Introducer components, assemblies, and methods thereof

Abstract

Introducer components, introducer assemblies and methods are disclosed. For example, the introducer assembly includes an access guidewire attached to a needle assembly that is fluidly connected to a syringe. The needle assembly includes a needle and a valve located on the needle. The needle includes a needle shaft including a needle lumen, a needle slot located at a proximal portion of the needle shaft, and a needle hub located on the proximal portion of the needle shaft but proximal to the needle slot. The valve is located above the needle slot. The valve includes a valve port aligned with the needle slot. The access guidewire is attached to the needle lumen and sealed to the needle lumen by the valve port in a ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly. In this manner, the access guidewire can be advanced into the patient's vascular lumen immediately upon establishing a needle pathway to the patient's vascular lumen with the needle assembly.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to introducer components, assemblies, and methods thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] A guidewire is typically placed into a blood vessel using an introducer assembly prior to inserting a central venous catheter ("CVC") or the like over the guidewire into the blood vessel. The introducer assembly typically includes a needle connected to a syringe. Once the blood vessel is accessed with the needle, the needle must be disconnected from the syringe so that a guidewire can be inserted into the needle through the needle hub of the needle and subsequently into the blood vessel. Disconnecting the needle from the syringe as well as inserting the guidewire into the needle can result in excessive handling of the needle resulting in puncturing the back wall of the blood vessel, losing access to the blood vessel, or both. What is needed is an introducer assembly that does not require disconnecting the needle from the syringe to insert the guidewire into the blood vessel. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Disclosed herein are introducer components, introducer assemblies and methods that address the above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] Disclosed herein, in some embodiments, is an introducer assembly comprising a vacuum generator, a needle assembly fluidly connected to the vacuum generator, and an access guidewire attached to the needle assembly. The needle assembly comprises a needle and a valve located on the needle. The needle comprises a needle shaft including a needle lumen, a needle slot located at a proximal portion of the needle shaft, and a needle hub located on the proximal portion of the needle shaft but proximal to the needle slot. The valve is located above the needle slot. The valve comprises a valve port aligned with the needle slot. The access guidewire is attached to the needle lumen and sealed to the needle lumen by the valve port in a ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly.

[0005] In some embodiments, the valve comprises an elastomeric sleeve. In some embodiments, the elastomeric sleeve is attached to the needle shaft over the needle slot.

[0006] In some embodiments, the valve port comprises a hole in the elastomeric sleeve aligned with the needle slot, the hole having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the access guidewire. In some embodiments, the valve port comprises a slit in the elastomeric sleeve, the slit being aligned with the needle slot.

[0007] In some embodiments, the valve port comprises a plurality of intersecting slits in the elastomeric sleeve, the intersecting slits being aligned with the needle slots. In some embodiments, the valve further comprises a rigid housing over the elastomeric sleeve.

[0008] In some embodiments, the valve port further comprises a through hole in the rigid housing. The through hole in the rigid sleeve is aligned with the needle slot. In some embodiments, the valve port further comprises an "O"-ring disposed in the throughbore. The "O"-ring has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the access guidewire.

[0009] In some embodiments, the access guidewire comprises a "J" shaped guidewire tip that is straightened in the ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly, and in addition, the guidewire tip is curved when the guidewire tip is advanced beyond the distal end of the needle shaft in the deployed state of the introducer assembly.

[0010] In some embodiments, the access guidewire comprises a bare-wire portion and a wound-wire portion proximal to the bare-wire portion, the bare-wire portion extending distally through the valve port at least in a ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly.

[0011] In some embodiments, the access guidewire comprises a proximal portion extending proximally from the valve port in the ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly, The proximal portion of the access guidewire is disposed within a sterile barrier configured to maintain sterility of the access guidewire.

[0012] In some embodiments, the needle hub further comprises a needle hub connection portion comprising a needle hub lumen at a proximal portion of the needle hub, and a syringe tip of a syringe as a vacuum generator is disposed in the needle hub lumen, thereby fluidly connecting the needle assembly to the vacuum generator in a ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly.

