Apparatus for advancing oversized catheter through cannula, and the like

Claim 1

An apparatus for introducing a catheter into a vein perforation, and the like through the barrel of a cannula, needle and the like, the cannula providing holder wings for separating the barrel, comprising: a. catheter means; b. a cannula with holder wings; c. compression means for folding the catheter from its normal configuration having a larger cross sectional area than the cannula bore into a cross sectional area smaller than its normal configuration, the compression means including: i. a resilient, hollow compression head having an open and closed position, and adapted in the open position to receive an unfolded catheter lengthwise, and in the closed position to compress the catheter from the unfolded to a folded configuration along the catheter length; ii. normally outwardly biased, opposed compression arms mounted at either side of the compression head, and adapted to be forced together thereby closing the head and folding the catheter lengthwise, each arm having a longitudinal slot, each holder wing of the cannula being inserted into and engagement with the slot; d. advancing means to forward the folded catheter through the cannula into a vein perforation produced by the cannula while engaged by the wings and compression means, the catheter being constructed of a flexible material having a sufficient plastic memory, whereby it will unfold from its smaller cross sectional area into its larger cross sectional area, thereby tightly fitting into the vein and perforation, the cannula being adapted for: i. removal by retraction from the vein; ii. disengagement of the wings from the longitudinal slots of the compression arms; and, iii. removal from the catheter, by flexing the wings to break apart the cannula.

Claim 2

An apparatus for introducing a catheter into a vein perforation, and the like through the barrel of a cannula, needle and the like, the cannula providing holder wings for separating the barrel, comprising: a. catheter means; b. a cannula with holder wings; c. compression means for folding the catheter from its normal configuration having a larger cross sectional area than the cannula bore into a cross sectional area smaller than its normal configuration, the compression means including: i. a resilient, hollow compression head having an open and closed position, and adapted in the open position to receive an unfolded catheter lengthwise, and in the closed position to compress the catheter from the unfolded to a folded configuration along the catheter length; ii. normally outwardly biased, opposed compression arms mounted at either side of the compression head, and adapted to be forced together thereby closing the head and folding the catheter lengthwise, each arm having a longitudinal slot, each holder wing of the cannula being inserted into and engagement with the slot; d. advancing means to forward the folded catheter through the cannula into a vein perforation produced by the cannula while engaged by the wings and compression means, the catheter being constructed of a flexible material having a sufficient plastic memory, whereby it will unfold from its smaller cross sectional area into its larger cross sectional area, thereby tightly fitting into the vein and perforation, the cannula being adapted for: i. removal by retraction from the vein; ii. disengagement of the wings from the longitudinal slots of the compression arms; and, iii. removal from the catheter, by flexing the wings to break apart the cannula.