Catheter introducer assembly

Abstract

As assembly is provided utilizing a combined catheter and introducer which cooperate to provide efficient infusion of drugs from the in-place assembly even on an intermittent basis with no return blood flow and without the need for any kind of involved valve assembly, or expensive heparin or saline blocks. The introducer is a short thin walled device which receives the catheter therein. The catheter has a plurality of very fine openings in the front end thereof with the openings having a dimension preventing blood backflow, but which allow passage of infusing medication for therapy because of the pressure imparted in the infusion flow of the drugs. The catheter is long enough so that the portion having the openings extends from the front end of the introducer. The front end of the catheter is blunt-ended to decrease trauma during insertion. The openings in the single lumen version extend around the entire circumference of the catheter to prevent the catheter tip from being blocked on one side and closed off. The assembly softens upon exposure to aqueous containing fluids. Moreover, the catheter swells upon insertion to extend to the internal walls of the introducer upon exposure to body fluids. The material of the assembly may include heparin, anti-infective ingredients and lubricants introduced into the polymer material forming the assembly. Finally, the assembly may be multi-lumen for infusing more than one medication through the assembly.