Abstract: Rapidly insertable central-catheter (“RICC”) insertion assemblies and associated methods include valve modules. For example, a RICC insertion assembly can include a RICC, an introducer needle, and an access guidewire coupled together by a coupler in which a valve module is disposed. The introducer needle includes a needle shaft having a longitudinal needle slot and a sheath over the needle shaft sealing the needle slot thereunder except for that under a sheath opening of the sheath. The valve module includes an elastomeric gasket encircling at least a portion of a valve-module compartment of the coupler housing. In a ready-to-deploy state of the RICC insertion assembly, the gasket is compressed in the valve-module compartment around both the introducer needle and the access guidewire where the access guidewire extends from the sheath opening, thereby creating a substantially air-tight space within the gasket around the introducer needle and the access guidewire.

Abstract: An intraosseous access device can include a constant-torque spring assembly disposed in a housing, a drive shaft extending from the housing, and an intraosseous needle coupled to the drive shaft configured to provide intraosseous access to a medullary cavity of a patient. A method of using an intraosseous access device can include inserting a distal end of the intraosseous needle through skin at an insertion site of a patient and applying a contacting force to a bone beneath the insertion site with the distal end of the intraosseous needle. The contacting force can initiate a winding of a metal ribbon of the constant-torque spring assembly from an output spool onto a storage spool, thereby initiating drilling rotation of the intraosseous needle. The method can further include drilling through the bone until the intraosseous needle enters a medullary cavity of the patient.

Abstract: A catheter containment device configured to retain a proximal portion of a catheter placement system, such as a catheter, hub, extension leg, luer lock, or guidewire. The device includes a handle configured to engage a digit of the clinician to couple the device and the proximal portion of a catheter placement system thereto. This allows the clinician to retain the proximal portion within the sterile field without reducing dexterity or obstructing the clinician's view of the insertion site or the catheter placement system. Further the device can allow the clinician to manipulate the proximal portion of the catheter system while mitigating dropping or tangling.

Abstract: A catheter containment system configured for securing a proximal portion of a catheter placement system within a sterile field. This relieves the clinician from holding the proximal portion to prevent them for falling outside of the sterile field. Further, the proximal portion can be secured out of the way from the insertion site providing a clear field of view. Embodiments include a body, having a channel configured to releasably engage an extension leg or guidewire, and a securement feature to secure the body to a portion of a drape or similar item of the sterile field. Exemplary securement features can include clips, clasps, pins, magnetic elements, adhesives, twist ties, zip ties, snap fasteners, hook and loop attachments, mechanical grasping devices or adhesive pads. The system can further include anchor tabs that can be adhered to the drape to provide an anchor point.

Abstract: Constant-torque intraosseous access devices and methods thereof are disclosed. An intraosseous access device can include a constant-torque spring assembly disposed in a housing, a drive shaft extending from the housing, and an intraosseous needle coupled to the drive shaft configured to provide intraosseous access to a medullary cavity of a patient. A method of such an intraosseous access device can include inserting a distal end of the intraosseous needle through skin at an insertion site of a patient; applying force to bone at the insertion site with the distal end of the intraosseous needle, which starts winding a metal ribbon of the constant-torque spring assembly from an output spool onto a storage spool, thereby starting rotation of the intraosseous needle; and drilling through the bone until the intraosseous needle enters a medullary cavity of the patient, thereby achieving intraosseous access with the intraosseous access device.

Abstract: Introducer needles can be used with rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) or even other central venous catheters (“CVCs”). An introducer needle can include a needle shaft, a sheath, and a needle hub. The needle shaft can include a needle slot extending from a proximal portion of the needle shaft through a distal needle tip. The sheath can be disposed over the needle shaft and fixed in location thereon. The sheath can seal the needle slot under the sheath but for a sheath opening in a proximal portion of the sheath. The needle hub can be around at least the proximal portion of the needle shaft. The introducer needle can be made by creating the needle slot in the needle shaft such as by cutting or grinding the needle slot therein, disposing the sheath over the needle shaft, and fixing the sheath on the needle shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are intraosseous access devices having various operating mechanisms, as well as methods of the intraosseous access devices. For example, an intraosseous access device includes, in some embodiments, a constant-torque spring assembly, a drive shaft, an intraosseous needle, and an interlock mechanism. The constant-torque spring assembly is disposed in a housing, and the drive shaft extends from the housing. The drive shaft is coupled to the constant-torque spring assembly. The intraosseous needle is coupled to the drive shaft. The intraosseous needle is configured for drilling through bone and providing intraosseous access to a medullary cavity of a patient. The interlock mechanism is configured to prevent rotation of the intraosseous needle and the drilling therewith until the interlock mechanism is disengaged.

Abstract: Devices and methods for an autovance intraosseous device. The autovance intraosseous device can include a trigger activated system or pressure activated system that causes a needle to advance distally for a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance ensures a needle tip extends through the bone cortex, to access the medullary cavity, without penetrating a far wall of the medullary cavity. The advancement can be driven by a spring based system or an electric motor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are couplers and assemblies thereof for rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”). For example, an introducer-needle assembly for a RICC can include an introducer needle and a coupler coupled therewith. The introducer needle can include a needle having a longitudinal needle slot extending from a proximal portion of the needle shaft through a distal needle tip. A sheath can be over the needle shaft sealing the needle slot thereunder except for a portion of the needle slot under a sheath opening in a proximal portion of the sheath. A needle hub can include a distally extending needle-hub extension arm over the proximal portions of the needle shaft and sheath. The needle hub can also include a needle-hub portion of a RICC clip configured to hold a portion of the RICC therein. The coupler can include a complementary coupler portion of the RICC clip connected to a coupler housing.

