Curved tip for an insertion device

Details Curved tip for an insertion device Curved tip for an insertion device

2000-10-27

2004-08-03

Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material introduced into or removed from body...

C604S164010

Reexamination Certificate

active

06770059

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tip for an insertion device. More specifically, the invention is directed to a curved tip for an insertion device such as a catheter. The surface profile of the novel tip of the invention is completely curved and includes a generally parabolic tubular surface profile with an insertion end that assumes a generally circular surface profile.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A catheter is usually inserted through the skin of a patient by use of a sharp instrument, such as a needle. In many applications, the needle extends through the catheter wherein the point of the needle is adjacent to and extending slightly beyond the tip of the catheter. The needle pierces the skin of the patient to form an opening and the tip of the catheter follows the needle into the opening.
Traditional catheter tips generally have straight edges and blunt insertion ends. The bluntness of traditional tips impedes the forward progress of the catheter into the opening in the skin. The force required to insert a blunt ended, straight edged catheter tip into the skin, which is also known as “transition force,” is generally sufficiently high to cause pain to the patient upon insertion.
Attempts have been made to reduce the transition force required to insert a catheter into the skin of a patient. An example of such a catheter is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,398. In this patent, the tip of the catheter is angular, although still with straight edges and a blunt insertion end.
It has been found that there is a need for a catheter tip that provides for the smooth and easy transition from a needle to a catheter as the device moves through the skin, to reduce the transition force during insertion of a catheter into a patient. The present invention satisfies this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an insertion device, such as a catheter, including a tip having a hollow, substantially radial cross sectional configuration and a substantially parabolic longitudinal configuration with a longitudinally circular tip curvature. The outer wall of the novel tip of the invention is completely curved, and contains no straight or angled outer walls within the length of the tip. The inner wall of the tip defines a substantially straight passageway through which a piercing device such as a needle may be inserted.
An embodiment of the present invention provides an insertion device that reduces the transition force required to insert the device into the skin of a patient.
An embodiment of the present invention also provides a tip for an insertion device having an entirely curved outer wall in the longitudinal dimension.
An embodiment of the invention further provides a catheter tip configuration which is thin enough to reduce the above-referenced transition force yet tough enough to eliminate splitting, tearing, or bunching of the catheter tubing material during insertion.
An embodiment of the present invention provides a catheter tip with a smoothly convex outer wall.
Other embodiments and advantages of the present invention shall become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3421509 (1969-01-01), Fiore
patent: 4588398 (1986-05-01), Daugherty et al.
patent: 4661300 (1987-04-01), Daugherty
patent: 4790830 (1988-12-01), Hamacher
patent: 5011478 (1991-04-01), Cope
patent: 5053020 (1991-10-01), Manchester
patent: 5205830 (1993-04-01), Dassa et al.
patent: 5234416 (1993-08-01), Macaulay et al.
patent: 5417665 (1995-05-01), De La Mata et al.
patent: 5425903 (1995-06-01), Sloane, Jr. et al.
patent: 5472417 (1995-12-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5472435 (1995-12-01), Sutton
patent: 5505713 (1996-04-01), Van Antwerp
patent: 5514112 (1996-05-01), Chu et al.
patent: 5683370 (1997-11-01), Luther et al.
patent: WO 98/4880 (1998-11-01), None
Copy of International Search Report established for International Patent Application No. PCT/US98/08385.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Curved tip for an insertion device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Curved tip for an insertion device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Curved tip for an insertion device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3326366