Abstract: A catheter assembly including one or more conductive pathways to assist with placement of the catheter assembly into a patient's vasculature by enabling ECG signals emanating from the patient's heart to be detected, and a method for reconfirming an initial position of a distal end of a catheter tube of the catheter assembly. The conductive pathways can be configured to reconfirm via ECG signal detection proper placement of the catheter tube at a time subsequent to initial catheter placement into the vasculature. The catheter assembly can include an outer conductive pathway deposited on an outer surface of the catheter tube. The outer conductive pathway can have a distal end located distal to a portion of the catheter tube at a skin insertion site when the catheter tube is inserted into a patient.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including one or more conductive pathways to assist with placement of the catheter assembly into a patient's vasculature by enabling ECG signals emanating from the patient's heart to be detected, and a method for reconfirming an initial position of a distal end of a catheter tube of the catheter assembly. The conductive pathways can be configured to reconfirm via ECG signal detection proper placement of the catheter tube at a time subsequent to initial catheter placement into the vasculature. The catheter assembly can include an outer conductive pathway deposited on an outer surface of the catheter tube. The outer conductive pathway can have a distal end located distal to a portion of the catheter tube at a skin insertion site when the catheter tube is inserted into a patient.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including one or more conductive pathways to assist with placement of the catheter assembly into a patient's vasculature by enabling ECG signals emanating from the patient's heart to be detected. The conductive pathways can be configured to reconfirm via ECG signal detection proper placement of the catheter assembly at a time subsequent to initial catheter placement into the vasculature. The catheter assembly can include a catheter hub, a catheter tube coupled to the catheter hub, the catheter tube including at least one lumen, and an outer conductive pathway disposed on an outer surface of the catheter tube and the hub. The outer conductive pathway can have a distal end located distal to a portion of the catheter tube at a skin insertion site when the catheter tube is inserted into a patient.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including one or more conductive pathways to assist with placement of the catheter assembly into a patient's vasculature by enabling ECG signals emanating from the patient's heart to be detected. The conductive pathways can be configured to reconfirm via ECG signal detection proper placement of the catheter assembly at a time subsequent to initial catheter placement into the vasculature. The catheter assembly can include a catheter hub, a catheter tube coupled to the catheter hub, the catheter tube including at least one lumen, and an outer conductive pathway disposed on an outer surface of the catheter tube and the hub. The outer conductive pathway can have a distal end located distal to a portion of the catheter tube at a skin insertion site when the catheter tube is inserted into a patient.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including one or more conductive pathways is disclosed. The conductive pathways assist with initial placement of the catheter assembly into a patient's vasculature by enabling ECG signals emanating from the patient's heart to be detected. In addition, the conductive pathways are configured to be used to reconfirm via ECG signal detection proper placement of the catheter assembly at a time subsequent to initial catheter placement into the vasculature. In one embodiment, therefore, a catheter assembly is disclosed, comprising an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen, a first conductive pathway extending distally from a proximal point on the catheter assembly to a predetermined distal location on the catheter tube, and a second conductive pathway at least partially disposed on an outer surface of the catheter tube and extending distally from a proximal point of the catheter assembly to a predetermined distal location on the catheter tube.

Abstract: A catheter assembly including one or more conductive pathways is disclosed. The conductive pathways assist with initial placement of the catheter assembly into a patient's vasculature by enabling ECG signals emanating from the patient's heart to be detected. In addition, the conductive pathways are configured to be used to reconfirm via ECG signal detection proper placement of the catheter assembly at a time subsequent to initial catheter placement into the vasculature. In one embodiment, therefore, a catheter assembly is disclosed, comprising an elongate catheter tube defining at least one lumen, a first conductive pathway extending distally from a proximal point on the catheter assembly to a predetermined distal location on the catheter tube, and a second conductive pathway at least partially disposed on an outer surface of the catheter tube and extending distally from a proximal point of the catheter assembly to a predetermined distal location on the catheter tube.

Abstract: A closed-ended catheter assembly that includes an electrically conductive pathway is disclosed. The conductive pathway enables electrical signals, such as ECG signals produced by a patient's heart, to pass through the closed-ended tip of the indwelling catheter while still preventing unintended fluid flow. In one embodiment, therefore, a catheter assembly is disclosed and comprises an elongate catheter tube including a closed distal end. The catheter tube defines at least one lumen and includes a valve defined in the catheter tube that is configured to selectively enable fluids to pass therethrough. The catheter tube includes a conductive element that provides an electrically conductive pathway between the at least one lumen and an exterior portion of the catheter. The conductive element includes a porous material extending between the at least one lumen and the exterior portion of the catheter, the porous material being transmissive to electrical signals and non-permeable to blood.

Abstract: An improved device for use in a conduit, such as a blood vessel, is provided. The device uniquely combines desirable properties from two distinct previous devices. The device of the present invention assumes and is constrained to a first diametrical dimension for insertion into the conduit. Once inserted and properly positioned in the conduit the device expands to a second diametrical dimension within the conduit when the constraint is removed. The device can then be dilated to one or more enlarged third diametrical dimensions by using a balloon catheter or similar device. The result is a device that provides desirable properties of both self-expanding stents and balloon-expandable endoprostheses. The device can be employed in a variety of applications.

Abstract: An improved device for use in a conduit, such as a blood vessel, is provided. The device uniquely combines desirable properties from two distinct previous devices. The device of the present invention assumes and is constrained to a first diametrical dimension for insertion into the conduit. Once inserted and properly positioned in the conduit the device expands to a second diametrical dimension within the conduit when the constraint is removed. The device can then be dilated to one or more enlarged third diametrical dimensions by using a balloon catheter or similar device. The result is a device that provides desirable properties of both self-expanding stents and balloon-expandable endoprostheses. The device can be employed in a variety of applications.