Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducing device includes a barrel, a tubular grip member disposed to hold a tubular member and a needle seat to permit a tip end of a needle cannula to extend forwardly of the barrel, a tubular plunger movable along a passage of the barrel, and a tubular receptacle retained in the plunger. Forward movement of the plunger permits engagement of a socket end of the receptacle with the rear plug portion of the tubular member and release of the grip member from the barrel such that the needle cannula can be retracted into the plunger. The tubular member has a pre-chamber so that flashback blood flowing thereinto is visible.

Abstract: An IV catheter introducer having a retractable needle holder and a tubular plunger that are held by a detent structure in a preferred positional relationship prior to and during insertion of the catheter. Following insertion, the plunger is pushed past the detent structure, permitting a compressed spring to force the needle holder upwardly into the plunger. A vented end cap in the plunger permits rapid venting of air displaced during retraction of the needle holder. The needle holder includes a flash chamber that is easily viewable through a clear plastic housing. Wings are provided on the housing to facilitate one-handed operation of the device. A method for assembling the subject catheter introducer is also disclosed.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter introducing device includes a barrel, a tubular grip member disposed to hold a needle seat in a position of use so as to permit a tip end of a needle cannula to extend forwardly of the barrel, a tubular plunger which is movable along a passage of the barrel, and a tubular receptacle which is retained in an accommodation compartment of the tubular plunger and which has socket and air-permeable ends and a flashback chamber. When the plunger is pressed forwardly to permit engagement of the socket end with a rear plug portion of the needle seat and to release the grip member from the barrel, a rearward movement of the needle seat by virtue of a biasing force of a biasing member will force the receptacle to move rearwardly so as to retract the needle cannula into the passage.

Abstract: A needle assembly for introducing an indwelling catheter into a blood vessel of a patient is disclosed. The needle assembly is provided with a handle having an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve coaxially fixed to the outer sleeve, and a gap between the outer sleeve and the inner sleeve; a hollow needle configured to pierce the patient to guide the catheter into the blood vessel; a needle hub fixed to the needle and movably fit in the handle, which is temporarily retained at a first position where the needle is exposed out of the handle and biased to move toward a second position where the needle retracts in the handle; a release configured to releasably retain the needle hub at the first position; and a passageway composed of a first through hole penetrating the inner sleeve and a second through hole penetrating the needle hub.

Abstract: An extravascular system for accessing the vasculature of a patient may include a catheter assembly and an internal construct within the catheter assembly. At least one fluid flow space may exist between the internal construct and the catheter assembly.

Abstract: A catheter appliance having a catheter in fluid communication with a luer connector is releasably secured to a catheter applicator having a track for slidably mounting a needle carrier module. The needle carrier module includes a hypodermic which extends through the catheter for insertion and which is in fluid communication with a flashback indicator on the module. The catheter applicator includes a needle cavity for containing the hypodermic needle after use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular blood containment that allows a user to determine whether a blood vessel has been accessed and which provides access to the vessel. The vascular blood containment device includes a compression seal having increased reliability. The seal permits the passage of gas but prevents the passage of liquid. A valve providing access to a blood vessel through the blood containment device is configured to conform to an inner profile formed around a bore of the distal end of the outer housing. The configuration of the device permits the blood containment chamber to fill properly when the distal end of the blood containment device is positioned below the proximal end of the device.

Abstract: The needle assembly is provided with the housing, an IV cannula for accessing a blood vessel and a non-patient cannula for communication with an evacuated tube. A flashback chamber is provided in the housing at or near the distal end of the housing. A shield is hinged to a portion of the housing proximally of the entrance to the flashback chamber. As a result, good visibility of the flashback chamber is achieved. After use, the shield can be rotated into a closed position for surrounding the IV cannula and avoiding accidental needle sticks.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sheath based puncture locator and depth indicator. The present invention provides for locating a blood vessel puncture site and determining the depth of the puncture of the blood vessel extravascularly using the introducer sheath that is already in place within the tissue tract. The present invention also provide for positioning the introducer sheath extravascularly or outside the blood vessel, controlling the blood vessel puncture site, and delivering a hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site.

