A common type of catheter assembly includes a peripheral intravenous catheter (“PIVC”) that is over-the-needle. As its name implies, the PIVC that is over-the-needle may be mounted over an introducer needle having a sharp distal tip. The catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, the PIVC extending distally from the catheter adapter, and the introducer needle extending through the PIVC. The PIVC and the introducer needle may be assembled such that the distal tip of the introducer needle extends beyond the distal tip of the PIVC with the bevel of the needle facing up away from skin of the patient immediately prior to insertion into the skin. The PIVC and the introducer needle are generally inserted at a shallow angle through the skin into vasculature of the patient.
In order to verify proper placement of the introducer needle and/or the PIVC in the blood vessel, a clinician may confirm that there is flashback of blood in a flashback chamber of the catheter assembly. In some instances, blood may travel into the introducer needle and then out of a flashback notch in the introducer needle to reach the flashback chamber, where the blood is visible to the clinician. Once placement of the introducer needle has been confirmed by observation of the blood, the clinician may remove the introducer needle, leaving the PIVC in place in the blood vessel for future blood withdrawal or fluid infusion.
The catheter assembly often includes a luer adapter and a vent plug disposed within the luer adapter. The vent plug provides protection to the luer adapter and catheter assembly, preventing objects from entering the luer adapter and maintaining a sterile environment within the catheter assembly. However, the vent plug often falls off the luer adapter during shipping or transport of the catheter assembly, which results in loss of product integrity and rejection of the catheter assembly for use due to possible contamination.
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.
The present disclosure relates generally to a catheter system that includes a locking cap, as well as related devices and methods. In some embodiments, a catheter system may include a catheter and a female luer adapter. In some embodiments, the female luer adapter may include a proximal end and a distal end, and the proximal end of the female luer adapter may include a first protrusion and a second protrusion. In some embodiments, the female luer adapter may be in fluid communication with the catheter.
In some embodiments, the catheter system may include a cap, which may include a top. In some embodiments, the cap may include a male luer extending distally from the top and inserted into the proximal end of the female luer adapter. In some embodiments, the cap may include a first arm extending distally from the top. In some embodiments, the first arm may include a first slot. In some embodiments, the cap may include a second arm extending distally from the top. In some embodiments, the second arm may include a second slot. In some embodiments, the first protrusion may be disposed within the first slot and the second protrusion may be disposed within the second slot. In these embodiments, the cap, which may be referred to in the present disclosure as a “locking cap,” may be disposed in a locked position.
In some embodiments, in response to rotation of the cap with respect to the female luer adapter in a first direction, the first protrusion may be configured to press against an end of the first slot and the second protrusion may be configured to press against an end of the second slot to prevent further rotation of the cap in the first direction. In some embodiments, in response to rotation of the cap with respect to the female luer adapter in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first protrusion may be configured to be removed from the first slot and the second protrusion may be configured to be removed from the second slot.
In some embodiments, the first slot may include a longitudinal edge opposite another longitudinal edge. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge and/or the other longitudinal edge of the first slot may include a first bump. In some embodiments, the first bump may be interfering with the first protrusion to resist rotation of the cap in the second direction. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge and/or the other longitudinal edge of the first slot may be angled at a same angle as the first protrusion.
In some embodiments, the second slot may include a longitudinal edge opposite another longitudinal edge. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge and/or the other longitudinal edge of the second slot may include a second bump. In some embodiments, the second bump may be interfering with the second protrusion to resist rotation of the cap in the second direction. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge and/or the other longitudinal edge of the second slot may be angled at a same angle as the second protrusion.
In some embodiments, the first protrusion may be opposite the second protrusion. In some embodiments, the first slot may be disposed on a same side of the first arm as the second slot is disposed on the second arm. In some embodiments, the proximal end of the female luer adapter may include a threading, and the first protrusion and the second protrusion may be disposed on the threading. In some embodiments, in a distal end view, the first direction may be clockwise, and the second direction may be counterclockwise.
In some embodiments, the cap may include one or more vents disposed on an outer surface of the male luer. In some embodiments, the one or more vents may be sized and configured to allow air but not liquid to pass. In some embodiments, the one or more vents may extend out of the female luer adapter. In some embodiments, a distal end of the first arm may be chamfered, and a distal end of the second arm may be chamfered.
