Obturator assembly with selectively controllable fluid flow path

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11633568-B2
Application number	US-202016918599-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2020
Priority date	Sep 6, 2017
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

An obturator assembly includes an obturator positionable within a lumen of a device and movable within the lumen between a first position and a second position. The obturator includes a distal tip portion, wherein, with the obturator in the first position, the distal tip portion limits fluid communication through the lumen and, with the obturator in the second position, the distal tip portion provides fluid communication through the lumen.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method to control fluid flow in an obturator assembly, the obturator assembly comprising an obturator movably positioned within a lumen of a catheter, the method comprising:
moving the obturator from a proximal position to a distal position, wherein in response to the obturator being in the proximal position, a distal end of the obturator limits fluid flow through the lumen, wherein in response to the obturator being in the distal position, the distal end of the obturator provides a fluid flow path through the lumen of the catheter,
wherein the obturator assembly comprises a hub and a locking collar operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking collar is configured to lock the obturator in the distal position, wherein the locking collar comprises a tab configured to depress to selectively interfere with a depression formed in the obturator in the distal position.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the obturator from the distal position to the proximal position.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the obturator comprises a cylindrical portion and a reduced outer diameter portion proximate and proximal the cylindrical portion, wherein in response to the obturator being in the distal position, the reduced outer diameter portion is aligned with a distal opening of the lumen of the catheter to provide the fluid flow path through the lumen of the catheter.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the catheter further comprises a diffuser opening, wherein in response to the obturator being in the proximal position, the cylindrical portion occludes the diffuser opening and the distal opening.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein in response to the obturator being in the distal position, the reduced outer diameter portion is also aligned with the diffuser opening such that fluid is configured to flow through the diffuser opening.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising locking the obturator in the distal position.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the obturator assembly comprises a hub and a locking collar operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking collar is configured to lock the obturator in the distal position, wherein the locking collar comprises a tab configured to depress to selectively interfere with a depression formed in the obturator in the distal position.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising locking the obturator in the proximal position.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the obturator assembly comprises a hub and a locking collar operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking collar is configured to lock the obturator in the proximal position, wherein the locking collar comprises a tab configured to selectively interfere with a depression formed in the obturator in the proximal position.

10. An obturator assembly, comprising:
a catheter, comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter forming a lumen extending between the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the catheter;
a hub forming a central passage; and
an obturator extending distally from the hub, wherein the obturator is movable from a proximal position to a distal position, wherein in response to the obturator being in the proximal position, a distal end of the obturator limits fluid flow through the lumen, wherein in response to the obturator being in the distal position, the distal end of the obturator provides a fluid flow path through the lumen of the catheter; and
a locking collar operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking collar is configured to lock the obturator in the distal position, wherein the locking collar comprises a tab configured to depress to selectively interfere with a depression formed in the obturator in the distal position.

11. The obturator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the distal end of the obturator comprises a cylindrical portion and a reduced outer diameter portion proximate and proximal the cylindrical portion, wherein in response to the obturator being in the distal position, the reduced outer diameter portion is aligned with a distal opening of the lumen of the catheter to provide the fluid flow path through the lumen of the catheter.

12. The obturator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the catheter further comprises a diffuser opening, wherein in response to the obturator being in the proximal position, the cylindrical portion occludes the diffuser opening and the distal opening.

13. The obturator assembly of claim 12 , wherein in response to the obturator being in the distal position, the reduced outer diameter portion is also aligned with the diffuser hole such that fluid is configured to flow through the diffuser hole.

14. The obturator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the obturator assembly comprises a locking collar operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking collar is configured to lock the obturator in the distal position, wherein the locking collar comprises a tab configured to selectively interfere with a depression formed in the obturator in the distal position.

15. The obturator assembly of claim 10 , wherein the obturator assembly comprises a locking collar operatively coupled to the hub, wherein the locking collar is configured to lock the obturator in the proximal position, wherein the locking collar comprises a tab configured to selectively interfere with a depression formed in the obturator in the proximal position.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Isaacson S Ray
• Hunter Mark
• Walker Paul
• O'Bryan Jeffrey C

Classifications

• A61M25/0074 Primary

  Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable · CPC title

• A61M2025/0006

  which can be secured against axial movement, e.g. by using a locking cuff · CPC title

• A61M2025/0019

  Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement · CPC title

• A61M2025/0004

  having two or more concentrically arranged tubes for forming a concentric catheter system · CPC title

• A61M2025/0079

  Separate user-activated means, e.g. guidewires, guide tubes, balloon catheters or sheaths, for sealing off an orifice, e.g. a lumen or side holes, of a catheter · CPC title