Catheter introducer including a valve and valve actuator

• US 8,926,564 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: King, Eric M., Thomas, Spencer R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Desanto, Matthew F
• Application Number:
  US13/329,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 604/158, 604/160, 604/161, 604/164.01, 604/164.05, 60416701-16706
• US Class Current: 604/167.03
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3498 Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0046 Coatings for improving slidability
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0188 having slitted or breakaway lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0009 Making of catheters or other medical or surgical tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart

Abstract

Tear-away sheath introducers for catheters and methods for making and using such introducers are described. The sheath introducers contain movable valves that are encapsulated in a movable housing that allows the valve to move along the introducer axis. As the movable valve and housing travel along the axis, a portion of the hub protrudes past the valve and is exposed. As well, the sheath introducers can also contain a stationary valve and housing that can be opened to expose a portion of the hub when a conduit penetrates the stationary valve. The conduit can include a one-way, two-way, or other suitable valve actuator that can penetrate and open the valve, yet remain attached to a portion of the introducer when the introducer is split for removal from a patient. In both instances, the protruding portion of the hub contains a friction-free pathway for a catheter into the sheath introducer.

Claims

1. A sheath introducer, comprising:

a splittable sheath including splitting means;

a splittable hub disposed at a proximal end of the sheath, the hub including a cavity having a threaded section;

a valve included with the hub; and

a valve actuator including threads on an external surface thereof threadably engaged with the hub along the threaded section of the cavity, wherein the valve actuator is rotatable from a first position into a second position, the actuator opening the valve in the second position, wherein a distal end of the actuator is near a proximal end of the splittable sheath in the second position.

2. The sheath introducer as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator is rotatable in a clockwise direction in moving from the first direction to the second direction.

3. The sheath introducer as defined in claim 2, wherein the actuator is selectively rotatable from the second direction to the first direction to close the valve.

4. The sheath introducer as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator defines a conduit through which a medical device can pass unimpeded when the actuator is in the second position.

5. The sheath introducer as defined in claim 1, wherein the hub includes a top cap, at least a portion of the threaded section threads of the cavity defined by the top cap.

6. The sheath introducer as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator further includes a tab for enabling a user to rotate the actuator.

7. The sheath introducer as defined in claim 1, wherein the actuator defines a distal end that is configured to penetrate the valve when the actuator is in the second position.