Menlo Care, Inc.

Dwayne E Hardy

Lawrence M Aniuk

Ronald L Dieck

Jack M Walker

An improved catheter assembly is set forth having a cannula having a proximal and distal end portions and longitudinal duct therethrough from said proximal to said distal end portion. A longitudinal piercing member having a distal end having a sharp insertion tip is positioned within the longitudinal duct of the cannula with the insertion tip extending beyond the distal end portion of the cannula. A hub having a passageway therethrough from its proximal to its distal end thereof has its distal end attached to the proximal end portion of the cannula with the passageway in flow communication with the duct in the cannula. A longitudinal piercing member extractor construction extends longitudinally from the longitudinal piercing member. The extractor construction extends through the duct of the cannula and through the passageway of the hub to a proximal end of the extractor construction. The improvement of the invention comprises a rigid longitudinal piercing member receiving tube having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal bore therethrough from the proximal to the distal end portion, the tube being adjacent to the proximal end of the hub, the extractor construction extending from the passageway through and beyond the bore of the tube. A structure is provided which retains the longitudinal piercing member such that its sharp insertion tip is enclosed in the receiving tube. A needle or stylet which is removed by an extractor construction has its sharp insertion tip entrapped within the receiving tube thereby protecting attending medical personnel from being accidentally stuck thereby. The chances of spread of communicable diseases such as AIDS is thereby significantly reduced.

Needle protector for a catheter assembly

An article, suitable for use as a body implant, is made from a novel composition comprising a multiple phase polymer composition comprising:

Assembly for adminstering IV solution

Polymeric article having high tensile energy to break when hydrated

An improvement is set forth in a cannula having a proximal end portion adapted to be connected to a hub, a distal end portion and a longitudinal duct therethrough from the distal end portion to the proximal end portion. The improvement is wherein the cannula has a larger outer cross-section and the duct has a larger inner cross-section starting from the proximal end portion and continuing to a position along the cannula then have the cannula and duct starting at the distal end portion and continuing to the position. The position is located distally from the hub. A reinforcing tube is provided having an outer surface matingly held within the duct and an inner passageway, the tube extending from the proximal end portion distally beyond the hub towards the position. That portion of the cannula which is reinforced by the reinforcing tube is prevented from kinking and/or deforming.

Kink resistant catheter

A catheter assembly comprises a cannula having proximal and distal end portions and a longitudinal duct having an initial inner cross-section. The duct increases in cross-section when at least a part of the distal end portion of the cannula is inserted into a body of a living subject and maintained in contact with the body, and/or when the duct is contacted by an aqueous liquid, for a period of time sufficient for an enlarged duct cross-section to form. A hub has a passageway from a first to a second end thereof. The passageway has a cross-sectional area throughout at least substantially equal to 125% of the initial inner cross-section of the duct. A proximal end portion of the cannula is attached to the first end of the hub with a passageway through the hub in flow communication with the duct in the proximal end portion of the cannula. The attaching is such that the cross-section of the duct adjacent the proximal end portion, following formation of the enlarged duct cross-section, is throughout at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the passageway. Increased flow is provided through the hub whereby advantage can be taken of the expansion of the duct.

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San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Dwayne E Hardy