Trocar catheter

Abstract

The catheter of a trocar is provided with a moulded connector having a chamber in which a hollow cylindrical valve is rotatable. A flexible extension of the valve serves to obturate an inlet to the chamber and the insertion of a needle serves to deflect the extension so that it can pass through the inlet and out through an opposite outlet and thence through the attached catheter.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to terminal connector for a catheter used for example for trocars for the administration by a veinous or arterial path liquids such as blood. The invention also relates to a catheter including such a connector and a trocar including such a catheter.

2. Summary of the Prior Art

Trocars of earlier construction comprise a synthetic resin catheter and a metal perfusion needle. In order to use such a trocar, it is introduced into a vein or an artery, the needle is then withdrawn from the catheter, the latter remaining inserted in the vein or artery and the terminal end of the catheter is then connected to a supply reservoir of liquid to be administered. Such a trocar has various disadvantages; in the case of renal dialysis, the main disadvantage is that at each puncture of the vein or the artery, the blood flows between the time when the needle is retracted and the time when the catheter is connected by its outer terminal end to the supply reservoir. In the case of renal dialysis, the fact that this loss of blood is repeated each week risks the substantial weakening of the patient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred method for carrying out the invention, the terminal connector of the catheter comprises a transverse chamber having only one liquid inlet and only one opposed liquid outlet and in which chamber an obturating member is rotatably mounted. This member is extended by a small tongue constituting an obturating part which in one position of the member, that is the operative position, abuts against the wall of the chamber at the inlet side so as to prevent the reverse flow of liquid through the inlet and leaves free the outlet in the wall of the chamber opposite the inlet. This small tongue or other extension is sufficiently flexible to be capable of being deflected by liquid passing through the inlet or by a member introduced into the inlet when the tongue is in this operative position. The obturating member is so shaped that by rotation through one-quarter of a turn in one sense or the other with respect to the operative position, it reaches an intermediate position in which it leaves a free passage through the chamber.

Further according to the present invention there is provided in a terminal connector for a catheter having a chamber transverse to the catheter longitudinal axis with a single inlet for liquid and a single opposed outlet for liquid and in which an obturating plug is rotatable to control such inlet and outlet, a flexible extension to the plug disposed to obturate such inlet in one position of the plug and to prevent in this position any reverse flow through the inlet, the plug being rotatable to an intermediate position permitting free passage between such inlet and outlet through the chamber.

The terminal connector of the trocar catheter according to the invention enables the disadvantage referred to, to be overcome. It enables, in fact, the prevention of flow of blood from the vein or the artery of the patient once the needle has been withdrawn from the catheter and it then enables a normal perfusion after the terminal connector of the catheter has been connected to the supply reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a catheter of a trocar provided with a terminal connector of which an obturating plug in a valve chamber is in an operative position;

FIG. 2 is a section similar to FIG. 1 but in which a flexible or other extension has been deflected by a perfusion needle introduced into the terminal connector and into the catheter;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the obturating plug; and

FIG. 4 is a section of the terminal connector on line IV--IV of FIG. 1, the plug being turned through a quarter of a turn so as to be in an intermediate position.

In these Figures the common members are designated by the same reference numerals.

The trocar of FIG. 1 includes a terminal connector 10 moulded onto an end portion of a catheter 12, the other end portion 14 of the catheter being chamfered or otherwise shaped so as to facilitate introduction into a vein or artery. The terminal connector 10 can be connected to a supply system by an end portion 16.

The terminal connector 10 comprises a transversely-extending chamber 18 in which is rotatably mounted a plug 20 for obturating or blocking an inlet 22 of this chamber. The latter also comprises an outlet 24 opposite to the inlet 22.

The plug 20 shown separately in FIG. 3 is a hollow cylinder extended by a small flexible tongue 26 which can be folded so as to lie parallel to the bottom of the chamber (see FIG. 2). The upper end of the hollow cylinder forming the plug terminates in a head 28 having a slot 30 similar to the slot of the head of a screw. The plug 20 is rotatable by a cap 32 forming a control button, preferably in the form of an arrow-headed button enabling the ready identification of possible positions of the plug.

The cap 32 comprises an internal ridge 34 which cooperates with the slot 30 of the head of the plug in order to turn the latter in the chamber.

The cap 32 is snapped on the terminal connector 10 with the aid of an internal annular groove 36 formed in the interior of the cap and which cooperates with an annular ridge 38 provided on the external surface of that part of the connector defining the chamber.

The cap 32 thus enables the plug 20 to be rotated and to prevent the latter from leaving the chamber 18.

