Intravenous catheter apparatus and method

Claim 2

An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising an intravenous catheter tube, a manually guidable circumferentially deformable elastomeric bore-defining tubular inserter integral with, and in axial alignment with, the catheter tube for use with a patient, and a needle concentric within the catheter tube and inserter and extending through at least part of the bore of the inserter to beyond the distal end of the catheter tube, the bore of the inserter being in open communication with the catheter tube lumen, the catheter tube and inserter being unitarily joined and adapted to be advanced or retracted as a unit axially in sliding relation along the needle, the inserter comprising opposed laterally extending wings adapted to be manually compressed together from an at-rest position to a needle control position, the bore of the inserter being sufficiently large to permit retraction of the needle from the catheter tube and the inserter when the inserter is at rest, and when the inserter wings are compressed to the needle control position being sufficiently constricted to enable the inserter to grip the needle firmly to permit inserter-forced injection of the distal end of the needle into the body of a patient.

Claim 3

In a stylet catheter, an internal stylet needle for making a venipuncture, a catheter tube telescopically surrounding the stylet and a manually guidable circumferentially deformable elastomeric bore-defining tubular inserter rigidly integral with the catheter tube, the bore of the inserter being in open communication with the catheter tube lumen, the catheter tube and inserter being unitarily joined and adapted to be advanced or retracted as a unit axially in sliding relation along the needle, the inserter generally loosely circumscribing, in the at-rest condition, a portion of the needle and having movable inserter wings so as to selectively accommodate (a) linear displacement of the inserter and the catheter tube axially along the needle when said inserter is in the at-rest condition and (b) joint displacement of the inserter, the catheter tube, and the needle when the wings are forcibly pressed together to close upon the needle.

Claim 4

In a stylet catheter, an internal stylet needle for making a venipuncture, a catheter tube telescopically surrounding the stylet and a manually guidable circumferentially deformable elastomeric bore-defining tubular inserter rigidly integral with the catheter tube, the bore of the inserter being in open communication with the catheter tube lumen, the catheter tube and inserter being unitarily joined and adapted to be advanced or retracted as a unit axially in sliding relation along the needle, the inserter generally loosely circumscribing, in the at-rest condition, a portion of the needle and having movable inserter wings so as to selectively accommodate (a) linear displacement of the inserter and the catheter tube axially along the needle when said inserter is in the at-rest condition and (b) joint displacement of the inserter, the catheter tube, and the needle when the wings are forcibly pressed together to close upon the needle.

Claim 5

In a catheter assembly, a hollow needle for making a body puncture, a catheter tube telescopically surrounding a distal portion of the needle, and a hollow tubular inserter integral with and in open communication with the proximal open end of the catheter tube and telescopically surrounding a proximal portion of the needle, the catheter tube and inserter being unitarily joined in axial alignment and adapted to be advanced or retracted as a unit axially in sliding relation along the needle, the inserter comprising an elastic tubular body which is reversibly deformable to and from (a) an at-rest open position in slideable relation with the needle and (b) a laterally constricted position upon the needle, which inserter has opposed wings adapted to be gripped from manipulating the inserter and catheter assembly, the wings being squeezable together to cause the inserter body to be deformed to the laterally constricted position upon the needle such that the inserter is prevented from sliding on the needle.

Claim 6

In a catheter assembly, a hollow needle for making a body puncture, a catheter tube telescopically surrounding a distal portion of the needle, and a hollow tubular inserter integral with and in open communication with the proximal open end of the catheter tube and telescopically surrounding a proximal portion of the needle, the catheter tube and inserter being unitarily joined in axial alignment and adapted to be advanced or retracted as a unit axially in sliding relation along the needle, the inserter comprising an elastic tubular body which is reversibly deformable to and from (a) an at-rest open position in slideable relation with the needle and (b) a laterally constricted position upon the needle, which inserter has opposed wings adapted to be gripped from manipulating the inserter and catheter assembly, the wings being squeezable together to cause the inserter body to be deformed to the laterally constricted position upon the needle such that the inserter is prevented from sliding on the needle.

Claim 7

A catheter as defined in claim 3 including a trailing tubular member integral with the proximal end of the inserter telescopically circumscribing a portion of the needle, the tubular member terminating in closure means.

Claim 8

A catheter as defined in claim 3 including a trailing length of clear tubing integral with the proximal end of the inserter telescopically circumscribing a portion of the needle, the clear tubing terminating in closure means comprising a socket adapted to receive a stylet plug.

