Integrated catheter with manually operable valve mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an intravascular catheter assembly including: a catheter adapter including a distal end, a proximal end, a first lumen disposed between the distal end and the proximal end and in fluid communication with the distal end and the proximal end, a catheter disposed at the distal end of the catheter adapter and in fluid communication with the lumen, and a first side port in fluid communication with the lumen; a first fluid conduit having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the first fluid conduit being coupled to the side port; and a connector having a proximal end, a distal end connected to the fluid conduit and a second lumen extending therethrough, the connector including a manually operated valve.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to an intravenous (IV) catheter assembly. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an IV catheter assembly having a manually operable valve mechanism that stops flow through a catheter adapter and / or any attached extension set and allows for replacement of various components. [Background technology]

[0002] (CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 321,945, entitled "Integrated Catheter with Manually-Actuable Valve Mechanism," filed March 21, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0003] (Background technology) Catheters are commonly used for a variety of fluid therapies. For example, catheters can be used to infuse a patient with fluids, such as saline, various medications, and total parenteral nutrition. Catheters may also be used to withdraw blood from a patient.

[0004] A common type of intravenous (IV) catheter device includes an over-the-needle catheter. As the name suggests, an over-the-needle catheter may be fitted over an introducer needle having a sharpened distal end. The IV catheter device may include a catheter adapter, a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter, and an introducer needle extending through the catheter. The catheter and introducer needle may be assembled such that the distal end of the introducer needle extends beyond the distal end of the catheter with the bevel of the needle pointing away from the patient's skin. Typically, the catheter and introducer needle are inserted into the vascular system through the patient's skin at a shallow angle. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The IV catheter device may include an extension set, which may have multiple ports and / or connectors for administering fluids to the patient, withdrawing fluids from the patient, and / or cleaning the catheter device. One or more of these ports and / or connectors may be replaceable. However, there is currently no method for occluding the extension set during such a replacement procedure. Thus, there is a need in the art for an IV catheter device that allows for easy occlusion of the associated tubing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] Provided herein is an intravascular catheter assembly, the intravascular catheter assembly including a catheter adapter including a distal end, a proximal end, a first lumen disposed between the distal end and the proximal end and in fluid communication with the distal end and the proximal end, a catheter disposed at the distal end of the catheter adapter and in fluid communication with the lumen, a first side port in fluid communication with the lumen, a first fluid conduit having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the first fluid conduit being associated with the side port, the distal end of the fluid conduit may be associated with the side port and a connector, the connector having a proximal end, a distal end connected to the fluid conduit, and a second lumen extending therethrough, the connector including a manually operated valve.

[0007] In certain configurations, the valve is disposed at a proximal end of the connector. Optionally, the valve may be disposed at a distal end of the connector. The valve may include a sliding mechanism configured to displace a portion of the second lumen, the sliding mechanism causing the portion of the second lumen to have a longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the second lumen. The connector may be a T-connector. Optionally, the connector may be a Y-connector.

[0008] In an additional configuration, the assembly may also include a second fluid conduit extending from the connector. In yet a further configuration, the assembly includes a needleless access connector coupled to the connector, the valve being rotatable between at least a first position in which the valve prevents fluid flow into the needleless access connector, a second position in which the valve prevents fluid flow into the second fluid conduit, and a third position in which fluid can flow through the valve to both the needleless access connector and the second fluid conduit.

[0009] The second lumen of the assembly may have an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameters of the first and second fluid conduits. Optionally, the valve may be rotatable about an axis defined by the first fluid conduit. In certain configurations, the valve may include a stopcock. The stopcock may be a one-way stopcock. In other configurations, the stopcock may be a three-way stopcock. Optionally, the stopcock may include one or more arms. The stopcock may be rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the flow of fluid through the second lumen.

[0010] Also, in another configuration, the connector of the assembly may include a second side port in fluid communication with the second lumen. Optionally, the stopcock may be rotatable about an axis defined by the second side port. In yet another configuration, the assembly may include a needleless access connector coupled to the connector. The needleless access connector may be removably coupled to the connector. In yet another configuration, the valve may be rotatable between at least a first position in which the valve blocks fluid flow through the second lumen and a second position in which fluid may flow through the lumen. When in the first position, the valve engages the needleless access connector, thereby preventing separation of the needleless access connector.

