MEDICAL INSTRUMENT INSERTER

• US 20100030154A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Duffy, Niall
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/161
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0188 having slitted or breakaway lumens
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0675 Introducing-sheath slitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart

Abstract

A catheter system for positioning an instrument within a body that includes a hub defining a lumen therethrough for passage of the instrument toward the body. The catheter system also includes an elongate tubular member defining a lumen therethrough. The lumen of the elongate tubular member is in communication with the lumen of the hub for further passage of the instrument toward the body. The system also includes a slitter member that is coupled to the hub. The slitter member is disposed to slit the elongate tubular member as the elongate tubular member moves relative to the hub.

Claims

1. A catheter system for positioning an instrument within a body, the catheter system comprising:

a hub defining a lumen therethrough for passage of the instrument toward the body;

an elongate tubular member defining a lumen therethrough, the lumen of the elongate tubular member being in communication with the lumen of the hub for further passage of the instrument toward the body; and

a slitter member that is coupled to the hub, the slitter member disposed to slit the elongate tubular member as the elongate tubular member moves relative to the hub.

2. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the slitter member includes a blade and a spade, the spade including a leading portion that is spaced from a leading edge of the blade, the leading portion operable to guide the elongate tubular member toward the leading edge of the blade to be slit.

3. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the blade and the spade are welded together.

4. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the spade includes a rear portion, and wherein the rear portion includes a top surface that is substantially continuous with an interior surface of the lumen of the hub.

5. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the lumen of the hub defines a longitudinal axis, wherein the rear portion and leading portion of the spade define a width dimension that is transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the width dimension of the rear portion is greater than the width dimension of the leading portion.

6. The catheter system of claim 2, wherein the spade defines a curved top surface.

7. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the hub is made at least partially from a molded material, and wherein the molded material is overmolded on the slitter member to thereby fixedly couple the slitter member and the hub.

8. The catheter system of claim 1, wherein the lumen of the hub defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein a leading edge of the blade is disposed at a positive, acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

9. The catheter system of claim 1, further comprising a moveable member that is removeably coupled to the hub and that is coupled to the elongate tubular member, the moveable member operable to advance the elongate tubular member toward the slitter member as the moveable member is moved relative to the hub, the slitter member thereby slitting the elongate tubular member.

10. The catheter system of claim 9, wherein the moveable member and the slitter member are generally on opposite sides of the lumen of the hub.

11. The catheter system of claim 9, wherein the moveable member is removably coupled to the hub via a break-away tab.

12. The catheter system of claim 11, wherein the moveable member includes a handle portion that extends generally transverse from a longitudinal axis of the lumen of the hub and that is configured to pull away from the hub in a direction generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lumen of the hub to break the break-away tab.

13. The catheter system of claim 11, further comprising a tube coupling member that couples the moveable member and the elongate tubular member, such that breaking the break-away tab enables pulling of the elongate tubular member toward the slitter member.

14. The catheter system of claim 11, wherein the break-away tab is formed from an adhesive.

15. The catheter system of claim 11, wherein the break-away tab formed from a molded material.

16. A method of operating a catheter system that includes a hub, an elongate tubular member, a slitter member coupled to the hub, and a moveable member that is removeably coupled to the hub via a break-away tab, the method comprising:

breaking the break-away tab;

moving the moveable member relative to the hub to thereby advance the elongate tubular member toward the slitter member; and

slitting the elongate tubular member with the slitter member as the moveable member is moved relative to the hub.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein breaking the break-away tab comprises pushing the moveable member toward the hub.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein breaking the break-away tab comprises pivoting the moveable member relative to the hub.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein moving the moveable member further comprises pulling the moveable member away from the hub.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning a medical instrument into a body by passing the medical instrument through the catheter system.