# US 10,441,756 B2 · Catheter placement device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,756 B2 - Document ID: US10441756B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/162,194 - Filed: 2018-10-16 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-31 - Assignees: Sonostik LLC - Applicants: SonoStik LLC - Inventors: Nathan J. Castro; Benjamin B. Holmes; Neal K. Sikka; Alfred P. Stancampiano; Richard L. Fogel; Alan D. Fortunate; Hawaa Almansouri; Adam Corman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441756B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/09041: {Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires} - A61M 25/0113: {Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers} - A61M 25/0606: {"Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters} - A61M 2025/0681: {Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube} - A61M 2025/09116: {Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A deep vein intravenous introducer has a wheel located toward the front end of the device that can be rotated by the index finger of the user. After placement of the needle in the lumen of the vessel, the user rotates the wheel, which turns a drive wheel. The drive wheel has an outer surface that advances the guide wire through the center of the needle and into the patient. Once the guide wire is advanced into the vessel lumen the catheter can be advanced over the guide wire with a hub or finger tab on the catheter close to the index finger. The operation can be performed by one hand without moving the hand from its initial position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter placement device comprising: a housing having a front opening, a top opening, and a rear opening, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the front opening and the rear opening; a needle mating tip connected to the housing at the front opening; a sheath connected to the housing and extending from the rear opening; a guide wire parallel to the longitudinal axis, extending from the sheath through the rear opening and through the front opening to the needle mating tip; a guide wheel assembly inside the housing comprising: a first guide wheel having a first guide wheel circumferential surface and a first guide wheel diameter, wherein a portion of the first guide wheel is located outside the top opening of the housing; a second guide wheel having a second guide wheel circumferential surface and a second guide wheel diameter, wherein a portion of the second guide wheel is located outside the top opening of the housing; and a spacer plate coupled between the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel with a spacer plate diameter smaller than the first guide wheel diameter and the second guide wheel diameter and a spacer plate thickness greater than a guide wire diameter of the guide wire, the spacer plate defining a radial space around the spacer plate diameter between the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel, wherein the first guide wheel, the second guide wheel, and the spacer plate are connected and configured so as to share a common rotational axis, rotation rate, and a rotational direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the guide wire does not contact the first guide wheel or the second guide wheel and passes through the radial space of the spacer plate; a drive wheel assembly positioned inside the housing comprising: a drive wheel having a drive wheel circumferential surface; and a wheel plate having a wheel plate outer circumferential surface, wherein the drive wheel and the wheel plate are connected and configured so as to share a common rotational axis, rotation rate, and a rotational direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive wheel circumferential surface is engaged with the first guide wheel circumferential surface such that rotating the first guide wheel causes the drive wheel to rotate, and wherein the guide wire contacts the wheel plate outer circumferential surface, moves when the wheel plate rotates, and does not contact the drive wheel circumferential surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter placement device of claim 1, wherein the first guide wheel circumferential surface and the drive wheel circumferential surface have meshing teeth. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catheter placement device of claim 1, wherein the wheel plate outer circumferential surface comprises a frictional material that grips the guide wire. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catheter placement device of claim 3, wherein the frictional material is rubber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The catheter placement device of claim 1, wherein the guide wheel assembly is closer to the front opening than the drive wheel assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter placement device of claim 1, wherein the guide wire has a top side and a bottom side, and wherein the wheel plate contacts the top side while a peg inside the housing contacts the bottom side. ### Claim 7 A catheter placement device comprising: a housing having a front opening, a top opening, and a rear opening, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the front opening and the rear opening; a needle mating tip connected to the housing at the front opening; a sheath connected to the housing and extending from the rear opening; a guide wire parallel to the longitudinal axis, extending from the sheath through the rear opening and through the front opening to the needle mating tip; a guide wheel assembly inside the housing comprising: a first guide wheel having a first guide wheel circumferential surface and a first guide wheel diameter, wherein a portion of the first guide wheel is located outside the top opening of the housing; a second guide wheel having a second guide wheel circumferential surface and a second guide wheel diameter, wherein a portion of the second guide wheel is located outside the top opening of the housing; and a spacer plate coupled between the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel with a spacer plate diameter smaller than the first guide wheel diameter and the second guide wheel diameter and a spacer plate thickness greater than a guide wire diameter of the guide wire, wherein the first guide wheel, the second guide wheel, and the spacer plate are connected and configured so as to share a common rotational axis, rotation rate, and a rotational direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the guide wire does not contact the first guide wheel or the second guide wheel; a drive wheel assembly positioned inside the housing comprising: a drive wheel having a