Abstract: A vascular access system may include an introducer needle, which may include a sharp distal tip, a proximal end, and an introducer needle lumen. The vascular access system may include a sensing probe slidably disposed within the introducer needle lumen. A distal end of the sensing probe may include one or more sensors and may be disposed within the introducer needle lumen in an initial configuration. The introducer needle may be configured to retract in response to the distal end of the sensing probe being advanced beyond the sharp distal tip. A method may include inserting the introducer needle into a vein or an artery of a patient, advancing the distal end of the sensing probe beyond the sharp distal tip such that the introducer needle is retracted, and the sensing probe remains in the vein or the artery, and receiving sensor data from the one or more sensors.

Abstract: Provided herein is a vascular access device that includes a catheter insertion apparatus and a needleless access connector unit. The catheter insertion apparatus includes a housing defining a passage, a needle slideably mounted within the passage and defining a needle lumen, and a catheter assembly having a frame and a catheter coupled to the frame, with the frame sliding within the housing to advance the catheter within the needle lumen. The catheter insertion apparatus is operable in an initial configuration where the needle extends distally from the housing and the catheter is proximally retracted within the needle lumen, and in an actuated configuration where the needle is retracted back into the passage of the housing and the catheter extends distally from the housing. The needleless access connector unit is positioned at a proximal end of the frame of the catheter assembly and provides an access port to the catheter.

Abstract: A blood collection device may include a syringe with hemolysis protection. The syringe with hemolysis protection may be coupled to a catheter assembly and used for blood draw. The blood collection device may include the syringe, which may include a distal end, and a flow restrictor. The flow restrictor may include a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of the flow restrictor may be coupled to the distal end of the syringe, which may protect against hemolysis.

Abstract: A bi-directional cannula feature capture mechanism is described herein. Generally, the capture mechanism comprises an inner housing, an outer housing, and a cannula. The inner housing comprises a proximal and a distal cannula feature mating component. The outer housing is adapted to slidably receive the inner housing in a proximal direction. Additionally, the cannula extends through the inner housing and the cannula's feature has a proximal engagement and a distal engagement. The proximal and distal engagements are respectively configured to irreversibly engage the proximal and distal cannula feature mating components when the cannula tip is moved into a shielded position.

Abstract: A catheter may include a catheter body, which may include a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen formed by an inner wall of the catheter body that extends between the proximal end and the distal end along a longitudinal axis. The distal end of the catheter body may include a distal lumen opening disposed on the longitudinal axis. The distal end may also include a leading edge. The leading edge may form the distal lumen opening and may include an upper and a lower portion. The lower portion of the leading edge may be disposed distally to the upper portion of the leading edge.

Abstract: A system for accessing a patient's vascular system may have a tube with a wall that defines an exterior surface and lumen with a proximal end and a distal end, and a guidewire that is deployable, by sliding distally, from a retracted position in which the guidewire resides in the lumen, to a deployed position in which the guidewire extends beyond the distal end. The system may further have a retraction mechanism that can be actuated to retract the guidewire from the deployed position to the retracted position, or a protective shield that can be actuated to extend distally from the distal end of the tube to cover the guidewire in the deployed position.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter system may include a catheter adapter, which may be integrated. The intravenous catheter system may also include a housing coupled to a proximal end of the catheter adapter, an introducer needle having a proximal end, a distal tip, and a needle lumen extending between the proximal end of the introducer needle and the distal tip, a guidewire disposed within the housing and the needle lumen, and a guidewire advancement element. The housing may include a proximal end, a distal end, and a slot. A proximal end of the introducer needle may be secured within the housing. The guidewire advancement element may extend through the slot and be moveable along the slot in a distal direction to move the guidewire from a retracted position to an advanced position, in which the guidewire may extend beyond the distal tip.

Abstract: A catheter system may include a catheter assembly and a needle assembly. The catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen, and a side port. The catheter assembly may include a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter and an extension tube. A distal end of the extension tube may be integrated with the side port of the catheter adapter. The needle assembly may include a needle safety element, which may be disposed within the safety housing or the catheter adapter. The needle assembly may include a guidewire advancement device coupled to the safety housing or the catheter adapter, and an introducer needle having a proximal end coupled to the guidewire advancement device.

Abstract: Vascular access systems and methods are provided for ultrasound monitoring. A vascular access system can include a vascular access device, an ultrasound assembly, a securement dressing, a base unit, and one or more monitoring devices. The ultrasound assembly can include an ultrasound probe that can be positioned overtop a catheter that is inserted into a patient's vasculature. Images from the ultrasound probe can be processed to generate parameters representing status, events, or other information about the catheter. Display content including the images and the parameters can be provided to the monitoring devices.

