Patent Application
20110071479
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a surgical instrument for accessing a blood vessel, and, in particular, relates to a surgical access instrument incorporating a vessel entry indicator to confirm placement of the access instrument within the blood vessel during administration of fluids.
2. Background of Related Art
Surgical access instruments including intravenous (IV) needles or cannulas are employed during the administration of therapeutic fluids into the blood vessel in conjunction with intravenous (IV) procedures. Such IV procedures may include intermittent or continuous IV therapy for the introduction of specialty pharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, chemotherapy regimens, antibiotic therapy, parenteral nutrition, dehydration treatment or the like. During an intravenous procedure, it is imperative that the IV needle remain within the blood vessel and not become inadvertently dislodged or lose access to the blood vessel. For example, during the IV administration of chemotherapy drugs, if the IV needle is dislodged or removed for any reason from the vein, the drugs may enter the subcutaneous tissue and cause damage to the tissue subjected to the drugs.
Accordingly, the present disclosure is directed to a surgical instrument for administering fluids and having a vessel entry indicator to confirm proper placement of the surgical instrument within the vessel. The surgical instrument includes a vessel access member adapted for accessing a blood vessel and having insertion and trailing ends. The access member defines a primary lumen for administering fluids to the blood vessel and a secondary lumen. A pressure detector is in fluid communication with the secondary lumen. The pressure detector is adapted to detect pressure associated with a disposition of the insertion end of the access member in the blood vessel. The access member may define a port adjacent the leading end and in fluid communication with the secondary lumen. In one embodiment, the secondary lumen is independent of the primary lumen. The pressure detector may include a float valve responsive to pressure of blood entering from the blood vessel through the port and into the secondary lumen. In the alternative, the pressure detector includes a pressure gauge. The pressure gauge is adapted to register pressure associated with a presence of blood entering from the blood vessel through the port and into the secondary lumen.
In another embodiment, the secondary lumen is in fluid communication with the primary lumen whereby pressure is detected by the pressure detector upon discontinuance of administering fluids through the primary lumen, to thereby permit blood to pass through the primary lumen and enter the secondary lumen. The pressure detector in this embodiment may be a pressure gauge.
The primary lumen and the secondary lumen may be coaxially arranged about a reference longitudinal axis defined by the access member. Alternatively, the primary lumen and the secondary lumen are offset with respect to a reference longitudinal axis defined by the access member. The access member may include a housing and an elongate member extending from the housing.
A source of therapeutic fluids is adapted to be coupled to the primary lumen.
In another embodiment, the surgical instrument for administering fluids includes a vessel access member adapted for accessing a blood vessel and having insertion and trailing ends. The access member defines a primary lumen for administering fluids to the blood vessel and a secondary lumen. The access member has an inlet port adjacent the leading end and in fluid communication with the secondary lumen to permit blood to pass from the blood vessel to enter the secondary lumen, and a return port displaced from the inlet port and in fluid communication with the primary lumen to permit blood to pass from the secondary lumen to the primary lumen for return with the administering fluids to the blood vessel. A fluid flow detector is in fluid communication with the secondary lumen. The flow detector is adapted to detect passage of blood through the secondary lumen when the insertion end of the access member is disposed within the blood vessel. The fluid flow detector may be a flow gauge. The primary lumen and the secondary lumen may be coaxially arranged about a reference longitudinal axis defined by the access member. Alternatively, the primary lumen and the secondary lumen may be offset with respect to a reference longitudinal axis defined by the access member.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure, wherein:
The attached figures illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are referenced to describe the embodiments depicted therein. Hereinafter, the disclosure will be described in detail by explaining the figures wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views.
The exemplary embodiments of the apparatus disclosed herein are discussed in terms of performing a therapeutic procedure involving administration of fluids into a blood vessel of the subject. Such therapeutic procedures are inclusive of but, not limited to, intermittent or continuous IV procedures for the introduction of specialty pharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, chemotherapy regimens, antibiotic therapy, parenteral nutrition, dehydration treatment or the like. However, it is envisioned that the present disclosure may be employed with many applications and related treatments of diseases and body ailments of a subject.
In the following discussion, the term “subject” refers to a human patient or other animal. The term “clinician” refers to a doctor, nurse, or other care provider and may include support personnel. The term “trailing” or “proximal” refers to the portion of the instrument closest to the operator while the term “entry” or “distal” refers to the portion of the instrument remote from the operator.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Elongate member 104 is preferably formed of a suitable biocompatible material such as stainless steel or other polymeric materials. Elongate member 104 may be clear or opaque. The diameter of elongate member 104 may vary, but, typically ranges from a 12-gauge to a 26 gauge size, e.g., cannula. Elongate member 104 defines leading end 116 which may be adapted to penetrate, incise or pass through tissue to access the vein.
With reference to
Referring now to
In use, entry end 116 of elongate member 104 is advanced through tissue to access the desired vein. When entry end 116 is positioned in the vein, blood enters through inflow port 122 to pass within secondary lumen 120. The presence of blood within secondary lumen 120 is detected by float valve 126 which moves in a proximal direction within valve housing 128. Movement of float valve 126 in the proximal direction is confirmed by the clinician who may view the float valve 126 through a transparent portion of valve housing 128. Access instrument 100 may then be connected to the fluid source 50 to permit administration of the fluids and commencement of therapy. Throughout the fluid administrating process, the clinician will monitor float valve 126 and determine if the float valve 126 is activated and/or oscillating (corresponding to the rhythm of the pulse) which is indicative of the access instrument 100 being lodged appropriately within the vein.
In use, primary lumen 202 is flushed with a saline. Access instrument 200 is then advanced within the tissue and into the vein with a blood flashback flowing through primary and/or secondary lumens 202, 210 confirming that entry end 214 is within the vein. The presence of blood within primary and/or secondary lumens 202, 210 may be visualized through a transparent region of elongate member 204 or housing 206. Housing 206 of access instrument 200 is connected to IV fluid connector 54 or a syringe, and administration of fluids through primary lumen 202 is commenced. When it is desired to check that entry end 214 of elongate member 204 is properly positioned within the vein, the infusion or administration of fluids is interrupted. The blood is permitted to communicate through primary lumen 202 and into secondary lumen 210. Pressure associated with the presence of blood is registered by pressure gauge 212 either through a constant pressure or through an oscillation of pressure (corresponding to the subject's pulse). If no pressure is recorded by pressure gauge 212, it can be determined that access instrument 200 is not within the vein, thus, prompting the clinician to reposition entry end 214 of the access instrument 200 within the vein.
In use, entry end 310 of access instrument 300 is positioned within the vein. Administration of fluids from the fluid source (not shown) through primary lumen 306 is commenced. Concurrently with the administration of fluids, blood enters secondary lumen 308 through entry port 310 and communicates through inflow tube 314 and travels across flow gauge 312. This flow of blood is registered by flow gauge 312. The blood thereafter communicates through outflow tube 316 where it is released into primary lumen 300 for return, along with the IV fluids, into the vein of the subject. If no fluid flow is registered by flow gauge 312, the clinician will determine that access instrument 300 is not properly positioned within the vein, thus, prompting the clinician to act accordingly to reposition the access instrument 300.
Although the foregoing disclosure has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example, for purposes of clarity or understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.
