Catheter insertion device and method of catheter introduction

• US 3,921,631 A
• Filed: 08/01/1974
• Issued: 11/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas C. Thompson
• Original Assignee: Thomas C. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/493,987
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 128/214.4,221,DIG.16,348
• US Class Current: 604/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles

Abstract

A catheter insertion device having a needle assembly comprising a hollow slotted needle with a needle hub affixed to its proximal end and a catheter assembly comprising a flexible catheter having a sealing segment with an enlarged outside diameter to prevent bleedback and a hollow catheter hub secured to its proximal end, the two assemblies being releasably locked together to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the catheter in the needle, the locking being releasable without relative longitudinal movement of the catheter and needle. The catheter is provided with a wire stylet having an enlarged rounded distal tip.

Claims

1. A through the needle catheter insertion device comprising:

a hollow slotted needle for puncturing;

a catheter of generally constant diameter lying in the needle and extending proximally thereof;

a rigid catheter hub secured to the proximal end of the catheter;

a pliable enlarged portion formed from a material having the pliability of silicone rubber secured around the catheter adjacent the distal end of the rigid catheter hub, the distal end of the pliable enlarged portion having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the catheter, said enlarged portion including an effective sealing segment having a diameter at least substantially equal to the outside needle diameter and having no diameter greater than about 50% larger than the outside needle diameter, said segment being at least about 0.21 inches long, whereby the catheter may be inserted into a blood vessel through a puncture formed by the needle through the skin and vessel and such sealing segment on the catheter may be engaged with the vessel and skin punctures to seal such punctures, preventing the escape of blood from the periphery of such punctures.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the said sealing segment comprises a resilient frustoconical segment having an outside diameter continually increasing with a slope defined by an angle of no greater than about 10*.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the maximum diameter of the sealing segment is no greater than 50 percent larger than the needle diameter.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the sealing segment is formed by a separate sleeve secured around the catheter in a catheter hub on the catheter.

5. A method of introducing a catheter into the vein of a patient through a hollow slotted needle and preventing the flow of blood out from around the periphery of the emplaced catheter comprising the steps of:

positioning the catheter in the needle with the catheter extending proximally of the needle and with a pliable enlarged sealing segment secured around the portion of the catheter proximal of the needle, said sealing segment having a diameter at least about equal to the diameter of the needle;

piercing the skin and vein of the patient with the needle; and

forwarding the catheter into the vein of the patient through the puncture formed by the needle until a portion of the enlarged sealing segment engages the skin puncture.

6. A through the needle catheter insertion device comprising:

a hollow slotted needle for puncturing;

a catheter of generally constant diameter lying in the needle and extending proximally thereof;

a catheter hub secured to the proximal end of the catheter;

an enlarged portion secured around the catheter, the distal end of the enlarged portion having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the catheter, said enlarged portion including an effective sealing segment having a diameter at least substantially equal to the outside needle diameter and having no diameter greater than about 50% larger than the outside needle diameter, said effective sealing segment being at least about 0.21 inches long and including a substantially cylindrical segment, whereby the catheter may be inserted into a blood vessel through a puncture formed by the needle through the skin and vessel and such sealing segment on the catheter may be engaged with the vessel and skin punctures to seal such punctures, preventing the escape of blood from the periphery of such punctures.

7. The device of claim 6, in which the substantially cylindrical segment is at least about 0.25 inches long.

8. The device of claim 6 further comprising a frustoconical transistion segment distal of the substantially cylindrical segment.

9. The device of claim 6, in which the substantially cylindrical segment lies between two segments having frustoconical surfaces each increasing in diameter in the proximal direction.