CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority from Indian Patent Application No. 3088/DEL/2013
dated October 17, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference5 .
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus comprising a
10 tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle defining an axial
direction and having a needle shaft and a needle tip at a distal end of the needle
shaft, wherein the needle shaft extends through the catheter such that the needle
tip protrudes from the distal end of the tubular catheter, and wherein the needle
shaft comprises an engagement means adapted to engage with a needle guard
15 slidably arranged on the needle shaft in order to prevent the needle guard from
sliding off the needle tip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
20 An intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus of this kind is generally known and, for
example, used to administer medicine to a patient or to take blood from a patient.
In use, the tubular catheter is inserted into a blood vessel of the patient, typically a
vein, by means of the needle which will be withdrawn from the catheter after
25 insertion of the tubular catheter into the blood vessel. When the needle tip enters
the blood vessel, blood flows through a lumen of the needle into a needle hub
provided at a proximal end of the needle, where it can be observed by the person
handling the catheter apparatus. The event of blood entering the needle hub is
called blood flashback and is used by the person handling the catheter apparatus
30 to confirm venipuncture, from which point on the person inserts the catheter as far
as desired under a decreased inclination of the needle in order to not puncture the
back wall of the blood vessel.
3
In the case of delayed blood flashback there is a risk that the person handling the
catheter apparatus continues to push the needle into the blood vessel under the
increased original inclination of the needle until it exits at the rear side of the blood
vessel. This second venipuncture represents a risk to the health of the patient as 5 s it
may result in inner bleeding. Apart from that the catheter apparatus will have to be
removed and replaced by a new one, i.e. the process of introducing the catheter
will have to be repeated which is unpleasant and painful to the patient.
10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus
which allows for safer and more reliable placement of the catheter in the patient’s
blood vessel.
15
This object is satisfied by an intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus comprising: a
tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end mounted to a catheter
hub; a needle defining an axial direction having a needle shaft with a needle tip at
a distal end and a needle hub mounted to the proximal end of the needle shaft;
20 and a needle guard arranged movably on the needle shaft, wherein said needle
shaft extends through said tubular catheter such that said needle tip of said
needle protrudes from said distal end of said tubular catheter, and wherein said
needle shaft is provided with an engagement means adapted to engage with the
said needle guard in order to prevent said needle guard from sliding off said
25 needle tip, and at least one lateral opening covered by said tubular catheter.
The at least one lateral opening provides communication between a lumen of the
needle and an interior of the tubular catheter. In the event of first venipuncture
blood entering the lumen of the needle can exit the needle through the lateral
30 opening and thus become visible for the person handling. The at least one lateral
opening is preferably large enough in order to provide an early blood flashback
function within the tubular catheter such that the practitioner can recognize that he
4
has placed the needle correctly within a patient's vein. In case of a correct
positioning of the needle, blood pours out of the opening within the needle shaft
into the space between the needle shaft and the inner wall of the transparent
tubular catheter and is visible to the practitioner. Preferably, the at least one
lateral opening is positioned close to the needle tip so that the blood does no5 t
have to travel the length of the needle to enter the needle hub in order to become
visible. Instead, blood entering the lumen of the needle upon venipuncture partly
exits the needle again near the needle tip, thereby becoming particularly quickly
and, thus, allowing for particularly fast venipuncture confirmation.
10
The needle guard may comprise a base portion having a needle passage
extending in an axial direction from a proximal side of the base portion through the
base portion to a distal side of the base portion; first and second arms extending
substantially in the axial direction from the distal side of the base portion; and a
15 distal wall which is transversely arranged at a distal region of the first arm.
Furthermore, the needle guard may include a stopping element which is arranged
in the needle guard, in particular, which is received in a recess provided in the
needle guard for stopping movement of the needle shaft relative to the said
20 needle guard. The stopping element may be made of a material different from the
material of the base portion and has a through-bore with a profile which is adapted
to the principal outer profile of the needle shaft. In the case of e.g. circular crosssections,
a diameter of the through-bore can be slightly larger than a principal
outer diameter of the needle. The stopping element may be formed by a washer
25 integrally formed within the base portion.