Claim 9

A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the closure means comprises a socket adapted to receive a stylet plug such that flashback during a vascular puncture flows through the needle to the clear tubing where it is readily visible.

Claim 10

A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the closure means comprises leak proof plug means adapted for withdrawal of a stylet needle therethrough.

Claim 11

A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the closure means comprises leak proof means for infusing liquid into the clear tubing.

Claim 12

A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the closure means comprises syringe means for infusing liquid into the clear tubing.

Claim 13

A catheter as defined in claim 4 wherein the closure means comprises a Y-branch in communication with infusion means.

Claim 14

An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising a needle, syringe means having a hub, and a cover for the needle, the cover comprising an intravenous catheter tube and a manually guidable deformable elastomeric bore-defining tubular inserter integral with and in axial alignment with the catheter tube, the bore of the inserter being in open communication with the catheter tube lumen, the needle being mounted on the syringe hub to lie concentric within the catheter tube and inserter and extending through the bore of the inserter to beyond the distal end of the catheter tube, the inserter comprising opposed laterally extending wings adapted to be manually compressed together from at-rest position to a needle control position, the bore of the inserter being sufficiently large to permit retraction of the needle from the catheter tube and the inserter when the inserter is at rest, and when the inserter wings are compressed to the needle control position being sufficiently constricted to enable the inserter to grip the needle firmly to permit inserter-forced injection of the distal end of the needle into the body of a patient.

Claim 15

An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising a needle, syringe means having a hub, and a cover for the needle, the cover comprising an intravenous catheter tube and a manually guidable deformable elastomeric bore-defining tubular inserter integral with and in axial alignment with the catheter tube, the bore of the inserter being in open communication with the catheter tube lumen, the needle being mounted on the syringe hub to lie concentric within the catheter tube and inserter and extending through the bore of the inserter to beyond the distal end of the catheter tube, the inserter comprising opposed laterally extending wings adapted to be manually compressed together from at-rest position to a needle control position, the bore of the inserter being sufficiently large to permit retraction of the needle from the catheter tube and the inserter when the inserter is at rest, and when the inserter wings are compressed to the needle control position being sufficiently constricted to enable the inserter to grip the needle firmly to permit inserter-forced injection of the distal end of the needle into the body of a patient.

Claim 16

An intravenous catheter apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the cover comprises the catheter tube, the inserter and a trailing length of clear tubing.

Claim 17

An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising a hollow needle and a protecting cover for the needle comprising an intravenous catheter tube, a manually guidable deformable elastomeric bore-defining tubular inserter integral with and in axial alignment with the catheter tube, the bore of the inserter being in open communication with the catheter tube lumen, the inserter comprising a trailing tubular member with a proximal end closed by self-sealing diaphragm means, the trailing tubular member having a side arm means adapted for transport of fluid through said trailing tubular member, the needle having a side opening and being adapted to be placed in piercing relation through the diaphragm means within the protecting cover with the side opening in communication with the side arm means for transport of fluid through the needle and side arm means, the inserter comprising opposed laterally extending wings adapted to be manually compressed together from an at-rest position to a needle control position, the bore of the inserter being sufficiently large to permit retraction of the needle from the catheter tube and the inserter when the inserter is at rest, and when the inserter wings are compressed to the needle control position being sufficiently constricted to enable the inserter to grip the needle firmly to permit inserter-forced injection of the distal end of the needle into the body of a patient.

Claim 18

An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising a hollow needle and a protecting cover for the needle comprising an intravenous catheter tube, a manually guidable deformable elastomeric bore-defining tubular inserter integral with and in axial alignment with the catheter tube, the bore of the inserter being in open communication with the catheter tube lumen, the inserter comprising a trailing tubular member with a proximal end closed by self-sealing diaphragm means, the trailing tubular member having a side arm means adapted for transport of fluid through said trailing tubular member, the needle having a side opening and being adapted to be placed in piercing relation through the diaphragm means within the protecting cover with the side opening in communication with the side arm means for transport of fluid through the needle and side arm means, the inserter comprising opposed laterally extending wings adapted to be manually compressed together from an at-rest position to a needle control position, the bore of the inserter being sufficiently large to permit retraction of the needle from the catheter tube and the inserter when the inserter is at rest, and when the inserter wings are compressed to the needle control position being sufficiently constricted to enable the inserter to grip the needle firmly to permit inserter-forced injection of the distal end of the needle into the body of a patient.