# US 12,251,527 B2 · Catheter having a closed tip and slit for a peripheral intravenous catheter assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,251,527 B2 - Document ID: US12251527B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/573,731 - Filed: 2019-09-17 - Published: 2020-03-26 - Granted: 2025-03-18 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-20 - Assignees: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Applicants: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Inventors: S. Ray Isaacson; Bart D. Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12251527B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0075: {Valve means} - A61M 25/0606: {"Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters} - A61M 25/0017: {specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections} - A61M 25/0097: {characterised by the hub (tube connectors or tube couplings A61M39/10)} - A61M 25/0625: {with a permanent connection to the needle hub, e.g. a guiding rail, a locking mechanism or a guard advancement mechanism} - A61M 25/007: {Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked} - A61M 25/0102: {Insertion or introduction using an inner stiffening member, e.g. stylet or push-rod} - A61M 2025/0048: {with an outer layer made from silicon} - A61M 2025/0076: {Unidirectional valves} - A61M 2025/09175: {having specific characteristics at the distal tip} - A61M 2039/064: {Slit-valve} - A61M 2039/1083: {having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors} - A61M 2039/1088: {having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors} - 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 An apparatus may include a connector, which may include a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the connector may include a male luer adapter, which may be configured to couple with a proximal end of a catheter adapter. The apparatus may include a catheter, which may include a proximal end secured within the connector. The catheter may be configured to extend through an indwelling peripheral intravenous catheter. The catheter may include a closed distal end and a slit adjacent to the closed distal end. The slit may be closed under normal physiological pressures. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a connector having a distal piece and a proximal piece, wherein the distal piece and the proximal piece are coupled together in a snap fit or an interference fit, a distal end of the distal piece of the connector having a male luer adapter configured to couple with a proximal end of a catheter adapter, a proximal end of the proximal piece of the connector having a female luer adapter; and a catheter secured within the distal piece of the connector, the catheter extending from the distal end of the distal piece of the connector, the catheter having a closed distal end and a slit adjacent the closed distal end, wherein the slit is closed under normal physiological pressures, wherein the proximal piece comprises a tubular element snugly inserted inside the proximal end of the catheter, the tubular element having an outer diameter slightly less than an inner diameter of the catheter; a guidewire hub comprising a male luer adapter removably coupled to the female luer adapter of the proximal piece of the connector; and a guidewire having a proximal end and a distal end, the guidewire extending from the distal end of the guidewire hub and disposed within the catheter, wherein the proximal end of the guidewire is secured within the guidewire hub. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the guidewire extends through the tubular element, wherein the tubular element is constructed of metal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter is constructed of silicon. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter is constructed of polyurethane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the catheter is between 0.034 and 0.036 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a peripheral intravenous catheter assembly comprising the catheter adapter and a peripheral intravenous catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter, wherein the male luer adapter of the distal end of the distal piece of the connector is coupled with the proximal end of the catheter adapter, wherein the catheter extends beyond the distal end of the peripheral intravenous catheter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first catheter extends between about one and two inches beyond the distal end of the peripheral intravenous catheter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the guidewire comprises a spherical ball feature. ### Claim 9 A method, comprising: inserting into a vasculature of a patient a peripheral intravenous catheter assembly mounted over an introducer needle having a sharp distal tip such that the introducer needle extends through a peripheral intravenous catheter of the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly; after inserting into the vasculature of the patient the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly mounted over the introducer needle, withdrawing the introducer needle from the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly and leaving the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly within the vasculature; after withdrawing the introducer needle from the peripheral catheter assembly, flushing the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly with saline; and after flushing the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly, pushing a second catheter coupled to a guidewire through the peripheral intravenous catheter of the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly and into vasculature of a patient, wherein the second catheter is secured within a connector, the second catheter having a closed distal end and a slit adjacent the closed distal end, wherein the slit is closed under normal physiological pressures, wherein the guidewire is disposed within the second catheter to facilitate the pushing of the second catheter through the peripheral intravenous catheter, wherein in response to pushing the second catheter coupled to the guidewire through the second peripheral intravenous catheter, the second catheter and the guidewire are disposed distal to the peripheral intravenous catheter, wherein the second catheter is snugly fit within the peripheral intravenous catheter such that in response to pushing the second catheter coupled to the guidewire through the peripheral intravenous catheter, the saline within the peripheral intravenous catheter exits a distal end of the peripheral intravenous catheter and is flushed into the vasculature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising coupling the connector to the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly, wherein the second catheter extends between about one and two inches beyond the distal end of the peripheral intravenous catheter when the connector is coupled to the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising when the connector is coupled to the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly, uncoupling a guidewire hub from a proximal end of the connector and removing the guidewire from within the second catheter such that the guidewire is no longer distal to the peripheral intravenous catheter, wherein a proximal end of the guidewire is secured within the guidewire hub. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising using the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly coupled with the connector to infuse fluid or withdraw blood from a patient at least six hours after placement of the peripheral intravenous catheter assembly within vasculature of the patient.