Importance

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Abstract

An intravenous catheter has an elongate small diameter flexible tubular front portion and a rear base portion which has an interior bore in communication with the interior of the tubular portion for connection to a needle or other fluid injection or withdrawal members. A thin flexible membrane seal formed of resilient stretchable material is secured over the opening at the rear of the catheter base. The elasticity of the membrane seal allows the beveled front end of a needle to be pushed through the membrane and puncture the seal as it passes through and will not tear, but will stretch as the forward motion of the needle continues and conform to the profile of front portion of the needle base and allow it to engage the interior of the catheter base. The needle may be inserted into the catheter in the usual manner and the needle and catheter may be used just as any standard catheter-needle assembly. When the needle is withdrawn from the catheter, the membrane seal resumes its original position, except that it has a very tiny hole where the needle penetrated. Under normal use conditions, the resilient material of the membrane seal will close the hole to a diameter so small that no leakage occurs. Thus, the membrane seal prevents fluid, i.e., blood, from leaking from the catheter until such time as the connection is made at the base to complete the fluid injection or withdrawal procedure.

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First Claim