IV catheter insertion guide
An IV catheter insertion guide is configured to reduce the pain a patient may experience during catheter insertion. The IV catheter insertion guide may include two platforms that can be positioned on opposing sides of the insertion site. An upstream platform can include an ultrasonic transducer or another type of heating component for increasing the temperature of tissue near the insertion site. This heating of the tissue can cause the targeted vessel to relax and increase its cross-sectional area prior to insertion of the catheter. A downstream platform can also include an ultrasonic transducer for stimulating nerves downstream from the insertion site during the insertion of the catheter. The stimulation of the downstream nerves may reduce the pain signal that is transmitted to the central nervous system in response to the catheter insertion.
1 . An IV catheter insertion guide comprising:
an upstream platform that is configured to be positioned on a patient's skin on an upstream side of a planned insertion site; and
a downstream platform that is configured to be positioned on the patient's skin on a downstream side of the planned insertion site opposite the upstream platform, the downstream platform including a nerve stimulating component for stimulating nerves downstream from the planned insertion site,
wherein the upstream platform comprises a main body having a top that forms a first angled support surface in a shape of a partial, inverted cone having an apex, wherein the main body of the upstream platform further comprises an inwardly curved front, wherein the apex is positioned at the inwardly curved front, wherein the first angled support surface is configured to support a catheter device at a first angle, wherein the upstream platform further comprises an elevated support structure that forms a second angled support surface that is configured to support a catheter device at a second angle, wherein the elevated support structure is configured to slide from a first position to a second position, wherein the elevated support structure is oriented towards the apex when the elevated support structure is in the first position and the second position.
2 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 1 , wherein the upstream platform includes a heating component for heating tissue around the planned insertion site.
3 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 2 , wherein the heating component is an ultrasonic transducer.
4 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 1 , wherein the upstream platform comprises a light source.
5 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 4 , wherein the light source comprises a near infrared light bar that extends along the inwardly curved front.
6 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 1 , wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.
7 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 1 , wherein the nerve stimulating component is an ultrasonic transducer.
8 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 1 , wherein the upstream platform and the downstream platform are configured to be secured to the patient's skin.
9 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 8 , wherein each of the upstream platform and the downstream platform include an adhesive or a strap by which the respective platform is secured to the patient's skin.
10 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 1 , wherein the main body of the upstream platform comprises a channel, wherein the elevated support structure is configured to slide from the first position to the second position via a coupling element disposed within the channel.
11 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 10 , wherein the channel is semi-circular.
12 . An IV catheter insertion guide comprising:
an upstream platform that is configured to be positioned on a patient's skin on an upstream side of a planned insertion site, wherein the upstream platform comprises a main body and an elevated support structure, wherein the main body comprises a top that forms a first angled support surface in a shape of a partial cone, wherein the partial cone is inverted and comprises an apex, wherein the first angled support surface is configured to support a catheter device at a first angle, wherein the elevated support structure forms a second angled support surface configured to support the catheter device at a second angle, wherein the main body of the upstream platform comprises a semi-circular channel, wherein the main body of the upstream platform comprises a semi-circular channel formed in the top, wherein the elevated support structure is configured to slide from a first position to a second position within the channel; wherein the second angled support surface is oriented towards the apex when the elevated support structure is in the first position and the second position within the channel; and
a downstream platform that includes a nerve stimulating component for stimulating nerves downstream from the insertion site.
13 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 12 , wherein the nerve stimulating component is an ultrasonic transducer.
14 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 12 , wherein the elevated support structure is repositionable relative to the main body.
15 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 12 , wherein the upstream platform further comprises a coupling element coupling the elevated support structure to the main body, wherein the main body of the upstream platform comprises a channel, wherein the coupling element is configured to slide within the channel, wherein the coupling element is removable from the channel to detach from the main body.
16 . The IV catheter insertion guide of claim 15 , wherein the channel is semi-circular.