Abstract: Disclosed are compact rapidly insertable central catheter (“RICC”) insertion assemblies and methods. For example, a RICC insertion assembly can include a RICC, an introducer assembly, an access guidewire, and a coupler coupling together the RICC and the introducer assembly. The RICC can include a catheter tube, a catheter hub, and one or more extension legs connected in the foregoing order. The introducer assembly can include an introducer needle coupled to a syringe. The introducer needle can include a needle-hub through hole passing through a needle hub and connecting to a needle-shaft lumen of a needle shaft. The access guidewire can include a proximal portion disposed in the RICC and a distal portion disposed in the needle-shaft lumen through the needle-hub through hole. The coupler can enforce a loop in the access guidewire over which the catheter tube follows, thereby compacting the RICC insertion assembly and making it easier to handle.

Abstract: Disclosed are insertion assemblies of rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) and methods thereof. For example, a RICC insertion assembly can include a RICC, an introducer needle, an access guidewire, and a coupler assembly coupling the foregoing together. The introducer needle can include a needle hub over both a sheath and a needle shaft. The sheath can seal a needle slot except for that under a sheath opening. A distal end of the access guidewire can be disposed in the introducer needle just proximal of a needle tip. The coupler assembly can include a nose piece and a tail piece coupled together. The tail piece can include an extension arm by which a proximal end of the access guidewire is held. The access guidewire can enforce a loop in the access guidewire over which the RICC is disposed, thereby keeping the RICC insertion assembly in a relatively compact form.

Abstract: Disclosed are splittable sealing modules for insertion assemblies of rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”) and methods thereof. A RICC insertion assembly can include a RICC, an introducer needle, an access guidewire, and a coupler coupling the RICC and the introducer needle together. The introducer needle can include a proximal portion of a sealing-module insert coupled to a distal portion of a needle hub. The coupler can include a coupler housing including a sealing-module cavity and a distal portion of the sealing-module insert disposed in the sealing-module cavity. The sealing-module cavity and the proximal and distal portions of the sealing-module insert form a splittable sealing module of the RICC insertion assembly. The splittable sealing module can be configured to separately seal around the introducer needle and the access guidewire disposed therein when the proximal and distal portions of the sealing-module insert are compressed in the sealing-module cavity.

Abstract: Devices and methods for an autovance intraosseous device. The autovance intraosseous device can include a trigger activated system or pressure activated system that causes a needle to advance distally for a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance ensures a needle tip extends through the bone cortex, to access the medullary cavity, without penetrating a far wall of the medullary cavity. The advancement can be driven by a spring based system or an electric motor.

Abstract: Rapidly insertable central catheters (“RICCs”), introducers, and insertion devices including combinations and methods thereof are disclosed. For example, a RICC system can include an introducer and a RICC insertion assembly including a RICC assembly disposed in a RICC insertion device. The RICC assembly can include a RICC, an access guidewire, and a splittable casing over a catheter tube of the RICC and the access guidewire forming a longitudinal composite. The RICC insertion device can include a frame and a nose cover forming a split channel that splits away from a through channel of a nose of the frame. The RICC insertion device can be configured for advancing the RICC assembly by rolling the longitudinal composite across roller wheels disposed in the frame. The through channel can be configured for advancing the catheter tube therethrough while the split channel can be configured for both splitting and passing the splittable casing therethrough.

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.

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.

Abstract: Elongate blood flash flow paths can be detrimental to the operation of catheter placement systems by delaying the indication time, reducing the efficacy of the vacuum, or increasing the chance of clotting. Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to catheter placement systems with reduced blood flash fluid paths, including blood flash indicators having a proximally slidable syringe barrel and plunger that is fixedly attached to the system housing. By reversing the operation of the blood flash indicator syringe, the clinician maintains the advantages of a visual and tactile feedback while shortening the blood flow path between the needle tip and syringe barrel. Also disclosed is a needle interface structure configured to further shorten the blood flash fluid path.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to catheter placement systems including distally extendable support devices. When placing elongate catheters advanced insertion systems are required to maintain a “touch-free” insertion. Further longer needles are desirable to access deeper veins or penetrate deeper surface tissues. Distally extendable support devices provide columnar support to one of the elongate catheter or the needle to prevent buckling or kinking of the catheter, and maintain the needle tip within a predetermined bending arm distance. This prevents the user from contacting one of the needle or the catheter directly to provide additional support, maintaining a “touch-free” insertion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter, which in some embodiments includes a distal section configured to enter a skin insertion site. The distal section can include a tapered junction having one or more dilation structures configured to dilate the skin insertion site. The distal section can further include a distal portion extending from a distal end of the tapered junction, the distal portion having a diameter smaller than a proximal portion of the catheter. In combination, the tapered junction, the one or more dilation structures, and the specific actions of the user urging the catheter into the insertion site can result in an improved fit of the catheter in the insertion site.

Abstract: A mechanical dilator is disclosed, which can include a first arm coupled to a second arm by a fulcrum, the first arm and the second arm cooperatively defining a lock and stop mechanism configured to limit lateral movement of the first arm with respect to the second arm. The mechanical dilator can further include a dilator body having a first side extending from the first arm and a second side extending from the second arm, where the fulcrum is configured to translate lateral movement of the first arm relative to the second arm to lateral movement of the first side relative to the second side.