[0011] In yet another configuration, an intravascular catheter assembly includes a catheter adapter having a distal end, a proximal end, a first lumen disposed between the distal and proximal ends and in fluid communication with the distal and proximal ends, a catheter disposed at the distal end of the catheter adapter and in fluid communication with the lumen, and a first side port in fluid communication with the lumen. The intravascular catheter assembly further includes: a first fluid conduit having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the fluid conduit being coupled to the side port; a connector including a proximal end, the distal end connected to the fluid conduit and a second lumen extending therethrough; and a needleless access connector coupled to the connector. At least one of the connector and the needleless access connector includes a valve. The valve is rotatable between at least a first position in which the valve blocks fluid flow to the needleless access connector, a second position in which the valve blocks fluid flow to the second fluid conduit, and a third position in which fluid can flow through the valve to both the needleless access connector and the second fluid conduit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 2A] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 2C] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 2D] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 2E] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 2F]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 2G] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 2H] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 4C] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 4D] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 5A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 5B] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 5C] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 6A] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 6B] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 6C] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 6D] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 6E]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 6F] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 8A] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 8B] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 8C] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 8D] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 8E] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 9A] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. [Figure 9B] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catheter assembly according to a non-limiting embodiment described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The following description is provided to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the described embodiments contemplated for carrying out the invention. However, those skilled in the art will still readily recognize various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, all of which are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0014] In the following description, the terms "upper", "lower", "right", "left", "longitudinal", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "lateral", "longitudinal" and derivatives thereof, refer to the present invention as oriented in the figures of the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention may assume various alternative modifications unless expressly specified to the contrary. It should also be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments described herein are not to be considered as limiting.

[0015] All numerical ranges disclosed herein should be understood to include the starting and ending values, as well as any subranges subsumed therein. For example, a range of "1 to 10" should be interpreted to include all subranges between the stated minimum of 1 and the stated maximum of 10 (inclusive), i.e., all subranges having a minimum of 1 or more and a maximum of 10 or less.

[0016] 1 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a catheter assembly 10. The catheter assembly 10 may include a catheter adapter 12, which may include a distal end 14 and a proximal end 16. In some embodiments, the catheter adapter 12 may include a side port 18 disposed between the distal end 14 and the proximal end 16. In some embodiments, the first catheter adapter 12 may include a first lumen 20 extending through the distal end 14 and the proximal end 16.

[0017] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the first catheter assembly 10 may include a first catheter 22 extending from the distal end 14. In some embodiments, the first catheter 22 may include a peripheral venous catheter, a midline catheter, or a peripherally inserted central catheter. As known to those of skill in the art, the catheter 22 may be formed of any suitable material and may have any useful length. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the first catheter assembly 10 may include a first fluid conduit 24 extending from the side port 18. The first fluid conduit 24 may be formed of any suitable material known to those of skill in the art and may have a distal end 26 and a proximal end 28. The first fluid conduit 24 may be coupled at its distal end 26 to the side port 18. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, a connector 30 may be coupled to the proximal end 28 of the first fluid conduit 24. Connector 30 may be a T-connector (e.g., one side port disposed at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of connector 30), a Y-connector (e.g., one side port disposed at an angle of about 15 degrees to about 75 degrees, optionally 25 degrees, 60 degrees, or 75 degrees, relative to the longitudinal axis of connector 30), or any other type of connector known in the art. Connector 30 may include a second lumen 31 (shown in FIG. 2A) therethrough, which may have any number of branches appropriate for the type of connector.

[0018] In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the catheter assembly 10 may include an extension set including a second fluid conduit 34. In non-limiting embodiments, the connector 30 includes a side port to which an extension set (e.g., the second fluid conduit 34) may be connected. Extension sets are known to those of skill in the art and are commercially available, for example, from Becton, Dickinson and Company under the trade name NEUTRACLEAR. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the second fluid conduit 34 may include a luer connection 36 at its end. In some non-limiting embodiments or aspects, the extension set may include a clamp 40 to allow for occlusion of the second fluid conduit 34. The clamp 40 and the second fluid conduit 34 may be formed of any suitable material known to those of skill in the art. In non-limiting embodiments, the second lumen 31 has an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the first fluid conduit 24 and / or the second fluid conduit 34.

