Catheter apparatus and method
US6270480A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 7, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2005/3212
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A catheter apparatus includes a hollow needle having a first end and a sharpened tip at a second end. A catheter having a blunt end is telescopically received in the needle. A catheter hub is attached to the catheter and spaced from the blunt end. The catheter hub is disposed adjacent the needle hub in an elastomeric housing. A method of inserting a catheter in a patient's vein includes a step of providing a catheter apparatus in which the elastomeric housing biases the hubs, needle, and catheter in a rest position in which the catheter protrudes from the tip of the needle. The method also includes the steps of squeezing the housing to displace the catheter hub relative to the needle hub, causing the tip of the needle to protrude beyond the blunt end of the catheter, inserting the needle and catheter in the patients's vein, and releasing the housing to allow the catheter assembly to return to the rest position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.