[0013] Also disclosed herein in some embodiments is a needle assembly comprising a needle and a valve located on the needle. The needle comprises a needle shaft including a needle lumen, a needle slot located on a proximal portion of the needle shaft, and a needle hub located on the proximal portion of the needle shaft but proximal to the needle slot. The valve comprises an elastomeric sleeve over the needle slot. The valve comprises a valve port aligned with the needle slot.

[0014] In some embodiments, the elastomeric sleeve is attached to the needle shaft over the needle slot. In some embodiments, the valve port comprises a slit in the elastomeric sleeve, the slit being aligned with the needle slot.

[0015] In some embodiments, the valve port comprises a plurality of intersecting slits in the elastomeric sleeve, the intersecting slits being aligned with the needle slots. In some embodiments, the valve further comprises a rigid housing over the elastomeric sleeve.

[0016] In some embodiments, the valve port further comprises a through hole in the rigid housing. The through hole in the rigid sleeve is aligned with the needle slot. In some embodiments, the needle hub further comprises a needle hub interface comprising a needle hub bore at a proximal portion of the needle hub configured to receive a syringe tip of a syringe inserted therein to fluidly connect the needle assembly to the syringe.

[0017] Also disclosed herein is a method of securing vascular access. The method, in some embodiments, includes the steps of obtaining an introducer assembly, establishing a needle path, and advancing an access guidewire. The obtaining an introducer assembly includes obtaining an introducer assembly. The introducer assembly includes a syringe, a needle assembly fluidly connected to the syringe, and an access guidewire attached to the needle assembly. The needle assembly includes a needle slot located at a proximal portion of a needle shaft and a valve located above the needle slot. The valve is located distal to a needle hub on the proximal portion of the needle shaft. The access guidewire is attached to a needle lumen of the needle shaft and sealed to the needle lumen by a valve port of the valve. The establishing a needle path includes establishing a needle path with the needle assembly from a skin area of ​​the patient to a blood vessel lumen. The advancing an access guidewire includes advancing at least a guidewire tip of the access guidewire into the blood vessel lumen to secure vascular access.

[0018] In some embodiments, the method further includes an introducer assembly adjusting step, which includes adjusting the introducer assembly such that the introducer assembly is in its ready-to-place state, where the guidewire tip of the access guidewire is located just proximal to the needle tip at the distal portion of the needle shaft, thereby allowing the access guidewire to be advanced into the blood vessel lumen in accordance with the access guidewire advancing step as soon as the needle path is established in the needle path establishing step.

[0019] In some embodiments, the access guidewire advancing step includes grasping the access guidewire between the thumb and one or more fingers of a hand and pushing the access guidewire through the valve port and into the needle slot.

[0020] In some embodiments, the valve comprises an elastomeric sleeve and the valve port comprises one or more slits in the elastomeric sleeve that are aligned with the needle slot.

[0021] In some embodiments, the valve further comprises a rigid housing over the elastomeric sleeve. Additionally, the valve port further comprises a through hole in the rigid housing aligned with the needle slot.

[0022] In some embodiments, the access guidewire advancement step allows the guidewire tip of the access guidewire to transition from a straightened state within the needle shaft to a curved state within the vessel lumen.

[0023] In some embodiments, the method further includes a plunger withdrawal step, which includes withdrawing the plunger from the barrel of the syringe to create a slight vacuum before reaching the blood vessel lumen in the needle path establishment step, the slight vacuum ensuring that blood flows into at least the syringe tip to confirm establishment of the needle path in the needle path establishment step.

[0024] In some embodiments, the method further includes a blood aspirating step, which includes aspirating blood with a syringe to confirm establishment of a needle path in the needle path establishing step, and the valve port forms a fluid-tight seal around the bare portion of the access guidewire to maintain a vacuum during the blood aspirating step.

[0025] In some embodiments, the method further includes withdrawing the needle assembly. The withdrawing step includes withdrawing the needle assembly from the patient, leaving the access guidewire within the blood vessel lumen. Withdrawing the needle assembly from the patient includes withdrawing the needle assembly over a proximal portion of the access guidewire until the proximal end of the access guidewire disengages from the needle shaft.

[0026] In some embodiments, the needle assembly withdrawing step includes holding the access guidewire in place at or near the area of ​​skin containing the needle path while withdrawing the needle assembly over a proximal portion of the access guidewire.

