Bumped dilator tip

Abstract

The disclosure provides a dilator with a tip that has a bump, an assembly comprising the dilator and a sheath, and methods of use, where the bump on the tip is configured to reduce or minimize damage to the sheath, and to prevent trauma to a patient during insertion or removal.

Description

[0001]This application claims the full Paris Convention benefit of, and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 586,649, filed Jan. 13, 2012, entitled Novel Bumped Dilator Tip, which is incorporated herein by reference, as if fully set forth in its entirety.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]The disclosure relates to systems, methods, and devices for vascular access. In particular, the disclosure relates to dilators and sheaths, and assemblies thereof, as well as to related medical devices such as catheters, cannulae, introducers, trocars, dilation instruments, guide wires, rapid exchange systems, hubs, couplers, and valves, as well as known and any later developed emplacement apparatus and methods.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0003]In medical practice, the introduction of drugs or instruments into a patient sometimes involves a device known as a dilator sheath assembly. The dilator and sheath each resemble a tube, where the dilator fits into the sheath, and where a narrow distal t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a device called a dilator that has a bump on its tip. This bump is designed to protect the device from damage during insertion or removal, and to minimize any trauma to the patient. The technical effect of this patent is to improve the safety and efficiency of the dilator device.

Problems solved by technology

Where a dilator sheath assembly is inserted into a patient, the force of insertion can result in damage to the sheath, where damage occurs at the point of transition.

The damaged medical instrument, in turn, can cause trauma to the patient, during continued insertion or during removal of the sheath from the patient.

In other words, trauma can occur to tissue where insertion of the dilator-sheath assembly results in deformation (damage) of the sheath tip, where continued attempts to insert or withdraw the damaged sheath can traumatize the tissue.

No matter how small the radius or acute the lead angle of the distal tip of the sheath, catheter, or trocar, the transition can result in resistance and snagging as it progresses through the tissue and vessel wall.

Furthermore, attempts to improve insertion by making the distal taper of the sheath thinner have led to buckling or deforming of the sheath tip during insertion.

Trauma, insult, and injury, are often issues that require management and longer hospital time.

The practitioner conventionally has had to place a thumb or finger over the proximal opening of the sheath to prevent blood loss and air embolism; however, this restricts the practitioner's hand movement, and is not a reliable method.

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