In order to allow a trouble free movement of the needle relative to the needle
guard when the needle is withdrawn from the tubular catheter, the lateral opening
is preferably arranged on the needle shaft such that it does not come into the path
30 of the first and second arms of the needle guard in the axial direction. In particular,
the lateral opening is arranged on the needle shaft such that it does not come into
the path in the axial direction of the distal wall of the first arm when the needle is
5
withdrawn from the tubular catheter. This arrangement ensures that the first and
second arm of the needle guard do not get stuck or engage with the lateral
opening when the needle is withdrawn from the tubular catheter. In particular, this
arrangement ensures that distal wall of the first arm does not get stuck or engages
with the lateral opening when the needle is withdrawn from the tubular catheter5 .
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the engagement means is
arranged between the at least one lateral opening and the needle tip.
10 An arrangement of the engagement means between the at least one lateral
opening and the needle tip is particularly advantageous if the profile forming the
inner diameter of the tubular catheter decreases in the axial direction, thus
forming a tapered distal end of the tubular catheter which tightly surrounds the
needle shaft. If the lateral opening were covered by the tapered distal end of the
15 tubular catheter in this case, there would be a risk that the tapered distal end of
the tubular catheter may hinder and/or obstruct the flow of blood from entering the
gap between the needle shaft and the tubular catheter. Accordingly, the
arrangement of the at least one lateral opening proximally from the engagement
means ensures that the blood entering the gap between the needle shaft and the
20 tubular catheter easily spreads in the gap due to capillary action and can be seen
through the transparent material of the tubular catheter, thereby allowing prompt
confirmation of successful venipuncture without being hindered and/or obstructed
by the tapered distal end of the tubular catheter. In other words, in order to allow
the flow of blood from the lateral opening pursuant to the venipuncture, the lateral
25 opening may preferably be arranged away from the tapered distal end of the
tubular catheter in a direction opposite to the axial direction.
It is to be noted that even if the engagement means is arranged between the
lateral opening and the needle tip, the blood does not have to travel the length of
30 the needle to enter the needle hub in order to become visible. Instead, in this
arrangement blood entering the lumen of the needle upon venipuncture passes
the engagement means and partly exits the needle through the lateral opening,
6
thereby becoming visible particularly quickly and, thus, allowing for particularly
fast venipuncture confirmation.
As a result, the intravenous catheter apparatus allows faster and more reliable
confirmation of successful venipuncture which makes the handling of the cathete5 r
apparatus easier both for the person placing it and the patient on whom it is used.
Additionally or alternatively to an arrangement of the engagement means between
the at least one lateral opening and the needle tip, at least one lateral opening
10 may be arranged between the engagement means and the needle tip. A lateral
opening may, thus, be arranged proximal and/or distal to the engagement means,
i.e. the arrangement of the engagement means and lateral opening may be
interchanged.
15 If a lateral opening is arranged between the engagement means and the needle
tip, the blood does not have to pass the engagement means to become visible in
the needle hub. Hence, the time at which blood entering the needle upon
venipuncture becomes visible to the person handing the catheter apparatus, is
independent of the design of the engagement means. Hence, even if the
20 engagement means is designed such that it would normally slow down the flow of
blood through the needle and, thus, delay blood flashback, it does not have any
adverse effect on the timing of venipuncture confirmation in the apparatus of the
invention.
25 According to a further embodiment, more than one lateral opening may be
provided on the needle shaft. With relation to the engagement means, such
openings may be arranged proximal and/or distal to the engagement means.
According to a further embodiment, the needle shaft may comprise a lateral
30 opening that is not covered by the tubular catheter.
7
In order to improve the visibility of the blood exiting the needle through the lateral
opening, the tubular catheter advantageously comprises a transparent material.
According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one lateral opening comprises a
slit which is cut into the needle shaft and which may have a length in the range 5 of
0.3 to 1 mm. This slit can extend either in the axial direction or in a direction
transverse thereto. Such a slit is easy to manufacture and thus helps to minimize
manufacturing costs of the catheter apparatus. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that various other shapes of the lateral opening are likewise suitable.
10 For example, the shape of the lateral opening may be of any geometrical shape
such as curve, square, rectangular, circular, semi-circular, and combinations
thereof and/or the like shapes. In further embodiments, the lateral opening may
comprise an opening such as a hole, groove, puncture, cavity, perforation or the
like.