[0027] In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of separating an introducer assembly, the step of separating the needle assembly from the syringe prior to the step of withdrawing the needle assembly.

[0028] In some embodiments, the method further includes an air bleeding step, which includes bleeding air into the valve port while the needle assembly is being withdrawn from the patient in the needle assembly withdrawal step, which includes forcing the access guidewire against the side of the valve port, and by bleeding air into the valve port, it is not necessary to separate the needle assembly from the syringe as in the introducer assembly separation step.

[0029] These and other features of the concepts provided herein will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following description and accompanying drawings, which describe in more detail certain embodiments of such concepts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of an introducer assembly according to some embodiments. [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded view of an introducer assembly according to some embodiments. [Diagram 3] 1A and 1B are longitudinal cross-sectional views of a needle assembly according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] 1A-1C are longitudinal cross-sectional views of a needle assembly having an access guidewire disposed therein, according to some embodiments. [Diagram 5]13A-13D illustrate a valve of a needle assembly according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] 13A-13D illustrate alternative valves for a needle assembly according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Before some specific embodiments are disclosed in more detail, it should be understood that the specific embodiments disclosed herein do not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. It should also be understood that the specific embodiments disclosed herein can have features that can be easily separated from the specific embodiment and, optionally, combined with or substituted for features of any of the other numerous embodiments disclosed herein.

[0032] With regard to the terms used herein, it should also be understood that the terms are intended to describe certain embodiments, and that the terms do not limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. Ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second, third, etc.) are generally used to distinguish or identify different features or steps within a group of features or steps, and do not provide sequential or numerical limitations. For example, the "first", "second", and "third" features or steps do not necessarily have to appear in that order, and a particular embodiment including such features or steps is not necessarily limited to three features or steps. In addition, any of the aforementioned features or steps may further include one or more features or steps, unless otherwise indicated. Designations such as "left", "right", "up", "down", "front", "rear", etc. are used for convenience and do not imply, for example, a particular fixed position, orientation, or direction. Instead, such designations are used to reflect, for example, a relative position, orientation, or direction. The singular forms "one", "one", and "the" also include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0033] With respect to "proximal," for example, a "proximal portion" or "proximal end portion" of a catheter includes a portion of the catheter that is intended to be near a clinician when the catheter is used with a patient. Similarly, for example, a "proximal length" of a catheter includes a length of the catheter that is intended to be near a clinician when the catheter is used with a patient. For example, a "proximal end" of a catheter includes an end of the catheter that is intended to be near a clinician when the catheter is used with a patient. Although a proximal portion, proximal end portion, or proximal length of a catheter can include the proximal end of the catheter, a proximal portion, proximal end portion, or proximal length of a catheter need not include the proximal end of the catheter. That is, unless otherwise indicated by context, a proximal portion, proximal end portion, or proximal length of a catheter is not a terminal portion or terminal length of a catheter.

[0034] With respect to "distal," for example, a "distal portion" or "distal end portion" of a catheter includes a portion of a catheter that is intended to be near or within a patient when the catheter is used with a patient. Similarly, for example, a "distal length" of a catheter includes a length of a catheter that is intended to be near or within a patient when the catheter is used with a patient. For example, a "distal end" of a catheter includes an end of a catheter that is intended to be near or within a patient when the catheter is used with a patient. Although a distal portion, distal end portion, or distal length of a catheter can include the distal end of the catheter, a distal portion, distal end portion, or distal length of a catheter need not include the distal end of the catheter. That is, unless otherwise suggested by context, a distal portion, distal end portion, or distal length of a catheter is not a terminal portion or terminal length of a catheter.

[0035] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. As discussed above, a guidewire is typically placed into a blood vessel using an introducer assembly prior to inserting a CVC or the like over the guidewire into the blood vessel. The introducer assembly typically includes a needle connected to a syringe. Once the blood vessel is accessed with the needle, the needle must be disconnected from the syringe so that a guidewire can be inserted into the needle through the needle hub of the needle and subsequently into the blood vessel. Disconnecting the needle from the syringe and inserting the guidewire into the needle can result in excessive handling of the needle causing puncture of the back wall of the blood vessel, loss of access to the blood vessel, or both. What is needed is an introducer assembly that does not require disconnecting the needle from the syringe to insert the guidewire into the blood vessel.

