INTRAVENOUS CATHETER DEVICE WITH SLIDING SAFETY MECHANISM
Patent Information
- Application Number
- MX2022014878
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-06-02
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-06-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing intravenous catheter devices with safety mechanisms often leave the needle tip exposed after separation from the catheter, posing a safety risk and complicating the withdrawal process.
A sliding safety mechanism with a slider and cylinder design that retracts the needle hub proximally into the cylinder, securing the needle tip within the slider after activation, ensuring safe and efficient needle withdrawal.
The mechanism effectively secures the needle tip within the slider, enhancing safety and simplifying the withdrawal process by preventing exposure and ensuring smooth operation.
Smart Images
Figure MX431147B0
Abstract
Description
INTRAVENOUS CATHETER DEVICE WITH SLIDING SAFETY MECHANISM Background of the Invention Intravenous (IV) catheter devices are commonly used for a variety of infusion therapies. For example, an IV catheter device can be used to infuse fluids, such as normal saline, various medications, and total parenteral nutrition, into a patient. IV catheter devices can also be used to draw blood from the patient. A common type of intravenous (IV) catheter device is a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) that is placed over a needle. As its name implies, the catheter-over-needle can be mounted on a needle with a sharp distal tip. The catheter and needle can be assembled so that the distal tip of the needle extends beyond the distal tip of the catheter, with the bevel of the needle facing upward, away from the patient's skin. Generally, the catheter and needle are inserted at a shallow angle through the skin into the patient's vasculature. IV catheter devices typically include a safety mechanism to protect the needle tip after the needle is detached from the catheter. Often, even with a safety mechanism, the needle tip will remain. Ref. 340605, from the catheter adapter, a needle assembly having a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub, the needle extending through the catheter adapter and the catheter, and a safety mechanism having a cylinder and a slide that slides within the cylinder. A distal end of the slide can be coupled to a proximal end of the catheter adapter, such that the catheter assembly slides with the slide relative to the cylinder. The needle hub can be contained within the cylinder and can be configured to retract proximally within the cylinder. In some models, the slide may include a distal tip that inserts into the catheter adapter to interface the safety mechanism and the catheter assembly. In some models, the slide may include a collar that attaches to the distal tip. In some models, the collar may form a push tab. In some models, the position of the needle hub relative to the cylinder may remain fixed while the slide initially moves into the cylinder. In some models, the needle hub may retract proximally into the cylinder as the slide moves distally to an activation point. In some models, the safety mechanism may include a spring that causes the needle hub to retract proximally into the cylinder. In some models, the slide may cause the spring to retract the needle hub proximally when the slide reaches the activation point. In some models, a distal tip of the needle may retract into the slide as the needle hub retracts proximally into the cylinder. In some models, a position of the slide relative to the cylinder may be retained after the slide reaches the activation point. In some designs, an intravenous catheter device may include a barrel, a slide that attaches and slides within the barrel, a catheter adapter having a proximal end to which a distal end of the slide attaches, a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter, a needle hub contained within the barrel, and a needle extending distally from the needle hub. The needle extends through the catheter adapter and the catheter. In some models, the needle hub may initially be positioned toward a distal end of the cylinder. In some models, the needle hub may be held toward the distal end of the cylinder while the slide moves toward an activation point. In some models, the needle hub may be retracted to a proximal end of the cylinder when the slide reaches the activation point. In some models, the intravenous catheter device may include a spring that is compressed when the needle hub is held toward the distal end of the barrel. The spring can force the needle hub to retract toward the proximal end of the barrel in response to the slide reaching the activation point. In some models, a distal tip of the needle may be contained within the slide when the needle hub is retracted toward the proximal end of the barrel. In some models, the slide may be retained at the activation point to prevent the distal tip of the needle from extending distally beyond the slide. In some models, the slide may include a push tab. In some models, the slide may include a distal tip that inserts into the catheter adapter to couple the slide to the catheter adapter. In some designs, an intravenous catheter device may include a cylinder having an interior, a slide contained within the cylinder, a catheter adapter having a proximal end to which a distal end of the slide is attached, a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter, a needle hub contained within the interior of the cylinder, and a needle extending distally from the needle hub, the needle passing through the catheter adapter and the catheter. A proximal end of the slide can be initially positioned toward a proximal end of the cylinder, and the needle hub can be initially held toward a distal end of the cylinder. The needle hub can be retracted to the proximal end of the cylinder when the proximal end of the slide is slid to an activation point of the cylinder.Retracting the needle hub may cause a distal tip of the needle to become locked inside the slide. It should be understood that both the preceding general description and the following detailed description are