuate curvature of the stylet, the curvature of which can be in the form of a circular arc, an elliptical arc, or an irregular curvature, for facilitating insertion of the catheter into the blood vessel of a subject with reduced risk of vascular damage or where the direct path to the blood vessel is obstructed, and methods for its use.

Claims

1. A catheterization device comprising:

a fitting comprising a proximal end, a tapered distal end, and an interior surface;

a flexible catheter comprising a tapered distal end, a proximal end, and an interior surface, the proximal end of said flexible catheter mounted to the distal end of said fitting, the interior surfaces of the flexible catheter and the fitting in fluid communication;

a preformed rigid stylet having an arc shape, the preformed rigid stylet including a hollow body with a first end, a second end with a tip having a hollow-ground point, the tip is adapted for penetrating tissue and drawing blood from a blood vessel, the preformed rigid stylet disposed within said flexible catheter from the proximal end of said flexible catheter to the distal end of said flexible catheter, the tip of the preformed rigid stylet extending from the distal end of said flexible catheter;

a tubular sealing member detachably mounted to the proximal end of said fitting, the tubular sealing member seals the proximal end of the fitting; and

a retaining block located inside the tubular sealing member;

the distal end of the preformed rigid stylet is attached to the retaining block, the retaining block retracts the preformed rigid stylet into the tubular sealing member;

the blood enters the catheterization device through the hollow-ground point on the tip and flows from the rigid stylet to the fitting.

2. The catheterization device according to claim 1, wherein said fitting comprises a female luer fitting.

3. The catheterization device according to claim 1, further comprising a detachable covering mounting to said tubular sealing member and substantially enclosing the flexible catheter, the preformed rigid stylet, and the fitting.

4. The catheterization device according to claim 1, wherein the arc shape of said preformed rigid stylet is a circle.

5. The catheterization device according to claim 4, wherein the circle has a radius from about 1.5 inches to about 12 inches.

6. The catheterization device according to claim 1, wherein the preformed rigid stylet has a length from about 0.5 inches to about 4 inches.

7. The catheterization device according to claim 1, wherein the arc shape of said preformed rigid stylet is an ellipse.

8. The catheterization device according to claim 1, wherein the arc shape of said preformed rigid stylet is an irregular arc.

9. The catheterization device according to claim 1, wherein the tubular sealing member comprises a plurality of detachable parts.

10. A method for intravenous catheterization using the catheterization device according to claim 1, the method comprising:

(a) placing the tip of the preformed rigid stylet of the catheterization device according to claim 1 upon the skin of a subject proximal to a vein;

(b) inserting the hollow-ground point of the tip of the preformed rigid stylet into said vein by causing the tip to substantially traverse the arc shape of said preformed rigid stylet;

(c) withdrawing blood from the vein;

(d) withdrawing the preformed rigid stylet from the catheter after the blood appears in the fitting; and

(e) detaching the sealing member from the fitting.

11. The catheterization device according to claim 1, further including at least one projection protruding from an outer surface of the fitting.

12. A catheterization device comprising:

a fitting comprising a proximal end adapted for mounting to a fluid delivery or collection device, a tapered distal end, an outer surface, and an interior surface;

a flexible catheter comprising a tapered distal end, a proximal end, and an interior surface, the proximal end of said flexible catheter mounted to the distal end of said fitting, the interior surfaces of the flexible catheter and the fitting in fluid communication;

a tubular sealing member detachably mounted to the proximal end of said fitting, the tubular sealing member including a first part, a second part, an outer surface, an interior surface, the first part having a first end connected to the fitting and a second end connected to the second part; and

a preformed rigid stylet having an arc shape, the preformed rigid stylet including a hollow body with a first end, a second end with a tip having a hollow-ground point, the tip is adapted for penetrating tissue and to draw blood from a blood vessel, the preformed rigid stylet disposed within said flexible catheter from the proximal end of said flexible catheter to the distal end of said flexible catheter, the tip of the preformed rigid stylet extending from the distal end of said flexible catheter;

a releasing mechanism including a retaining block, a compressed spring located in the interior surface of the tubular sealing member between a distal end of the sealing member and the retaining block, a trigger engaging a depression on the retaining block, and a release button located on the outer surface of the tubular sealing member and operatively connected to the retaining block and the compressed spring;

the first end of the preformed rigid stylet is attached to the retaining block inside the tubular sealing member, when the release button is pressed, the retaining block with the first end of the stylet retracts into the tubular sealing member;

the blood enters the catheterization device through the hollow-ground point on the tip and flows from the rigid stylet to the fitting.