Catheter insertion device with tip protector housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12318558-B2
Application number	US-202117514438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2021
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a safety catheter assembly comprising a needle hub, a catheter hub, a tip protector housing. Various embodiments can comprise a push-off tab extending radially from the tip protector housing or a portion thereof, and/or structure can be added or removed to affect compliance between a catheter assembly and a catheter insertion device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A safety catheter assembly, comprising:
a catheter hub having a distal end from which a catheter having a distal end extends distally and a proximal end;
a catheter insertion device including:
a needle hub having a distal portion with a distal end from which a needle having a distal tip extends distally;
a tip protector housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the needle hub and the distal end of the tip protector housing substantially coincides with each other such that the tip protector housing is completely enclosed within the needle hub except for a window at the needle hub through which a push-off tab extends radially from the tip protector housing, the distal end of the tip protector housing adapted to be removably coupled to the proximal end of the catheter hub;

wherein the safety catheter assembly is in a ready position when the tip protector housing and the catheter hub are coupled together by a coupling such that the needle extends through the catheter hub and the catheter, the distal tip of the needle extends beyond the distal end of the catheter and the push-tab at the tip protector housing is accessible to facilitate the deployment of the safety catheter assembly.

2. The safety catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises a ball or pivot joint that allows the tip protector housing to pivot or rotate relative to the catheter hub in a plurality of directions.

3. The safety catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein an amount of clearance between an interior surface of the needle hub and an exterior surface of the tip protector housing, or an amount of clearance between an interior surface of the tip protector housing and the needle, provides space for the needle to bend.

4. The safety catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises a lock sleeve moveable proximally within the tip protector housing from a locked position, in which the lock sleeve is positioned at least partially within a proximal portion of the catheter hub, to an unlocked position, in which the lock sleeve is not positioned within the proximal portion of the catheter hub.

5. The safety catheter assembly of claim 4 , wherein the lock sleeve is rotatable relative to the tip protector housing.

6. The safety catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises a lock sleeve within the tip protector housing movable to be at least partially positioned within a proximal portion of the catheter hub to prevent inward movement of a circumferential tab at the catheter from a circumferential gap at the inner wall of the tip protector housing.

7. The safety catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tip protector housing comprises a distal portion having at least one extension and the proximal portion of the catheter hub comprises at least one recess for receiving the at least one extension when the tip protector housing and the catheter hub are coupled to each other.

8. The safety catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tip protector housing comprises a distal portion and an inner wall, a distally extending sleeve at the distal portion, and a circumferential gap at the inner wall of the distal portion;
wherein a circumferential tab is provided at the proximal end of the catheter hub; and
wherein when the tip protector housing and the catheter hub are coupled together, the sleeve is at least partially positioned within a proximal portion of the catheter hub to prevent inward movement of the circumferential tab from the circumferential gap.

9. The safety catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupling is configured to couple the catheter insertion device and the catheter hub together and to prevent release of the catheter insertion device from the catheter hub in response to forces applied laterally to the catheter, the catheter hub released from the catheter insertion device when a release force greater than the threshold of the forces holding the catheter hub and the catheter insertion device together is applied to separate the catheter hub from the catheter insertion device.

10. The safety catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tip protector housing has a diameter smaller than at least a portion of the needle hub such that the tip protector housing is circumferentially enclosed within the needle hub except for the window at the needle hub.

11. A safety catheter assembly adapted to be operable in at least a ready position and a safe position, comprising:
a needle hub having a distal portion and a distal end at the distal portion from which a needle having a distal tip extends;
a catheter hub having a proximal end and a distal end from which a catheter having a distal end extends;
a tip protector housing having a proximal end and a distal end positioned between the needle hub and the catheter hub, the proximal end of the tip protector housing adapted to be removably coupled with the distal end of the needle hub and be enclosed by the distal portion of the needle hub, the distal end of the tip protector housing adapted to be removably coupled to the proximal end of the catheter hub, the tip protector housing further having a push-off tab extending radially from the tip protector housing in a direction away from a skin surface, the push-off tab having a proximal side ergonomically suited for being pressed by a finger;
wherein the safety catheter assembly is in the ready position when the proximal end of the tip protector housing is in contact with the needle hub and the distal end of the tip protector housing is in contact with the catheter hub, and the distal tip of the needle extends beyond the distal end of the catheter;
wherein the safety needle assembly is in the safe position when the needle hub is separated from the proximal end of the tip protector housing and the distal tip of the needle is captured in the tip protector housing, and when the catheter hub is removable from the tip protector housing, and
wherein the tip protector housing includes a tab extension extending distally over at least a proximal portion of the catheter hub such that the push-off tab is adapted to be located over a portion of the catheter hub.

12. The safety catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tip protector housing is at least partially enclosed within the needle hub, and wherein the push-off tab extends through a window in the needle hub.

13. The safety catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the push-off tab extends radially from a tab extension of the tip protector housing that extends distally over at least a proximal portion of the catheter hub such that the push-off tab is located proximal to the proximal end of the catheter hub.

14. The safety catheter assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a window that opens from the distal end of the needle hub such that at least a proximal portion of the tip protector housing is adapted to be enclosed by the needle hub with the push-off tab extending through the window in the ready position.

15. The safety catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tip protector housing comprises a tab extension configured to overlap at least the proximal end of the catheter hub when the tip protector housing and the catheter hub are coupled to each other.

16. The safety catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tab extension has a substantially flat profile that overlaps at least a portion of the proximal portion of the catheter hub when the tip protector housing and the catheter hub are coupled to each other.

17. The safety catheter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tab extension has a cu

Assignees

• Smiths Medical Asd Inc
• Icu Medical Inc

Inventors

• Dalena Michele E
• Felicito Kathryn
• Goral David J
• Breindel Jay T
• Roehl Christopher
• Chheda Harsh D
• Norfleet Walton A

Classifications

• A61M25/0631

  having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle · CPC title

• A61M25/0097

  characterised by the hub (connectors A61M39/10) · CPC title

• A61M25/0618 Primary

  having means for protecting only the distal tip of the needle, e.g. a needle guard · CPC title