[0036] Disclosed herein are introducer components, introducer assemblies, and methods that do not require disconnecting a needle from a syringe or any other vacuum generating device to insert a guidewire into a blood vessel, as in a typical introducer assembly. Such introducer components, introducer assemblies, and methods are advantageous in that there is no similar risk of puncturing the back wall of the vessel or losing access to the vessel due to excessive handling. In one embodiment, an introducer assembly is disclosed that includes an access guidewire attached to a needle assembly that is fluidly connected to a vacuum generating device. The needle assembly includes a needle and a valve located on the needle. The needle includes a needle shaft that includes a needle lumen, a needle slot located at a proximal portion of the needle shaft, and a needle hub located on the proximal portion of the needle shaft but proximal to the needle slot. The valve is located above the needle slot. The valve includes a valve port aligned with the needle slot. The access guidewire is attached to the needle lumen and sealed to the needle lumen by the valve port in a ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly. In this manner, the access guidewire may be advanced into the patient's vascular lumen upon establishing a needle pathway thereto with the needle assembly. In another embodiment, a method for obtaining vascular access using the introducer assembly described above is disclosed. Again, these and other features will become more apparent upon consideration of the accompanying drawings and the following description, which set forth certain embodiments in more detail.

[0037] Introducer Assembly 1 and 2 show different views of an introducer assembly 100 according to some embodiments.

[0038] As shown, the introducer assembly 100 includes a syringe 102 for generating a vacuum and a needle assembly 104 that is fluidly connected to the syringe 102 in the ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100. Additionally, the introducer assembly 100 may include an access guidewire 106 that is attached to the needle assembly 104 in the ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100. As described below, the access guidewire 106 is attached to the needle lumen 152 in such a ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100 and is sealed thereto by the valve port 166. Additionally, a guidewire tip 172 of the access guidewire 106 advantageously extends into the needle lumen 152 just proximal to the needle tip 146. In this manner, the access guidewire 106 may be advanced directly into the patient's vascular lumen upon establishing a needle pathway to the patient's vascular lumen with the needle 138.

[0039] The syringe 102 includes a syringe hub 108, a barrel 110, and a plunger 112 that is disposed within the barrel 110 at least in the ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly 100.

[0040] The syringe hub 108 includes a syringe tip 114 that extends from a distal portion (e.g., the distal end) of the barrel 110. Additionally, the syringe hub 108 can include a threaded collar 116 that extends from the distal portion (e.g., the distal end) of the barrel 110 and around the syringe tip 114.

[0041] The syringe tip 114 is configured for insertion into a needle hub bore 160 of the needle hub connection of the needle hub 144 to fluidly connect the syringe 102 to the needle assembly 104. In practice, the syringe tip 114 may have a luer taper (e.g., a 6% taper) configured for insertion into the needle hub bore 160, which is complementarily configured as described below.

[0042] The threaded collar 116 includes internal threads 118 configured to threadably mate with an optional needle hub flange of the needle hub 144 described below. If present, the threaded collar 116 of the syringe hub 108 advantageously provides a so-called luer lock type connection with the needle hub flange of the needle hub 144 to provide greater security against inadvertent separation than that provided by other luer slip type connections.

[0043] The barrel 110 includes a barrel wall 120, a barrel chamber 122 defined by the barrel wall 120, and a barrel flange 124, barrel collar, etc. extending outwardly from a proximal portion (e.g., a proximal end) of the barrel 110 or barrel wall 120 and configured to actuate the syringe 102 in conjunction with a plunger flange 130, plunger collar, etc., described below.

[0044] Barrel chamber 122 is configured to receive plunger 112 when inserted therein. In fact, barrel chamber 122 extends from the distal end of barrel 110, which is the closed end of barrel 110 (excluding syringe tip 114), to the proximal end of barrel 110, which is the open end of barrel 110 into which plunger 112 can be inserted.