Abstract: Vascular access systems and methods are provided for ultrasound monitoring and integrated sensor array. A vascular access system can include a vascular access device, an ultrasound assembly, a securement dressing, a base unit, and one or more monitoring devices. The ultrasound assembly can include an ultrasound probe that can be positioned overtop a catheter that is inserted into a patient's vasculature and can be configured to allow one or more sensors to be integrated. Images from the ultrasound probe and readings from the one or more sensors can be processed to generate parameters representing status, events, or other information about the catheter. Display content including the images and the parameters can be provided to the monitoring devices.

Abstract: A vascular access device may include a housing, which may include a proximal end, a distal end, and a slot. The distal end of the housing may be configured to be coupled to a catheter assembly. The vascular access device may also include an instrument disposed within the housing. The instrument may include a catheter or a probe. The instrument may include a proximal end and a distal tip. The proximal end of the instrument may extend through the slot and may be configured to move along the slot to move the instrument from a proximal position to a distal position. In response to movement of the proximal end of the instrument from the proximal position to the distal position, the catheter may be advanced beyond the distal end of the housing into the catheter assembly and/or vasculature of a patient.

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 device for accommodating and magnetizing a tissue-penetrating medical device of various lengths, with or without a cover covering a portion or the entirety of the tissue-penetrating medical device, is disclosed including a sleeve member having an open proximal end, a distal end, an inner surface, an outer surface having a graduated injection depth gauge to indicate needle penetration depth when the cover is placed into a magnetizer, and a hollow body extending between the proximal end and the distal end to form a protective closure over a shaft of a tissue-penetrating medical device. A device having one or more magnetizing elements sectioned into a plurality of movable segments pivoting around an axis to accommodate needles with different lengths is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a device having one or more magnetizing means mounted on a movable element to magnetize needles of various lengths.

Abstract: Portable ultrasound systems and methods, the portable ultrasound system can include a handheld computer, a case holding the handheld computer, a probe head coupled to the case, and a communicating means for communicating between the probe head and the handheld computer. The handheld computer can include a display. The case can include an anterior opening framing the display of the handheld computer. The case can include a rechargeable battery integrated into the case opposite the anterior opening. The probe head can include an array of ultrasonic transducers powered by the battery.

Abstract: A delivery device for delivering an instrument into a catheter assembly may include a syringe, which may include a barrel and a plunger movable within the barrel. The plunger may include a handle and a stopper coupled to a distal end of the handle. The stopper may include a channel. The delivery device may include a guidewire disposed within the barrel and extending through the channel. In response to depression of the plunger, the guidewire may move through the channel and a first end of the guidewire may be advanced in the distal direction. A second end of the guidewire may be fixed.

Abstract: Inserts can be formed with elution characteristics to cause the inserts to elute an antimicrobial agent when subject to a fluid within a medical device. An insert can be formed with a desired geometry to allow the insert to be compression fit within a medical device to prevent the insert from moving or becoming dislodged once inserted into the medical device. The material may also be hygroscopic so that the insert swells when subject to a fluid thereby enhancing the compression fit of the device within the medical device. In some cases, the material can be reinforced using an internal structure. Inserts can be formed in many ways including by casting, thermoforming, or extrusion. In some cases, the inserts can be formed using a peel-away sleeve or material. The peel-away sleeves can be formed of a non-sticky material which facilitates removal of the inserts once the inserts have cured.

Abstract: A catheter system may include a catheter adapter, which may include a side port. The catheter system may include a catheter, a first extension tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and a second extension tube having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the first extension tube may be integrated with the side port of the catheter adapter. The catheter system may include an access connector, which may include a distal port, a proximal port, and a side port. The proximal end of the first extension tube may be integrated with the distal port of the access connector. The distal end of the second extension tube may be integrated with the side port of the access connector. The first extension tube may be shorter than the second extension tube.

Abstract: A patency indicator for use with an arterial line may include a body, which may include a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end may include a luer adapter. The second end may be closed. The patency indicator may include a transparent portion between the first end and the second end. The patency indicator may include an air vent disposed within the body between the first end and the second end. The air vent may be configured to pass air and not blood. In response to arterial blood entering the lumen at the first end, an air pocket is configured to form between the second end and the air vent, and the transparent portion is configured to align with a leading edge of the arterial blood for visualization of the leading edge of the arterial blood.

Abstract: A catheter system may include a catheter adapter, which may include a side port. The catheter system may include a catheter, and an extension tube having a distal end and a proximal end. The catheter system may include a three-port connector, which may include a distal port, a proximal port, and a side port. The proximal end of the catheter adapter may be coupled to the distal port of the three-port connector. The distal end of the extension tube may be integrated with the side port of the three-port connector.

Abstract: Provided herein is a medical device, including an instrument having a proximal end and a distal end, an introducer configured to moveably receive the instrument and having and outer housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall therebetween defining an inner volume and an inner housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a sidewall therebetween defining an inner volume, the inner housing slidably received within the outer housing, the distal end of the introducer configured to couple the introducer to an intravenous line. The inner housing is configured to move relative to the outer housing to move the instrument between a first position and a second position.