Catheter assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016106959-A1
Application number	US-201414890419-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2014
Priority date	Aug 21, 2013
Publication date	Apr 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A catheter assembly including a catheter hub being connectable to a device for the infusion or withdrawal of fluids; a hollow extension tube connected at its distal end to the catheter hub, the extension tube connectable at its proximal end to a device for infusing fluid into the chamber within the catheter hub; a valve assembly disposed within the chamber of the catheter hub having a first valve member and a second valve member preventing the flow of fluid through the chamber to or from the proximal end of the catheter hub. A needle guard assembly is also provided.

First claim

1 . A catheter assembly comprising:
a catheter hub having a chamber therein, the catheter hub having a distal end and a proximal end, the catheter hub being connectable at its proximal end to a device for the infusion or withdrawal of fluids to or from the chamber within the catheter hub; a hollow tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the catheter being connected at its proximal end to the distal end of the catheter hub, the interior of the catheter opening into the chamber within the catheter hub; a needle having a sharpened needle tip, in a ready position the needle extending through the chamber in the catheter hub and the catheter with the needle tip extending beyond the distal end of the catheter; a hollow extension tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the extension tube being connected at its distal end to the catheter hub between the proximal and distal ends thereof, the extension tube opening at its distal end into the chamber within the catheter hub, the extension tube connectable at its proximal end to a device for infusing fluid into the chamber within the catheter hub; a valve assembly disposed within the chamber of the catheter hub, the valve assembly comprising:
a first valve member closing the distal end of the extension tube and openable under the action of a pressurised fluid within the extension tube; and
a second valve member preventing the flow of fluid through the chamber to or from the proximal end of the catheter hub, the second valve member being a two-way valve and openable to permit the flow of fluid through the chamber in the catheter hub in both a proximal and a distal direction.

2 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a distal hub portion of the catheter hub is generally flattened.

3 . The catheter assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the extension tube opens into the distal hub portion of the catheter hub.

4 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the needle comprises an opening in the shaft of the needle in the distal end portion of the needle.

5 . The catheter assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the opening is disposed within the catheter in the ready position.

6 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve member is a one-way valve between the extension tube and the internal chamber of the catheter hub.

7 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve member is a two-way valve between the extension tube and the internal chamber of the catheter hub.

8 . The catheter assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the first valve member comprises one or more slits therein aligned with the opening of the extension tube.

9 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve member comprises a resilient valve body.

10 . The catheter assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the valve body is a tubular body.

11 . The catheter assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the tubular body is disposed within the internal chamber of the catheter hub in contact with the inner surface of the wall of the catheter hub.

12 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second valve member comprises a resilient valve disc extending laterally across the internal chamber of the catheter hub.

13 . The catheter assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the disc is provided with one or more slits therein.

14 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second valve member forms a seal around the shaft of the needle in the ready position.

15 . The catheter assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the seal allows gas to vent through the second valve member but prevents blood from passing through the second valve member.

16 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a valve opener disposed within the chamber in the catheter hub proximally of the valve assembly.

17 . The catheter assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the valve opener has a passage therethrough or therearound for the passage of fluid.

18 . The catheter assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a needle guard assembly.

19 . The catheter assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the needle guard assembly is disposed wholly or partly within the internal chamber of the catheter hub.

20 . The catheter assembly according to claim 19 , wherein the needle guard assembly is releasably engaged with the catheter hub, such that the needle has a protected position in which the needle tip is blocked by the needle guard assembly as the needle guard assembly is released from the catheter hub.

21 . The catheter assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the needle guard assembly is disposed outside the catheter hub.

22 . The catheter assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the needle guard assembly is releasably engaged with the catheter hub in the ready position.

23 . The catheter assembly according to claim 22 , in which movement of the needle to a protected position releases the needle guard assembly from engagement with the catheter hub.

24 . The catheter assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the needle guard assembly comprises a needle guard housing.

25 . The catheter assembly according to claim 18 , further comprising means for limiting movement of the needle in the proximal direction relative to the needle guard assembly.

26 . The catheter assembly according to claim 25 , wherein the limiting means comprises a bulge in the distal end portion of the needle shaft.

27 . The catheter assembly according to claim 26 , wherein the bulge is non-circular.

28 . The catheter assembly according to claim 26 , wherein the needle guard assembly comprises a proximal wall having an opening therein, the needle shaft extending through the opening in the proximal wall, the bulge having a radial dimension that is greater than that of the opening in the proximal wall.

29 . The catheter assembly according to claim 26 , wherein the bulge lies within the catheter in the ready position.

30 . The catheter assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the needle guard comprises at least one arm moveable from the ready position into a blocking position, in which the sharpened needle tip is blocked.

31 . The catheter assembly according to claim 30 , wherein the at least one arm comprises a distal end portion for blocking the sharpened needle tip.

32 . The catheter assembly according to claim 30 , wherein the needle guard comprises a first arm and a second arm.

33 . The catheter assembly according to claim 32 , wherein both the first and the second arms comprises a distal end portion.

34 . The catheter assembly according to claim 32 , wherein the first arm and the second arm intersect.

35 . The catheter assembly according to claim 32 , wherein the first and second arms are of different lengths.

36 . The catheter assembly according to claim 35 , wherein the longer of the first and second arms is provided with an endmost portion curved inward at the free edge.

37 . The catheter assembly according to claim 30 , wherein needle guard assembly comprises a proximal wall.

38 . The catheter assembly ac

Assignees

• Braun Melsungen Ag

Inventors

• Woehr Kevin

Classifications

• A61M25/0097 Primary

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

• A61M25/0693

  Flashback chambers · CPC title

• A61M39/22

  Valves or arrangement of valves {(A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405)} · CPC title

• A61M2039/062

  used with a catheter · CPC title

• A61M39/24 Primary

  Check- or non-return valves · CPC title