Catheter assembly and components thereof
Catheter assemblies are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to catheter assemblies having a tip protector, a valve, a valve opener, and optionally a needle wiper. The valve opener is disposed inside a catheter hub and is configured to be pushed by an IV set luer connector to open a valve following successful catheterization to pass fluids or other solutions through the catheter. A tip protector is incorporated to block the needle tip and prevent the same from accidental needle stick. A wiper is optionally included to wipe blood deposits on the needle when the same is retracted from the catheter.
1. A method of wiping blood from a needle during a process of emplacing a catheter using a catheter assembly, the method comprising:
puncturing a person's vasculature with a sharp distal tip of the needle of the catheter assembly, the needle extending distally from a first hub including a housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior cavity;
penetrating the vasculature with the catheter of the catheter assembly, the catheter being disposed about the needle and extending distally from a second hub including a housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior cavity, the first and second hubs releasably engaging one another;
withdrawing the needle from the vasculature while maintaining the catheter within the vasculature by disengaging the first hub from the second hub and moving the first hub proximally relative to the second hub, the proximal movement causing the needle to withdraw from the catheter; and
wiping blood from the needle as it withdraws by passing the needle through a wiper, the wiper being disposed in the second hub and having a fixed continuous perimeter defining an opening, the fixed continuous perimeter being in contact with the needle along a section of the fixed continuous perimeter from a point on the needle inside the interior cavity of the second hub and continuously contacting the needle during the withdrawing step to at least a point adjacent the sharp distal tip for wiping the needle during the withdrawing step.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wiper is attached directly or indirectly to the second hub so that the wiper remains stationary as the needle is withdrawn.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein as the needle is withdrawn it passes through a hemostatic valve and a valve opener, both of which are positioned in the interior cavity of the second hub.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wiper is attached to the valve opener.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein as the needle is withdrawn it passes through a tip protector positioned in the interior cavity of the second hub.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the tip protector comprises two arms that intersect.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the tip protector comprises a first protector body surrounded by a second protector body.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein tip protector comprises two arms that extend, at least in part, to one side of the needle.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wiper is liquid impermeable.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wiper is an O-ring.
11. A method of cleaning an exterior of a needle during a process of emplacing a catheter using a catheter assembly, the method comprising;
inserting the needle of the catheter assembly into a person's vasculature at an access site, the needle having a sharp distal tip and extending distally from a proximal hub;
inserting the catheter of the catheter assembly into the vasculature at the access site, the catheter being disposed about the needle and extending distally from a distal hub including a housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior cavity, the proximal and distal hubs releasably engaging one another;
disengaging the proximal hub from the distal hub and moving the proximal hub proximally relative to the distal hub, the proximal movement drawing the needle out of the vasculature and the catheter while the catheter remains within the vasculature; and
passing the needle through a wiper as it withdraws, the wiper removing blood from the exterior of the needle, the wiper having a fixed continuous perimeter defining an opening, the fixed continuous perimeter being in contact with the exterior of the needle along a section of the fixed continuous perimeter from a point on the needle inside the interior cavity of the distal hub and continuously contacting the needle during the withdrawing step to at least a point adjacent the sharp distal tip for wiping the needle during the withdrawing step.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the wiper is attached directly or indirectly to the distal hub so that the wiper remains stationary as the needle is withdrawn.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein as the needle is withdrawn it passes through a hemostatic valve and a valve opener, both of which are positioned in an interior cavity of the distal hub.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the wiper is attached to the valve opener.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein as the needle is withdrawn it passes through a tip protector positioned in an interior cavity of the distal hub.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tip protector comprises two arms that intersect.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tip protector comprises a first protector body surrounded by a second protector body.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tip protector comprises two arms that extend, at least in part, to one side of the needle.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the wiper is liquid impermeable.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the wiper is an O-ring.