Method and apparatus for introducing an intravenous catheter

Claim 1

A system for introducing an intravenous catheter into a patient comprising: a needle having a proximal end and a distal end; a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle; a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub; a flashback chamber having proximal and distal ends and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub, the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber; and a flash plug sealingly engaged to and in fluid communication with the inner wall of said flashback chamber, said flash plug being transitionable between: i. a first non-operative configuration; ii. a second operative configuration wherein said flash plug controllably creates a vacuum in said flashback chamber; and wherein the flashback chamber and the flash plug each have an elliptical shape such that the rotation of the flash plug releases the sealing engagement of at least a portion of the flash plug with the inner wall of the flashback chamber.

Claim 2

A system for introducing an intravenous catheter into a patient comprising: a needle having a proximal end and a distal end; a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle; a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub; a flashback chamber having proximal and distal ends and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub, the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber; and a flash plug sealingly engaged to and in fluid communication with the inner wall of said flashback chamber, said flash plug being transitionable between: i. a first non-operative configuration; ii. a second operative configuration wherein said flash plug controllably creates a vacuum in said flashback chamber; and wherein the flashback chamber and the flash plug each have an elliptical shape such that the rotation of the flash plug releases the sealing engagement of at least a portion of the flash plug with the inner wall of the flashback chamber.

Claim 15

A system for introducing an intravenous catheter into a patient comprising: a needle having a proximal end and a distal end; a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle; a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub; a flashback chamber having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub, the proximal end o the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber; and a flash plug sealingly engaged to and in fluid communication with the inner wall of said flashback chamber, said flash plug being transitionable between: i. a first non-operative configuration; ii. a second operative configuration wherein said flash plug controllably creates a vacuum in said flashback chamber; and wherein the flashback chamber and the flash plug each have an elliptical shape such that the rotation of the flash plug releases the sealing engagement of at least a portion of the flash plug with the inner wall of the flashback chamber.

Claim 16

A system for introducing an intravenous catheter into a patient comprising: a needle having a proximal end and a distal end; a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle; a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub; a flashback chamber having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub, the proximal end o the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber; and a flash plug sealingly engaged to and in fluid communication with the inner wall of said flashback chamber, said flash plug being transitionable between: i. a first non-operative configuration; ii. a second operative configuration wherein said flash plug controllably creates a vacuum in said flashback chamber; and wherein the flashback chamber and the flash plug each have an elliptical shape such that the rotation of the flash plug releases the sealing engagement of at least a portion of the flash plug with the inner wall of the flashback chamber.

Claim 17

A method for drawing blood into a flashback chamber of an intravenous catheter comprising the steps: a) providing a system for introducing an intravenous catheter, said system comprising a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle, a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub, a flashback chamber having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub, the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber, and a flash plug sealingly engaged to and in fluid communication with said flashback chamber, said flash plug being transitionable between: i. a first non-operative configuration; ii. a second operative configuration wherein said flash plug controllably creates a vacuum in said flashback chamber; and wherein the flashback chamber and the flash plug each have an elliptical shape such that the rotation of the flash plug releases the sealing engagement of at least a portion of the flash plug with the inner wall of the flashback chamber; b) introducing the distal end of the needle into a vein; and c) causing said flash plug to transition from said non-operative configuration to said operative configuration.

Claim 18

A method for drawing blood into a flashback chamber of an intravenous catheter comprising the steps: a) providing a system for introducing an intravenous catheter, said system comprising a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle, a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub, a flashback chamber having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub, the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber, and a flash plug sealingly engaged to and in fluid communication with said flashback chamber, said flash plug being transitionable between: i. a first non-operative configuration; ii. a second operative configuration wherein said flash plug controllably creates a vacuum in said flashback chamber; and wherein the flashback chamber and the flash plug each have an elliptical shape such that the rotation of the flash plug releases the sealing engagement of at least a portion of the flash plug with the inner wall of the flashback chamber; b) introducing the distal end of the needle into a vein; and c) causing said flash plug to transition from said non-operative configuration to said operative configuration.

Claim 19

A method for drawing blood into a flashback chamber of an intravenous catheter comprising the steps: a) providing a system for introducing an intravenous catheter, said system comprising a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle, a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub, a flashback chamber having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub, the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber, and a flash plug sealingly engaged to and in fluid communication with said flashback chamber, said flash plug being transitionable between: i. a first non-operative configuration; ii. a second operative configuration wherein said flash plug controllably creates a vacuum in said flashback chamber; and wherein the flashback chamber and the flash plug each have an elliptical shape such that the rotation of the flash plug releases the sealing engagement of at least a portion of the flash plug with the inner wall of the flashback chamber; b) introducing the distal end of the needle into a portion of a body having a vein; c) causing said flash plug to transition from said non-operative configuration to said operative configuration; and d) introducing the distal end of the needle into the vein.