In some embodiments, the first arm may be spaced apart from the second arm by a gap and another gap opposing the gap. In some embodiments, in response to rotation of the cap with respect to the female luer adapter in the second direction opposite the first direction and removal of the first protrusion from the first slot and the second protrusion from the second slot, the first protrusion may be configured to be disposed within the gap and the second protrusion may be configured to be disposed within the other gap, and the cap may be configured to be removed from the female luer adapter.
In some embodiments, the cap may include a collar extending distally from the top. In some embodiments, an inner surface of the collar may include a first undercut and a second undercut. In some embodiments, the first protrusion may be disposed within the first undercut and the second protrusion may be disposed within the second undercut. In these embodiments, the cap may be disposed in a locked position.
In some embodiments, in response to rotation of the cap with respect to the female luer adapter in the first direction, the first protrusion may be configured to press against an end of the first undercut and the second protrusion may be configured to press against an end of the second undercut to prevent further rotation of the cap in the first direction. In some embodiments, in response to rotation of the cap with respect to the female luer adapter in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first protrusion may be configured to be removed from the first undercut and the second protrusion may be configured to be removed from the second undercut, such that the cap may be removed from the female luer adapter.
In some embodiments, the first undercut may include a longitudinal edge. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge of the first undercut may include a first bump. In some embodiments, the first bump may be interfering with the first protrusion to resist rotation of the cap in the second direction. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge of the first undercut may be angled at a same angle as the first protrusion.
In some embodiments, the second undercut may include a longitudinal edge. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge of the second undercut may include a second bump. In some embodiments, the second bump may be interfering with the second protrusion to resist rotation of the cap in the second direction. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge of the second undercut may be angled at a same angle as the second protrusion. In some embodiments, a distal end of the collar may be chamfered.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are examples and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. It should be understood that the various embodiments are not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality illustrated in the drawings. It should also be understood that the embodiments may be combined, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes, unless so claimed, may be made without departing from the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Example embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
As used in the present disclosure, the term “distal” refers to a portion that is described which is further from a clinician, while the term “proximal” refers to a portion that is being described which is closer to the clinician. Referring now to
In some embodiments, the catheter system 10 may include a catheter 18 extending from the distal end 14 of the catheter hub 12. In some embodiments, the catheter 18 may include a peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC), a midline catheter, or a peripherally-inserted central catheter. In some embodiments, the catheter 18 may include a catheter tube, which may include a distal end 20, a proximal end 22, and a catheter tube lumen extending through the distal end 20 and the proximal end 22.
In some embodiments, a needle hub 24 may be coupled to the proximal end 16 of the catheter hub 12. In some embodiments, an introducer needle 26 may extend from the needle hub 24. In some embodiments, the needle hub 24 may include a flashback chamber and/or a needle safety device. As illustrated in
In some embodiments, the catheter system 10 may include any suitable catheter system. In some embodiments, the catheter system 10 may be similar to the BD SAF-T-INTIMA™ Closed IV Catheter System or the BD NEXIVA™ Closed IV Catheter System or another suitable catheter system in terms of one or more components and/or operation. In some embodiments, the catheter system 10 may include a female luer adapter 28, which may be coupled to or integrated with an extension tube 30 extending from a side port 32 of the catheter hub 12 disposed between the distal end 14 and the proximal end 16.
In some embodiments, the female luer adapter 28 may include a proximal end 36 and a distal end 38. In some embodiments, the proximal end 36 of the female luer adapter 28 may include a female luer. In some embodiments, the proximal end 36 of the female luer adapter 28 may include a first protrusion 40a and a second protrusion 40b. In some embodiments, the proximal end 36 of the female luer adapter 28 may include a threading 42, and the first protrusion 40a and the second protrusion 40b may be disposed on the threading 42.
In some embodiments, the female luer adapter 28 may include a lumen extending therethrough and may be in fluid communication with the catheter 18. In some embodiments, the female luer adapter 28 may be configured to couple to a blood collection device to facilitate collection of blood through the catheter 18 and/or may be configured to couple to an infusion device to deliver fluid to the patient through the catheter 18.