[0045] The plunger 112 comprises a one-piece plunger shaft 126, a piston 128 mounted on a distal portion (e.g., the distal end) of the plunger shaft 126, and a plunger flange 130, plunger collar, etc. extending outwardly from a proximal portion (e.g., the proximal end) of the plunger 112 and configured to actuate the syringe 102 in conjunction with the barrel flange 124, barrel collar, etc.

[0046] The plunger shaft 126 may include orthogonal struts 132 that meet along longitudinal edges thereof at a central axis of the plunger shaft 126. However, the plunger shaft 126 may take other forms, and thus the plunger shaft 126 is not limited to orthogonal struts 132.

[0047] The piston 128, which may be a unitary elastomeric piston, includes one or more rings configured to respectively form one or more seals with the barrel wall 120. The one or more rings include at least a leading ring 134 configured to form a seal with the barrel wall 120. The one or more rings may also include a trailing ring 136, as shown in FIG. 2. Similar to the leading ring 134, the trailing ring 136 is configured to form a seal with the barrel wall 120. In fact, the trailing ring 136, if present, provides a backup seal with the barrel wall 120. Collectively, the leading ring 134 and the trailing ring 136 ensure that the seal between the piston 128 and the barrel wall 120 (e.g., the seal provided by the leading ring 134, the trailing ring 136, or both the leading ring 134 and the trailing ring 136) remains intact while the syringe 102 is actuated, thereby enabling the syringe 102 to consistently aspirate liquid, such as blood, as the plunger 112 is withdrawn from the barrel 110.

[0048] 3 and 4 show different views of needle assembly 104 according to some embodiments. Needle assembly 104 includes a needle 138 and a valve 140 located on needle 138 . The needle 138 comprises a needle shaft 142 and a needle hub 144 located on a proximal portion of the needle shaft 142 including the proximal end of the needle shaft 142 .

[0049] The needle shaft 142 comprises a needle tip 146 located at a distal portion of the needle shaft 142, a needle slot 148 located at a proximal portion of the needle shaft 142 proximal to the needle hub 144, and a needle shaft lumen 150 extending entirely through the needle shaft 142. Notably, the needle shaft lumen 150 and a needle hub lumen 158, described below, together form the needle lumen 152.

[0050] The needle slot 148 is a needle through-hole that extends through the side of the needle shaft 142 so that the access guidewire 106 can be loaded through the needle slot 148 into the needle shaft lumen 150 or the needle lumen 152 and sealed thereto by the valve port 166 in the ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100. In fact, the valve 140 sits above the needle slot 148 with the valve port 166 aligned with the needle slot 148 so that the access guidewire 106 can be loaded into the needle shaft lumen 150 or the needle lumen 152 and sealed thereto by the valve port 166.

[0051] The needle hub 144 includes a neck 154 and a needle hub connection 156 at a proximal portion of the needle hub 144 . The neck 154 includes a neck portion of a needle hub lumen 158 that extends entirely through the needle shaft 142. The remainder of the needle hub lumen 158 is formed by a needle hub bore 160, specifically the needle hub bore 160 that is not occupied by the syringe tip 114 in the ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly 100. Notably, the needle hub lumen 158 and the needle shaft lumen 150, discussed above, together form the needle lumen 152.

[0052] The needle hub connection portion 156 includes a needle hub hole 160 and an optional needle hub flange about the needle hub connection portion 156 . The needle hub bore 160 is configured to receive the syringe tip 114 therein to fluidly connect the needle assembly 104 to the syringe 102. Indeed, the needle hub 160 may have a luer taper (e.g., a 6% taper) configured to receive the syringe tip 114 therein, with the syringe tip 114 being complementarily configured as described above.

[0053] Although not shown, the optional needle hub flange is configured to threadably mate with the internal threads 118 of the threaded collar 116 of the syringe hub 108. If present, the needle hub flange advantageously provides a so-called luer lock type connection with the internal threads 118 of the threaded collar 116 of the syringe hub 108 to provide greater security against inadvertent separation than is provided by other luer slip type connections.