[0019] The catheter assembly 10 may include a manually operated valve 32 for slowing and / or stopping fluid flow (e.g., through the first fluid conduit 24, between the first fluid conduit 24 and the connector 30, and / or between the connector 30 and the second fluid conduit 34) by occluding the flow. As used herein, "occlude" or "occlusion" means at least slowing down the flow of fluid through a conduit, such as the fluid conduit 24, and encompasses a complete cessation of flow through an occluded portion of the conduit. In the accompanying drawings, the valve 32 is shown as part of the connector 30 or separate from the connector 30. However, one skilled in the art will understand that available valves, as described herein, can be positioned in any suitable manner relative to the connector 30 to occlude flow to one or both of the needleless access connector 38 and / or the second fluid conduit 34.

[0020] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the placement of a manually operated valve 32 along the fluid conduit 24 and / or as part of the connector 30 can stop the flow of fluid (such as blood) from the first lumen 20 to the connector 30 and / or the second fluid conduit 34. This allows a user, such as a medical professional, to replace one or more components of the catheter assembly 10, such as the needleless access connector 38. Needleless access connectors are known to those skilled in the art and are commercially available, for example, from Becton, Dickinson and Company under the trade names MAXPLUS, MAXZERO, SMARTSITE, and Q-SYTE. For example, as described and illustrated herein, the manually operated valve 32 may take any useful configuration. That is, while certain exemplary figures may depict the manually operated valve 32 as a stopcock, a sliding mechanism, etc., it should be understood that any manually operated valve 32 shown in any accompanying figure can be utilized in any other embodiment illustrated and described herein.

[0021] In a non-limiting embodiment, the manually operated valve 32 is part of the connector 30, which connects the first fluid conduit 24 to the second fluid conduit 34 and / or the needleless access connector 38. The manually operated valve 32 may be located at the distal end of the connector 30, at the proximal end of the connector 30, or between the proximal and distal ends of the connector 30.

[0022] 2A-2D, a non-limiting embodiment of the catheter assembly 10 is shown in which the manually operated valve 32 is a rotatable valve. The manually operated valve 32 is shown as rotatable about an axis defined by the first fluid conduit 24 and the connector 30. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the manually operated valve (such as the stopcocks described herein) can be arranged to rotate about any axis, so long as the flow of fluid through the valve can be slowed or stopped. In addition, the stopcocks described herein may include one or more arms for a user to grasp. Also, the stopcocks described herein may be one-way stopcocks (e.g., one open position) or may be three-way stopcocks (e.g., two or more open positions) that can be rotated 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees to provide different fluid flows.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, the first fluid conduit 24 may include a first protrusion 50 and a second protrusion 52 at its proximal end 28 that narrow the inner diameter of the first fluid conduit 24 at a first passageway 54. The first passageway 54 may be centered within the first fluid conduit 24 or may be offset from the center. Similarly, as shown, the manually operated valve 32 may include a first wall 56 and a second wall 58 that define a second passageway 60. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2D, one or both of the first wall 56 and the second wall 58 may be angled relative to the second passageway 60. As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, in a first configuration, the manually operated valve 32 is closed when the first wall 56 is angled to offset the first passageway 54 from the second passageway 60. The manually operated valve 32 may be rotated about an axis defined by the first fluid conduit 24 into a second configuration, shown in Figures 2C-2D. In the second configuration, the first wall 56 no longer obstructs flow through the first passageway 54, the first passageway 54 and the second passageway 60 are in fluid communication, and fluid may pass from the first fluid conduit 24 to the connector 30.

[0024] 2E-2H show another embodiment in which the manually operated valve 32 is disposed at the distal end of the connector 30 and includes a first wall 56 and a second wall 58. As shown in FIGS. 2E-2F, when the manually operated valve 32 is in a first configuration, the first wall 56 and the second wall 58 are disposed to block flow through the second passageway 60 to the second lumen 31 within the connector 30 due to the disposition of the walls relative to the connector 30. As shown in FIGS. 2G-2H, when the manually operated valve is rotated to a second configuration about an axis defined by the first fluid conduit 24, the disposition of the first wall 56 and the second wall 58 is changed such that the second passageway 60 is aligned with the second lumen 31 and fluid can flow therethrough. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A-2H, the manually operated valve 32 may include optional protrusions (e.g., protrusions 50, or surface modifications) to allow a user to grip and rotate the valve.

