US2937643A - Device for fluid transference - Google Patents

Description

y 1960 E. c. ELLIOT 2,937,643

DEVICE FOR FLUID TRANSFERENCE Filed Oct. 11, 1957 //v VENTOR. [z/c C. [LL/07' A Trams 7s United States Patent 2,937,643 DEVICE FOR FLUID TRANSFERENCE Eric C. Elliot, 8420 118th St., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Filed Oct. 11, 1957, Ser. No. 689,590 7 (Ilaims. (Cl. 128-214) The present invention relates to a device for fluid transference and more particularly to a catheter for intravenous injection and transfusion.

There are, at present, a number of devices in use for transferring fluids intravenously to a patient through a needle introduced into a vein. In these prior devices, there is no way of introducing a short plastic catheter into the vein without going through the detailed operat1on of threading a catheter through a needle, withdrawmg the needle over and off the catheter and then connecting the catheter to another needle and then to a plastic tubing.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a needle with a catheter therein, the catheter being adapted to be projected, with the needle, into the vein. The needle is then withdrawn leaving the catheter positioned in the vein. An added advantage of the present invention is the fact that it enables the catheter to be kept in a sterilized condition before use.

The invention comprises a device having a hollow needle, a catheter slidable in the needle, and an axially extensible and collapsible tubular member surrounding the catheter and having one end fixed with respect to the catheter remote from the free end thereof, said hollow needle being associated with the free end of the tubular member, the catheter being adapted to terminate within the needle when the tubular member is extended and to project from the needle when the tubular member is collapsed.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagram in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in cross-section, of the device,

Figure 2 is an end view of that part of the device carrying the needle; and

Figure 3 is an end view of that part of the device carrying the means for attachment to a fluid reservoir.

In the embodiment showing the diagram, the device comprises aflexible catheter 1 which may be of plastic or any other suitable material. One end 1a of the catheter has means 2 aflixed to it for attachment to a fluid reservoir.Means 2 may consist of atubular neck 3 having an enlargedportion 4 to which a tube (not shown) leading from a reservoir may be attached.

Atubular member 5, preferably a bellows, surroundscatheter 1 and is fixed at oneend 5a to theneck 3 ofmeans 2. In its extended position,bellows 5 does not extend as far asfree end 1b ofcatheter 1. Bellows 5 carriesperforations 12 allowing air to escape when the bellows is collapsed.

Fixed tofree end 5b ofbellows 5 is a thin walledhollow needle 6. As indicated in the drawing,needle 6 may be removably fixed tofree end 5b ofbellows 5 by means of an adapter 7 to which the needle may be threaded or otherwise attached.Free end 1b ofcatheter 1 terminates inneedle 6 when bellows Sis fully extended. Whenbellows 5 is collapsed,catheter 1 projects substantially from the open end ofneedle 6.

To enablebellows 5 to be secured in the collapsed position, a cup-like housing 8 is attached to adapter 7 and extends back over part of the bellows. Adisc 10 havingprojection 11 is rotatably mounted onneck 3 of means '2.Slots 13 inhousing 8 are positioned to be engaged byprojection 11 whenbellows 5 is collapsed. Thehousing 8 is thus detachably secured to means 4, the

2,937,643 I Patented May 24, 1960 bellows being retained in a relatively dust proof container.

In the operation of the device, the assembly is supplied, in sterile condition withcatheter 1 positioned inside bothbellows 5 and theneedle 6.Needle 6 is inserted in the vein and as soon as blood wells up in the needle,catheter 1 is pushed forward to enter the vein by movingdisc 10 towardshousing 8. Depending upon the length of catheter used, it can be seen that a substantial portion may enter the vein. Ascatheter 1 is pushed forward andbellows 5 is collapsed the air trapped inside the bellows escapes throughperforations 12 rather than entering the vein. The blood in the needle, acting as a seal, further ensures that the air in the bellows will not enter the vein but will escape by means of the perforations. Whencatheter 1 has been pushed forward as far aspossible bellows 5, now in collapsed position, is retained within cup-like housing 8 by the action of the projections ondisc 11engaging slots 13 in the housing. The needle is then withdrawn from the vein, drawing out a short portion of the catheter but leaving a substantial length of it in the vein.

Alternatively, of course, the device may be operated by drawinghousing 8 back towardsdisc 10 to withdrawneedle 6 from the vein, thus leaving a greater length ofcatheter 1 in the vein.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention,bellows 6 may be replaced by a flexible member, tubular in crosssection and helically formed so as to be extensible. The operation of this embodiment is the same as previously described.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A device for transferring fluids comprising a hollow needle, a catheter slidable in the needle, an axially extensible and collapsible tubular member surrounding the catheter and having one end fixed with respect to the catheter remote from the free end thereof, said needle being associated with the free .end of the tubular member, the catheter being adapted to terminate within the needle when the tubular member is extended and to project from the needle when the tubular member is collapsed.

2. A .device for transferring fluids as inclaim 1, ineluding a latching means associated with the ends of the tubular member to detachably secure the said tubular member in collapsed position.

3. A device for transferring fluids as inclaim 1, wherein the tubular member is perforated bellows.

4. A device for transferring fluids as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the latching means includes projections associated with one end of the tubular member which are adapted to be detachably secured in slots carried by means associated with the opposite end of the tubular member.

5. A device for transferring fluids as inclaim 4, wherein said means associated with the opposite end of the tubular member comprises a cup-like housing extending back over part of the tubular member, said housing carrying slots in which said projections of the latching means are detachably secured when the tubular member is in collapsed position.

6. A device for transferring fluids as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the'needle is detachably secured to the tubular member.

7. A device for transferring fluids as inclaim 1 including means associated with the catheter for connection with a reservoir.

France Dec. 23, 1953 France June 18, 19.56

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