Patents by Inventor Glade H. Howell

Glade H. Howell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220323723
    Abstract: Embodiments of catheter placement systems described herein include a temporary splittable sheath anchor, disposed on an outer surface of a needle. The splittable anchor moves with respect to the needle when accessing the vessel, allowing for a temporary anchor to be created as soon as venous access is confirmed via flashback. The clinician can advance the anchor over the needle once vessel access has been confirmed by flashback. The needle can then be removed without further insertion into the vessel, mitigating accidental trauma. The guidewire can then be introduced through the anchor and advanced to a target location within the vasculature. The anchor can then be removed by splitting and withdrawing the anchor proximally. Embodiments further include a splittable advancement sheath including a guidewire and configured to be drawn thorough a housing and split to allow the guidewire to separate from the advancement sheath and advance into the vasculature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Joe Spataro, Daniel B. Blanchard, Glade H. Howell, Kyle G. Thornley
  • Patent number: 11452848
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a securement device including a retainer defining a channel and at least one mounting wing extending therefrom. The mounting wing extends distally of an insertion site a skin surface adjacent to the insertion site to prevent “rocking” or “pistoning.” The mounting wing further includes channels of reduced thickness configured to impart malleable properties on the mounting wing. This can allow the mounting wing to be shaped to fit different portions of the patient. The retainer further includes various locking and anti-rotational features to guide the catheter into position within the retainer and further prevent “rocking” or “pistoning.” The securement device also includes a protective pad to inhibit abrasions from a medical line, spin nuts, and the like, and includes a clasping feature to retain a portion of the release liner to prevent obstructing ingress/egress of the catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Glade H. Howell
  • Publication number: 20220296862
    Abstract: A needle for accessing a vasculature of a patient is disclosed. The cannula of the needle includes a fluid lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end and a guideway lumen extending proximally away from the distal end. The guideway lumen is configured for placement of a guidewire therein, and the guideway lumen includes a guideway slot extending along a length of the guideway lumen, where the guideway slot extends radially through a guideway-lumen wall and extends along the guideway lumen to the distal end. Also disclosed is a sheath covering the cannula and the sheath includes a separable portion through which guidewire may laterally pass. Also disclosed is a collar rotatably positionable between a guidewire secure position and a guidewire release position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Kyle G. Thornley, Glade H. Howell, Daniel B. Blanchard, Joe Spataro, Austin J. Mckinnon
  • Patent number: 11389257
    Abstract: Medical device kits for use in placing, maintaining, altering, and/or removing medical devices in, on, and/or from the body of a patient are disclosed. Such medical device kits can include one or more wrap assemblies for use in the placement/maintenance procedure. In accordance with present embodiments, the one or more wrap assemblies of the medical device kit can include various features to assist the clinician performing the particular procedure. In one embodiment, a medical wrap assembly is disclosed, comprising a foldable wrap body that includes a front surface, wherein the front surface is configured to define a sterile field. A plurality of pockets is included on the front surface of the wrap body. The pockets are configured to contain therein a plurality of medical components. The medical components are arranged in the pockets in a predetermined order of use for the medical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: C. R. Bard, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Loui, Matthew W. Bown, Glade H. Howell, Jennifer Stryker, Ryan E. Emmerson, Thomas Johnson, Kelly J. Christian
  • Publication number: 20220193377
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”), RICC assemblies, and methods thereof. For example, a RICC can include a catheter tube, a suture wing disposed over a medial portion of the catheter tube, a hub coupled to a proximal portion of the catheter tube, and a number of extension legs extending from the hub. The catheter tube can include a first section in a distal portion of the catheter tube and a second section proximal of the first section. The suture wing can include a projection opposite a patient-facing side of the suture wing and a needle through hole through the projection. The needle through hole can be configured to accept a needle therethrough for insertion of the needle into a primary lumen of the catheter tube, which passes through a catheter-tube through hole through the suture wing. A method of the RICC can include using the RICC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Bryan Haymond, Glade H. Howell
  • Publication number: 20220193379
    Abstract: A section is disclosed for use with a portion assembly. The section can include a solid core section with a distal section having a first diameter, and a proximal section having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter can be greater than the first diameter. The section can include a coil wound around the distal section of the solid core section. The proximal section can have a flexural stiffness that is less than a flexural stiffness of the distal section. A length of the distal section of the section may be shorter than the length of the portion. A length of the proximal section of the section may be longer than the length of the portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: Glade H. Howell
  • Publication number: 20220176082
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are guidewires including a distal section, a proximal section and a middle section disposed between the distal section and the proximal section, wherein the middle section has a flexural stiffness that is greater than a flexural stiffness of both of the distal section and the proximal section. The distal section is configured for insertion into a vasculature of a patient. A diameter of the middle section may be greater than a diameter of the distal section. The guidewires may include a tapered distal transition portion disposed between the distal section and the middle section and a solid core wire extending a length of the guidewire, the solid core wire including a first diameter extending along the distal section, a second diameter extending along the proximal section, and a third diameter extending along the middle section, wherein the third diameter is greater than the first and second diameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Austin J. Mckinnon, Glade H. Howell
