# US 11,273,291 B2 · Catheter assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,273,291 B2 - Document ID: US11273291B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/256,861 - Filed: 2019-01-24 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Granted: 2022-03-15 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-04 - Assignees: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Terumo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Takayuki Yokota - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11273291B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0631: {having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle} - A61M 25/065: {Guide needles} - A61M 25/0662: {Guide tubes} - A61M 5/158: Needles {for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body} - A61M 25/0105: {Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning (systems for detection of markers A61B)} - A61M 2025/0656: {having a tip larger than the rest of the body} - A61M 2025/0681: {Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube} - A61M 2025/0687: {having means for atraumatic insertion in the body or protection of the tip of the sheath during insertion, e.g. special designs of dilators, needles or sheaths} - 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 catheter assembly includes: a catheter having an inner cavity extending along a center axis of the catheter, the catheter comprising, on a distal side, a tapered portion that is tapered in a distal direction; and an inner needle retractably located in the inner cavity. The inner needle comprises, on a distal side, a blade surface that is inclined with respect to a center axis of the inner needle. The tapered portion covers a proximal end portion of the blade surface in an assembled state in which the inner needle is located in the inner cavity, and an inner shape of a distal-most end of the tapered portion conforms to the blade surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A catheter assembly comprising: a catheter having an inner cavity extending along a center axis of the catheter, the catheter comprising, on a distal side, a tapered portion that is tapered in a distal direction; and an inner needle retractably located in the inner cavity; wherein the inner needle comprises, on a distal side, a blade surface that is inclined with respect to a center axis of the inner needle; wherein the tapered portion covers a proximal end portion of the blade surface in an assembled state in which the inner needle is located in the inner cavity, and an inner shape of a distal-most end of the tapered portion conforms to the blade surface; wherein, in a cross section orthogonal to the center axis of the inner needle, an outer peripheral surface of the distal side of the inner needle comprises: the blade surface, and an arcuate surface; and wherein in a cross section orthogonal to the center axis of the catheter in the assembled state, the tapered portion comprises: a flat portion having an inner surface opposing the blade surface, and an arcuate portion opposing the arcuate surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the distal-most end of the tapered portion is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner needle, including at the blade surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tapered portion comprises: an outer flat surface on an outer surface side that corresponds to a circumferential position of the inner surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The catheter assembly according to claim 3, wherein an inclination angle of the outer flat surface with respect to the blade surface is smaller than an inclination angle of a proximal side portion of the blade surface with respect to the center axis of the inner needle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The catheter assembly according to claim 3, wherein: in the cross section orthogonal to the center axis of the inner needle, the outer peripheral surface of the distal side of the inner needle comprises: a rounded corner surface joining the blade surface with the arcuate surface, the rounded corner surface having a larger curvature than the arcuate surface; and in the cross section orthogonal to the center axis of the catheter in the assembled state, the tapered portion comprises: a rounded corner portion joining the flat portion with the arcuate portion, the rounded corner portion opposing the rounded corner surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the inner needle has a needle hole extending along the center axis of the inner needle, and the blade surface includes a needle tip opening communicating with the needle hole; and the tapered portion covers a proximal end portion of the needle tip opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the blade surface includes a first area having a distal end configured to form a cut, and a second area that is continuous with a proximal end of the first area and is configured to widen the cut; and the tapered portion partially covers the second area without covering the first area in the assembled state. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The catheter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the catheter is formed of a material comprising polyurethane. ### Claim 9 A method of making a catheter assembly comprising: providing a catheter having an inner cavity extending along a center axis of the catheter, the catheter comprising, on a distal side, a tapered portion that is tapered in a distal direction; and inserting an inner needle into the inner cavity; wherein the inner needle comprises, on a distal side, a blade surface that is inclined with respect to a center axis of the inner needle; wherein, after the inner needle is inserted into the inner cavity, the tapered portion covers a proximal end portion of the blade surface in an assembled state in which the inner needle is located in the inner cavity, and an inner shape of a distal-most end of the tapered portion conforms to the blade surface; and wherein, in a cross section orthogonal to the center axis of the inner needle, an outer peripheral surface of the distal side of the inner needle comprises: the blade surface, and an arcuate surface; and wherein in a cross section orthogonal to the center axis of the catheter in the assembled state, the tapered portion comprises: a flat portion having an inner surface opposing the blade surface, and an arcuate portion opposing the arcuate surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of providing the catheter comprises, before inserting the inner needle into the catheter, heating the catheter to form the tapered portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein, after the inner needle is inserted into the inner cavity, the distal-most end of the tapered portion is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner needle, including at the blade surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the tapered portion comprises: an outer flat surface on an outer surface side that corresponds to a circumferential position of the inner surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein an inclination angle of the outer flat surface with respect to the blade surface is smaller than an inclination angle of a proximal side portion of the blade surface with respect to the center axis of the inner needle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein: in the cross section orthogonal to the center axis of the inner needle, the outer peripheral surface of the distal side of the inner needle comprises: a rounded corner surface joining the blade surface with the arcuate surface, the rounded corner surface having a larger curvature than the arcuate surface; and in the cross section orthogonal to the center axis of the catheter in the assembled state, the tapered portion comprises: a rounded corner portion joining the flat portion with the arcuate portion, the rounded corner portion opposing the rounded corner surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of providing the catheter comprises, before inserting the inner needle into the catheter, shaping the flat portion, the arcuate portion and the rounded corner portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein: the inner needle has a needle hole extending along the center axis of the inner needle, and the blade surface includes a needle tip opening communicating with the needle hole; and the tapered portion covers a proximal end portion of the needle tip opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein: the blade surface includes a first area having a distal end configured to form a cut, and a second area that is continuous with a proximal end of the first area and is configured to widen the cut; and the tapered portion partially covers the second area without covering the first area in the assembled state. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the catheter is formed of a material comprising polyurethane.