Catheter insertion device

Abstract

A catheter insertion device that allows for insertion of a catheter within vasculature of a patient is disclosed. The catheter insertion device includes a handle and a needle cannula held within the handle. A guidewire is partially disposed within the needle cannula. The guidewire is slidable within a lumen of the needle cannula. A first actuator is connected to the handle and the guidewire, and is movable relative to the handle to move the guidewire relative to the handle. A catheter and catheter hub are configured to move relative to the handle and slide over the cannula during deployment of the catheter into the vasculature of the patient. A needle safety clip covers a sharp distal tip of the cannula following removal of the needle cannula from the catheter hub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter insertion device, comprising:
 a handle comprising a top arm and a bottom arm, the top arm and the bottom arm formed in a distal region of the handle;   a needle cannula having a sharp distal tip, the needle cannula held within the handle and at least partially disposed between the top arm and the bottom arm;   a guidewire at least partially disposed within a lumen of the needle cannula, the guidewire configured to slide within the lumen of the needle cannula;   a first actuator connected to the guidewire, the first actuator being movable relative to the handle to move the guidewire relative to the handle;   a catheter group comprising a catheter and a catheter hub, the catheter hub connected to a proximal end of the catheter, the catheter and the catheter hub at least partially disposed between the top arm and the bottom arm, and the catheter and the catheter hub are configured to move relative to the handle and slide over the cannula during deployment of the catheter into vasculature of a patient; and   a needle safety clip configured to cover the sharp distal tip of the needle cannula following removal of the needle cannula from the catheter hub.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator comprises an arm secured to the guidewire, the arm extending from a bottom surface of the first actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 2 , wherein the arm is connected to a proximal end of the guidewire. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first actuator is a slider operable to slide over a portion of the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 4 , wherein the slider is operable to slide over the top arm formed in the distal region of the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator connected to the handle, the second actuator being movable relative to the handle to push the catheter group relative to the handle. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 6 , wherein the second actuator is configured to receive a portion of the catheter hub. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 6 , wherein the second actuator comprises an enlarged proximal end operable to engage the handle to limit movement of the second actuator relative to the handle. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 6 , wherein the second actuator comprises a lip extending outward from a distal end of the second actuator, the lip configured to prevent a finger of a practitioner from slipping past the distal end of the second actuator during operation. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a needle support coupled to the top arm, wherein the needle support is configured to move relative to the handle upon abutment of the catheter hub to the needle support. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 10 , wherein the needle support is configured to stabilize a portion of the needle cannula during insertion of the needle cannula into a patient. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter insertion device according to  claim 11 , wherein the needle support comprises a top portion that abuts a bottom surface of the first actuator to prevent movement of the needle support relative to the handle. 
     
     
         13 . A method of accessing a vasculature of a patient, comprising:
 providing the catheter insertion device of  claim 1 ;   grasping the handle using a first hand of the practitioner;   navigating the handle until the sharp distal tip of the needle cannula is within the vasculature of the patient;   actuating the first actuator using a first finger of the first hand of the practitioner to cause a distal tip of the guidewire to move in a distal direction relative to the handle and within the vasculature of the patient; and   moving the catheter group in a distal direction relative to the handle such that the distal end of the catheter is inserted within the vasculature of the patient.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first actuator is actuated in a proximal direction using the first finger of the first hand of the practitioner to cause a distal tip of the guidewire to move in a distal direction relative to the handle and within the vasculature of the patient 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising actuating a second actuator of the catheter insertion device using the first finger of the practitioner to cause the catheter group to move in a distal direction relative to the handle so that the distal end of the catheter is inserted within the vasculature of the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising gripping a first side of the handle using a second finger of the first hand of the practitioner, and gripping the second side of the handle using a third finger of the first hand of the practitioner, the second finger and the third finger being different from the first finger used to actuate the first actuator. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising gripping the catheter hub with a second hand of the practitioner while pulling the handle in a proximal direction using the first hand of the practitioner to separate the catheter group from the handle. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising pulling the handle in the proximal direction to the point where the needle safety clip covers the sharp distal tip of the needle cannula. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the practitioner grips the handle overhand, and the first finger is the index finger of the first hand of the practitioner. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the practitioner grips the handle underhand, and the first finger is the index finger of the first hand of the practitioner.