Abstract: A safety, over-the-needle midline catheter, designed generally for insertion distal to the antecubital crease to be threaded proximally to a site just distal to the axilla. An accompanying safety apparatus is employed which permits only proximal displacement of an associated needle cannula into a safety housing. The catheter has an internal lumen of constant diameter and a proximally disposed taper which in conjunction with the constant internal diameter, provides a wall thickness which effectively resists kinking and associated closure of said lumen which might result from bending of an elbow when a portion of the catheter is disposed at the cubital crease. A butterfly is disclosed which has a collet having a superiorly disposed slit and lips associated with the slit which are sufficiently thin and supple to permit the catheter to be separated from the collet (and butterfly) while wings of the butterfly are disposed upon skin of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structure and mechanism for retaining and locking a piercing needle in a non-movable position on-demand while positioned co-axially within a hollow cannula in an intravenous catheter assembly. The needle restraining mechanism prevents accidental and inadvertent rearward movement of the piercing needle during the initial and any subsequent attempts to pierce and intravenously cannulate a blood vessel successfully in-vivo.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vascular blood containment that allows a user to determine whether a blood vessel has been accessed and which provides access to the vessel. The vascular blood containment device includes a compression seal having increased reliability. The seal permits the passage of gas but prevents the passage of liquid. A valve providing access to a blood vessel through the blood containment device is configured to conform to an inner profile formed around a bore of the distal end of the outer housing. The configuration of the device permits the blood containment chamber to fill properly when the distal end of the blood containment device is positioned below the proximal end of the device.

Abstract: A sealed sterile intravenous catheter and needle assembly providing a substantially closed and sterile environment. The sealed sterile intravenous catheter is removably secured to a needle assembly and includes a tubular catheter portion, a catheter nozzle portion, and a gel cap portion aligned axially about a central axis to form a sealed flow passageway therethru. The gel cap portion includes a hollow gel cap hub having a gel cap formed of an elastic material to substantially seal the gel cap portion of the sealed catheter. Additionally, the needle assembly includes a needle configured to matingly cooperate with the sealed catheter assembly and pierce through the gel cap and sealed flow passageway of the sealed catheter assembly in a fully extended position. The needle will also be structured to fully retract for safe disposal after use.

Abstract: A safety, over-the-needle midline catheter, designed generally for insertion distal to the antecubital crease to be threaded proximally to a site just distal to the axilla. An accompanying safety apparatus is employed which permits only proximal displacement of an associated needle cannula into a safety housing. The catheter has an internal lumen of constant diameter and a proximally disposed taper which in conjunction with the constant internal diameter, provides a wall thickness which effectively resists kinking and associated closure of said lumen which might result from bending of an elbow when a portion of the catheter is disposed at the cubital crease. A butterfly is disclosed which has a collet having a superiorly disposed slit and lips associated with the slit which are sufficiently thin and supple to permit the catheter to be separated from the collet (and butterfly) while wings of the butterfly are disposed upon skin of a patient.

Abstract: An intravenous catheter inserting device includes a catheter hub engaging an open forward end of a barrel and having a duct that communicates with a passage of the barrel. A tubular catheter is disposed to communicate with the duct, and permits a needle cannula to pass therethrough. A plunger is received in the passage and extends rearwardly of the barrel so as to be manually operable. The plunger has a cavity containing fluid at a reduced pressure, and is coupled with the needle cannula within the passage such that the needle cannula can be retracted into the cavity due to a pressure difference between the ambient air and the reduced pressure.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet end, a fluid outlet end and a flashback chamber therebetween. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. The external end of the outlet cannula is covered by a sealable sleeve. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a sheath based puncture locator and depth indicator. The present invention provides for locating a blood vessel puncture site and determining the depth of the puncture of the blood vessel extravascularly using the introducer sheath that is already in place within the tissue tract. The present invention also provide for positioning the introducer sheath extravascularly or outside the blood vessel, controlling the blood vessel puncture site, and delivering a hemostasis promoting material to a blood vessel puncture site.