Referring now to
In some embodiments, in response to rotation of the cap 44 with respect to the female luer adapter 28 in a first direction, the first protrusion 40a may be configured to press against an end 54a of the first slot 52a and the second protrusion 40b may be configured to press against an end 54b of the second slot 52b to prevent further rotation of the cap 44 in the first direction. In some embodiments, the first slot 52a may include a longitudinal edge 56 opposite another longitudinal edge 58. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge 56 and/or the other longitudinal edge 58 of the first slot 52a may include a first bump 60a. In some embodiments, the first bump 60a may be interfering with the first protrusion 40a to resist rotation of the cap 44 in a second direction opposite the first direction. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge 56 and/or the other longitudinal edge 58 of the first slot 52a may be angled at a same angle as the first protrusion 40a, which may facilitate twisting of the cap 44 between the locked position and an unlocked position.
In some embodiments, the second slot 52b may include a longitudinal edge 62 opposite another longitudinal edge 64. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge 62 and/or the other longitudinal edge 64 of the second slot 52b may include a second bump 60b. In some embodiments, the second bump 60b may be interfering with the second protrusion 40b to resist rotation of the cap 44 in the second direction. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge 62 and/or the other longitudinal edge 64 of the second slot 52b may be angled at a same angle as the second protrusion 40b, which may facilitate twisting of the cap 44 between the locked position and the unlocked position. In some embodiments, the first bump 60a and the second bump 60b may enhance locking of the cap 44 with respect to the female luer adapter 34.
In some embodiments, the first protrusion 40a may be opposite the second protrusion 40b. In some embodiments, the first slot 52a may be disposed on a same side of the first arm 50a as the second slot 52b is disposed on the second arm 50b, which may facilitate movement of the cap 44 between the locked position and the unlocked position. In further detail, in some embodiments, the first slot 52a may extend from a right edge of the first arm 50a, and the second slot 52b may extend from a right edge of the second arm 50b.
In some embodiments, the cap 44 may include one or more vents 66 disposed on an outer surface of the male luer 48. In some embodiments, the one or more vents 66 may be sized and configured to allow air but not liquid to pass. Thus, the cap 44 disposed within the female luer adapter 28 may create a liquid seal. In some embodiments, the one or more vents 66 may extend out of the female luer adapter 28. In some embodiments, the one or more vents 66 may facilitate blood flashback in response to insertion of the catheter 18 into the vein of the patient.
In some embodiments, a distal end 68a of the first arm 50a may be chamfered, and a distal end 68b of the second arm 50b may be chamfered. In some embodiments, the first arm 50a chamfered and the second arm 50b chamfered may facilitate placement of the cap 44 over the female luer adapter 34, such as the first protrusion 40a and the second protrusion 40b, during assembly and/or removal of the cap 44.
In some embodiments, the cap 44 may include a vent cap, as illustrated, for example, in
In some embodiments, the female luer adapter 34 may include a side port, as illustrated, for example, in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
In some embodiments, in response to rotation of the cap 44 with respect to the female luer adapter 28 in the first direction, the first protrusion 40a may be configured to press against an end 54a of the first undercut 78a and the second protrusion 40b may be configured to press against an end of the second undercut to prevent further rotation of the cap 44 in the first direction. In some embodiments, in response to rotation of the cap 44 with respect to the female luer adapter 28 in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first protrusion 40a may be configured to be removed from the first undercut 78a and the second protrusion 40b may be configured to be removed from the second undercut 78b, such that the cap 44 may be unlocked and removed from the female luer adapter 28.
In some embodiments, the first undercut 78a may include a longitudinal edge 56. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge 56 of the first undercut 78a may include a first bump, such as the first bump 60a illustrated, for example, in
In some embodiments, the second undercut 78b may include a longitudinal edge and another longitudinal edge similar to the first undercut 78a. In some embodiments, the longitudinal edge of the second undercut 78b may include a second bump such as the second bump 60b illustrated, for example, in
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical objects to aid the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Although embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/302,925, filed Jan. 25, 2022, and entitled CATHETER SYSTEM HAVING A LOCKING CAP, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
63302925 | Jan 2022 | US |