IP Library › Granted Patent US 12673186
Granted Patent B2
US 12673186 · App. 17/346,044 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Catheter tip passive control device and related systems and methods

Inventors: Shaun Staley (Murray, UT); Megan Scherich (Salt Lake City, UT); Jonathan Karl Burkholz (Salt Lake City, UT); Yiping Ma (Layton, UT); Yueqiang Xue (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
A61M25/09A61M25/0026A61M25/0158A61M2025/0186A61M2025/09141A61M2205/0266
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12673186
App. No.
17/346,044
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vascular access device to passively open a fluid path within a vasculature. The vascular access device may include a catheter and a guidewire. The catheter may have a proximal end, a tip, and a length of tubing therebetween. The guidewire may extend along the length of tubing and may include a bent portion. At least a portion of the length of tubing may substantially conform to the bent portion such that the tip of the catheter avoids an obstruction within the vasculature.

Claims (15)

1 . A vascular access device comprising:

a catheter comprising a proximal end, a tip, and a length of tubing therebetween; and

a guidewire extending along the length of tubing, wherein the guidewire is embedded into at least a portion of the catheter, the guidewire comprising a bent portion, a proximal portion extending from a proximal end of the bent portion in a first direction, and a tip portion extending from a distal end of the bent portion in a second direction after insertion into the vasculature,

wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction, and

after insertion into the vasculature, at least a portion of the length of tubing substantially conforms to a shape of the guidewire.

2 . The vascular access device of claim 1 , wherein the catheter comprises a lumen having a distal opening and providing a first fluid path, and at least one fenestration providing an additional fluid path.

3 . The vascular access device of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire comprises the bent portion before insertion into the vasculature.

4 . The vascular access device of claim 3 , wherein the guidewire comprises a metal, a metal alloy, polycarbonate, or plastic.

5 . The vascular access device of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire is configured to change shape after insertion into the vasculature to form the bent portion.

6 . The vascular access device of claim 5 , wherein the change in shape occurs passively.

7 . The vascular access device of claim 5 , wherein the guidewire comprises one of a shape memory alloy or a material that contracts with increasing temperature.

8 . The vascular access device of claim 5 , wherein the guidewire comprises one of nitinol and scandium trifluoride (ScF 3 ).

9 . The vascular access device of claim 1 , wherein the guidewire is positioned on or within a single portion of a circumference of the catheter.

10 . The vascular access device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion and the tip portion are misaligned.

11 . The vascular access device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion and the tip portion are aligned.