drive wheel circumferential surface; and a wheel plate having a wheel plate outer circumferential surface, wherein the drive wheel and the wheel plate are connected and configured so as to share a common rotational axis, rotation rate, and a rotational direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive wheel circumferential surface is engaged with the first guide wheel circumferential surface such that rotating the first guide wheel causes the drive wheel to rotate, and wherein the guide wire contacts the wheel plate outer circumferential surface, moves when the wheel plate rotates, and does not contact the drive wheel circumferential surface, wherein rotation of the first guide wheel towards the front opening advances the guide wire towards the front opening. ### Claim 8 A catheter placement device comprising: a housing having a front opening, a top opening, and a rear opening, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the front opening and the rear opening; a needle mating tip connected to the housing at the front opening; a sheath connected to the housing and extending from the rear opening; a guide wire parallel to the longitudinal axis, extending from the sheath through the rear opening and through the front opening to the needle mating tip; a guide wheel assembly inside the housing comprising: a guide wheel having a guide wheel circumferential surface and a guide wheel diameter, wherein a portion of the guide wheel is located outside the top opening of the housing; and a spacer plate coupled to a side of the guide wheel with a spacer plate diameter smaller than the guide wheel diameter, the space plate defining a radial space around the spacer plate diameter, wherein the guide wheel and the spacer plate are connected and configured so as to share a common rotational axis, rotation rate, and a rotational direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the guide wire does not contact the guide wheel and passes through the radial space of the spacer plate; and a drive wheel assembly positioned inside the housing comprising: a drive wheel having a drive wheel circumferential surface; and a wheel plate having a wheel plate outer circumferential surface, wherein the drive wheel and the wheel plate are connected and configured so as to share a common rotational axis, rotation rate, and a rotational direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive wheel circumferential surface is engaged with the guide wheel circumferential surface such that rotating the guide wheel causes the drive wheel to rotate, and wherein the guide wire contacts the wheel plate outer circumferential surface, moves when the wheel plate rotates, and does not contact the drive wheel circumferential surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The catheter placement device of claim 8, wherein the guide wheel circumferential surface and the drive wheel circumferential surface have meshing teeth. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The catheter placement device of claim 8, wherein the wheel plate outer circumferential surface comprises a frictional material that grips the guide wire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The catheter placement device of claim 10, wherein the frictional material is rubber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The catheter placement device of claim 8, wherein rotation of the guide wheel towards the front opening advances the guide wire towards the front opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The catheter placement device of claim 8, wherein the guide wheel assembly is closer to the front opening than the drive wheel assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The catheter placement device of claim 8, wherein the guide wire has a top side and a bottom side, and wherein the wheel plate contacts the top side while a peg inside the housing contacts the bottom side. ### Claim 15 A catheter placement device comprising: a housing having a front opening, a top opening, and a rear opening, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the front opening and the rear opening; a needle mating tip connected to the housing at the front opening; a sheath connected to the housing and extending from the rear opening; a guide wire parallel to the longitudinal axis, extending from the sheath through the rear opening and through the front opening to the needle mating tip; a guide wheel assembly positioned inside the housing comprising: a guide wheel having a guide wheel circumferential surface and a groove in the guide wheel circumferential surface, wherein a portion of the guide wheel is located outside the top opening of the housing and wherein the groove is deeper and wider than a guide wire diameter of the guide wire and defines a radial space around the groove such that the guide wire does not contact the guide wheel and passes through the radial space of the groove; a drive wheel assembly inside the housing comprising: a drive wheel having a drive wheel circumferential surface; and a wheel plate having a wheel plate outer circumferential surface, wherein the drive wheel and the wheel plate are connected and configured so as to share a common rotational axis, rotation rate, and a rotational direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the drive wheel circumferential surface is engaged with the guide wheel circumferential surface such that rotating the guide wheel causes the drive wheel to rotate, and wherein the guide wire contacts the wheel plate outer circumferential surface, moves when the wheel plate rotates, and does not contact the drive wheel circumferential surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The catheter placement device of claim 15, wherein the guide wheel circumferential surface and the drive wheel circumferential surface have meshing teeth. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The catheter placement device of claim 15, wherein the wheel plate outer circumferential surface comprises a rubberized or rubbery material that grips the guide wire. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The catheter placement device of claim 16, wherein rotation of the guide wheel towards the front opening advances the guide wire towards the front opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The catheter placement device of claim 17, wherein the guide wheel assembly is closer to the front opening than the drive wheel assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The catheter placement device of claim 18, wherein the guide wire has a top side and a bottom side, and wherein the wheel plate contacts the top side while a peg inside the housing contacts the bottom side.