15
According to a further embodiment, at least two discrete lateral openings may be
arranged along the circumference of the needle shaft seen in a direction
transverse to the axial direction. Additionally or alternatively, at least two discrete
lateral openings may be arranged along the length of the needle shaft seen in the
20 axial direction.
In order to enhance spreading of the blood exiting the needle through the lateral
opening inside the tubular catheter, an outer diameter of the needle shaft may be
slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the tubular catheter. The profile forming
25 the inner diameter of the tubular catheter may decrease in the axial direction
forming a tapered distal end. The enhanced spreading of the blood improves
visibility of the blood through the tubular catheter and, thus, makes detection of
successful venipuncture faster and more reliable.
30 In order to make the insertion of the tubular catheter into a patient’s blood vessel
even more agreeable, the tubular catheter may slightly tapered in its distal end
8
region such that the distal end of the tubular catheter tightly surrounds the needle
shaft.
According to one embodiment the engagement means comprises an enlargement
of the needle shaft in at least one direction transverse to the axial direction. 5 The
enlargement may be provided between the distal end and the proximal end of the
needle shaft.
In a preferred embodiment, the enlargement may be made by a crimping of the
10 needle shaft. However, other ways of forming the enlargement are possible, such
as applying additional material to the needle shaft, e.g. by soldering, welding or
gluing, or the like etc.
The inner profile of the needle can either be reduced in the region of the
15 enlargement, for example, if the enlargement is formed by crimping, or it can be
substantially constant throughout the length of the needle, for example, if the
enlargement is formed by applying additional material to the needle shaft.
Thus, an engagement means that is particularly easy to manufacture comprises a
20 crimped portion of the needle shaft. The manufacturing costs of the needle thus
can be further reduced.
Prior to the use of the catheter apparatus, the needle guard is arranged in the
catheter hub near a proximal end of the needle shaft. In this situation, the needle
25 extends completely through the needle guard, thereby deflecting the first arm of
the needle guard outwards, i.e. at an angle to the axial direction, such that the
distal wall of the first arm is supported on the needle shaft. Following the insertion
of the catheter into a patient, the needle is withdrawn from the tubular catheter
and the needle shaft moves through the needle guard while the needle guard is
30 retained in the catheter hub. Once the needle tip passes the transverse distal wall
of the needle guard, i.e. such that the needle shaft no longer supports the distal
wall, a restoring force ensures that the first arm of the needle guard is moved back
9
into alignment with the axial direction of the needle guard, so that the needle tip is
blocked by the distal wall of the needle guard, i.e. the needle tip is prevented from
axially projecting out of the needle guard.
Once the needle tip is blocked by the distal wall and the needle is being furthe5 r
retracted, the engagement means of the needle shaft may engage with the
stopping element to prevent the needle guard from being removed from the
needle shaft. If the stopping element is made from a material which is harder and
less easily distorted than the material of the base portion, the needle guard is
10 secured more effectively on the needle shaft and can be retained even if
excessive external force is applied when pulling on the needle, as the
engagement means is prevented from being pulled through the base portion of the
needle guard due to the stopping element. Hence, it is prevented that the needle
guard is removed from the needle tip accidentally and, as a result, the needle
15 guard provides a better protection against accidental pricking and thus increased
safety for the person handling the catheter apparatus.
In a further embodiment of the needle guard, a tension element surrounds the first
and second arms of the needle guard. In the deflected state of the first arm, the
20 tension element is expanded against a restoring force of the tension element.
Once the needle shaft no longer supports the distal wall of the first arm, the
tension element aids the repositioning of the first arm back into axial alignment
with the axial direction. This repositioning is necessary so that the distal wall can
block the needle tip from axially sliding out of the needle guard. In addition, the
25 tension element helps to enclose a space between the first and second arms and
thus helps to prevent the needle shaft and the needle tip from projecting sideways
out of the needle guard. In other words, the tension element adds to the protective
effect of the needle guard.
30 According to a further embodiment the invention, the two arms of the needle
guard, in particular the first arm having the distal wall blocking the needle tip, may
have a recess in order to provide a high strength and a spring-like action of the
10
first arm such that it is biased into the blocking position with its distal wall in front
of the needle tip.
