Central venous catheter access system

Abstract

A central venous catheter (CVC) access system includes a manifold barrel which is connectable to an access lumen of a central venous catheter. Integrated flush and reagent syringes are connected in fluid communication with the manifold barrel. A fluid withdrawal syringe and a transfer lumen are also connected in fluid communication with the manifold barrel. The fluid withdrawal syringe allows withdrawal of waste blood and anti-coagulant from the CVC. The transfer lumen allows injection and withdrawal of fluids through the CVC access lumen. The flush syringe is initially pre-filled with saline which at the appropriate time is injected into the manifold barrel to flush administered medication into the patient's blood stream. The reagent syringe is initially pre-filled with a blood anti-coagulant for injection into the CVC at the conclusion of the CVC access procedure. A multi-stage injection syringe is also disclosed for sequentially injecting at least two fluids into the manifold barrel. In addition, an improved blood collection device is described for use with the CVC access system. The blood collection device includes a rigid cylindrical syringe tube and a rubber or rubber-like plunger which is slidably received therein. Instead of a conventional plunger handle, however, a tension line extends rearwardly from the plunger. The tension line is operable to pull or withdraw the plunger rearwardly, but is inoperable to push the plunger back toward the forward end of the syringe once it has been withdrawn.