69 results about "Catheter introducer" patented technology

A catheter includes a body having an outer surface defining a lumen and an expandable tip on a distal end thereof. The tip includes an opening axially extending therethrough. Upon insertion of a device having a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the expandable tip, the opening permits passage of the device therethrough. The tip expands commensurately with a difference between the outer diameter of the device and the inner diameter of the expandable tip. The expandable tip includes a tubular wall having an axially extending weakened portion formed from (1) at least two axially aligned slit segments and (2) at least two axially aligned segments that are strengthened when compared to the slit segments. One of the strengthened segments is positioned between two of the slit segments. Another of the strengthened segments is formed between a distal-most slit segment and a distal end of the expandable tip.

A system for remotely controlling the positioning within the body of a patient of an elongated medical device optionally having a control handle, comprises a catheter position system and a remote controller configured to control the robotic device. The catheter position system includes a handle controller; a sled member coupled to the handle controller, the sled member being configured to position the medical device within the body of the patient; and a sled base configured to advance the sled member towards the body of a patient, the sled bed being coupled to a sterile barrier effective to maintain sterility inside the sled base. The catheter position system may include a control system configured to issue positioning commands in response to sensor signals received from the catheter. The catheter position system may also include a motor driven rotatable catheter introducer clamp configured to enable rotation of an introducer.

An IV catheter introducer having a retractable needle holder and a tubular plunger that are held by a detent structure in a preferred positional relationship prior to and during insertion of the catheter. Following insertion, the plunger is pushed past the detent structure, permitting a compressed spring to force the needle holder upwardly into the plunger. A vented end cap in the plunger permits rapid venting of air displaced during retraction of the needle holder. The needle holder includes a flash chamber that is easily viewable through a clear plastic housing. Wings are provided on the housing to facililate one-handed operation of the device. A method for assembling the subject catheter introducer is also disclosed.

An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having a groove disposed on its outer surface. The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and an inwardly disposed resilient flange or a clip disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and adapted to engage the groove when a catheter assembly is removed from the needle.

An IV catheter introducer having a retractable needle holder and a tubular plunger that are held by a detent structure in a preferred positional relationship prior to and during insertion of the catheter. Following insertion, the plunger is pushed past the detent structure, permitting a compressed spring to force the needle holder upwardly into the plunger. A vented end cap in the plunger permits rapid venting of air displaced during retraction of the needle holder. The needle holder includes a flash chamber that is easily viewable through a clear plastic housing. Wings are provided on the housing to facilitate one-handed operation of the device. A method for assembling the subject catheter introducer is also disclosed.

Tear-away sheath introducers for catheters, methods for making such introducers, and methods for using such introducers are described. The sheath introducers contain movable valves that are encapsulated in a movable housing that allows the valve to move along the axis of the introducer. As the movable valve and housing travel along the axis, a portion of the hub protrudes past the valve and is exposed. As well, the sheath introducers can also contain a stationary valve and housing that can be opened to expose a portion of the hub when a conduit penetrates the stationary valve. The conduit can include a one-way valve actuator that can penetrate and open the valve, yet remain attached to a portion of the introducer when the introducer is split for removal from a patient. In both instances, the protruding portion of the hub contains a friction-free pathway for a catheter into the sheath introducer.

An enhanced catheter introducer and method for making the same are disclosed. The catheter introducer may have a splittable sleeve assembly configured to be inserted into a blood vessel with a cannula. The cannula may then be removed, and a catheter may be inserted into the sleeve assembly. The sleeve assembly may be removed from the catheter by pulling handles of the sleeve assembly in different directions to split the sleeve assembly into two pieces. The sleeve assembly may have failure zones that enable the sleeve assembly to be easily split; the failure zones may take the form of thinned regions running along the length of the sleeve assembly. The sleeve assembly may be injection molded with a single step by injecting flows of molten plastic into a cavity of a mold such that the flows converge into an even distribution about the circumference of the sleeve. The mold may have a core pin designed to fit into the cavity. Through the use of the even distribution of flows, the core pin may seat within the cavity in an untensioned manner.

Tear-away and non-tear-away sheath introducers for catheters, methods for making such introducers, and methods for using such introducers are described. The sheath introducers contain movable valves that are encapsulated in a movable housing that allows the valve to move along the axis of the introducer. As the movable valve and housing travel along the axis, a portion of the hub protrudes past the valve and is exposed. As well, the sheath introducers can also contain a stationary valve and housing that can be opened to expose a portion of the hub when a conduit penetrates the stationary valve. In both instances, the protruding portion of the hub contains a friction-free pathway for a catheter into the sheath introducer. The introducers can therefore be used with any catheter, regardless of the size or material, because of the reduced or eliminated frictional force between the catheter and introducer.

Tear-away and non-tear-away sheath introducers for catheters, methods for making such introducers, and methods for using such introducers are described. The sheath introducers contain movable valves that are encapsulated in a movable housing unlike conventional valves that are stationary. The movable housing allows the valve to move along the axis of the introducer. As the movable valve and housing travel along the axis, a portion of the hub protrudes past the valve and is exposed. The protruding portion of the hub contains a friction-free pathway for the catheter into the sheath introducer. The introducers can therefore be used with any catheter, regardless of the size or material, because of the reduced or eliminated frictional force between the catheter and introducer.