In a further embodiment of the needle guard, a groove may be provided in a side
of the distal wall, with the groove extending substantially in the axial direction. Th5 e
groove may act as a guide groove for the needle shaft and may aid the axial
movement of the needle shaft relative to the needle guard. Due to the groove, the
needle shaft is prevented from sliding sideways off the distal wall. Such a
sideways movement would significantly increase the force required to move the
10 needle shaft relative to the needle guard, which would prevent a correct
functioning of the needle guard.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the catheter hub within which
the needle guard is received in a ready position, includes holding means for
15 holding the needle guard even under retracting forces acting on the needle guard
when the needle is retracted out of the patient's vein. These holding means may
include a recess formed on the inner circumferential surface of the catheter hub
into which a projection formed on the first arm of the needle guard securely
engages in the ready position, i.e. when the first arm is deflected and spread apart
20 from the second arm by the needle shaft. Alternatively, these holding means may
include a bump formed on the inner circumferential surface of the catheter hub.
The holding means on the inner circumferential surface of the catheter hub maybe
also formed by a combination of a recess and a bump wherein the needle guard
has a corresponding complimentary profile of a projection engaging the recess on
25 the inner circumferential surface of the catheter hub and a recess engaging with
the bump on the inner circumferential surface of the catheter hub.
As an alternative, the holding means may include at least one outer arm formed
on the base portion and adapted to engage the catheter hub on its outer
30 circumferential surface. In particular the holding means may include two outer
arms formed on substantially diametrical locations of the base portion and
adapted to engage the catheter hub on its outer circumferential surface. By
11
providing such holding means, the holding function is alternatively or additionally
provided at the outside of the catheter hub. Thereby, the manufacturing effort can
be reduced and the safety in operation may be further increased.
In a further embodiment, the catheter hub may have an opening or window 5 in
order to provide additional space for the deflected first arm in the ready position.
The opening or window can be formed as a through-hole through the
circumferential wall of the catheter hub. The opening in the circumferential wall of
the catheter hub may also provide a holding edge acting as the holding means for
10 holding the needle guard within the catheter hub in the ready position even under
retracting forces applied on the needle by the practitioner.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention and preferred apparatuses
for carrying out the invention are described in connection with the accompanying
15 drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The embodiments of the invention are described in the following description and in
20 the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a distal end region of an
intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention.
25
Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a distal end region of an
intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention.
30 Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a distal end region of an
intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention.
12
Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a distal end region of an
intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention.
5
Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a distal end region of an
intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention.
Fig. 6 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a distal end region of 10 an
intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention.
Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an intravenous (IV)
15 catheter apparatus with a needle guard movably arranged on the needle in
accordance with one of the embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
20 Generally speaking, the term proximal refers to a region of the device or a location
on the device which is closest to, for example, a clinician using the device. In
contrast to this, the term distal refers to a region of the device which is farthest
from the clinician, for example, the distal region of a needle will be the region of a
needle containing the needle tip which is to be inserted e.g. into a patient's vein.
25
Fig. 1 shows a distal end portion of a tubular catheter 10 of an intravenous (IV)
catheter apparatus of the invention. The tubular catheter 10 is made of a
transparent material, for example, a transparent plastic material.
30 A needle 12 defining an axial direction (A) extends through the tubular catheter 10
such that a distal tip of the needle 12 protrudes from a distal end 16 of the tubular
catheter 10. The needle 12 has a lumen 18 which extends along the length of the
13
needle 12 in the axial direction (A) and is defined by a wall 20 of the needle 12.
The needle wall 20 forms a needle shaft 22.
The outer diameter of the needle shaft 22 is slightly smaller than the inner
diameter of the tubular catheter 10 in order to provide a small gap 24 between th5 e
needle shaft 22. In its distal end region of the tubular catheter 10 is slightly
tapered such that the distal end 16 of the tubular catheter 10 tightly surrounds the
needle shaft 22.
10 Proximal from the needle tip 14 the needle shaft 22 is provided with an
engagement means 26 for preventing a needle guard 30 as shown in Fig. 7
slidably arranged on the needle shaft 22 from moving beyond the needle tip 14.