  • Publication number: 20220126064
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter placement system with a stiffening system and associated methods thereof. The catheter placement system can include a needle, catheter (e.g. rapid insertion central catheter), one or more guidewires, and a stiffening system, configured to place the catheter while containing portions of the catheter placement system that contact the patient within a sterile environment. Advantageously, the catheter placement system can provide all tools necessary for accessing a vasculature, dilating the insertion site and placing the catheter within a single device, mitigating repeated insertion of multiple tools and reducing the risk of introducing pathogens or the like. Further, the overall time required to place the catheter is reduced, reducing patient down time and improving patient outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Taylor C. Tobin, Jacquelyn N. Phelps, Glade H. Howell, Kyle G. Thornley
  • Publication number: 20220032014
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter placement system including a splittable needle and dilator. The system can include a housing having one or more flexible sections and a pleated section. A user can grasp an elongate medical device using the flexible sections and transition the housing pleated section between an extended and collapsed configuration to urge the elongate medical device proximally or distally. The system can also include a needle retraction mechanism configured to split the needle long a longitudinal axis and roll up the separate portions to allow one or more elongate medical devices to pass therebetween. The system can also include a dilator splitter configured to separate a dilator along a longitudinal axis and radially displace the dilator portions to allow one or more elongate medical devices to pass therebetween. Advantageously, the system can maintain the elongate medical device in a sterile environment, mitigating the introduction of pathogens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Glade H. Howell, Kyle G. Thornley, Zachary S. Hastings, Kent Diasabeygunawardena, Jon B. Taylor, Taylor C. Tobin, Jacquelyn N. Phelps, Daniel Hamilton
  • Publication number: 20220032013
    Abstract: Disclosed are two-piece rapidly insertable central catheter (“RICCs”), introducers, and methods. For example, an introducer and a distal catheter piece of a RICC can be combined in an introducer assembly configured to be actuated with a single finger of a hand while the introducer is held between a thumb and another finger or fingers of the same hand. A catheter-advancement hub of the introducer includes a manifold coupled to a proximal portion of a distal catheter-hub piece of the distal catheter piece. An introducer needle of a syringe of the introducer has a needle shaft extending through the manifold and a distal end of the distal catheter piece. An introducer housing is over a syringe tip, the manifold, and the proximal portion of the distal catheter piece. The introducer housing of the introducer configured to provide column strength to a catheter tube of the distal catheter piece during a venipuncture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Glade H. Howell, Jason R. Stats
  • Publication number: 20220023598
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are integrated catheter-placement devices and methods thereof. An exemplary device includes an intravascular catheter, a needle, an access guidewire, and a blood egress-mitigating means for mitigating blood egress from the device. The intravascular catheter includes a catheter tube and catheter hub. The catheter extends from a body of the device. The needle includes a needle shaft and a needle hub. The needle shaft extends through the catheter tube by way of a catheter-tube lumen thereof. The access guidewire is disposed in a needle lumen of the needle. The blood egress-mitigating means mitigates blood egress from the device by mitigating blood egress from an annular space within the needle shaft while still allowing the access guidewire to axially move within the needle lumen. The annular space is defined by a luminal surface of the needle shaft and a surface of the access guidewire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Lori L. Hartley, Glade H. Howell, Eric W. Lindekugel, Bradley J. VanderStek
  • Publication number: 20220001138
    Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) and methods are disclosed. A RICC can include a first section of a first polymeric material in a distal portion of a catheter tube, a second section of a second polymeric material proximal of the first section, and a tapered junction therebetween. The first polymeric material has a first durometer. The second polymeric material has a second, lesser durometer. The junction is formed of the second polymeric material or a third polymeric material having a third durometer closer to the second durometer than the first durometer. The first section has a proximal portion disposed in a receptacle of the junction. An abluminal surface of a distal portion of the junction smoothly transitions onto an abluminal surface of the proximal portion of the first section without an edge that catches on skin when the RICC is inserted into an insertion site of a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventor: Glade H. Howell
  • Publication number: 20210402153
    Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. A RICC assembly can include a RICC, an introducer, and a coupling system configured to couple the RICC and the introducer together. A catheter tube of the RICC includes a side aperture in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, which opens into an introducing lumen extending to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer includes an introducer needle extending through the distal end of the RICC when the RICC assembly is in at least a ready-to-deploy state thereof. The introducer is configured to be actuated with a single finger of a hand while holding a distal-end portion of the introducer between a thumb and another finger or fingers of the hand. The coupling system includes a distal coupler slidably attached to the catheter tube proximal of the side aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Glade H. Howell, Jason R. Stats