A self propelling catheter introducer system for exploring a body cavity is disclosed which includes a flexible tubular catheter, a propulsion section and a steering section located near the end of the catheter that is introduced in a body cavity. The propulsion section includes a flexible everting tube designed to push the catheter from inside the body cavity. The catheter can thus be made very flexible in bending, and a larger diameter catheter can be used without discomfort to the patient.

An IV catheter introducer having an elastomeric grommet disposed between the housing and the IV catheter assembly that helps avoid unintentional separation of IV catheter assembly from the housing during shipping and handling prior to use, that acts as a needle guide, that helps align the housing and IV catheter assembly coaxially, that indicates that top side of the catheter introducer, that provides proper rotational alignment between the grommet and housing, that wipes blood off the needle during withdrawal of the needle from the catheter assembly and grommet, that impedes blood flow out of the catheter hub after needle withdrawal, and that assists the user in separating the housing from the IV catheter assembly following insertion of the catheter and withdrawal of the needle.

A catheter system and method is provided for overcoming various problems commonly associated with the application of regional anesthesia. Disclosed herein are several embodiments for providing continuous regional anesthesia. In general, the catheter system includes an epidural catheter, an epidural needle, tubing for optional fluid administration, an attached conductive wire (for connection to a nerve stimulator) and a catheter introducer, which is integrated within the proximal hub of the insulated needle. The embodiments may differ in several ways.

An over-the-needle peel-away sheath catheter introducer for receiving the distal end of a catheter is formed of a hub having left and right halves with a wing extending transversely from each half. The hub defines between these halves a passageway for a catheter, where the passageway has sides defined by opposing wall surfaces of said halves, and top and bottom walls extending between these halves. A funnel is situated at the proximal end of the hub and a sheath is situated at the distal end of the hub. The funnel, hub and sheath have respective lumens which are aligned forming a continuous passageway. The funnel, hub and sheath furthermore have tear lines along their top and bottom surfaces adapting this catheter introducer to be split apart into two halves and discarded after introduction of a catheter therethrough.

A needle point protective device for hypodermic and intravenous needles, catheter introducers, and similar devices protects users from injury and infection. The needle point protective device includes a needle point guard that is slidably mounted within the needle handle. In use, the needle point guard is integral with a cannula guide that is engaged with the needle cannula with enough force to cause the needle cannula to be subject to spring tension when the needle point is retracted proximal to the needle point guard, the needle point springs downward and behind the needle point guard. In one embodiment, the needle point guard is held in position manually as the needle is retracted. In another embodiment, the needle point guard is held in place automatically as the needle is retracted.

A catheter introducer system for endoscopy is disclosed which includes a steering section and a propulsion section located near the end of the catheter that is introduced in body cavity, and a non-collapsible sheath defining a working channel, disposed inside the catheter, extending substantially from the proximate to the distal end and maintaining a substantially circular cross-section even when bent along an axis. The propulsion section is designed to pull the rest of the catheter inside the body cavity, so there is no need to push the catheter along. The catheter can thus be made very flexible in bending, and a larger diameter catheter can be used without discomfort to the patient.

A device and method yielding a blood analysis employable in combination with an introducer for a catheter for a concurrent testing of blood from the introducer flash chamber during placement of a venous catheter. The device employs a colorimetric blood analysis to provide the user a visually discernable alert to the results of tested blood concurrent with the placement of the catheter with the introducer.

A catheter introducer system is provided with a catheter sheath having a valve providing for a friction fit around a catheter. The friction fit is selectively adjustable to vary between a first configuration for longitudinal movement of the catheter through the valve and a second configuration for holding the catheter longitudinally in place. The valve may includes a chuck to grip the catheter radially. The chuck may include an annular base and an opposed annular clamp, and a washer disposed between the base and the clamp. At least one of the base and the clamp may include a beveled surface that forces the washer radially inwardly as the base and the clamp are drawn together. The system also includes one or more dilators layered within the sheath. The layered dilators and sheaths are typically softer and more hydrophilic proceeding from the innermost dilator out to the sheath. The dilator may be reinforced by a wire embedded in the body of the dilator. The distal tip of the sheath may be stiffened by a ring affixed adjacent the distal end. The sheath may include in the innermost dilator a trocar formed of a flexible, hollow outer wire and an inner stiff needle, which can extend beyond the wire for piercing and be withdrawn to relax the wire for advancement of the dilator.

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to a catheter cap which seals a reservoir of a catheter introducer. The catheter cap secures over an introducer tip to prevent airflow into the introducer tip. The catheter cap utilizes an elongated stem to block a distal opening of the reservoir to further prevent airflow. A lip of the catheter cap may further engage an insertion stop point of the catheter introducer to secure the catheter cap. The catheter cap ensures proper lubrication of the introducer tip and the catheter during insertion of the catheter into the urethra of a user.

The invention relates to a catheter insertion system utilizing a catheter introducer device having an introducer sheath, the catheter insertion system comprise a catheter containment unit in which a catheter tube having a catheter hub is held, said catheter containment unit comprises an opening adapted to sealably and reversibly connect to an inserter head, said inserter head is adapted to sealably and reversibly connect, and provide said catheter tube passage, to said catheter introducer device, wherein said catheter containment unit comprises at least one flexible portion and an elastic/resilient portion located near its opening for advancing portions of said catheter tube through said passage, and wherein said inserter head is adapted to sealably receive a portion of said catheter hub in a socket provided therein.