illustrative and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instruments shown in the figures. It should also be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be used, and that structural changes, unless otherwise claimed, may be made without departing from the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention. The following detailed description should therefore not be taken in a limiting sense. Brief Description of the Figures The example modalities will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of figures. Figure 1 illustrates an example of an IV catheter device with a safety mechanism that includes a slide according to some modalities; Figure 2 illustrates the intravenous catheter device of Figure 1 when the slide has been partially slid out of a cylinder of the safety mechanism according to some modalities; Figure 3 illustrates the intravenous catheter device of Figure 1 when the slide has been slid to an activation point according to some modalities; Figure 4 illustrates the intravenous catheter device of Figure 1 after the needle has been retracted into the slide according to some modalities; Figure 5 illustrates the intravenous catheter device of Figure 1 after the safety mechanism has been separated from the catheter assembly according to some modalities; and Figure 6 provides an isolated view of an example of a sliding door configured according to some modalities. Detailed Description of the Invention An IV catheter device suitable for the modalities described herein typically includes a catheter assembly, a needle assembly, and a safety mechanism that are initially interconnected. After insertion of the catheter into the patient's vasculature, the needle assembly of such IV catheter devices is normally withdrawn toward the safety mechanism as part of separating the needle assembly from the catheter assembly. In the modalities described herein, the safety mechanism of such intravenous catheter devices may be configured to slide open to enhance safety and simplify the use of the intravenous catheter devices. Figures 1-5 illustrate an example of an IV catheter device 100 configured according to several modalities. Figure 1 illustrates the IV catheter device 100 in a pre-insertion configuration. For example, the IV catheter device 100 might be in this pre-insertion configuration when the clinician unpacks it and / or before the clinician inserts the needle through the patient's skin. The IV catheter device 100 includes a needle assembly 110, a catheter assembly 120, and a safety mechanism 190. The needle assembly 110 includes a needle connector 111 and a needle 112 that extends distally from the needle connector 111 to the distal end 100b of the IV catheter device 100. The catheter assembly 120 includes a catheter adapter 121 and a catheter 122 that extends distally from the catheter adapter 121. The safety mechanism 190 includes a slide 130 and a cylinder 140 with respect to which the slide 130 slides. A proximal end 140a of cylinder 140 is positioned into a proximal end 100a of the IV catheter device 100. In the pre-insertion configuration, a distal end 140b of cylinder 140 is positioned toward the proximal end 121a of the catheter adapter 121, while a proximal end 130a of slide 130 is positioned toward the proximal end 140a of cylinder 140. A distal tip 130b of slide 130 is inserted into the catheter adapter 121 and can form a friction fit to maintain the interconnection between the safety mechanism 190 and the catheter assembly 120. Slide 130 also includes a collar 131 that is positioned toward the distal tip 130b. Collar 131 may be adjacent to or make contact with the proximal end 121a of catheter adapter 121 when the distal tip 103b is inserted into catheter adapter 121.Therefore, in the pre-insertion configuration, the slide 130 is coupled to the catheter adapter 121 and can be fully inserted into the cylinder 140. In the pre-insertion configuration, the needle hub 111 can also be placed inside the inner 141 of the cylinder 140, but separated distally from the proximal end 140a of the cylinder 140. A length of needle assembly 110 can be configured so that the distal tip of the needle 112 extends distally beyond the catheter 122. A spring 150 can be placed inside the inner 141 and compressed between the needle hub 111 and the distal end 140b of the cylinder 140. The inner 141 and the needle hub 111 can be configured to form an interference fit that retains the needle hub 111 in the position shown even though the spring 150 is applying a proximally directed force against the needle hub 111.For example, a grooved or other recessed actuation point 143 in the side wall of the inner 141 may receive an outwardly angled portion (not shown) of the needle hub 111 to lock the position of the needle hub 111. Consequently, in the pre-insertion configuration, the needle hub 111 is separated from the proximal end 140a of the cylinder 140, but may be angled toward it. In some modalities, an interference fit may be formed between the spring 150 and the cylinder 140 instead of between the needle hub 111 and the cylinder 140. For example, a proximal end of the spring 150 may connect with the actuation point 143 to maintain the compressed state of the spring 150. In some models, the cylinder 140 may include a vent plug 142 (for example, at the proximal end 140a) that is configured to vent air from the interior 141. Therefore, the vent plug 142 may facilitate backflow of blood through the needle 112 and possibly into the interior 141. In some models, a seal (not labeled) may form between the slider 130 and the opening at the distal end 140b of the cylinder 140 to prevent blood or other fluid from escaping from the interior 141. Turning to Figure 2, the intravenous catheter device 100 is now depicted after the slide 130 has been slid distally relative to the cylinder 140. Because the slide 130 is coupled to the catheter adapter 121, sliding the slide 130 relative to the cylinder 140 causes the catheter 122 to slide relative to the needle 112. For example, after the clinician inserts the distal tip of the needle into the patient's vasculature, they can apply distal force to push the tab 132 into the