Indicia informative of characteristics of insertable medical devices

• US 9,265,912 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: C.R. Bard, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Draper, Matthew A., Muse, Jay A., Patterson, Ryan C., Bjorklund, Russell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYMAN, IMANI N
• Application Number:
  US13/801,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20150088091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0008 having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/32 with radio-opaque indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0208 Subcutaneous access sites for injecting or removing fluids transcutaneous access sites A61M39/0247; implantable infusion devices A61M5/14276
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system by which resource information relating to an insertable medical device, such as an intravascular catheter, can be identified by its source so as to be accessed by a practitioner, caregiver, or patient, is disclosed. In particular, a resource information key is included at a predetermined key location on or proximate to the medical device, wherein the key indicates the source of the resource information. In one example embodiment, therefore, an insertable medical device for establishing intravascular access to a patient, such as a peripherally inserted central catheter (“PICC”), is disclosed and comprises: an internal portion, and a portion external to the patient that includes a resource information key indicating a website where a user can acquire resource information relating to the medical device. In other embodiments indicia are provided as quick response (“QR”) codes, and as various markings to indicate compatibility of the medical device with ethanol.

Claims

1. A medical device for at least partial insertion into a patient, the medical device comprising:

a peripherally-inserted central catheter;

a device body; and

at least one ethanol indicium included with the device body, the at least one ethanol indicium perceptible by an observer to indicate a compatibility of the medical device with ethanol or other alcohol-based substance, wherein the at least one ethanol indicium includes at least one of an iconic marking including a symbol indicative of a lock and an alphanumeric marking indicative of the word “

ethanol”

.

2. The medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one ethanol indicium is visually perceptible by the observer.

3. The medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the medical device includes the catheter defining at least one lumen and wherein compatibility of the catheter indicates that ethanol can be disposed within the at least one lumen of the catheter without compromise to the functionality of the catheter.

4. The medical device as defined in claim 3, wherein the at least one ethanol indicium includes a coloring included on a bifurcation.

5. The medical device as defined in claim 4, wherein the coloring is substantially yellow and wherein the coloring is further included on at least one additional component of the catheter.

6. The medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the iconic marking includes a padlock image.

7. The medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one ethanol indicium includes shorthand indication for the word “

ethanol”

.

8. The medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one ethanol indicium includes a discrete indicator piece that is slidably attached to a portion of the catheter.

9. The medical device as defined in claim 8, wherein the discrete indicator piece is slidably attached to an extension leg of the catheter.

10. The medical device as defined in claim 9, wherein the discrete indicator piece is one of a cylindrical shape and a padlock shape.

11. The medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one ethanol indicium is disposed on a luer connector of the catheter.

12. The medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one ethanol indicium indicates a percentage concentration of ethanol that the medical device can be acceptably exposed to.

13. The medical device as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least one ethanol indicium is included on a tube clamp of an extension tube of the medical device.

14. A catheter for accessing an internal portion of a patient, comprising:

a peripherally-inserted central catheter;

a catheter tube defining at least one lumen; and

at least one ethanol indicium included with the catheter, the at least one ethanol indicium perceptible by an observer to indicate a compatibility of the catheter with ethanol;

wherein the catheter further includes at least one extension leg operably attached to the catheter tube via a colored bifurcation, the colored bifurcation substantially colored yellow to serve as the at least one ethanol indicium;

wherein each extension leg further includes a tube clamp, at least one tube clamp being colored and further including an alphanumeric marking to also serve as the at least one ethanol indicium; and

wherein the alphanumeric marking includes the letters “

ETOH”

to indicate that the catheter can be fluid locked with ethanol.