Integrated Peripheral Intra-Venous Catheter With Improved Extension Tube Port Probe Access

Abstract

A vascular access device may be an integrated catheter. The vascular access device includes a catheter and catheter adapter having a catheter hub and side port. The contact angle of a probe is greater than 90 degrees. The entrance angle of a probe entering the catheter hub from the side port may be less than 45 degrees. The vascular access device may include a component configured to direct the path of a probe towards the catheter opening. The component may be a protrusion extending into the lumen of the side port, internal fluid passageway, and/or extension tube, or a septum within the catheter hub. The vascular access device includes an access adapter in fluid communication with the side port and permitting insertion of a probe into the catheter through the side port with or without a separate luer adapter. Methods of using a vascular access device are further disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 an integrated catheter, comprising:
 a catheter for insertion into a biological site; and 
 a catheter adapter having a catheter hub and a side port, the catheter hub having a first end operably coupled to the catheter, a second end opposite the first end, and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the side port in fluid communication with the internal fluid passageway; and 
   a probe configured to be inserted through the side port of the catheter adapter and through the catheter into a patient's vasculature. (See paragraph [0035] of publication for support regarding the probe.)   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is configured to draw blood from the patient's vasculature. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the probe comprises a tube. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension tube connected to and fluidly coupled with the side port. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising an access adapter in fluid communication with the side port and permitting insertion of the probe into the catheter through the side port with or without a separate luer adapter. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the access adapter is selected from the group consisting of a luer adapter, a needle-less connector, a fluid control valve, and a non-luer proprietary access valve. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a contact angle of the probe entering the catheter hub from the side port is greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the contact angle is greater than 90 degrees along the length of the internal fluid passageway and to the first end. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the contact angle is greater than 120 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a component configured to direct the path of a probe entering the catheter hub from the side port towards the first end, the component comprising: a) a protrusion extending into the lumen of the side port, internal fluid passageway, and/or extension tube; b) a septum at least partially within the catheter hub; or c) a combination of a protrusion and a septum. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the entrance angle of a probe entering the catheter hub from the side port is less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a catheter wedge, the catheter wedge defining at least a portion of the internal wall.