Separable catheter insertion device

Claim 2

A subcutaneous catheter insertion device comprising: a needle having a longitudinal bore therethrough, one end of said needle adapted to facilitate puncture and insertion into subcutaneous tissue, said needle having a longitudinal slot extending the length thereof; a hub member secured to the distal end of the needle having a longitudinal slot therein aligned with said needle slot; a walled casing having a hollow interior extending rearwardly of said hub, and an aperture means through said casing walls; catheter bearing plate means positioned within said casing opposite said aperture means; a flexible catheter having one end slidably disposed in said bore of said needle and extending rearwardly through the hub and the said hollow interior of said casing over said catheter bearing plate means and terminating in a distal end rearwardly of said casing; releasable catheter holding means having a part carried internally of said hollow interior of said casing and an actuating means extending externally therefrom through said aperture means; said holding means being movable by manipulation of said actuating means to move the said part carried internally from a normal locked position in the said hollow interior to an unlocked position in said hollow interior; and said catheter located on said catheter-bearing plate means being frictionally engaged by said part carried internally when in the normal locked position and being released to permit longitudinal movement when the said part carried internally is moved into the unlocked position in said hollow interior.

Claim 3

The device of claim 2 wherein said enlargement is provided by an increased diametrical portion of said casing.

Claim 4

A subcutaneous catheter insertion device comprising: a needle having a longitudinal bore therethrough, one end of said needle adapted to facilitate puncture of and insertion into subcutaneous tissue, said needle having a longitudinal slot extending the length thereof; a hub member secured to the distal end of the needle having a longitudinal slot therein aligned with said needle slot; a walled casing having a hollow interior extending rearwardly of said hub, said casing having an enlargement only in a portion of said hollow interior, said casing further having aperture means through said casing walls; catheter bearing plate means positioned within said casing opposite said aperture means; a flexible catheter having one end slidably disposed in said bore of said needle and extending rearwardly through the hub and the said hollow interior of said casing and over said catheter bearing plate means and terminating in a distal end rearwardly from said casing; releasable catheter holding means having a part carried internally of said hollow interior of said casing and a part extending externally therefrom through said aperture means; said holding means being movable by manipulation of said part extending externally to move the said part carried internally from a normal position in the said hollow interior to the enlargement in said hollow interior; said catheter located on said catheter bearing plate means being frictionally engaged by said part carried internally when in the normal position and being released to permit longitudinal movement thereof when the said part carried internally is moved into the enlargement in said hollow interior.

Claim 5

A subcutaneous catheter insertion device comprising: a needle having a longitudinal bore therethrough, one end of said needle adapted to facilitate puncture of and insertion into subcutaneous tissue, said needle having a longitudinal slot extending the length thereof; a hub member secured to the distal end of the needle having a longitudinal slot therein aligned with said needle slot; a walled casing having a hollow interior extending rearwardly of said hub, said casing having an enlargement only in a portion of said hollow interior, said casing further having aperture means through said casing walls; catheter bearing plate means positioned within said casing opposite said aperture means; a flexible catheter having one end slidably disposed in said bore of said needle and extending rearwardly through the hub and the said hollow interior of said casing and over said catheter bearing plate means and terminating in a distal end rearwardly from said casing; releasable catheter holding means having a part carried internally of said hollow interior of said casing and a part extending externally therefrom through said aperture means; said holding means being movable by manipulation of said part extending externally to move the said part carried internally from a normal position in the said hollow interior to the enlargement in said hollow interior; said catheter located on said catheter bearing plate means being frictionally engaged by said part carried internally when in the normal position and being released to permit longitudinal movement thereof when the said part carried internally is moved into the enlargement in said hollow interior.

Claim 6

The device of claim 2 wherein said casing is a coupling removably engaged with said hub member.

Claim 7

The device of claim 4 further comprising an integral rearward projection from said hub member.

Claim 8

The device of claim 5 wherein said enlargement is provided by an increased diametrical portion of said casing; and the said normal position is rearward of said enlargement in said hollow interior.

Claim 9

The device of claim 6 further comprising a pliable elongated sac attached to said coupling member and surrounding and fully enclosing the said distal end.

Claim 10

A subcutaneous catheter insertion device comprising: a needle having a longitudinal bore therethrough, one end of said needle adapted to facilitate puncture of and insertion into subcutaneous tissue, said needle having a longitudinal slot extending the length thereof; a hub member secured to the distal end of the needle having a longitudinal slot therein, said hub member having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom with a longitudinal slot in register with the slot in said hub member; a flexible catheter having one end slidably disposed in said bore of said needle and extending rearwardly therefrom through the said longitudinal slot in said hub and the said longitudinal slot in said projection; a walled casing having a hollow interior, said casing overlying said projection with said hollow interior in communication with said slot in said projection; said casing having an enlarged diametrical portion and aperture means through said walls; a frictional lug riding in the hollow interior of said casing just over the slot in said projection, said lug having a finger button extending externally from said casing through said aperture; said lug being movable by manipulation of said finger button from a position in frictional contact with a catheter disposed in said longitudinal slot in said projection to a position in the enlarged diametrical portion of said casing where said lug is out of frictional engagement of said catheter.

Claim 11

A subcutaneous catheter insertion device comprising: a needle having a longitudinal bore therethrough, one end of said needle adapted to facilitate puncture of and insertion into subcutaneous tissue, said needle having a longitudinal slot extending the length thereof; a hub member secured to the distal end of the needle having a longitudinal slot therein, said hub member having a projection extending rearwardly therefrom with a longitudinal slot in register with the slot in said hub member; a flexible catheter having one end slidably disposed in said bore of said needle and extending rearwardly therefrom through the said longitudinal slot in said hub and the said longitudinal slot in said projection; a walled casing having a hollow interior, said casing overlying said projection with said hollow interior in communication with said slot in said projection; said casing having an enlarged diametrical portion and aperture means through said walls; a frictional lug riding in the hollow interior of said casing just over the slot in said projection, said lug having a finger button extending externally from said casing through said aperture; said lug being movable by manipulation of said finger button from a position in frictional contact with a catheter disposed in said longitudinal slot in said projection to a position in the enlarged diametrical portion of said casing where said lug is out of frictional engagement of said catheter.

Claim 12

The device of claim 8 wherein said casing is a removable coupling carried over said hub projection into engagement with said hub member.

Claim 13

The device of claim 8 wherein said casing and said hub are integral, said casing having a channel extending its full length to permit a catheter to be completely removed from said casing.

Claim 14

The device of claim 10 further comprising an enlargement in a portion only of the said channel to permit the said lug to be removed from said casing.

Claim 15

The device of claim 8 wherein sAid increased diametrical portion is provided by enlarged external dimensions of portions of said walled casing which have a uniform wall thickness.

Claim 16

The device of claim 8 wherein said increased diametrical portion is provided by enlarged internal dimensions of said casing with the external dimensions of said casing being substantially uniform.