Pharmacia Deltec, Inc.

Pharmacia Nutech

Gary R Whipple

Michael Charles Ferragamo

Alan R Shapiro

Clair L Strohl

Donald A Kay

Richard J Clark

This connection system has particular application to releasably securing a flexible elastic catheter to a rigid portal outlet stem received in the catheter lumen. The system includes a radial enlargement on the outlet stem and a retainer sleeve that slidably encircles the stem. The sleeve is slidable along the stem between a clamping position where it tightly engages around the stem enlargement and the segment of catheter encircling same at a circular contact surface and a release position wherein it is spaced from the catheter segment. The system assures a secure, fluid-tight connection of the catheter to the stem and provides strain relief for the catheter.

Catheter attachment system

A method and apparatus (10) for determining accurately the location of the tip (14) of a catheter (16) inside biological tissue is disclosed including a locator (34) having a coil (38) wound axially on a core (36) and a detector (12) in the form of a coil (28) wound on a core (24) removably positionable within catheter (16) adjacent the tip (14). A controller (20) generates AC current to coil (38) to produce an electromagnetic field and compares it with the output voltage developed in coil ( b 28) when the locator (34) comes within close physical proximity to detecetor (12). Locator (34) includes an amber LED indicator (42) which is energized when the locator (34) is behind the detector (12) and the monitored output voltage is in phase with the generated alternating current and includes a red LED indicator (44) which is energized when the locator (34) is beyond the detector (12) and the monitored output voltage is 180.degree. out of phase with the generated alternating current. The controller (20) includes a beeper (48) which provides an audible indicator when energization changes between the indicators (42, 44).

Method and apparatus for catheter location determination

This connection system has particular application to releasably securing a flexible elastic catheter to a rigid portal outlet stem received in the catheter lumen. The system includes a radial enlargement on the outlet stem and a retainer sleeve that slidably encircles the stem. The sleeve is slidable along the stem between a clamping position wherein it tightly engages around the stem enlargement and the segment of catheter encircling same at a circular contact surface and a release position wherein it is spaced from the catheter segment. The system assures a secure, fluid-tight connection of the catheter to the stem and provides strain relief for the catheter.

This connection system has particular application to releasably securing a flexible catheter to a rigid portal outlet stem received in the catheter lumen. The system includes a radial enlargement on the outlet stem and a retainer sleeve having a tubular distal segment which encircles the catheter at a location adjacent to the free end of the stem therein and a proximal segment which is composed of a pair of mirror image, hinged together, semicylindrical clamping sections, one of which is an integral extension of the distal sleeve segment and the other of which can be moved between open and closed positions so as to enable the sections to clamp around the stem enlargement and a segment of the catheter encircling the stem. A locking ring snugly encircles the sleeve and is slidable therealong between a locking position wherein it tightly engages around the sleeve clamping sections and an unlocking position wherein it encircles the distal sleeve segment. The system assures a secure, fluid-tight connection of the catheter to the stem and provides strain relief for the catheter.

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South Attleboro, MA, United States of America

Gary R Whipple