US-12616817-B2 - Intravenous catheter systems and methods

US12616817B2US 12616817 B2US12616817 B2US 12616817B2US-12616817-B2

Abstract

An intravenous (IV) catheter system may include a catheter adapter having a proximal end and a distal end. The IV catheter system may also include a cannula extending through the catheter adapter. A proximal end of the cannula may include a notch. The IV catheter system may also include a needle hub, which may be coupled to the proximal end of the catheter adapter. The needle hub may include a flashback chamber, which may be in fluid communication with the notch when the IV catheter system is in an insertion configuration.

Inventors

Jonathan Karl Burkholz
Bin Wang
Ralph L. Sonderegger
Joseph Spataro
Shaun Staley
Tyler Warner

Assignees

BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220211

Claims (8)

1 . An IV catheter system, comprising: a catheter adapter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending through the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the catheter adapter further comprises an annular wall extending between the distal end and the proximal end and forming the lumen, wherein a first portion of the annular wall at the proximal end of the catheter adapter is constructed of a first material and a second portion of the proximal end of the annular wall is constructed of a second material, wherein the second portion comprises a notch proximate the first portion, the notch having a width and a length longer than the width, wherein the length of the notch is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the catheter adapter, the notch extending in a proximal direction to a proximal-most surface of the proximal end of the catheter adapter, wherein the first portion and the second portion are proximate the lumen, wherein the second material has a lower durometer than the first material.
2 . The IV catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the notch forms a bottom portion of an outer circumference of the annular wall configured to be closest to skin of a patient.
3 . The IV catheter system of claim 1 , further comprising a septum disposed within the lumen of the catheter adapter, wherein the notch is proximal to the septum.
4 . The IV catheter system of claim 1 , wherein the catheter adapter further comprises an outer circumference, wherein the another second portion constructed of the second material and the first portion constructed of the first material are disposed on the outer circumference.
5 . An IV catheter system, comprising: a catheter adapter having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outer circumference, wherein a portion of the catheter adapter is constructed of a first material and another portion of the catheter adapter is constructed of a second material, wherein the second material has a lower durometer than the first material; and a securement platform coupled to the catheter adapter and constructed of the second material, wherein the another portion of the catheter adapter constructed of the second material extends from a proximal end of the securement platform to a proximal-most edge of the catheter adapter, wherein the portion of the catheter adapter constructed of the first material extends to the proximal-most edge of the catheter adapter, wherein the another portion of the catheter adapter comprises a strip forming a bottom surface of the catheter adapter configured to contact skin of a patient, wherein the another portion constructed of the second material and the portion constructed of the first material form the outer circumference at the proximal-most edge, wherein a width of the strip is less than the outer circumference of the catheter adapter.
6 . The IV catheter system of claim 5 , wherein the strip comprises a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a width extending from the first edge to the second edge, and a length longer than the width and extending from the proximal end of the securement platform, wherein the first material is lateral to the first edge and lateral to the second edge and contacts the first edge and the second edge.
7 . The IV catheter system of claim 5 , further comprising a septum disposed within a lumen of the catheter adapter, wherein the strip is proximal to the septum.
8 . An IV catheter system, comprising: a catheter adapter having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a portion of the catheter adapter is constructed of a first material and another portion of the catheter adapter is constructed of a second material, wherein the second material has a lower durometer than the first material, wherein the another portion comprises an indicator feature having a T-shape and disposed on an upper surface of the catheter adapter, wherein the T-shape comprises a stem and a crossbar perpendicular to the stem, wherein both the stem and the crossbar contact an outer circumference of the catheter adapter; and a central push tab feature coupled to the upper surface of the catheter adapter and constructed of the second material, wherein the indicator feature extends in a proximal direction from the central push tab feature.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/969,584, filed May 2, 2018, and entitled INTRAVENOUS CATHETER SYSTEMS AND METHODS, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/501,670, filed May 4, 2017, and entitled INTRAVENOUS CATHETER SYSTEMS AND METHODS, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND Infusion therapy, a common healthcare procedure, may be facilitated by a vascular access device. Hospitalized, home care, and other patients receive fluids, pharmaceuticals, and blood products via a vascular access device inserted into the vascular system. Blood withdrawal is another common healthcare procedure that may be facilitated by a vascular access device. A vascular access device may access a peripheral or central vasculature of a patient. A vascular access device may be indwelling for short term (days), moderate term (weeks), or long term (months to years). In some instances, the vascular access device may cause irritation to the skin of the patient when left in place for an extended period of time. A vascular access device may be used for continuous infusion therapy or for intermittent therapy. A common type vascular access device is an over-the-needle peripheral intravenous catheter (“PIVC”). As its name implies, the “over-the-needle” PIVC may be mounted over an introducer needle having a sharp distal tip. The sharp distal tip may be used to pierce the skin and the vasculature of the patient. Insertion of the PIVC into the vasculature may follow the piercing of the vasculature by the needle. The needle and the PIVC are generally inserted at a shallow angle through the skin into the vasculature of the patient with a bevel of the needle facing away from the skin of the patient. In order to verify proper placement of the introducer needle and/or the PIVC in the vasculature, a user generally confirms that there is flashback of blood, which may be visible to the user. In some instances, the introducer needle may include a notch disposed towards a distal end of the introducer needle, and in response to the distal tip of the introducer needle being positioned within the vasculature, blood may flow proximally through a needle lumen, exit the needle lumen through the notch, and then travel proximally between an outer surface of the introducer needle and an inner surface of the PIVC. Accordingly, where the PIVC is at least partially transparent, the user may visualize a small amount of blood “flashback” and thereby confirm placement of the PIVC within the vasculature. Presence of a vasculature entrance indicator, such as flashback, may facilitate successful placement of PIVCs. Once placement of the introducer needle within the vasculature has been confirmed, the user may temporarily occlude flow in the vasculature and withdraw the introducer needle, leaving the PIVC in place for future blood withdrawal and/or fluid infusion. The user may also attach a device to the PIVC for fluid infusion and/or blood withdrawal. This process has been somewhat difficult in practice since many catheter placement sites simply do not allow easy occlusion of the vein. Additionally, even when such occlusion is achieved, it may be imperfect, resulting in blood leaking from a catheter assembly housing the PIVC and endangering medical personnel. Catheter assemblies have thus been provided in the art that provide a variety of seals or “septa” for preventing outflow of fluid during and following removal of the introducer needle from the blood vessel. A septum may be secured within the catheter assembly via friction and/or adhesive between the septum and a wall of the catheter assembly. However, in some instances, septum dislodgement may occur in response to pressurization of the catheter assembly, which may result from venous pressure, fluid injection under high or low pressure, flush of the catheter assembly, blood collection, etc. Septum dislodgement presents a risk of exposure by medical personnel to blood or other fluids. Thus, challenges to infusion and/or blood withdrawal using a vascular access device still remain. The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one example technology area where some implementations described herein may be practiced. SUMMARY In some embodiments, an IV catheter system may include a catheter adapter having a proximal end and a distal end. In some embodiments, the IV catheter system may also include a cannula extending through the catheter adapter. In some embodiments, a proximal end of the cannula may include a notch. In some embodiments, the IV catheter system may also include a needle hub, which may be coupled to the proximal end of the catheter adapter. In some embodiments, the needle hub may include an elongated visualization channel, which may be in