This invention relates to a safety intravenous (I. V.) Catheter and, in particular, to
a safety intravenous (I. V.) Catheter device which is simple to operate and does
not have complicated features. 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 are put into operation by manual force and
hence is economical. The present invention is different from prior art available in
Safety l.V. Catheters.
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 (l.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 over-the-needle plastic tubing used to access the lumen of
a blood vessel of a patient. The intravenous (l.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. Atieast 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 safety intravenous
(l.V.) Catheter with pull back sleeves. In such a safety device, the needle is
retracted when force is applied on the needle hub and safety features come into
play.

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 (l.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 nomal 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 (l.V.) Catheter safety device with pull back sleeves. The sleeves are
made hollow and consists three in number namely inner sleeve, middle sleeve and
external sleeve.
The I.V. Cannula consists of the Catheter Hub which has plastic tubing with or
without wings, port or without port (with or without silicon tubing) and opening
for the plastic tubing (holder for plastic tube).

According to an aspect of the intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device of the invention,
the middle sleeve is placed on top of the inner sleeve and then external sleeve is
placed over the middle sleeve. Thus, the three become a capsule, one fitted inside
the another. This prepared capsule consisting of three sleeves is then fitted in a
manner that the outer edge of the external sleeve is fixed with the needle hub
(which is already assembled with needle) and the opposite edge of the inner sleeve
is fitted in a manner that its projections are fitted into grooves of hub pusher. Also,
the edge of the sleeve are attached to the corresponding edge of the other sleeve
by way of groves and projections.
Importantly, the intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device may or may not comprise a
one way valve adapted to facilitate extra medication and prevent back flow. The
said one way valve may comprise of a silicone tube. Also, the said one way valve
is provided with cap means incorporating a recessed plug with protective skirt to
effectively prevent contamination when the valve is not in use. Advantageously
also the said one way valve cap is adapted for resting the finger to facilitate
effective two-point grip for cannulation.
It would be apparent from the above that the above disclosed safety intravenous
(I.V.) Catheter device with pull back sleeves 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.

Importantly, the above catheter device is adapted in such a manner that when
cannulation is achieved, the user pulls back the needle hub by application of force
on the needle hub in a manner that the needle hub pulls the external sleeves and
with it the attached middle sleeve and the inner sleeve are also pulled in a manner
that they run their complete length, it requires mention that the composite length
of the three sleeves is a little longer than the length of the needle thus allowing the
needle to fit into the extended sleeves.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
Figure 2 is the complete intravenous (l.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 Catheter
3. Portion marked as 3 is Teflon holder
4. Portion marked as 4 is the silicon tube
5. Portion marked as 5 is catheter hub (this catheter hub can be with wings or
without wings)
6. Portion marked as 6 is hub pusher
7. Portion marked as 7 is the needle hub
8. Portion marked as 8 is a hub cover
9. Portion marked as 9 is the leur lock
10. Portion marked as 10 is needle cover
11. Portion marked as 11 is the pot cap

12. Portion marked as 12 is the inner sleeve
13. Portion marked as 13 is the middle sleeve
14. Portion marked as 14 is the external sleeve
Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the safety intravenous (I.V.) catheter with
pull back sleeves.
Figure 3 is an illustration of the safety intravenous catheter device of Figure 2
shown in cannulation position.
Figure 4 illustrates the three sleeves.
Figure 5 illustrates the safety intravenous catheter showing the complete
expansion of the three sleeves with external sleeve attached to the needle hub and
inner sleeve attached to the hub pusher, The expansion of the three sleeves creates
a position that the needle gets locked into the unfolded capsule created by opening
of three sleeves.
Figure 6 illustrates the unretractable capsule created by opening of the three
sleeves in a manner that the needle is locked between the needle hub and hub
pusher.
Reference is first invited to accompanying figure 1, which shows the safety
intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device with pull back sleeves in accordance with the
present invention with a capsule fitted between the needle hub and hub pusher. It
would be apparent from figure 1 that in this position, the hub pusher is attached to