The engagement means 26 may comprise any form of irregularity of the needle
shaft 22, for example, an enlargement of the outer profile of the needle shaft 22 at
15 least in one direction transverse to the axial direction (A).
In the illustrated embodiment, the engagement means 26 comprises a crimped
portion of the needle shaft 22.
20 The needle guard 30 may comprise a generally cylindrical base portion 48 made
of a plastic material and having an axial bore through which the needle 12
extends. The inner diameter of the bore is adapted to the principal outer diameter
of the needle shaft 22 such that the needle shaft 22 is free to slide through the
bore, but the engagement means 26 of the needle 12 cannot pass the base
25 portion 48 of the needle guard 30 due to the stopping element 38 provided
therein.
The needle guard 30 further comprise first 32 and second 34 arms extending
generally in the axial direction (A) from the distal side of the base portion 48 and a
30 distal wall 36 which is transversely arranged at a distal region of the first arm 32 .
At least one of the arms 32, 34 has elastic properties such that it can be deflected
slightly off the axial direction (A) by the needle shaft 22. Both of the first 32 and
14
second 34 arms may be integrally formed with the base portion 48. Alternatively,
one of the arms 32, 34 may be integral with the base portion 48 whereas the other
one of the arms 32, 34 may be made of a strip of sheet metal.
The length of the first arm 32 is longer than the distance between the needle ti5 p
14 and the engagement means 26, such that the distal wall 36 of the first arm 32
can move in front of the needle tip 14 and capture the needle tip 14 in the needle
guard 30 before the engagement means 26 of the needle 12 engages with the
base portion 48 of the needle guard, in particular with the stopping element 38
10 provided therein.
Preferably, the first 32 and second 34 arms are surrounded by an elastic element
which biases the first 32 and second 34 arms towards the needle 12. The elastic
element may cover a substantial portion of the first 32 and second 34 arms seen
15 in the axial direction (A) and, thus, prevent the needle tip 14 captured between the
arms 32, 34 from protruding sideway out of the needle guard 30.
The engagement means 26 is provided in the needle wall 20 in a region between
the needle tip 14 and at least one lateral opening 28. The lateral opening 28 is
20 positioned such that it is covered by the tubular catheter 10 when the needle tip
14 protrudes from the distal end 16 of the tubular catheter 10, i.e. it is arranged
proximal to the engagement means 26. The lateral opening 28 thus provides
communication between the lumen 18 of the needle 12 and the interior of the
tubular catheter 10.
25
When the needle 12 together with the tubular catheter 10 is inserted into a blood
vessel of a patient, blood flows into the lumen 18 of the needle 12 in the event of
venipuncture. The blood flowing into the lumen 18 of the needle 12 partly exits the
needle 12 through the lateral opening 28 and enters the gap 24 between the
30 needle shaft 22 and the tubular catheter 10. The blood entering the gap 24
between the needle shaft 22 and the tubular catheter 10 spreads in the gap 24
due to capillary action and can be seen through the transparent material of the
15
tubular catheter 10, thereby allowing prompt confirmation of successful
venipuncture.
Fig. 2 shows a distal end portion of a tubular catheter of an intravenous (IV)
catheter apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein 5 at
least one lateral opening 28 is provided in the needle wall 20 in a region between
the needle tip 14 and the engagement means 26. The lateral opening 28 is
positioned such that it is covered by the tubular catheter 10 when the needle tip
14 protrudes from the distal end 16 of the tubular catheter 10, i.e. it is arranged
10 between the engagement means 26 and the distal end 16 of the tubular catheter
10. The lateral opening 28 thus provides communication between the lumen 18 of
the needle 12 and the interior of the tubular catheter 10.
Fig. 3 shows a distal end portion of the tubular catheter of an intravenous (IV)
15 catheter apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention, the
engagement means 26 is provided in the needle wall 20 in a region between the
needle tip 14 and lateral opening 28. As shown, more than one lateral openings
28 are provided on the needle wall 20. The lateral openings 28 are positioned
such that they are covered by the tubular catheter 10 when the needle tip 14
20 protrudes from the distal end 16 of the tubular catheter 10, i.e. the lateral openings
28 are arranged proximal to the engagement means 26. The lateral openings 28
thus provide communication between the lumen 18 of the needle 12 and the
interior of the tubular catheter 10.
