This invention relates to a safety intravenous (I. V.) Catheter and, in particular, to
a safety intravenous (I. V.) Catheter device with auto lock to lock the needle
safely inside the body of the safety intravenous (I. V.) Catheter. In particular, the
intravenous catheter device for the invention has been provided to reduce needle
stick injuries, spread of hospital acquired infections and also avoid environmental
concerns / hazards in its use and disposal. Importantly also apart from being safe
and user friendly the intravenous catheter device is cost effective to favour wide
scale application and use of the catheter device and the safety features is activated
by use of a switch and is not dependent on the skill of a person. The present
invention is different from prior art available in Safety I.V. Catheters, as the
needle in entirety rests in the final position in the safety intravenous (I.V.)
Catheter.
BACKGROUND ART
It is well known that in health care, one of the most relevant concerns relate to
provision of safe hospital environment, in particular, members of hospital and
medical staff are required to be assured that they are not subject to any unwanted
infection while caring for patients. Such adequate care and concern for safe
medical attention and treatment is important not only in hospitals but also for any
health care environments such as those required in nursing homes, health homes
and related health care facilities and provisions.

Intravenous (I.V.) Catheters are well known medical devices used to obtain
continuous vascular access in patients. Such a device generally consists of a
hollow-bore needle and an over-the-needle plastic tubing used to access the lumen
of a blood vessel of a patient. The intravenous (I.V.) Catheter for such purpose is
advanced into the vessel and is used in administering intravenous fluids,
medications or blood products. Importantly, in such application and use since the
(I.V.) Catheter is placed percutaneously, the hollow-bore needle stylet becomes
blood contaminated and when the blood vessel lumen is accessed, the needle-
stylet becomes blood -filled.
Needle stick injuries from intravenous (I.V.) Catheter stylets are in the high risk
category for potential transmission of blood borne pathogens to the injured health
care worker, since the same are hollow bore needles which are usually filled with
undiluted blood. The blood borne pathogens of greatest concerns include human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the etiologic agent of the acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.
As per hospital reports, one-third nurses and laboratory staff suffer from needle
stick injuries every year. HIV transmission through needle injuries is 0.3% of all
modes of contaminations. The rate of HIV transmission through needle stick
injuries is 2-7% of all means. Injuries from used needle or contact with infected
blood on the needle pose serious dangers to health care workers. The nurses are
most vulnerable to needle stick injuries among health workers. Apart from health
care workers, cleaners, laundry workers, porters, ragpickers etc. are also prone to

health hazards caused by improper waste disposal methods. Blood exchange
through needle stick injuries can pass on over about 20 deadly pathogens and
microorganisms. Health staff with significant exposure to HIV is 6-30% risk of
getting infected. Atleast one in eight health care workers is exposed to fatal
infection through needle stick injuries.
To avoid the above hazards of needle stick injuries guidelines have also been
provided to benefit medical staff, laboratory staff and employees for protection
and minimizing the risk of such contamination / transmission of infection through
needle. However, it is obvious that the effectiveness of such precautionary
guidelines would depend on accountability, education, training and vigilant
compliance. Such precautionary guidelines while being important and most
certainly required to be followed, negligence and non-compliance of such
guidelines can and usually lead to the afore-discussed problems and complexities
of needle stick injuries and hospital acquired infection. It is, therefore, important
not only to provide the guidelines but also human care systems/devices, which
would minimize the risk of such unwanted contamination especially due to human
lapses which can take place any moment and lead to injuries / contaminations of
even serious nature such as the HIV / HCB transmission.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is thus the basic object of the present invention to provide a safety intravenous
(I.V.) Catheter with auto lock. In such a safety device, the needle is retracted
inside the body of the safety I V Catheter.

Another object of the present invention is directed to provide for an intravenous
(I.V.) Catheter device which would favour safety and effective use of (I.V.)
Catheter which would not be subject to any high risk in its use and application as
a potential vehicle for transmission of blood borne pathogen to the health care
workers.
A further object of the present invention is directed to an intravenous (I.V.)
Catheter device which would be simple and cost effective to manufacture and
would also be safe for wide scale application and use without fear or
accompanying hazards of needle stick injuries or spread of hospital acquired
infection and any person can with normal training activate such safety mode. The
present invention discounts percentage of failure in respect of the use of the
product.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention there is provided an
intravenous (I.V.) Catheter safety device with a auto lock in form of a slider. The
slider is in format of a round piece with 2 sides walls and a gap between two walls
on one side. There is also hollow cylinder which is round in shape and is
transparent. The front portion of the cylinder has a mounting with a mouth and
opening for needle ejection. The bottom portion of the cylinder is again a hollow
with provisions of fitment of a specialized lock at the rear end. This specialized
lock consists of the needle hub which in the invention is unlike other prior art

