Abstract: An intravenous therapy system, may include a processor; a data storage device; and a handheld ultrasound probe to detect structures within a patient's body, the handheld ultrasound probe including a video display device physically and operatively coupled to the handheld to display the structures within the patient's body and a magnetic field detector to detect the presence of a vascular access device (VAD) and provide closed-loop feedback to guide the VAD into a blood vessel within the patient's body detected by the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A patency checking system, may include a fluid path to be coupled to an intravenous (IV) device at a distal end of the fluid path; a patency port formed along a length of the fluid path; and a plunger fluidically coupled to the fluid path at the patency port to selectively draw blood into the fluid path to confirm patency of the fluid path.

Abstract: A blood sample collection system, may include a housing, the housing including a blood collection port; and a baffle chamber; a needle formed through the housing and into the blood collection port; and a baffle formed within the baffle chamber to counteract a vacuum within a blood collection tube when pierced by the needle.

Abstract: An IV access device can include a needle hub that incorporates a flash chamber. The flash chamber can be used to provide visual confirmation of proper catheter placement within a vein. The flash chamber can include a path-defining structure to facilitate identifying whether blood is continually flowing into the flash chamber. The flash chamber may also be removable from the needle hub. In some cases, the needle hub may include a paddle grip that facilitates insertion of the catheter and separation of the needle hub from the catheter adapter.

Abstract: Infusion sets for insertion into an insertion site for preventing misalignment of the base and cap or fluid connector by providing one or more alignment features between each, and in alternative embodiments, provide one or more features to secure the cap or fluid connector to the base in anyone of a number of rotational positions and having release features to allow the cap or fluid connector to be rotatable with respect to the base portion of the infusion set, and yet easily removed and inserted. Further embodiments provide infusion sets wherein the user can easily see the insertion site of the catheter and the skin, to determine if infections have occurred at an earlier stage than was possible using prior art infusion sets and with substantially less difficulty.

Abstract: A pinch clamp for use in occluding intravenous tubing or other similar tubing can include patient comfort features and/or lateral disengagement prevention features. These features can also be designed in a manner that allows the pinch clamps to be more easily manufactured. A pinch clamp can include a first arm that is coupled to a second arm by hinges. Each of the first and second arms can form a clamping surface that are aligned when the first arm is positioned overtop the second arm. The first arm can include opposing openings and the second arm can include opposing tabs which insert through the openings when the first arm is positioned overtop the second arm. The retaining tabs interface with the openings to prevent the first arm from separating from the second arm.

Abstract: A compliant catheter adapter may include a catheter adapter body formed of a compliant material. The catheter adapter body may have a generally elongate shape and an inner chamber. The catheter adapter body may include a compression resistant septum disposed toward the proximal end of the catheter adapter body. The compression resistant septum may have a lumen configured to receive an elongate object. The compression resistant septum may also be coupled to a compression cap that imparts a compression force on the compression resistant septum such that the lumen narrows and seals when the elongate object is removed from the lumen.

Abstract: Catheter systems comprising independent fluid paths are disclosed. The catheter systems can include a catheter adapter that has a catheter hub with a chamber. A catheter extends from a distal end of the catheter hub and is in fluid communication with the chamber. A stabilization platform with a first wing and a soft push tab are also part of the catheter hub. The catheter system includes a needle hub with a needle that slidably fits within the catheter. In an insertion configuration, a proximal extension of the catheter hub is removably coupled within a distal opening of the needle hub. After the catheter is placed, the needle hub is retracted from the catheter adapter to slidably remove the needle from the catheter.

Abstract: An IV access device can include a needle hub that incorporates a flash chamber. The flash chamber can be used to provide visual confirmation of proper catheter placement within a vein. The flash chamber can include a path-defining structure to facilitate identifying whether blood is continually flowing into the flash chamber. The flash chamber may also be removable from the needle hub. In some cases, the needle hub may include a paddle grip that facilitates insertion of the catheter and separation of the needle hub from the catheter adapter.

Abstract: An IV catheter system may have a catheter component with a catheter hub, a cannula extending distally from the catheter hub, and a push feature adjacent to the catheter hub. The IV catheter system may also have a needle component with a needle hub, a needle extending distally from the needle hub along an axis, and a grip extending from the needle hub, generally parallel to the axis, with a pull feature. In the insertion configuration, the needle may be positioned within the cannula and the distal end of the needle hub may be seated in a needle port of the catheter hub. In the fluid delivery configuration, the needle may be positioned outside the catheter hub. The push and pull features may be positioned to facilitate manipulation with a single hand to move the IV catheter system from an insertion configuration to a fluid delivery configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a connector, which may include a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the connector may include a male luer adapter, which may be configured to couple with a proximal end of a catheter adapter. The apparatus may include a catheter, which may include a proximal end secured within the connector. The catheter may be configured to extend through an indwelling peripheral intravenous catheter. The catheter may include a closed distal end and a slit adjacent to the closed distal end. The slit may be closed under normal physiological pressures.

