Retractable needle catheter delivery apparatus

Inventors

Kujawa, John • Anstett, Michael • Bold, William

Assignees

Skydance Vascular Inc

Abstract

A catheter insertion system includes a housing extending along a longitudinal axis. A needle extends distally from a distal end of the housing. The needle has a longitudinal passage coaxially aligned with the housing. A catheter has a length and is sized and shaped to be advanced from a retracted position within the longitudinal passage of the needle to an extended position with at least a portion of the catheter length extending beyond a distal tip of the needle. The needle is typically configured to be retracted back into the housing after the catheter has been advanced, thus providing an integrated catheter and catheter insertion apparatus. After needle retraction, the housing may be taped to the patient's skin while the needle remains protected within the housing. A luer on the catheter may then be connected to a fluid or other source in an otherwise conventional manner.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a method for inserting a catheter into a vein of a patient using an integrated needle and housing arrangement in which a catheter is disposed within a lumen of a needle while a distal tip of the needle on a housing is advanced into the vein. The method advances the distal tip of the needle into the vein while the distal port of the catheter remains within the needle lumen during the initial advancement. The method then pushes distally on a proximal connector on the catheter to distally advance a distal port of the catheter from the needle into the vein.

After the distal port of the catheter remains in the vein of the patient, the method retracts the distal tip of the needle over the catheter and maintains the distal tip of the needle in the housing. The method includes securing the housing to the patient while the distal tip of the needle remains in the housing. The workflow further includes attaching a fluid delivery tube to the proximal connector while the distal tip of the needle remains protected in the housing, wherein the proximal connector is in fluid communication with a lumen of the catheter.

In refinements described in the dependent claims, the needle retraction is triggered by a constrained spring releasing to axially translate the needle over the catheter, or by a releasable latch that is released when the catheter is fully advanced within the needle lumen. The proximal connector can engage the proximal end of the housing and can include luer-fitting structure that forms a complete luer fitting when the catheter is fully advanced through the housing. The proximal connector can also include a valve that opens in response to engagement with an external connector on the fluid delivery tube.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides one independent claim (clm-00001). It covers a full workflow of inserting the catheter, retracting and protecting the needle in a housing, securing the housing, and attaching a fluid delivery tube via a proximal connector in fluid communication with the catheter lumen. Dependent claims further refine needle retraction triggering mechanisms and proximal connector/valve behaviors.

Across the independent claim and its refinements indicated in the dependent claims list, the inventive coverage centers on coordinating needle advance with catheter-in-needle-lumen placement, transferring the catheter distal port into the vein via the proximal connector, retracting the needle so the tip remains protected in the housing, securing the housing, and attaching a fluid delivery tube through a proximal connector in fluid communication with the catheter lumen. Additional refinements include constrained-spring or releasable-latch triggering for needle retraction and connector/luer and valve behaviors tied to engagement.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications

No documented applications found