consisting of three parts, one traditional needle hub, second an in-built lock
consisting of projection to be fitted into the groove available in the inner
circumference of the cylinder. Over and above, the needle hub is fitted on slider
which is attached to the needle hub and provide movement on way of the needle.
It would be apparent from the above that the above disclosed intravenous (I.V.)
Catheter device with auto lock is adapted to ensure safe and user friendly
application and use of such catheter devices.
In particular, the catheter device of the invention apart from serving the basic need
of a catheter essentially takes care of problems of needle stick injuries and spread
of hospital acquired infection through the needle used for cannulation.
As also provided by way of invention, the safety (I.V.) Catheter is a safety device
adapted to protect the user against needle stick injuries.
Importantly, in accordance with preferred aspect, the safety (I.V.) Catheter
includes a one-way valve (Silicon tube) to facilitate extra medication and to
prevent back flow. The catheter hub can be with or without wings according to
specification. Advantageously, the valve is provided with selectively adapted pot
cap incorporating a recessed plug with protective skirt to effectively prevent
contamination when the valve is not in use. Moreover the pot cap is also adapted
for resting the finger to facilitate effective two-point grip for cannulation. It offers
safe and convenient needleless methods of a traumatic administration of
medicines. The invention cab be with or without wings.

In accordance with further preferred aspect the intravenous catheter device
comprises colour coated pot cap for gauge size identification. More importantly,
the above disclosed intravenous catheter device is adapted to facilitate simple and
safe use of catheter without the need for specialized training for such range of
safety intravenous (I.V.) Catheter.
The details of the invention, its objects and advantages are explained hereunder in
greater details in relation to non-limiting exemplary illustration as per the
following accompanying figures:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
Figure 2 is the complete intravenous (I.V.) catheter wherein the individual parts
have been numbered as below:
1. Portion marked as 1 is the needle
2. Portion marked as 2 is the slider
3. Portion marked as 3 is the cylinder
4. Portion marked as 4 is the needle hub
5. Portion marked as 5 is cylinder
6. Portion marked as 6 is catheter hub body
7. Portion marked as 7 is the plastic tubing
8. Portion marked as 8 is a plastic tubing holder
9. Portion marked as 9 is the needle protector

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the safety I.V. Catheter with auto lock.
Figure 3 is an illustration of the safety I.V. Catheter with auto lock device of
Figure 2 shown in cannulation position.
Figure 4 illustrates the safety intravenous catheter with slider with auto lock in the
back position.
Figure 5 illustrates the safety intravenous catheter with auto lock fitted in the
slider showing the needle pull back into the body of the cylinder and needle hub is
detached from the catheter hub.
Figure 6 illustrates the needle fitted into the slider.
Figure 7 illustrates the cylinder.
Reference is first invited to accompanying figure 1, which shows the safety
intravenous (I.V.) Catheter with auto lock in accordance with the present
invention with the provision of slider. It would be apparent from figure 1 that in
this position, the slider is next to the catheter at the distal end of the cylinder. The
needle hub is fitted inside the slider and needle is not visible as it is covered in the
needle protector.
Fig. 8 illustrates the needle hub with slider.

Reference is now invited to accompanying figure 3, which shows the safety I V
Catheter with auto lock in ready position of cannulation with needle coming out
from catheter hub needle protector discarded.
Reference is now invited to Figure 4 and 5, which go to illustrate the manner of
the safety features of the product. After cannulation, the slider by application of
manual force is made to slide on the body of the cylinder from distal to proximal
end. The travelling of the slider which is fitted with needle hub creates a position
where needle attached to the needle hub is pulled inside the cylinder and gets
locked into the cylinder by means of placing lock provided on the bottom at
proximal end of the cylinder.
Such a provision of the safety intravenous (I.V.) catheter device with auto lock
therefore achieves the required safety in IV cannulation and adapted to protect the
user against needle stick injuries.
The figure 6 illustrates the needle fitted in the hub covered by slider. Figure shows
the slider fitted with the needle hub.
Figure 7 illustrates the body of the cylinder with lock at the proximal end.
The method of application and use of the above safety (I.V.) Catheter with auto
lock of the invention is further detailed hereunder:-
Thus in use of the catheter device initially the position of the catheter insertion is
cleaned using alcohol wipes. Thereafter, the skin is punctured by using the needle

