Intravenous catheter assembly design

Abstract

An intravenous catheter assembly. The intravenous catheter assembly including a catheter and a catheter hub having a catheter hub body, a septum, and a septum retainer, the catheter hub body having an internal wall defining a transition step, wherein the septum positioned such that a first end of the septum abuts up against the transition step, the septum retainer at least partially insertable within the catheter hub body and configured to secure the septum in position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An intravenous catheter assembly, comprising:
 a catheter having a first end for insertion into a biological site, a second end and a flexible wall defining a lumen extending therebetween; and   a catheter hub including—
 a catheter hub body having a first end operably coupled to the second end of the catheter, a second end, and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal wall further defining a transition step within the internal fluid passageway between a smaller diameter portion of the internal fluid passageway proximal to the first end and a larger diameter portion of the internal fluid passageway proximal to the second end; 
 a septum having a first end and a second end, wherein the septum is positioned within the internal fluid passageway such that the first end of the septum abuts up against the transition step; and 
 a septum retainer at least partially insertable within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub body and configured to secure the septum in position within the internal fluid passageway, the septum retainer having a outer wall shaped and sized to interlock with the internal wail of the catheter hub body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the internal wall of the catheter body further defines a side port, wherein the side port is in fluid communication with the internal fluid passageway. 
     
     
         3 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the side port is configured to be connected to one or more lengths of hollow tubing so that the inside of the hollow tubing is in fluid communication with the internal fluid passageway. 
     
     
         4 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 3 , further including hollow tubing connected to the side port, the tubing including a tube connector configured to be connected to an IV fluid supply line. 
     
     
         5 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the septum has an internal surface defining a slit passing from the first end to the second end, the slit configured to enable an insertion needle to pass therethough. 
     
     
         6 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the septum has an internal surface defining an aperture passing from the first end to the second end, the aperture configured to enable an insertion needle to pass therethough. 
     
     
         7 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the septum has an internal surface defining an aperture originating at the first end and passing through a first thickness, and a slit originating at the termination of the aperture and passing through the second end, the aperture and slit together configured to enable an insertion needle to pass therethough. 
     
     
         8 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter hub includes one or more wings extending radially outward from the catheter hub. 
     
     
         9 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the wings are integrally molded onto the catheter hub. 
     
     
         10 . The intravenous catheter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the wings are coupled to catheter hub via a collar that at least partially surrounds the catheter hub.