Abstract: The needle assembly is provided with the housing, an IV cannula for accessing a blood vessel and a non-patient cannula for communication with an evacuated tube. A flashback chamber is provided in the housing at or near the distal end of the housing. A shield is hinged to a portion of the housing proximally of the entrance to the flashback chamber. As a result, good visibility of the flashback chamber is achieved. After use, the shield can be rotated into a closed position for surrounding the IV cannula and avoiding accidental needle sticks.

Abstract: An arrangement used in connection with the withdrawal of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) from a spinal column comprising a hub having a chamber therein for receiving CSF; a cannula being coupled to the hub to permit communication of CSF with the hub, the cannula having a first end securable within the hub and a second end dimensioned to permit withdrawal of CSF from a spinal column; wherein the hub includes walls forming an opening therebetween, and wherein a arcuately shaped magnifier is disposed within the opening, wherein the magnifier includes edges that extend below the top surface of the walls of the hub such that at least a portion of the curved outer surface of the magnifier extends below the top surface of the walls of the hub; whereby the magnifier can be positioned in close proximity to the chamber to improve magnification of the CSF as it enters the chamber and decrease the recognition time from when the CSF first enters the chamber of the hub.

Abstract: An introducing apparatus is provided which includes an elongate tubular sheath extending from a sheath proximal end to a sheath distal end. The sheath has a bore sized to receive a dilator therethrough. The sheath further includes at least one tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath. The dilator extends from a dilator proximal end to a dilator distal end. The introducing apparatus further includes a needle disposed within the dilator, and retractably coupled with the dilator. A distal end of the needle is flexible.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an improved spinal needle. A needle hub is disposed about a proximate end of a hollow needle. The needle hub side port indicators provide visual and tactual verification by a user of the orientation of the side port on the needle. The needle hub also includes a window with a magnified view. The invention provides a stylet cap disposed about a proximate end of a stylet that freely slides inside the hollow needle and needle hub. The stylet cap forms a pressure fit with the needle hub, and can be engaged in the pressure fit from any axial orientation.

Abstract: A flash chamber having a self-closing valve for use with a catheter is described. The flash chamber, which is connected to the catheter, precludes blood leakage as a needle is removed from the catheter and an IV unit is coupled to the catheter. The flash chamber permits the practitioner to visually verify that a blood vessel has been punctured and includes a self-sealing valve that prevents blood from flowing out of the flash chamber as the needle is removed and the IV unit is attached.

Abstract: An apparatus related to an intravascular device that includes a housing coupled to a needle is claimed. A solid blunting member is coaxially nestled in the needle. An aperture or opening, located at a distal end of a side of the needle, is configured to allow fluid to flow into a space located between the needle and the catheter.

Abstract: The needle assembly of the present invention includes a transparent or translucent housing having a fluid inlet end defined by a cylindrical exterior wall. The wall delineates an annular flashback chamber within the housing for retention of a fluid sample therein. The wall further includes a transparent or translucent construction or assimilation of a sealed window or port therein to allow immediate visualization of a fluid in the chamber.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention a method is provided for making a combination hub and catheter. A material is molded into a body having at least a first hub, and at least a first nose extending from the first hub. The first nose is then elongated into a catheter.

Abstract: A intravenous catheter device having a biased spring hard needle, disposed in a soft catheter. The biased spring hard needle is held within an elongated hollow barrel wherein the biased spring hard needle is extended past the first end of the soft catheter, and is further disposed in the inside of the soft catheter and further extends past the first end of the elongated hollow barrel wherein the biased spring hard needle is pulled into an almost straight line wherein the second end of the biased spring hard needle is fixed to an end cap at the second end of the elongated hollow barrel. The biased spring hard needle is held within the soft catheter and the elongated hollow barrel by an inclined plane latching device.