Abstract: Pinch-style clamps can be designed for use in clamping or occluding plastic tubing, such as intravenous tubing. These pinch clamps can include a soft, polymer material applied to various surfaces of the pinch clamp to prevent abrasion or irritation to the patient, increase friction between the pinch clamp and the user operating said pinch clamp, increase friction between engaged surfaces of the pinch clamp to prevent premature or unintended disengagement of the clamp, or increase friction between the outer surfaces of the tubing and the clamping surfaces of the clamp. Various features or components can be employed to prevent lateral disengagement of the pinch clamp. A pinch clamp may also be configured with rounded outer edges to enhance patient comfort.

Abstract: Pinch clamps are provided which generate positive displacement while also preventing rebound. To prevent rebound while providing positive displacement, the upper and lower clamping surfaces may be configured to form a pinch profile along which the tubing is compressed with the pinch point being formed at the distal end of the pinch profile. To further prevent rebound, the lower arm of the pinch clamp can include blocking ribs that interface with the upper clamping surface to prevent distal travelling of the pinch point even if the upper arm is forced into an over-engaged position.

Abstract: Pinch-style clamps can be designed for use in clamping or occluding plastic tubing, such as intravenous tubing. These pinch clamps can include a soft, polymer material applied to various surfaces of the pinch clamp to prevent abrasion or irritation to the patient, increase friction between the pinch clamp and the user operating said pinch clamp, increase friction between engaged surfaces of the pinch clamp to prevent premature or unintended disengagement of the clamp, or increase friction between the outer surfaces of the tubing and the clamping surfaces of the clamp. Various features or components can be employed to prevent lateral disengagement of the pinch clamp. A pinch clamp may also be configured with rounded outer edges to enhance patient comfort.

Abstract: A sealed fluid transfer device comprised of tubing, a proximal fitting, and a distal needle assembly is provided. The needle assembly includes a needle hub secured to a needle cannula. A cantilevered actuator arm extends outwardly from the needle hub having an actuator button at its free end. The needle assembly is disposed in a barrel and can move from a distal position, where the needle is exposed, to a proximal position, where the needle is shielded. The barrel includes a septum which seals the barrel. A spring is disposed in the barrel for propelling the needle assembly to the proximal position. The barrel includes an aperture that receives the actuator button for locking the spring in a compressed condition. Depression of the actuator button enables the spring to propel the needle assembly into its proximal position. A safety mechanism prevents inadvertent depression of the actuator button.

Abstract: Pinch clamps are provided which generate positive displacement while also preventing rebound. To prevent rebound while providing positive displacement, the upper and lower clamping surfaces may be configured to form a pinch profile along which the tubing is compressed with the pinch point being formed at the distal end of the pinch profile. To further prevent rebound, the lower arm of the pinch clamp can include blocking ribs that interface with the upper clamping surface to prevent distal travelling of the pinch point even if the upper arm is forced into an over-engaged position.

Abstract: A method of coupling an extension set hub comprising a blunt cannula, with an infusion set comprising a base, an upper septum, a lower septum, and a septum cap enclosing said upper and lower septa, said septum cap comprising at least one radial port and at least one axial port, the method comprising the steps of affixing said base to a skin surface of a user, moving said extension set hub in a direction substantially parallel to said base until said blunt cannula passes through said radial port and between said upper septum and said lower septum within said septum cap, and rotating said extension set hub about said base until reaching a desired position.

Abstract: A sealed fluid transfer device comprised of tubing, a proximal fitting, and a distal needle assembly is provided. The needle assembly includes a needle hub secured to a needle cannula. A cantilevered actuator arm extends outwardly from the needle hub having an actuator button at its free end. The needle assembly is disposed in a barrel and can move from a distal position, where the needle is exposed, to a proximal position, where the needle is shielded. The barrel includes a septum which seals the barrel. A spring is disposed in the barrel for propelling the needle assembly to the proximal position. The barrel includes an aperture that receives the actuator button for locking the spring in a compressed condition. Depression of the actuator button enables the spring to propel the needle assembly into its proximal position. A safety mechanism prevents inadvertent depression of the actuator button.

Abstract: A catheter device to visually identify a blood vessel may include a cannula. The cannula may include a distal tip, an elongated tubular shaft, and an inner lumen formed by the elongated tubular shaft. The cannula may also include an optical fiber, which may be disposed within the inner lumen of the cannula. The optical fiber may include a distal end and a proximal end. The optical fiber may be configured to emit light from the distal end.

Abstract: A catheter system may include a catheter adapter and a wing extending outwardly from the catheter adapter. The wing may include a groove or slot. The catheter system may include a needle hub and a paddle extending outwardly from the needle hub. The paddle may include an extension disposed within the groove or the slot to reduce axial movement between the catheter adapter and the needle hub, which may be advantageous during insertion of the catheter system into a patient. The extension may be removable from the groove or the slot to allow axial movement between the catheter adapter and the needle hub during removal of the needle hub from the catheter adapter, for example. The paddle and/or the wing may include a shape to reduce axial movement between the catheter adapter and the needle hub, which may also be advantageous during insertion of the catheter system.

Abstract: A catheter device to visually identify a blood vessel may include a cannula. The cannula may include a distal tip, an elongated tubular shaft, and an inner lumen formed by the elongated tubular shaft. The cannula may also include an optical fiber, which may be disposed within the inner lumen of the cannula. The optical fiber may include a distal end and a proximal end. The optical fiber may be configured to emit light from the distal end.

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 protruding outwardly from 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 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: An intravenous delivery system may operate by gravity feed, and may have a liquid source containing a liquid, a drip unit that receives the liquid from the liquid source, and tubing that receives the liquid from the drip unit for delivery to a patient. A flow rate sensor may be used to measure a flow rate of liquid through the intravenous delivery system, and may generate a flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate. A controller may receive the signal, and may compare the flow rate with a desired flow rate. If the flow rate is more or less than the desired flow rate, the controller may transmit a control signal to a flow rate regulator. The flow rate regulator may receive the control signal and, in response, modify the flow rate to bring the flow rate closer to the desired flow rate.

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 protruding outwardly from 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 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.