  • Publication number: 20210402085
    Abstract: An insertion device to assist in accessing an access port that has been subcutaneously implanted in the body of a patient is disclosed. The implanted access port is accessed by a needle of a needle assembly, such as a needle-based infusion set. The insertion device may include a body having a stabilizing portion and a guide portion. The stabilizing portion stabilizes a position of the implanted access port when the body is placed on the skin of the patient atop the implanted access port. The guide portion is designed to guide a needle of the needle assembly along a predetermined path such that the needle transcutaneously pierces a septum of the implanted access port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Glade H. Howell, Bradley J. VanderStek, Jeremy B. Cox, Laurie M. Whetstone, Manikantan Shanmugham, Matthew W. Bown, Jason R. Stats, Kenneth W. Sykes
  • Publication number: 20210402149
    Abstract: Disclosed are rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including assemblies and methods thereof. In some embodiments, a RICC assembly includes a RICC and an introducer. The RICC includes a soft catheter tube having an introducing aperture that opens into a primary lumen of the RICC. The introducer includes an introducer catheter including a hard catheter tube having an introducing hole that opens into a single lumen of the introducer catheter. When the RICC assembly is in a ready-to-deploy state thereof, the introducer catheter is disposed in the primary lumen of the RICC such that a distal end of the introducer catheter extends past a distal end of the RICC. In addition, an introducer needle of the introducer is disposed in the introducer catheter through both the introducing aperture and the introducing hole such that a beveled tip of the introducer needle extends past the distal end of the introducer catheter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventor: Glade H. Howell
  • Publication number: 20210402142
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are two-piece catheters and methods thereof. For example, a two-piece catheter can include a proximal catheter piece and a distal catheter piece. The proximal catheter piece includes a proximal catheter-hub piece and one or more extension legs respectively including one or more extension-leg lumens. Each extension leg of the one-or-more extension legs is coupled to the proximal catheter-hub piece by a distal-end portion of the extension leg. The distal catheter piece includes a distal catheter-hub piece and a catheter tube including one or more catheter-tube lumens. The catheter tube is coupled to the distal catheter-hub piece by a proximal-end portion of the catheter tube. The two-piece catheter has a connected state in which the proximal catheter-hub piece is connected to the distal catheter-hub piece such that the one-or-more catheter-tube lumens are respectively fluidly connected to the one-or-more extension-leg lumens across a two-piece catheter hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Glade H. Howell, Jason R. Stats
  • Publication number: 20210361915
    Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. For example, a RICC assembly includes a RICC and an introducer. The RICC includes a catheter tube, a catheter hub, and one or more extension legs coupled in the foregoing order. The catheter tube includes a side aperture that opens into an introducing lumen that extends from at least the side aperture to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer includes a retractable-needle device, a syringe, and a coupling hub that couples the retractable-needle device and the syringe together proximal of the side aperture in a ready-to-deploy state of the RICC assembly. The retractable-needle device includes an introducer needle. A needle tip in a distal-end portion of a shaft of the introducer needle extends beyond the distal end of the RICC when the RICC assembly is in the ready-to-deploy state of the RICC assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Glade H. Howell, Jason R. Stats
  • Publication number: 20210330941
    Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. A RICC assembly can include a RICC, an introducer, and a coupling system configured to couple the RICC and the introducer together. A catheter tube of the RICC includes a side aperture in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, which opens into an introducing lumen extending from the side aperture to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer includes a syringe and an introducer needle having a cannula. The coupling system includes a distal coupler slidably attached to the catheter tube proximal of the side aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Glade H. Howell, Jason R. Stats, Huy Ngoc Tran
  • Publication number: 20210330942
    Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. A RICC assembly can include a RICC, an introducer, and a coupling system configured to couple the RICC and the introducer together. A catheter tube of the RICC can include a side aperture in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube, which opens into an introducing lumen extending from the side aperture to a distal end of the RICC. The introducer can include an introducer needle having a cannula. The coupling system can include a distal coupler slidably attached to the catheter tube proximal of the side aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventor: Glade H. Howell
  • Publication number: 20210322729
    Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) including catheter assemblies and methods thereof are disclosed. A catheter assembly can include an introducer catheter, an introducer needle, and a RICC. The introducer needle can be disposed in an introducer-catheter lumen of the introducer catheter forming an introducer combination. The RICC can include a catheter tube including an introducing lumen with a number of lumens and a side opening through a side of the catheter tube. The introducing lumen extends from a proximal end of the catheter tube to a distal end of the catheter tube. The side opening opens into the introducing lumen in a distal-end portion of the catheter tube. The introducer combination can be disposed through the side opening, along the distal-end portion of the catheter tube within the introducing lumen, and through the distal end of the catheter tube for introducing the RICC into a blood vessel of a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventor: Glade H. Howell