In FIG. 1, the plug 20 is in an operative position, the small tongue 26 blocking the inlet 22 of the chamber. The small tongue thus prevents any return flow of the liquid towards the supply, but is sufficiently flexible to be deflected to lie parallel to the base of the cylinder constituting the plug under the action either of the pressure force exerted by the supply liquid or by a needle 40 which is introduced into the catheter.

In FIG. 2 the perfusion needle 40 is introduced into the terminal connector 10 and into the catheter 12, the needle terminating at a point 42 which extends beyond the chamfered end 14 of the catheter 12 so that when the trocar is introduced into a vien or artery, the introduction of the needle prepares for the introduction of the catheter. The needle 40 comprises at its opposite end a ferrule or bushing 44 (shown only in part) which seals with the end portion 16 of the terminal connector 10. The tongue 26 is raised towards the lower rim of the cylinder constituting the plug when the needle 40 is introduced.

In FIG. 4 the plug is in an intermediate position, the plug having been turned through a quarter of a turn in one sense or the other with respect to the position of FIG. 1. The inlet 22 of the chamber 18 is not blocked and the same applies to the outlet 24 which is not visible in this section.

The plug thus leaves the passage free either for the perfusion liquid or for a needle.

A trocar equipped with a terminal connector for the catheter thereof in accordance with the invention is used in the following manner: Before use, the plug is turned to place it in the operative position shown in FIG. 1. The needle is then inserted into the trocar, the assembly introduced into the vein or the artery and then the needle is withdrawn from the catheter.

Because of the resilience of the tongue and the pressure of the veinous liquid, the tongue 26 moves to block the inlet 22 of the chamber 18 and thus to prevent any reflux of blood of the patient. The terminal connector 10 is then connected through the catheter end portion 16 to the supply system and, under the action of the pressure force exerted by the supply liquid, the tongue 26 is again deflected and leaves the passage free for liquid flow. If it is desired to permit a larger flow for perfusion, the plug can be turned through a quarter turn to the intermediate position of FIG. 4.

The cost of manufacture of the terminal connector of the catheter in accordance with the invention is sufficiently competitive that it can be employed for trocars which are used only once.

The trocar is made by moulding or by cementing of the terminal connector onto a flexible tube with a chamfered end, the synthetic material being preferably the same for the connector and for the tube.

The plug 20 is made of a synthetic, flexible and resilient material so that the tongue 26 can readily be deflected and will return on its own accord into the normal position, that is to say into the extension of the generating lines of the cylinder forming the plug, under the action of its own resilience.

In order to facilitate the rotation of the plug 20 in the chamber 18, it is preferable to use a lubricant, but this should not mix with the supply liquid and so contaminate it.

The method of carrying out the invention as hereinbefore descriged is not to be considered as limiting, so that any variation or modification having the characteristics essential to the invention will not depart from the scope of the latter.

Claims

I claim:

1. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor having a longitudinal axis, said connector having a chamber transversely disposed to the longitudinal axis, said chamber having a single inlet in one wall of the chamber and a single outlet in an opposite wall of the chamber, and an obturating plug rotatably disposed in said chamber to control the inlet and outlet, the improvement comprising

a flexible extension integrally formed on a lower portion of said plug and being rotated therewith between operative and intermediate positions,

said flexible extension being rotated with said plug to its intermediate position between the said one wall and the said opposite wall of the chamber whereby a liquid may flow through the chamber,

said flexible extension abutting said one wall to cover the inlet when in its operative position to prevent a reverse flow of liquid through the inlet, said flexible extension being deflected away from said one wall by liquid passing through the inlet and by a member inserted through the inlet, and

said inlet and outlet being in alignment with said longitudinal axis whereby the member may be inserted therethrough and protrude through the catheter.

2. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor according to claim 1, wherein the connector is integrally moulded onto the catheter.

3. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor to claim 1, wherein the connector has an end portion adjacent said inlet and a bushing seals said end portion, and wherein said member comprises a perfusion needle centrally mounted in said bushing so as to be connectable to a liquid supply.

4. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor according to claim 1, wherein the obturating plug comprises a hollow cylinder of flexible resilient material including a head with a transverse slot, the end of the cylinder opposite to the head carrying said flexible extension which takes the form of a prolongation of a part of the cylinder wall.

5. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefore to claim 4, comprising a cap mounted on the hollow cylinder, said cap having a ridge engaging in the slot of the plug head to rotate the plug.

6. An intravenous catheter and terminal connector therefor to claim 5, wherein the cap has an internal groove and the cylinder has an external ridge, the groove and the ridge being so disposed that when the cap is forced on to the cylinder, the ridge snaps into the groove to retain the cap on the cylinder.