# US 12,434,041 B2 · Instrument advancement device having an anti-buckling feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,434,041 B2 - Document ID: US12434041B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/709,980 - Filed: 2022-03-31 - Published: 2022-10-13 - Granted: 2025-10-07 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-02 - Assignees: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Applicants: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Inventors: Megan Scherich; Weston F. Harding; Justin G. Hortin; Jonathan Karl Burkholz; Bart D. Peterson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12434041B2 ## CPC - A61M 39/0247: {Transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body} - A61M 25/0113: {Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers} - A61M 25/0097: {characterised by the hub (tube connectors or tube couplings A61M39/10)} - A61M 25/09041: {Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires} - A61M 2025/0019: {Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement} - A61M 2039/0258: {for vascular access, e.g. blood stream access} - A61M 2039/0279: {for introducing medical instruments into the body, e.g. endoscope, surgical tools} - A61M 2039/0294: {having a specific shape matching the shape of a tool to be inserted therein, e.g. for easy introduction, for sealing purposes, guide} - A61M 2039/1077: {Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other 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 instrument advancement device may include a housing and an extension tube extending through the housing. A wedge may be disposed within the housing. The wedge may include an arc-shaped channel. A pair of opposing pinch members configured to pinch the extension tube may be disposed within the housing and configured to move along the extension tube. An instrument may extend through the arc-shaped channel. A first end of the instrument may be fixed. In response to moving the housing distally along the extension tube, the pair of opposing pinch members may push the wedge distally. In response to movement of the wedge distally a first distance, a second end of the instrument may be configured to advance distally a second distance. A support element or compressible element may be disposed within a lumen of the extension tube to support the instrument. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An instrument advancement device, comprising: a housing; an extension tube extending through the housing; a wedge disposed within the housing, wherein the wedge comprises an arc-shaped channel; a pair of opposing pinch members configured to pinch the extension tube, wherein the pair of opposing pinch members are disposed within the housing and configured to move along the extension tube with the housing; an instrument extending through the arc-shaped channel, wherein a first end of the instrument is fixed, wherein in response to moving the housing distally along the extension tube, the pair of opposing pinch members push the wedge distally, wherein in response to movement of the wedge distally a first distance, a second end of the instrument is configured to advance distally a second distance, wherein the second distance is at least twice the first distance; and a support element disposed within a lumen of the extension tube and configured to reduce buckling of the instrument, wherein the instrument extends through the support element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The instrument advancement device of claim 1, wherein the support element comprises a first hole or groove and a second hole or groove, wherein the first end of the instrument extends through the first hole or groove, wherein the second end of the instrument extends through the second hole or groove. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The instrument advancement device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of other support elements disposed within the lumen of the extension tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The instrument advancement device of claim 1, wherein the wedge or the extension tube is configured to contact the support element and move the support element distally in response to movement of the wedge distally. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The instrument advancement device of claim 4, further comprising a tether extending between the wedge and the support element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The instrument advancement device of claim 5, wherein the tether is fixed to the wedge and the support element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The instrument advancement device of claim 5, wherein the support element comprises an aperture extending therethrough, wherein the tether extends through the aperture and the wedge is configured to move without moving the support element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The instrument advancement device of claim 7, wherein the wedge comprises another aperture extending therethrough, wherein the tether extends through the other aperture. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The instrument advancement device of claim 8, wherein a distal end of the tether is distal to the support element and comprises a catch, wherein a proximal end of the tether is proximal to the wedge and comprises another catch, wherein in response to retraction of the housing in a proximal direction, the catch is configured to pull the support element proximally. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The instrument advancement device of claim 1, wherein the pair of opposing pinch members are disposed within the housing proximal to the wedge, further comprising another pair of opposing pinch members configured to pinch the extension tube, wherein the other pair of opposing pinch members are disposed within the housing distal to the wedge and configured to move along the extension tube with the housing, wherein in response to moving the housing proximally along the extension tube, the pair of opposing pinch members push the wedge proximally and the instrument is retracted proximally. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The instrument advancement device of claim 1, wherein the extension tube comprises a first lumen and a second lumen, wherein a blood collection pathway extends through the first lumen, wherein the wedge and the instrument are disposed within the second lumen. ### Claim 12 An instrument advancement device, comprising: a housing; an extension tube extending through the housing; a wedge disposed within the housing, wherein the wedge comprises an arc-shaped channel; a pair of opposing pinch members configured to pinch the extension tube, wherein the pair of opposing pinch members are disposed within the housing and configured to move along the extension tube with the housing; an instrument extending through the arc-shaped channel, wherein a first end of the instrument is fixed, wherein in response to moving the housing distally along the extension tube, the pair of opposing pinch members push the wedge distally, wherein in response to movement of the wedge distally a first distance, a second end of the instrument is configured to advance distally a second distance, wherein the second distance is at least twice the first distance; and a compressible element disposed within a lumen of the extension tube distal to the wedge, wherein in response to distal movement the wedge, the wedge is configured to contact the compressible element to compress the compressible element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The instrument advancement device of claim 12, wherein the compressible element comprises a spring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The instrument advancement device of claim 12, wherein the compressible element is disposed between the first end of the instrument and the second end of the instrument. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The instrument advancement device of claim 12, wherein the first end extends through the compressible element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The instrument advancement device of claim 12, wherein the second end extends through the compressible element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The instrument advancement device of claim 12, further comprising another compressible element disposed within a lumen of the extension tube distal to the wedge, wherein the first end extends through the compressible element, wherein the second end extends through the other compressible element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The instrument advancement device of claim 12, wherein in response to movement of the housing along the extension tube, the opposing pinch members rotate with respect to the housing and the extension tube. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The instrument advancement device of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a first push tab and a second push tab. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The instrument advancement device of claim 12, further comprising a distal connector, wherein a distal end of the extension tube is coupled to the distal connector, wherein the distal end comprises a distal connector, wherein the distal connector comprises a central insertion feature and two lever arms disposed on opposite sides of the central insertion feature, wherein the central insertion feature comprises a luer shape, wherein a proximal end of each of the two lever arms comprises a stop protrusion.