[0054] 5 and 6 show different valves of the needle assembly 104 according to some embodiments. As shown, the valve 140 may include an elastomeric sleeve 162 and an optional rigid housing 164 positioned over the elastomeric sleeve 162. The valve 140 may be affixed to the needle shaft 142 to maintain alignment between a valve port 166, described below, and the needle slot 148 of the needle shaft 142. For example, the elastomeric sleeve 162 may be affixed to the needle shaft 142, but may not be affixed to the needle shaft 142, particularly if the friction between the elastomeric sleeve 162 and the needle shaft 142 is sufficient to maintain alignment between the valve port 166 and the needle slot 148 from the fit therebetween.

[0055] The valve 140 includes a valve port 166 aligned with the needle slot 148 of the needle shaft 142 located under the valve 140 in the ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly 100. If the valve 140 includes an elastomeric sleeve 162, the valve port 166 can include a hole (e.g., a puncture hole) or one or more slits 168 in the elastomeric sleeve 162 aligned with the needle slot 148. With respect to the hole, the hole has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the access guidewire. With respect to the one or more slits 168, if the elastomeric sleeve 162 has more than one slit for the valve port 166, multiple cross slits are present in the elastomeric sleeve 162, and each slit of the cross slits intersects with every other slit of the cross slits such that the intersection of these cross slits is aligned with the needle slot 148. If the valve 140 includes a rigid housing 164, the valve port 166 can further include a through hole 170 in the rigid housing 164 aligned with the needle slot 148. Although not shown, an "O"-ring can be placed in the through-hole 170, the "O"-ring having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the access guidewire.

[0056] To reiterate, the introducer assembly 100 may include an access guidewire 106 that is attached to the needle assembly 104 in the ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100. The access guidewire 106 is attached to the needle lumen 152 in such a ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100 and is sealed thereto by the valve port 166. In addition, a guidewire tip 172 of the access guidewire 106 advantageously extends into the needle lumen 152 just proximal to the needle tip 146. Because the access guidewire 106 is slidably disposed within the needle assembly 104 when present in the ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100, the access guidewire 106 may be advanced directly into the patient's vascular lumen upon establishing a needle pathway thereto with the needle 138.

[0057] The access guidewire 106 may include a guidewire tip 172 in the form of a "J" shaped guidewire tip configured to prevent puncturing the posterior wall of a blood vessel, which is straightened in the ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly 100 and curved when the guidewire tip 172 is advanced beyond the needle tip 146 in the deployed state of the introducer assembly 100.

[0058] The access guidewire 106 may further comprise a bare portion 174 and a wound portion 176 distal to the bare portion 174, proximal to the bare portion 174, or both. The bare portion 174 extends distally through the valve port 166 at least in a ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly 100 to form a fluid-tight seal. Indeed, the bare portion 174 may extend further distally through the valve port 166 in one or more deployed states of the introducer assembly 100 to maintain a fluid-tight seal even when a distal portion of the access guidewire 106 is advanced into the blood vessel lumen. Of note, the access guidewire 106 need not have the bare portion 174 and the wound portion 176. At least the aforementioned bare wire portion 174 may instead be a flat-wound or ground-wound portion of the access guidewire 106, where a flat-wound portion includes windings of tape instead of round wire and a ground-wound portion includes windings of round wire that have been ground down to make the windings flat.

[0059] Notably, the access guidewire 106 includes a proximal portion that extends proximally from the valve port 166 in the ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100. Although not shown, the proximal portion of the access guidewire 106 may be disposed within a sterile barrier (e.g., a sterile bag) configured to maintain the sterility of the access guidewire 106.

[0060] method The method includes at least a method for obtaining vascular access, such method including one or more steps selected from the steps of obtaining an introducer assembly, adjusting an introducer assembly, establishing a needle path, withdrawing a plunger, aspirating blood, advancing an access guidewire, separating an introducer assembly, bleeding air, and withdrawing a needle assembly.

[0061] The introducer assembly obtaining step includes obtaining an introducer assembly 100. As described above, the introducer assembly 100 includes a syringe 102, a needle assembly 104 fluidly connected to the syringe 102, and an access guidewire 106 attached to the needle assembly 104. The needle assembly 104 includes a needle slot 148 located at a proximal portion of a needle shaft 142 and a valve 140 located above the needle slot 148. The valve 140 is located distal to a needle hub 144 on the proximal portion of the needle shaft 142. The access guidewire 106 is attached to a needle lumen 152 of the needle shaft 142 and sealed to the needle lumen 152 by a valve port 166 of the valve 140.