Abstract: A pinch clamp for use in occluding intravenous tubing or other similar tubing can include patient comfort features and/or lateral disengagement prevention features. These features can also be designed in a manner that allows the pinch clamps to be more easily manufactured. A pinch clamp can include a first arm that is coupled to a second arm by hinges. Each of the first and second arms can form a clamping surface that are aligned when the first arm is positioned overtop the second arm. The first arm can include opposing openings and the second arm can include opposing tabs which insert through the openings when the first arm is positioned overtop the second arm. The retaining tabs interface with the openings to prevent the first arm from separating from the second arm.

Abstract: An integrated vascular access device can include strain relief features to minimize the likelihood of the extension tubing becoming kinked during use. These strain relief features can be configured at both ends of the extension tubing to minimize the likelihood of kinking at the interfaces to the catheter adapter and luer adapter. To provide strain relief at the catheter adapter end of the extension tubing, an interface formed of a flexible material can be aligned with an extension of the catheter adapter into which the extension tubing inserts. The interface can be integrated into a stabilization platform or formed separately from a stabilization platform. To provide strain relief at the luer adapter end of the extension tubing, a flexible spacer can be coupled to a distal end of the adapter and have a distal portion that is positioned around the extension tube.

Abstract: An IV catheter system may have a catheter component and a needle component. The catheter component may have a catheter hub, a cannula extending distally from the catheter hub, and a push feature extending outward from the catheter hub. The push feature may have an outer surface that receives contact from a digit to move the IV catheter system from an insertion configuration, in which the needle is within the cannula, to a fluid delivery configuration, in which the needle is outside the catheter hub. The needle component may have a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub along an axis. The push feature may be formed of a flexible material that causes the push feature, in response to pressure exerted on the outer surface by a dressing securing the catheter component to a patient, to deflect the outer surface toward the cannula axis.

Abstract: A compliant catheter adapter may include a catheter adapter body formed of a compliant material. The catheter adapter body may have a generally elongate shape and an inner chamber. The catheter adapter body may include a compression resistant septum disposed toward the proximal end of the catheter adapter body. The compression resistant septum may have a lumen configured to receive an elongate object. The compression resistant septum may also be coupled to a compression cap that imparts a compression force on the compression resistant septum such that the lumen narrows and seals when the elongate object is removed from the lumen.

Abstract: Catheter systems comprising independent fluid paths are disclosed. The catheter systems can include a catheter adapter that has a catheter hub with a chamber. A catheter extends from a distal end of the catheter hub and is in fluid communication with the chamber. A stabilization platform with a first wing and a soft push tab are also part of the catheter hub. The catheter system includes a needle hub with a needle that slidably fits within the catheter. In an insertion configuration, a proximal extension of the catheter hub is removably coupled within a distal opening of the needle hub. After the catheter is placed, the needle hub is retracted from the catheter adapter to slidably remove the needle from the catheter.

Abstract: A self-slitting open lumen cannula may be used with catheter adapters to reduce manufacturing complexity and costs, as well as improve the safety of the catheter adapters against fluid leakage. The open lumen cannula may also include one or more notches to facilitate flashback visualization. The catheter adapters may further include a catheter adapter body formed of a compliant material that houses one or more compression resistant septa with at least one lumen formed by the proximal end of the needle during a self-slitting process as the catheter adapter is assembled. The compression resistant septum may also be coupled to a compression cap that imparts a radial compression force on the one or more compression resistant septa such that the at least one lumen narrows and seals when the cannula is removed.

Abstract: An IV catheter system may have a catheter component with a catheter hub, a cannula extending distally from the catheter hub, and a push feature adjacent to the catheter hub. The IV catheter system may also have a needle component with a needle hub, a needle extending distally from the needle hub along an axis, and a grip extending from the needle hub, generally parallel to the axis, with a pull feature. In the insertion configuration, the needle may be positioned within the cannula and the distal end of the needle hub may be seated in a needle port of the catheter hub. In the fluid delivery configuration, the needle may be positioned outside the catheter hub. The push and pull features may be positioned to facilitate manipulation with a single hand to move the IV catheter system from an insertion configuration to a fluid delivery configuration.

Abstract: A catheter system may include a catheter hub, a septum disposed within the catheter hub, a catheter tube extending from the catheter hub, a needle hub, and an introducer needle secured within the needle hub. The catheter hub may include a push tab and one or more ribs, which may extend outwardly from an upper surface of the catheter hub. The ribs may be shorter in height than the push tab and/or may be generally parallel to the push tab. The introducer needle may include a flashback notch. In response to insertion of the introducer needle into vasculature, blood may flow into the introducer needle, through the flashback notch, and into a flashback chamber disposed between the septum and the catheter tube. The flashback chamber may be disposed distal to the push tab and the ribs, which may improve visualization of the flashback chamber by a user.