25 Fig. 4 shows a distal end portion of a tubular catheter of an intravenous (IV)
catheter apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein
more than one lateral openings 28 are provided in the needle wall 20 in a region
between the needle tip 14 and the engagement means 26. The lateral openings
28 are positioned such that they are covered by the tubular catheter 10 when the
30 needle tip 14 protrudes from the distal end 16 of the tubular catheter 10, i.e. the
lateral openings are arranged between the engagement means 26 and the distal
end 16 of the tubular catheter 10. The lateral openings 28 thus provide
16
communication between the lumen 18 of the needle 12 and the interior of the
tubular catheter 10.
Figs. 5 and 6 shows a distal end portion of a tubular catheter of an intravenous
(IV) catheter apparatus according to further embodiments of the invention5 ,
wherein more than one lateral openings 28 are provided in the needle wall 20. As
shown lateral openings 28 are provided proximal and distal to the engagement
means 26. The lateral openings 28 are positioned such that they are covered by
the tubular catheter 10 when the needle tip 14 protrudes from the distal end 16 of
10 the tubular catheter 10. The lateral openings 28 thus provide communication
between the lumen 18 of the needle 12 and the interior of the tubular catheter 10.
Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a part of an intravenous (IV) catheter
apparatus with a needle guard movably arranged on the needle in accordance
15 with one of the embodiments of the invention. As mentioned above, prior to the
use of the catheter apparatus the needle 12 extends through the tubular catheter
10 and the needle guard 30 is arranged in the catheter hub 40. In this situation,
the distal wall 36 of the needle guard 30 contacts the needle 12, with the needle
shaft 22 being guided in the groove (not shown) in the side of the distal wall 36.
20 The needle shaft 22 thereby supports the distal wall 36, due to which the first arm
32 of the needle guard 30 is deflected outwards, i.e. away from the needle 12,
against a restoring force of the tension element (not shown).
In order to retain the needle guard 30 in the catheter hub 40 while the needle 12 is
25 being withdrawn from the tubular catheter 10, the shoulders 42 provided on both
the first arm 32 and the second arm 34 of the needle guard 30 engage with
recesses 44 or protrusions 46 or combinations thereof provided on the inner
circumferential surface of the catheter hub 40. The protrusions 46 may form an
annular ring extending along the entire inner periphery of the catheter hub 40, or
30 they may form one or more ring segments extending along only a respective part
of the inner periphery of the catheter hub 40. Similarly, the recesses 44 may form
an annular groove extending along the entire inner periphery of the catheter hub
17
40, or they may form one or more groove segments extending along only a
respective part of the inner periphery of the catheter hub 40.
The engagement means 26 is provided in the needle wall 20 in a region between
the needle tip 14 and at least one lateral opening 28. The lateral opening 28 5 is
positioned such that it is covered by the tubular catheter 10 when the needle tip
14 protrudes from the distal end 16 of the tubular catheter 10, i.e. it is arranged
proximal to the engagement means 26. For the sake clarity, this embodiment
illustrates the catheter apparatus without the tubular catheter 10. The lateral
10 opening 28 thus provides communication between the lumen 18 of the needle 12
and the interior of the tubular catheter 10.
As shown and in order to allow a trouble free movement of the needle 12 relative
to the needle guard 30, the lateral opening 28 is arranged on the needle shaft 22
15 such that it does not come into the path of the first 32 and second 34 arms of the
needle guard 30 in the axial direction (A). In particular, the lateral opening 28 is
arranged on the needle shaft 22 such that it does not come into the path in the
axial direction (A) of the distal wall 36 of the first arm 32 when the needle 12 is
withdrawn from the tubular catheter 10. This arrangement ensures that the first 32
20 and second 34 arm of the needle guard 30 do not get stuck or engage with the
lateral opening 28 when the needle 12 is withdrawn from the tubular catheter 10.
In particular, this arrangement ensures that distal wall 36 of the first arm 32 does
not get stuck or engages with the lateral opening 28 when the needle 12 is
withdrawn from the tubular catheter 10.