tip which is inside a thin plastic tubiage. The needle tip is moved forward to
puncture the vein.
Subsequently, the needle withdrawing action is initiated by withdrawing the
needle out from the cannula and leaving the plastic tubing inside the body. The
catheter hub of the catheter remains outside for giving medication. The process of
the interaction is to lead to a position where the needle tip is adapted to get
enclosed with cylinder.
Such retration of the needle is achieved as is apparent by the movement of the
slider fitted with the needle hub on the body of the cylinder while the needle is
inside the cylinder. The slide of the slider from distal end to proximal end brings
the needle back inside the cylinder. When the slider is fully withdrawn towards
proximal end, the lock at the bottom gets engaged and the needle fits into the
cylindrical position and gets locked.
As would be apparent from the above, the intravenous (I.V.) safety catheter thus
achieves the locking of the needle tip within the cylinder free of any exposure to
avoid needle stick injury and / or any spread of hospital acquired infection by way
of unwanted needle contamination. Finally, by way of the above safe and
convenient locking of the needle within the cylinder in the catheter system of the
invention, it is possible to safely discard the needle safely put inside the cylinder
in the sharps container.

Advantageously, the above (I.V.) Catheter is adapted to function as safe device to
protect the user against needle stick injuries. The above safe catheter device
involving the cylinder can be obtained of simple materials including
polypropylene, low density poly ethylene, poly carbonate, stainless steel,
acronytrle butadiene styrene, silicon rubber, Floropolymer/ Poly urathene,
hardened spring steel.
The hub pusher, catheter hub, slider needle hub and leur lock are made of
polypropylene. The needle is made of stainless steel and pot cap is made of low
density polyethylene and specialized spring is made up of hardened spring steel.
The invention can be fitted with one way valve for provision of injection such a
devise is optional. The one way valve can be obtained of silicon tube and adapted
to facilitate extra medication and prevent back flow. The valve in such case is
specifically adapted to incorporate a recessed plug with protective skirt to
effectively prevent contamination when the valve is not in use. Advantageously
also pot cap is adapted for resting the finger to facilitate effective two-point grip
for cannulation. The system offers safe and convenient needle less method for a
traumatic administration of medicines. Moreover, it is possible to provide color
coded pot cap for gauge size identification. The catheter device so introduced in
this invention is user friendly and provide a safe and simple catheter device for
doctors and paramedical staff as the operative part of the safety device is easy and
comprehended by all.

WE CLAIM:
1. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter safety device with a slider wherein the invention
consists of a slider and a hollow cylinder which is round in shape and is
transparent and the front portion of the cylinder has a mounting with a mouth and
opening for needle ejection and whereas the bottom portion of the cylinder is
again a hollow with provisions of fitment of a specialized lock at the rear end
which consists of the needle hub consisting of three parts, one traditional needle
hub, second an in-built lock consisting of projection to be fitted into the groove
available in the inner circumference of the cylinder and the needle hub is fitted on
slider which is attached to the needle hub and provide movement on way of the
needle.
2. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter as claimed in claim lwherein there is a slider
fitted on the cylinder.
3. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body
of the I.V. Catheter consists of hollow cylinder which is round in shape.
4. An intravenous catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front portion of the
cylinder has mounting with a mouth and opening for needle ejection.

5. An intravenous (I.V.) catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bottom portion
of the cylinder is a hollow with the provisions of a fitment of a specialized lock at
the rear end.
6. An intravenous (I.V.) catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the specialized
lock fitted at rear end of the cylinder consisting of projection which gets locked on
the sliding portion.
7. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
specialized lock consists of a needle hub consisting of 3 parts, one traditional
needle hub, second an in built lock consisting of projection to be fitted into the
groove available on the inner circumference of the cylinder.
8. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the needle
hub is fitted on slider which is attached to the needle hub and provide movement
on way of needle.
9. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the needle
hub is fitted inside the slider.

10. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device wherein after cannulation, the slider by
application of manual force is made to slide on the body of the cylinder from
distal to proximal end.
11. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 slide of the slide
from distal end to proximal end brings the needle back into the hollow cylinder.

12. An intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device substantially as herein described and
illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures.

This invention relates to an safety intravenous (I.V.) catheter with auto lock and in particular, a safety intravenous (I.V.) catheter device where the invention consists of a slider fitted on the hollow cylinder which is round in shape and front portion of the cylinder has a mounting with a mouth and opening for needle ejection and bottom portion of the cylinder is again a hollow with provisions of fitment of a specialized lock at the rear end and the slider from distal end to proximal end brings the needle back into the cylinder.