US 12,350,453 B2
Catheter system facilitating blood flashback visualization
Mohankumar Natesan, Singapore (SG); and Jithendra Kumar Sathyanarayana Naidu, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed by Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/337,200.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/037,354, filed on Jun. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0386977 A1, Dec. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 25/06 (2006.01); A61M 5/34 (2006.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); A61M 39/20 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 25/0693 (2013.01) [A61M 5/34 (2013.01); A61M 25/0097 (2013.01); A61M 25/0631 (2013.01); A61M 2039/205 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catheter system, comprising:
a catheter assembly, comprising:
a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end and a proximal end;
a catheter extending distally from the distal end of the catheter adapter; and
a needle assembly, comprising:
a needle hub, comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the needle hub comprises an annular wall and a pocket disposed within a top portion of the annular wall, wherein the pocket comprises a bottom wall extending from a distal end of the pocket to a proximal end of the pocket, wherein blood within the needle hub is visualized through the bottom wall, wherein an outer diameter of the annular wall along an entirety of the bottom wall from the distal end of the pocket to the proximal end of the pocket is uniform and less than an outer diameter of the annular wall immediately distal to and immediately proximal to the pocket, wherein an interior surface of the annular wall at the pocket is configured to contact blood flashback, wherein the pocket is monolithically formed as single unit with the annular wall immediately distal to and immediately proximal to the pocket;
an introducer needle, comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the introducer needle is secured within the needle hub, wherein the distal end of the introducer needle extends beyond a distal end of the catheter; and
a vent plug, comprising a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the vent plug comprises a male luer adapter, wherein the male luer adapter comprises a cannula and a collar surrounding the cannula, wherein the cannula comprises a cavity to receive blood flashback flowing proximally through the introducer needle, wherein a proximal end of the cavity is formed by a wall extending across the cannula and disposed within the needle hub, wherein the cannula is inserted into the proximal end of the needle hub, wherein a portion of the wall comprises a vent membrane, wherein the vent membrane is configured to pass air and not blood.