25
Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred
embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to
other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious
30 modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, from the foregoing description, it will
be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications
18
can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as
set forth herein.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the foregoing description be
limited to the exact description set forth above, but rather that such description 5 be
construed as encompassing all of the features that reside in the present invention,
including all the features and embodiments that would be treated as equivalents
thereof by those skilled in the relevant art.
19
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 tubular catheter
12 needle
14 needle ti5 p
16 distal end
18 lumen
20 needle wall
22 needle shaft
10 24 gap
26 engagement means
28 lateral opening
30 needle guard
32 first arm
15 34 second arm
36 distal wall
38 stopping element
40 catheter hub
42 shoulders
20 44 recess
46 protrusion
48 base portion
50 proximal end
52 proximal side
25 54 distal side
A axial direction
20
WE CLAIM:
1. An intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus comprising:
a tubular catheter (10) having a proximal end (50) and a distal end
(16) mounted to a catheter hub (40)5 ;
a needle (12) defining an axial direction (A) having a needle shaft
(22) with a needle tip (14) at a distal end (16) and a needle hub mounted to the
proximal end (50) of the needle shaft (22); and
a needle guard (30) arranged movably on the needle shaft (22);
10 wherein said needle shaft (22) extends through said tubular catheter
(10) such that said needle tip (14) of said needle (12) protrudes from said
distal end (16) of said tubular catheter (10); and
wherein said needle shaft (22) is provided with:
an engagement means (26) adapted to engage with said
15 needle guard (30) in order to prevent said needle guard (30) from sliding off
said needle tip (14); and
at least one lateral opening (28) covered by said tubular
catheter (10).
20 2. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said engagement means (26) is arranged between said at least one
lateral opening (28) and said needle tip (14).
3. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
25 wherein at least one lateral opening (28) is arranged between said
engagement means (26) and said needle tip (14).
4. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said at least one lateral opening (28) provides communication
30 between a lumen (18) of said needle (12) and an interior of said tubular
catheter (10).
21
5. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein an outer diameter of the needle shaft (22) is slightly smaller than an
inner diameter of said tubular catheter (10).
6. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 5 1,
wherein said tubular catheter (10) is slightly tapered in its distal end region
such that the distal end (16) of the tubular catheter (10) tightly surrounds the
needle shaft (22).
10 7. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said at least one lateral opening (28) is arranged proximally from the
tapered end region of the tubular catheter (10).
8. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
15 wherein said engagement means (26) comprises an enlargement of said
needle shaft (22) in at least one direction transverse to the axial direction (A).
9. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said engagement means (26) comprises a crimped portion of said
20 needle shaft (22).
10. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said tubular catheter (10) comprises a transparent material.
25 11. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said at least one lateral opening (28) is of any geometrical shape such
as curve, square, rectangular, circular, semi-circular, and combinations thereof
and/or the like shapes.
30 12. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said at least one lateral opening (28) comprises an opening such as a
hole, groove, puncture, cavity, perforation or the like.
22
13. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said at least one lateral opening (28) comprises a slit cut into said
needle shaft (22) in a direction transverse to said axial direction (A).
14. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 5 1,
wherein said at least one lateral opening (28) comprises a slit cut into said
needle shaft (22) in said axial direction (A).
15. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
10 wherein at least two lateral openings (28) are arranged along the
circumference of the needle shaft (22) seen in a direction transverse to said
axial direction (A).
16. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
15 wherein at least two lateral openings (28) are arranged along the length of the
needle shaft (22) seen in said axial direction (A).
17. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said at least one lateral opening (28) is arranged on the needle shaft
20 (22) out of the path of the first and second arms (32, 34) of the needle guard
(30) in the axial direction (A) when the needle is retracted.
18. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein said needle guard (30) comprises:
25 a base portion (48) having a needle (12) passage extending in an
axial direction (A) from a proximal side (52) of the base portion (48) through
the base portion (48) to a distal side (54) of the base portion (48);
first (32) and second (34) arms extending substantially in the axial
direction (A) from the distal side (54) of the base portion (48); and
30 a distal wall (36) which is transversely arranged at a distal region of
the first arm (32).
23
19. The intravenous (IV) catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
wherein a stopping element (38) is received in a recess (44) provided in said
needle guard (32) for stopping movement of said needle shaft (22) relative to
said needle guard (32).