collar 131, while holding the position of the cylinder 140 (or slightly withdrawing cylinder 140) to advance the catheter 122 over the needle 112 and further into the patient's vasculature. The relative position of the needle hub 111 within the cylinder 140 remains fixed at this point. Consequently, the movement of slide 130 causes the proximal end 130a of slide 130 to approach the hub of needle 111. Turning to Figure 3, the IV catheter device 100 is now depicted after the slide 130 has slid distally relative to the cylinder 140 to the point where the proximal end 130a of the slide 130 has reached the activation point 143. At this point, the catheter 122 will have advanced substantially beyond the distal tip of the needle 112, and the clinician will likely have withdrawn the cylinder 140 sufficiently to remove the distal tip of the needle 112 from the patient's vasculature. For example, in some modalities, the IV catheter device 100 may be designed so that the distal tip of the needle 112 is at least partially inside the catheter adapter 121 (i.e., outside the vasculature) when the proximal end 130a of the slide 130 reaches the trigger point 143. For illustrative purposes, Figure 3 shows that the needle hub 111 is still held in position. However, in some modalities, the needle hub 111 may be released from its interference fit substantially simultaneously with the arrival of the proximal end 130a of the slide 130 at the trigger point 143. Turning to Figure 4, the needle assembly 110 is depicted as having been fully withdrawn into the cylinder 140. Specifically, when the interference fit between the needle hub 111 (or spring 150) and the cylinder 140 is released in response to the sliding of the slide 130, the spring 150 forces the needle hub 111 into the proximal end 140a of the cylinder 140, thereby withdrawing the distal tip of the needle 112 into the slide 130. For example, in Figure 4, the distal tip of the needle 112 is contained within the distal end 130b of the slide 130 once the needle hub 111 is positioned at the proximal end 140a, so that the distal tip of the needle 112 will not be exposed once the slide 130 is separated from the catheter adapter 121. In some modalities, the proximal end 130a of the slide 130 can be configured to release the interference fit between the needle hub 111 and the cylinder 140. For example, if the interference fit is formed by inserting a portion of the needle hub 111 into the trigger point 143, distal movement of the proximal end 130a of the slide 130 can cause the portion of the needle hub 111 to be withdrawn from the trigger point 143. As previously stated, in some configurations, slide 130 can be engaged with catheter adapter 121 solely by friction between the distal tip 130b and the inner walls of catheter adapter 121. In such cases, slide 130 can be separated from catheter adapter 121 by pulling (and possibly twisting) slide 130 relative to catheter adapter 121. Conversely, in some configurations, collar 131 and / or distal tip 130b can be engaged with the proximal end 121a of catheter adapter 121 in a manner that prevents slide 130 from separating from catheter adapter 121 until the distal tip of the needle 112 has been withdrawn into slide 130. For example, catheter adapter 121 can be configured to screw onto slide 130.In such cases, the structure of catheter adapter 121 and slider 130 can be configured to prevent rotation of slider 130 relative to catheter adapter 121 until the distal tip of needle 112 has passed through slider 130. For example, needle 112 may include a feature that permits this relative rotation only when the feature is positioned within distal tip 130b and / or collar 131. In some modalities, this feature could be in the form of a notch in needle 112 that allows a component (not shown) that would otherwise block relative rotation to slide annularly into the notch, which in turn allows slider 130 to rotate out of catheter adapter 121.In some embodiments, this feature could take the form of a protrusion on the needle 112 that forces a component (not shown) that would otherwise block relative rotation to slide annularly outward, which in turn will allow the slider 130 to rotate out of the catheter adapter 121. In any case, once the distal tip of needle 112 is secured within slide 130, the clinician can separate slide 130 from catheter adapter 121 as shown in Figure 5. The proximal end 130a of slide 130 and the trigger point 143 can be configured to form an interference fit that prevents slide 130 from sliding proximally relative to cylinder 140. This interference fit ensures that the distal tip of needle 112 remains secured within slide 130 once slide 130 has been separated from catheter adapter 121. Figure 6 provides an isolated view of the slide 130 as it may be configured in some modalities. As shown, the slide 130 may include sidewalls 133 and one or more openings 134 extending between the proximal end 130a and the distal tip 130b. The use of the openings 134 may reduce the amount of material required to form the slide 130. A tab 133a may be formed in one or more of the sidewalls 133 toward the proximal end 130a. In some modalities, the tab 133a may form an interference fit with the trigger point 143 to prevent the slide 130 from sliding proximally into the cylinder 140 after the distal tip of the needle 112 has been withdrawn toward the distal tip 130b. A needle channel 135 is formed through the distal tip 130b.In some models, the needle channel 135 may have a slightly larger diameter than the needle diameter 112 to act as a support to prevent excessive vibration of the needle 112 when it is withdrawn towards the cylinder 140 and slide 130. All examples and conditional language listed herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to assist the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the technique, and should be interpreted without limitation to such examples and conditions specifically listed. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is hereby stated that, as of this date, the best method known to the applicant for putting the aforementioned invention into practice is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.