[0062] The introducer assembly adjusting step includes adjusting the introducer assembly 100 to place the introducer assembly 100 in a ready-to-place state, if the introducer assembly 100 is not already in the ready-to-place state when the introducer assembly obtaining step is performed. Again, in the ready-to-place state of the introducer assembly 100, the guidewire tip 172 of the access guidewire 106 is located just proximal to the needle tip 146 at the distal portion of the needle shaft 142. This allows the access guidewire 106 to be advanced into the blood vessel lumen in accordance with the access guidewire advancing step as soon as the needle path is established in the needle path establishing step.

[0063] The needle pathway establishment step involves establishing a needle pathway with the needle 138 of the needle assembly 104 from the patient's skin area to the blood vessel lumen. The plunger withdrawal step involves withdrawing the plunger 112 from the barrel 110 of the syringe 102 to create a slight vacuum prior to reaching the blood vessel lumen in the needle path establishment step. The slight vacuum ensures that blood will at least flash back into the syringe tip 114 to confirm establishment of the needle path in the needle path establishment step.

[0064] The blood aspiration step includes aspirating blood with the syringe 102 to confirm establishment of the needle pathway during the needle pathway establishment step. The valve port 166 forms a fluid-tight seal around the bare portion 174 of the access guidewire 106 to maintain a vacuum during the blood aspiration step.

[0065] The access guidewire advancement step includes advancing at least the guidewire tip 172 of the access guidewire 106 into the vessel lumen to gain vascular access. Advancing the guidewire tip 172 into the vessel lumen includes grasping a proximal portion of the access guidewire 106 with the thumb and one or more fingers of a hand outside the introducer assembly 100 and forcing the access guidewire 106 through a valve port 166 of the valve 140 and into the needle slot 148 of the needle shaft 142. Again, the valve 140 may comprise an elastomeric sleeve 162 and, in some embodiments, a rigid housing 164 on the elastomeric sleeve 162. Additionally, the valve port 166 may comprise one or more slits 168 in the elastomeric sleeve 162 and, if a rigid housing 164 is present, a through hole 170 in the rigid housing 164 on the elastomeric sleeve 162, with the valve port 166 aligned with the needle slot 148 of the needle shaft 142. The access guidewire advancement step allows the guidewire tip 172 of the access guidewire 106 to transition from a straight state within the needle shaft lumen 150 of the needle shaft 142 to a curved state within the blood vessel lumen.

[0066] The introducer assembly separation step involves separating the needle assembly 104 from the syringe 102 prior to performing the needle assembly withdrawal step. However, if the air bleeding step is performed, the introducer assembly separation step may not be performed.

[0067] The needle assembly withdrawal step includes withdrawing the needle assembly 104 from the patient, leaving the access guidewire 106 within the blood vessel lumen. Withdrawing the needle assembly 104 from the patient includes withdrawing the needle assembly 104 over a proximal portion of the access guidewire 106 until the proximal end of the access guidewire 106 disengages from the needle shaft 142. Notably, the needle assembly withdrawal step includes holding the access guidewire 106 in place at or near the skin area that includes the needle track while withdrawing the needle assembly 104 over the proximal portion of the access guidewire 106.

[0068] The air bleeding step involves forcing air into the valve port 166 while performing the needle assembly retraction step by pressing the access guidewire 106 against the side of the valve port 166. However, in some embodiments, the needle hub 144 includes a push button bleed valve on another side of the needle hub 144 for the air bleeding step. By forcing air into the valve port 166, an introducer assembly separation step is not required to separate the needle assembly 104 from the syringe 102. However, in some embodiments, both the introducer assembly separation step and the air bleeding step may be performed.

[0069] Although some specific embodiments are disclosed herein and the specific embodiments are disclosed in some detail, the specific embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the concepts provided herein. Further adaptations or modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art, and the broader aspects of the invention encompass these adaptations or modifications as well. Thus, departures from the specific embodiments disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the concepts provided herein.