the capsule while infact it is fitted to the comer of the inner sleeve (and two other
sleeves are placed over the inner sleeve.
Reference is now invited to accompanying figure 3, which shows the manner of
cannulation with needle coming out from catheter hub and completing the
cannulation.
Figure 4 illustrates the parts of safety I.V. Catheter.
Reference is now invited to Figure 5 and 6, which go to illustrate the manner of
the safety features of the product. The application of force on the needle hub has
allowed three sleeves to open to their maximum length and needle is fitted inside
the three sleeves.
Such a provision of the safety intravenous (I.V.) catheter device with pull back
sleeves therefore achieves the required safety in I.V. cannulation and adapted to
protect the user against needle stick injuries.
Reference is now invited to Figure 6. The unretracted capsule is created by
extreme opening of the sleeves joined together and needle retracted inside the
three sleeves.
The method of application and use of the above safety (I.V.) Catheter of the
invention is further detailed hereunder:-
rhus 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 in the unretractable capsule created by three sleeves.
Such unretractable capsule is achieved as apparent from the above figures of the
intravenous (I.V.) safety catheter by way of application of force on needle hub.
The push on the needle hub leads to opening of the capsule in the manner that
external sleeve fitted to needle hub moves with the needle hub and two sleeves
leave the hollow of the external sleeve where they are packed and create a capsule
of a length more than the length of the needle. The shape of the sleeves can be
rectangular or tubular depending on the design.
.As would be apparent from the above, the safety intravenous (I.V.) catheter thus
achieves the locking of the needle tip within the unretractable capsule 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 unretractable capsule in the
catheter system of the invention, it is possible to safely discard the needle safely
put inside the unretractable capsule in the sharps container.

Advantageously, the above safety (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 unretractable capsule created by the three sleeves can be
obtained of simple materials including polypropylene, low density poly ethylene,
poly carbonate, stainless steel, acronytrle butadiene styrene, silicon rubber,
Floropolymer/ Poly urathene.
The hub pusher, catheter hub, sleeves, 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.
The invention has the option of fitment of one way valve in the catheter hub. The
one way valve can be obtained of silicon tube and adapted to facilitate extra
medication and prevent back flow. The valve 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 fmger 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. Angled and groove wings may or may not be provided to offer easy
fixation and prevent positioning and rolling of cannula over the patient's body.
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 device with pull back sleeves comprising an
intravenous Catheter device with three sleeves wherein the middle sleeve is placed
on top of the inner sleeve and then external sleeve is placed over middle sleeve
and the three sleeves become a capsule, with one fitted inside the another and
wherein this prepared capsule consisting of three sleeves is then fitted in a manner
that the outer edge of the external sleeve is fixed with the needle hub which is
already assembled with needle and the opposite edge of the inner sleeve with help
of projection is fitted into grooves of hub pusher and during usage application of
force is done on the needle hub in a manner that the needle hub pulls the external
sleeves and with it the attached middle sleeve and the inner sleeve are also pulled
in a manner that they run the complete length and needle is withdrawn inside the
capsule.
2. An intravenous (1. V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the needle
hub is fitted w ith the external sleeve.

3. An intravenous catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein hub pusher is connected
with the inner sleeve.
4. An intravenous catheter as claimed in claim 1 where the middle sleeve and
external sleeve are packed on top of the internal sleeve.

5. An intravenous catheter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device consists of
three sleeves namely inner, middle and external and full length of the three
sleeves make an unfoldable capsule..
6. An intravenous (1. V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the length
of the unfoldable capsule is fractionally larger than the length of the needle.
7. An intravenous (I. V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
pressure on the needle hub makes the sleeves to open and needle to pulled inside
the capsule created by three sleeves.
8. An intravenous (I. V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the three
sleeves create a unfolding capsule whereby the three sleeves are attached by
extreme corners by corresponding grooves and projections.
9. An intravenous (I. V.) Catheter device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the needle
is pulled inside the unfolding capsule by application of pressure on the needle
hub.
10. 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 and in particular, a safety intravenous (I.V.) Catheter device
with a pull back sleeves wherein the three sleeves of which the inner sleeves is attached to hub pusher and external sleeve
is attached to needle hub and pressure on the needle hub creates an unfolding capsule and the length of the capsule is fractionally larger than the length of the needle and pressure
on needle hub pulls back the needle to be packed inside the unfolding capsule.