US 12,329,917 B2
Systems and methods to improve instrument guidance within an intravenous catheter assembly
Jonathan Karl Burkholz, Salt Lake City, UT (US); Bryan Fred Bihlmaier, Provo, UT (US); and Shaun Staley, Murray, UT (US)
Assigned to Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed by Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/475,605.
Application 17/475,605 is a division of application No. 16/037,274, filed on Jul. 17, 2018, granted, now 11,147,957.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/534,557, filed on Jul. 19, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0001161 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. A61M 25/06 (2006.01); A61B 5/15 (2006.01); A61M 5/32 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 39/00 (2006.01); A61M 39/04 (2006.01); A61M 39/06 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01); A61M 39/16 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 25/0606 (2013.01) [A61B 5/15003 (2013.01); A61B 5/150396 (2013.01); A61B 5/150992 (2013.01); A61M 5/322 (2013.01); A61M 5/3275 (2013.01); A61M 25/0618 (2013.01); A61M 39/00 (2013.01); A61M 39/04 (2013.01); A61M 39/10 (2013.01); A61M 39/105 (2013.01); A61M 25/0023 (2013.01); A61M 25/0097 (2013.01); A61M 25/0631 (2013.01); A61M 25/0637 (2013.01); A61M 2039/0036 (2013.01); A61M 2039/0072 (2013.01); A61M 39/06 (2013.01); A61M 2039/062 (2013.01); A61M 2039/066 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1066 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1072 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1077 (2013.01); A61M 39/162 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catheter assembly, comprising:
a catheter adapter comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; and
a septum disposed within the lumen, wherein the septum comprises a a slit, an annular protrusion, and an annular wall, wherein the annular protrusion and the annular wall define a cavity within the septum, and wherein:
the annular protrusion extends from a distal portion of the septum in a proximal direction relative to the slit and within the annular wall, and includes a curved proximal surface configured to guide a probe or a catheter distally into the slit, the curved proximal surface defining a distal end of the cavity.
 
6. A catheter assembly, comprising:
a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; and
a septum disposed within the lumen, wherein the septum comprises a proximal surface and a slit, wherein the septum comprises a cavity, wherein the proximal surface is tapered inwardly in a distal direction to form a funnel-shape extending from the slit such that the proximal surface is configured to guide a probe or a catheter distally into the slit, wherein a distal end of the cavity comprises the funnel-shape; and
a septum housing disposed within the lumen, wherein the septum is at least partially disposed within the septum housing, wherein the septum housing comprises a proximal surface having an inward taper in the distal direction such that the proximal surface of the septum housing is configured to guide the probe or the catheter distally through the septum, wherein a central axis of the inward taper is aligned with the slit and a central axis of the funnel-shape.