[0025] 3-4D show a non-limiting embodiment of a catheter assembly 110 that may include components as previously described herein. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the manually operated valve is configured as a slidable occlusion mechanism 132 that includes a second passageway 160. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, in a first configuration, the second passageway 160 is offset from the first fluid conduit 124 and the second lumen 131 of the connector 130. By pressing the contact surface 150, a user can move the slidable occlusion mechanism 132 between the first configuration, in which the second passageway 160 is offset as previously described, to a second configuration (FIGS. 4C-4D) in which the second passageway 160 is in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit 124 and the second lumen 131 of the connector 130. The contact surface 150 can include any protrusions or surface modifications to allow a user to actuate the slidable mechanism.

[0026] 5A-6F show non-limiting embodiments of a catheter assembly 210 that may include components as previously described herein. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiments, the manually operated valve is configured as a stopcock 232 that may be optionally disposed as part of the connector 230. For example, FIGS. 5A and 6A-6F show an embodiment in which the stopcock 232 is integral with the connector 230. Alternatively, a manually operated valve 32, such as a stopcock as described herein, may be included as a separate component from any connector, e.g., upstream (e.g., closer to the catheter assembly 10), as shown, for example, in FIGS. 5B-5C. In a non-limiting embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5B-5C, the manually operated valve 32 may include a luer connection 33 that allows for reversible connection between the manually operated valve 32 and one or more components of the catheter assembly 10, such as a connector or needleless access connector 38.

[0027] 5A and 6A-6F, the stopcock 232 may be rotatable about any suitable axis of the connector 230. In a non-limiting embodiment, the stopcock 232 is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the flow of fluid through the second lumen 231. As shown in FIGS. 6A-6F, the stopcock 232 may include a first wall 250, a second wall 252, and / or a third wall 254. In a non-limiting embodiment, the first wall 250, the second wall 252, and / or the third wall 254 may define one or more passageways 260 through the stopcock. Depending on the rotational position of the stopcock 232, it may block fluid flow from the first fluid conduit 224 through the connector 230 or may open said fluid flow to the needleless connector 238 and / or the second fluid conduit 234. For example, as shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, the stopcock 232 is aligned in a first configuration and fluid from the first fluid conduit 224 is open to the connector 230 and the second fluid conduit 234. In FIGS. 6C-6D, the stopcock 232 is rotated and aligned in a second configuration and flow from the first fluid conduit 224 is blocked from the connector 230 but is open to the second fluid conduit 234. In FIGS. 6E-6F, the stopcock 232 is aligned in a third configuration and flow from the first fluid conduit 224 is blocked from the second fluid conduit 234 but is open to the connector 230.

[0028] 7-8E show a non-limiting embodiment of a catheter assembly 310 that may include components as previously described herein. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the manually operated valve 332 is configured at the junction of the connector 330 and the second fluid conduit 334 and is rotatable about an axis defined by the second fluid conduit 334, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8E. The manually operated valve 332 includes a passageway 360 that is in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit 334 and the second lumen 331 of the connector 330. The manually operated valve 332 may include a wall 352 at an end of the passageway 360. As shown in FIGS. 8A-8B, in a first configuration of the manually operated valve 332, the wall 352 occludes the passageway 360 and prevents fluid from flowing from the first fluid conduit 324 to the second fluid conduit 334 and from flowing from the first fluid conduit 324 to the second lumen 331 of the connector 330. In this manner, the manually operated valve 332 can be placed in a closed position to, for example, allow for exchange of a medical device attached to a needleless access connector 338 and / or luer 326 disposed at the proximal end of the connector 330. As shown in FIGS. 8C-8E, in the second configuration of the manually operated valve 332, the wall 352 is displaced to open the passageway 360 to the second lumen 331 of the connector 330 to allow flow from the first fluid conduit 324 to the second fluid conduit 334 and, for example, from the first fluid conduit 324 to the needleless access connector 338 disposed at the proximal end of the connector 330. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the open and closed configurations of the passageway 360 may relate to the configuration of the valve 332 in any of the positions depicted in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8E. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-8E, the manually operated valve can include optional protrusions (e.g., protrusions 350 or surface modifications) to allow a user to grip and rotate the valve 332.