Claims

1. An introducer assembly comprising a vacuum generating device, a needle assembly fluidly connected to the vacuum generating device, and an access guide wire, wherein the needle assembly comprises a needle, and a valve located on the needle slot, the needle comprising a needle shaft including a needle lumen, a needle slot located in the proximal portion of the needle shaft, and a needle hub located above the proximal portion of the needle shaft but on the proximal side of the needle slot, the valve comprising an elastomeric sleeve having a valve port aligned with the needle slot, the access guide wire being mounted in the needle lumen and sealed around the outer diameter of the access guide wire to the needle lumen by the valve port in a ready-to-deploy state of the introducer assembly.

2. The introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric sleeve is attached to the needle shaft above the needle slot.

3. The introducer assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve port comprises a hole in the elastomeric sleeve aligned with the needle slot, the hole having an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the access guide wire.

4. The introducer assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve port comprises a slit in the elastomeric sleeve, the slit being aligned with the needle slot.

5. The introducer assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve port comprises a plurality of intersecting slits in the elastomeric sleeve, the intersecting slits being aligned with the needle slot.

6. The introducer assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the valve further comprises a rigid housing on the elastomeric sleeve.

7. The introducer assembly according to claim 6, wherein the valve port further comprises a through hole in the rigid housing, the through hole of the rigid sleeve being aligned with the needle slot.

8. The introducer assembly according to claim 7, The valve port further comprises an "O"-ring disposed in a through-hole, and the "O"-ring has an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the access guide wire, and the introducer assembly.

9. In the introducer assembly according to claim 1 or 2, The access guide wire comprises a "J"-shaped guide wire tip that is straight in the state where the preparation for placement of the introducer assembly is complete, and the guide wire tip is curved when it is advanced beyond the distal end of the needle shaft in the placed state of the introducer assembly, and the introducer assembly.

10. In the introducer assembly according to claim 1 or 2, The access guide wire comprises a bare wire portion and a wound wire portion on the proximal side of the bare wire portion, and the bare wire portion extends distally through the valve port at least in the state where the preparation for placement of the introducer assembly is complete, and the introducer assembly.

11. In the introducer assembly according to claim 1 or 2, The access guide wire comprises a proximal portion that extends proximally from the valve port in the state where the preparation for placement of the introducer assembly is complete, and the proximal portion of the access guide wire is disposed within a sterilization barrier configured to maintain the sterility of the access guide wire, and the introducer assembly.

12. In the introducer assembly according to claim 1 or 2, The needle hub further comprises a needle hub connection portion, the needle hub connection portion comprises a needle hub hole in the proximal portion of the needle hub, and the syringe as a vacuum generating device has a syringe tip portion disposed in the needle hub hole, so that the needle assembly is fluidly connected to the vacuum generating device in the state where the preparation for placement of the introducer assembly is complete, and the introducer assembly.

13. A needle assembly, Comprising a needle and a valve, The needle is A needle shaft including a needle lumen, A needle slot located in the proximal portion of the needle shaft, and A needle hub located above the proximal portion of the needle shaft but on the proximal side of the needle slot, The valve has an elastomeric sleeve on the needle throttle and a valve port aligned with the needle slot, and the introducer assembly.

14. In the introducer assembly according to claim 13, The elastomer sleeve is an introducer assembly attached to the needle shaft above the needle slot.

15. In the introducer assembly according to claim 13 or 14, The valve port is an introducer assembly that includes a slit in the elastomer sleeve, and the slit is aligned with the needle slot.

16. In the introducer assembly according to claim 13 or 14, The valve port is an introducer assembly that includes a plurality of intersecting slits in the elastomer sleeve, and the intersecting slits are aligned with the needle slot.

17. In the introducer assembly according to claim 13 or 14, The valve further includes a rigid housing on the elastomer sleeve, and the introducer assembly.

18. In the introducer assembly according to claim 17, The valve port further includes a through hole in the rigid housing, and the through hole of the rigid sleeve is aligned with the needle slot, and the introducer assembly.

19. In the introducer assembly according to claim 13 or 14, The needle hub further includes a needle hub connection portion, the needle hub connection portion includes a needle hub hole at a proximal portion of the needle hub, and the needle hub hole is configured to receive a syringe tip of a syringe that is inserted into the needle hub hole to fluidly connect the needle assembly to the syringe, and the introducer assembly.

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