Claim 20

A method for drawing blood into a flashback chamber of an intravenous catheter comprising the steps: a) providing a system for introducing an intravenous catheter, said system comprising a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle, a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub, a flashback chamber having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub, the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber, and a flash plug sealingly engaged to and in fluid communication with said flashback chamber, said flash plug being transitionable between: i. a first non-operative configuration; ii. a second operative configuration wherein said flash plug controllably creates a vacuum in said flashback chamber; and wherein the flashback chamber and the flash plug each have an elliptical shape such that the rotation of the flash plug releases the sealing engagement of at least a portion of the flash plug with the inner wall of the flashback chamber; b) introducing the distal end of the needle into a portion of a body having a vein; c) causing said flash plug to transition from said non-operative configuration to said operative configuration; and d) introducing the distal end of the needle into the vein.

Claim 21

A system for introducing and intravenous catheter into a patient comprising: (a) a needle having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle; (c) a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub; (d) a flashback chamber having a proximal and distal ends and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle and, the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber; (e) a flash plug sealingly engaged with the inner wall of the flashback chamber, the flash plug being moveable within the flashback chamber in a first direction from a distal end to the proximal end of the flashback chamber, movement of the flash plug in the first direction creating a vacuum in the flashback chamber; and (f) wherein the flash plug has a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the flash plug being proximal to the distal end of the flashback chamber when the flash plug is fully inserted into the flashback chamber, the flash plug having an internal chamber with an opening at the distal end of the flash plug, said internal chamber having a movable diaphragm located therewithin.

Claim 22

A system for introducing and intravenous catheter into a patient comprising: (a) a needle having a proximal end and a distal end; (b) a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle; (c) a needle hub, the proximal end of the needle secured within the needle hub; (d) a flashback chamber having a proximal and distal ends and an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle and, the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber; (e) a flash plug sealingly engaged with the inner wall of the flashback chamber, the flash plug being moveable within the flashback chamber in a first direction from a distal end to the proximal end of the flashback chamber, movement of the flash plug in the first direction creating a vacuum in the flashback chamber; and (f) wherein the flash plug has a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the flash plug being proximal to the distal end of the flashback chamber when the flash plug is fully inserted into the flashback chamber, the flash plug having an internal chamber with an opening at the distal end of the flash plug, said internal chamber having a movable diaphragm located therewithin.

Claim 23

A method for drawing blood into a flashback chamber an intravenous catheter, the intravenous catheter comprising of a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle, a needle hub having a proximal end of the needle secured therewithin, a flashback chamber having proximal and distal ends in an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub and the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber, and a flash plug sealingly engaged with the inner wall of the flashback chamber, the flash plug having a distal end and a proximal end and oriented such that the distal end of the flash plug is proximal to the distal end of the flashback chamber, the flash plug being movable within the flashback chamber in a first direction from a distal end to the proximal end of the flashback chambers such that movement of the flash plug in the first direction creates a vacuum in the flashback chamber, the flash plug further having an internal chamber with an opening of the distal end thereof, said internal chamber having a movable diaphragm located therewithin: a) introducing the distal end of the needle into a vein; and b) moving the flash plug in said direction to create a vacuum in the flashback chamber.

Claim 24

A method for drawing blood into a flashback chamber an intravenous catheter, the intravenous catheter comprising of a needle having a proximal end and a distal end, a catheter tube slidably disposed over the needle, a needle hub having a proximal end of the needle secured therewithin, a flashback chamber having proximal and distal ends in an inner wall, the distal end of the flashback chamber being connected to the needle hub and the proximal end of the needle being in fluid communication with the distal end of the flashback chamber, and a flash plug sealingly engaged with the inner wall of the flashback chamber, the flash plug having a distal end and a proximal end and oriented such that the distal end of the flash plug is proximal to the distal end of the flashback chamber, the flash plug being movable within the flashback chamber in a first direction from a distal end to the proximal end of the flashback chambers such that movement of the flash plug in the first direction creates a vacuum in the flashback chamber, the flash plug further having an internal chamber with an opening of the distal end thereof, said internal chamber having a movable diaphragm located therewithin: a) introducing the distal end of the needle into a vein; and b) moving the flash plug in said direction to create a vacuum in the flashback chamber.