[0029] 9A-9B show a non-limiting embodiment of a catheter assembly 410 that may include components as previously described herein. In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the manually operated valve may be a stopcock 432 configured to block and / or open flow between the first fluid conduit 424 and the connector 430 and / or the second fluid conduit 434, as previously described. In a non-limiting embodiment, the stopcock 432 includes a flange 450. The flange 450 may be configured such that in a particular configuration of the stopcock 432, the flange 450 may reversibly couple to a needleless access connector 438. In a non-limiting embodiment, in a first configuration, such as that shown in FIG. 9A, the flange 450 is coupled to the needleless access connector 438 and fluid flow between the first fluid conduit 424 and the needleless access connector 438 is open. The coupling of the flange 450 and the needleless access connector 438 prevents removal of the needleless access connector 438, thus eliminating accidental disconnection and loss of fluid flowing from the first fluid conduit 424 through the connector 430 to the needleless access connector 438. In a non-limiting embodiment, in a second configuration, such as that shown in FIG. 9B, the flange 450 is not coupled to the needleless access connector 438 and fluid flow between the first fluid conduit 424 and the needleless access connector 438 is blocked. In such a second configuration, the needleless access connector 438 can be removed from the connector 430, but because of the orientation of the stopcock 432, fluid will not flow through the connector 430 to any port to which the needleless access connector 438 is attached.

[0030] The present disclosure has been described in detail for illustrative purposes based on what are currently believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments or aspects. However, such details are for illustrative purposes only, and the present disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments or aspects. On the contrary, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.

Claims

1. a catheter adapter including a distal end, a proximal end, a first lumen disposed between the distal end and the proximal end and in fluid communication with the distal end and the proximal end, a catheter disposed at the distal end of the catheter adapter and in fluid communication with the lumen, and a first side port in fluid communication with the lumen; a first fluid conduit having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the first fluid conduit being coupled to the side port; a connector having a proximal end, a distal end connected to the fluid conduit, and a second lumen extending therethrough; and wherein the connector includes a manually operable valve.

2. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve is disposed at a proximal end of the connector.

3. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the valve is disposed at a distal end of the connector.

4. 2. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a sliding mechanism configured to displace a portion of the second lumen such that the portion of the second lumen has a longitudinal axis that is offset from a longitudinal axis of the second lumen.

5. 2. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector is at least one of a T-connector and a Y-connector.

6. 2. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve is at least one of manually and remotely operable.

7. 6. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 5, further comprising a second fluid conduit extending from said connector.

8. further comprising a needleless access connector coupled to the connector; The valve is rotatable between at least a first position in which the valve blocks fluid flow to the needleless access connector, a second position in which the valve blocks fluid flow to a second fluid conduit, and a third position in which fluid can flow through the valve to both the needleless access connector and the second fluid conduit.

8. An intravascular catheter assembly according to claim 7.

9. 8. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 7, wherein the second lumen has an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameters of the first and second fluid conduits.

10. 6. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 5, wherein the valve is rotatable about an axis defined by the first fluid conduit.

11. 6. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 5, wherein the valve includes a stopcock.

12. 12. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 11, wherein the stopcock is a one-way stopcock.

13. 12. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 11, wherein the stopcock is a three-way stopcock.

14. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the stopcock includes one or more arms.

15. 12. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 11, wherein the stopcock is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to fluid flow through the second lumen.

16. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the connector further includes a second side port in fluid communication with the second lumen.

17. 17. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 16, wherein the stopcock is rotatable about an axis defined by the second side port.

18. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 1 further comprising a needleless access connector coupled to said connector.

19. the valve is rotatable between at least a first position in which the valve blocks fluid flow through the second lumen and a second position in which fluid can flow through the lumen; and When in a first position, the valve engages the needleless access connector, thereby preventing removal of the needleless access connector.

20. The intravascular catheter assembly of claim 18.

20. a catheter adapter including a distal end, a proximal end, a first lumen disposed between the distal end and the proximal end and in fluid communication with the distal end and the proximal end, a catheter disposed at the distal end of the catheter adapter and in fluid communication with the lumen, and a first side port in fluid communication with the lumen; a first fluid conduit having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the first fluid conduit being coupled to the side port; a connector having a proximal end, a distal end connected to the fluid conduit, and a second lumen extending therethrough; a needleless access connector coupled to the connector; 1. An intravascular catheter assembly comprising: At least one of the connector and the needleless access connector includes a valve that is rotatable between at least a first position in which the valve blocks fluid flow to the needleless access connector, a second position in which the valve blocks fluid flow to the second fluid conduit, and a third position in which fluid can flow through the valve to both the needleless access connector and the second fluid conduit. An intravascular catheter assembly comprising:

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