Indwelling Catheter With Breakaway Needle And Lanyard Advancing Means

Abstract

A catheter emplacement set comprises a hollow needle which carries a pair of cooperating, gripping flanges in pinching relation. A flexible cover is held in position relative the needle by the gripping flanges. A flexible catheter is slidably mounted in the bore of the needle, and the distal end of the catheter carries means for attaching it to a source of parenteral administration fluid. The needle is breakable into separate pieces for removal from the catheter upon manual pulling apart of the gripping flanges. A lanyard is attached to the distal end of the catheter and passes out of the cover adjacent the needle to facilitate rapid and smooth advancement of the catheter through the needle after emplacement of the needle in a blood vessel or the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Indwelling catheters are flexible conduits which are placed in blood vessels for long term administration of parenteral solutions. Because they are flexible, they provide far more comfort to the patient than conventional parenteral infusion needles. Also, the catheters produce much less tissue damage, such as by penetration of a blood vessel wall from the inside, as the patient moves.

Indwelling catheters are frequently inserted into the blood vessel by first inserting a hollow needle into the blood vessel, threading the catheter through the needle, and thereafter withdrawing the needle to leave the catheter in place. It is desirable to provide a smooth and rapid advance of the catheter through the needle into the blood vessel while retaining a flexible cover or envelope about the catheter outside of the blood vessel to ensure sterility of the catheter as it is inserted. Conventionally, one must fumble with the catheter and attempt to slowly work it forward through the needle by manipulating the outer cover or envelope against the end of the catheter.

One advantage of this invention resides in providing a lanyard attached to the distal end of the catheter, which lanyard can be pulled to cause the catheter to advance as smoothly and rapidly as desired through the needle into the vein.

In another aspect of this invention, an emplacement set is provided in which the needle can be removed from the catheter after emplacement thereof, and the cover is likewise easily removable upon removal of the needle. In addition to this, the relationship between the specific needle used herein and the cover provides a protective receptacle for blood which passes through the needle but outside of the catheter after insertion of the needle. Conventionally, covers for indwelling catheters are mounted about the outside of a needle hub, which allows blood to get onto the needle hub, and from thence to pass to the fingers as the needle is manipulated after removal of the cover.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, a catheter emplacement set is provided which comprises a hollow needle having a pointed end for tissue piercing, and carrying a pair of cooperating, gripping flanges in pinching relation. A flexible catheter is slidably mounted in the bore of the needle, and has means on its distal end opposite the pointed needle for attachment to a source of parenteral administration fluid. A flexible cover having an opening adjacent the needle is secured to the needle between the cooperating gripping flanges to enclose the catheter and attaching means and to collect blood from said needle. The needle is breakable into separate pieces for removal from the catheter upon manual pulling apart of the gripping flanges. A lanyard can be attached adjacent the distal catheter end and passes out of the cover adjacent the needle to facilitate rapid and smooth advancement of the catheter through the needle after emplacement thereof in a blood vessel or the like.

The emplacement set of the invention is inexpensive and easily assembled prior to use, and disassembled after emplacement of the catheter, providing means for rapid, smooth advance of the catheter, and complete removal of all other parts of the emplacement set from the vicinity of the catheter after emplacement. Furthermore, the portion of the needle gripped by the fingers is protected against soiling with blood.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away, of an embodiment of the emplacement set of this invention, the set and included catheter being broken in half and separated to permit enlargement of details shown therein.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the emplacement set of FIG. 1 emplaced in a vein, with portions of the vein wall broken away, the catheter being shown partially advanced through the needle into the vein by pulling of the lanyard.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an emplacement set comprising catheter 10 which is threaded through needle 12, which has a pointed end 14 for tissue piercing. Needle 12 is a well known "breakaway needle," such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,359,978, having a pair of serrated gripping flanges 16, 18 which, when manually pulled apart, cause needle 12 to break apart axially into two pieces along lines of weakness such as score lines or breaks (not shown).

Mounted and gripped between flanges 16, 18 is a flattened, tubular envelope or cover 20, typically made of transparent plastic film and sealed at distal end 22 but open at proximal end 24. Envelope or cover 20 is firmly gripped by flanges 16 and 18, and typically, end 24 is forced into a crack defined by a break between the two halves of needle 12 to assist in causing leaking blood to flow into envelope 20, preventing flanges 16, 18 from becoming covered with blood.

Catheter 10 is enclosed within envelope 20 and carries Luer adapter 26, which is heat sealed as at 28 to the distal end of catheter 10.

Adapter 26 is typically sealed with removable cap 30, which carries stylet 31 disposed in the lumen of catheter 10 for stiffening the catheter.

A lanyard 32 is secured at one end between cap 30 and adapter 26 by knot or enlargement 34 in lanyard 32, which prevents the lanyard from sliding out from between the adapter and cap.

Lanyard 32 can be a conventional string or cord, or it can be made of monofilament plastic, such as nylon or the like. Enlargements 34 can be easily provided to a monofilament plastic lanyard simply by touching either or both ends to a flame or other source of substantial heat, which causes the tip of the lanyard to melt into an enlarged portion.

It is generally preferred for the lanyard to be of sufficient diameter to provide an air passage between cap 30 and Luer adapter 26. Thus, when catheter 10 is inserted into a vein, a visible "flashback" of blood into the catheter will be possible, since air displaced by the blood can then bleed out between cap 30 and adapter 26. This "flashback" permits the physician to know that the catheter has penetrated a blood vessel.

FIG. 2 shows the catheter 10 inserted into a vein 38 in a living body 40. Needle 12 has been inserted into the vein, and the catheter has been partially advanced into the vein by pulling lanyard 32.

Following this, needle 12 is withdrawn from the incision 41 along catheter 10 toward its distal end 39, and then flanges 16, 18 are pulled apart to cause needle 12 to break into two longitudinal pieces, permitting its removal from the catheter. Cover 20 is also removable at this time.

After emplacement of the catheter, cap 30 is removed from adapter 26, carrying with it thin stylet 31, and causing lanyard 32 to drop loose for discarding. At this point, adapter 26 of the emplaced catheter can be connected to a source of parenteral solution, blood, or the like, and the infusion is begun.

The catheters of this invention can be made of silicone rubber, medical grade vinyl, or any other tissue-compatible, flexible plastic. The catheter is comfortable to the patient since it is flexible, and it can remain in place for long periods without causing substantial tissue damage.

The above disclosure is illustrative in purpose and should not be construed as limiting the invention of this application, which can be utilized in a large number of different specific embodiments.

Claims

That which is claimed is:

1. A catheter emplacement set which comprises a hollow needle having a pointed end for tissue piercing and an opposite end defining a pair of cooperating, gripping flanges in pinching relation, a line of weakness extending from said pointed end of said needle terminating at a crack adjacent the forward edges of said flanges, a flexible catheter slidably received by said needle and extending without said needle, means on the end of said catheter opposite said pointed needle end for attaching said catheter to a source of parenteral administration fluid once said catheter has been placed and said needle has been broken along said lines of weakness into separate pieces for removal, an elongated cover receiving said catheter and having an open end received between said flanges and secured in said crack so that said open end is disposed in position relative to said needle to permit blood flowing from said needle during tissue piercing to enter said cover, and an elongated lanyard secured by said means on the end of said catheter, said lanyard extending from without said cover open end to facilitate rapid and smooth advancement of said catheter through said needle after emplacement of said needle in a blood vessel or the like.