Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
In a vein catheter placement assembly comprising a flexible catheter having a forward end and a rearward end and a puncture needle unit longitudinally slidably positioned within said catheter; said puncture needle unit comprising a hollow tubular puncture needle having a pointed forward end and a rearward end and being open at both ends, said pointed forward end protruding beyond the forward end of the catheter and the rearward end of the puncture needle protruding beyond the rearward end of the catheter, and a finger-grip attached to the rearward end of the puncture needle; the improvement which resides in that said finger-grip extends laterally from the rearward end of said puncture needle in a finger-grip plane which is at an angle substantially intermediate that of 45 to 90° with respect to the needle plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the puncture needle and the point of the puncture needle, and said finger-grip comprising a pair of exterior concave surfaces substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to said finger-grip plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a vein catheter placement assembly comprising a flexible catheter having a forward end and a rearward end and a puncture needle unit longitudinally slidably positioned within said catheter; said puncture needle unit comprising a hollow tubular puncture needle having a pointed forward end and a rearward end and being open at both ends, said pointed forward end protruding beyond the forward end of the catheter and the rearward end of the puncture needle protruding beyond the rearward end of the catheter, and a finger-grip attached to the rearward end of the puncture needle; the improvement which resides in that said finger-grip extends laterally from the rearward end of said puncture needle in a finger-grip plane which is at an angle substantially intermediate that of 45 to 90° with respect to the needle plane defined by the longitudinal axis of the puncture needle and the point of the puncture needle, and said finger-grip comprising a pair of exterior concave surfaces substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to said finger-grip plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein said finger-grip comprises an interior hollow space in which the rearward end of the hollow puncture needle terminates to provide a receptacle for blood released upon puncture of a vein by the puncture needle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 2, wherein said hollow finger-grip comprises at least one airpermeable surface through which air can be displaced upon reception of blood therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 2, wherein the hollow finger-grip has at least one transparent of translucent wall, whereby blood flowing into the fingergrip is visible to the manipulator of the assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 4, wherein the finger-grip is fluted or facetted on said transparent or translucent wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein said finger-grip extends unilaterally from the rearward end of said puncture needle and has a three-sided cross-section in a plane at right angles to the needle plane, two of the said sides providing the essentially concave surfaces and the third side joining the non-common edges of the essentially concave surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 6, wherein three straight lines joining the corner points of the said cross-section form the approximate shape of an isosceles triangle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 7, wherein two of said three straight lines extending across the concave surface form an angle of about 30° with one another and angles of about 75° with the third straight line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein the finger-grip has a four-sided cross-section in a plane at right angles to the needle plane, two opposite sides providing the essentially concave surfaces, a third narrow side joining adjacent edges of the concave surfaces, and a fourth side joining the more spaced apart edges of the concave surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein said finger-grip tapers towards the end thereof remote from the point of said needle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein the angle between the finger-grip and the needle plane is about 75°.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein the catheter at its rear end is provided with a thickened portion having at least one annular groove formed therein for co-operation with a fixing member for attaching the catheter to the skin of a patient.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 12, wherein said thickened portion of said catheter has two annular grooves formed therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 12, in combination with a fixing member for attaching the catheter to the skin of a subject.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 14, wherein said fixing member comprises resiliently releasable attachment means which engage the grooves formed in said thickened portion of said catheter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 15, wherein said fixing member comprises a base for attachment to the skin of a patient, said base being provided with two pairs of claws made from a resilient material and adapted to engaged two corresponding grooves in the thickened portion of the catheter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 16, wherein said pair of claws are so arranged that, in use, the catheter is supported at an acute angle to said base.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 16, wherein the said base is in the form of a disc.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 16, wherein the base is made of plastic.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 16, wherein said base is provided on its lower side with adhesive means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 20, wherein said adhesive means is adhesive tape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 20, wherein said base contains a plurality of perforations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
83 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein said catheter is fitted with a connector for providing an inlet for infusion liquid into the catheter with said puncture needle positioned in said catheter, and said puncture needle has an external longitudinal groove which extends over the entire length of the needle, whereby, in use, infusion liquid can be introduced through the inlet for infusion liquid along the groove to the point of the needle while the needle is in position in the catheter.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 23, wherein said connector comprises a self-sealing closure member located at the end of the connector remote from the point of the needle through which the needle is, in use, withdrawn following puncture of a vein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 24, wherein said closure means upon withdrawal of the needle provides an inlet means through which a liquid can be injected into said catheter simultaneously with the introduction of infusion liquid into the catheter through the inlet for infusion liquid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 24 wherein a base is provided on the underside of said connector for attaching to the skin of a patient.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The catheter placement assembly of claim 1, wherein said pair of exterior concave surfaces are carved out of a symmetrical round body.