Claims
Having described the invention as above, the following claims are claimed as property:
1. An intravenous catheter device, characterized in that it comprises: a catheter assembly having a catheter adapter and a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter; a needle assembly having a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub, the needle extending through the catheter adapter and the catheter; and a safety mechanism having a cylinder and a slide that slides within the cylinder, a distal end of the slide being coupled to a proximal end of the catheter adapter, such that the catheter assembly slides with the slide relative to the cylinder, the needle hub being contained within the cylinder and being configured to retract proximally within the cylinder.
2. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the slide includes a distal tip that is inserted into the catheter adapter to interconnect the safety mechanism and the catheter assembly.
3. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 2, characterized in that the slide includes a collar that is placed next to the distal tip.
4. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 3, characterized in that the collar forms a push tab.
5. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the position of the needle hub relative to the cylinder remains fixed while the slide initially slides inside the cylinder.
6. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 5, characterized in that the needle hub retracts proximally within the cylinder when the slide is slid distally to an activation point.
7. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 6, characterized in that the safety mechanism includes a spring that causes the needle hub to retract proximally within the cylinder.
8. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 7, characterized in that the slide causes the spring to retract the needle hub proximally when the slide reaches the activation point.
9. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 8, characterized in that a distal tip 40 fo of the needle retracts into the slide when the needle hub retracts proximally into the cylinder.
10. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 9, characterized in that a position of the slide is retained with respect to the cylinder after the slide reaches the activation point.
11. Intravenous catheter device, characterized in that it comprises: a cylinder; a slide that engages and slides within the cylinder; a catheter adapter having a proximal end to which a distal end of the slide is engaged; a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter; a needle hub contained within the cylinder; and a needle extending distally from the needle hub, the needle extending through the catheter adapter and the catheter.
12. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 11, characterized in that the needle hub is initially positioned towards a distal end of the cylinder.
13. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 12, characterized in that the hub of the 40 fo needle is retained towards the distal end of the cylinder while the slide is slid towards an activation point.
14. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 13, characterized in that the needle hub retracts to a proximal end of the cylinder when the slide reaches the activation point.
15. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 14, characterized in that it further comprises: a spring that is compressed when the needle hub is held towards the distal end of the cylinder, the spring forcing the needle hub to retract towards the proximal end of the cylinder in response to the slide reaching the activation point.
16. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 14, characterized in that a distal tip of the needle is contained within the slide when the needle hub is retracted to the proximal end of the cylinder.
17. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 16, characterized in that the slide is retained at the activation point to prevent the distal tip of the needle from extending distally beyond the slide.
18. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 11, characterized in that the slide includes a push tab.
19. The intravenous catheter device according to claim 11, characterized in that the slide includes a distal tip that is inserted into the catheter adapter to couple the slide to the catheter adapter.
20. An intravenous catheter device, characterized in that it comprises: a cylinder having an interior; a slide contained within the cylinder; a catheter adapter having a proximal end to which a distal end of the slide is coupled; a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter; a needle hub contained within the cylinder; and a needle extending distally from the needle hub, the needle extending through the catheter adapter and the catheter; wherein a proximal end of the slide is initially positioned toward a proximal end of the cylinder and the needle hub is initially retained toward a distal end of the cylinder;and where the needle hub retracts towards the proximal end of the cylinder when the proximal end of the 40 fo slide slides towards an activation point of the cylinder, the retraction of the needle hub causes a distal tip of the needle to be secured within the slide.