System and method for catheter placement in blood vessels of a human

Abstract

A kit of instruments for percutaneous introduction of a catheter into a major blood vessel of a human patient, including a hollow needle assembly having a proximal end adapted to be inserted through the skin of a patient into the blood vessel, a guide wire adapted to be inserted through the needle into the blood vessel, and a catheter having a proximal end adapted to be inserted into the blood vessel over the guide wire after said needle is withdrawn over said guide wire. The hollow needle assembly includes a first small gauge hollow needle having a beveled needle point on the front end thereof, and at least a second hollow needle mounted concentrically over the first needle and having a sharp chisel-shaped front edge located a moderate distance behind the point on said first needle. The needle assembly further comprises a pair of outboard wings mounted thereto and adapted to be readily grasped for inserting said needle into the blood vessel; and a transparent backbleeding evaluation housing mounted to the rear of said needle assembly, the backbleeding housing has an internal chamber communicating with the interior bore of the first needle and is adapted to be filled with blood from said blood vessel when the point of said needle assembly is inserted therein. The backbleeding chamber has a rear port adapted to admit the guide wire for insertion through the internal bore of the needle into the blood vessel. A hydrophobic filter element is sealed into the rear port to permit air within the internal chamber to escape therefrom as blood enters from the blood vessel. The filter element is a thin membrane readily pierceable by the guide wire to admit the guide wire into the internal chamber without substantial loss of blood therefrom. A y-connector with one way valves in inlet arms is provided for communicating fluid into the catheter.