# US 12,673,185 B2 · Integrated catheter-placement devices and methods for mitigating blood egress > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,673,185 B2 - Document ID: US12673185B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/381,809 - Filed: 2021-07-21 - Published: 2022-01-27 - Granted: 2026-07-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-22 - Assignees: Bard Access Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Bard Access Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Lori L. Hartley; Glade H. Howell; Eric W. Lindekugel; Bradley J. VanderStek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12673185B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0693: {Flashback chambers} - A61M 25/0097: {characterised by the hub (tube connectors or tube couplings A61M39/10)} - A61M 25/0606: {"Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters} - A61M 25/09041: {Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires} - A61M 2205/0222: Materials for reducing friction - 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 Disclosed herein are integrated catheter-placement devices and methods thereof. An exemplary device includes an intravascular catheter, a needle, an access guidewire, and a blood egress-mitigating means for mitigating blood egress from the device. The intravascular catheter includes a catheter tube and catheter hub. The catheter extends from a body of the device. The needle includes a needle shaft and a needle hub. The needle shaft extends through the catheter tube by way of a catheter-tube lumen thereof. The access guidewire is disposed in a needle lumen of the needle. The blood egress-mitigating means mitigates blood egress from the device by mitigating blood egress from an annular space within the needle shaft while still allowing the access guidewire to axially move within the needle lumen. The annular space is defined by a luminal surface of the needle shaft and a surface of the access guidewire. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An integrated catheter-placement device, comprising: an intravascular catheter including a catheter tube and catheter hub, the intravascular catheter extending from a body of the integrated catheter-placement device in at least a ready-to-deploy state of the integrated catheter-placement device; a needle including a needle shaft and a needle hub, the needle shaft extending through the catheter tube by way of a catheter-tube lumen thereof in at least the ready-to-deploy state of the integrated catheter-placement device; an access guidewire disposed in a needle lumen of the needle; and a blood egress-mitigating means for mitigating blood egress from an annular space within the needle shaft defined by a luminal surface of the needle shaft and a surface of the access guidewire while still allowing the access guidewire to axially move within the needle lumen, the blood egress-mitigating means including a reservoir integral with a proximal portion of the needle shaft, the reservoir providing a space for collecting blood. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the needle shaft terminates with the reservoir. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the reservoir includes a guidewire aperture in a proximal end thereof through which the access guidewire is allowed to axially move. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the blood egress-mitigating means further includes a composition including a superabsorbent polymer, a cellulosic polymer, a coagulant, or a combination thereof disposed in the reservoir for absorbing or coagulating blood therewith. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the blood egress-mitigating means further includes a composition including a superabsorbent polymer, a cellulosic polymer, a coagulant, or a combination thereof disposed in the reservoir for absorbing or coagulating blood therewith. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the blood egress-mitigating means includes an amount of an oil-based lubricant disposed in the needle lumen in the proximal portion of the needle shaft, the oil-based lubricant blocking or retarding blood flow through a proximal end of the needle shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the needle shaft includes a cutout through a needle-shaft wall in the proximal portion of the needle shaft, the cutout configured for injecting the oil-based lubricant into the needle lumen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes a guidewire aperture in a proximal end thereof through which the access guidewire is allowed to axially move. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the blood egress-mitigating means further includes a composition including a superabsorbent polymer, a cellulosic polymer, a coagulant, or a combination thereof disposed in the reservoir for absorbing or coagulating blood therewith. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the blood egress-mitigating means includes a polymeric coating over the surface of the access guidewire, the polymeric coating assuming a portion of the needle lumen, thusly contributing to a reduced annular space for retarding blood flow therethrough. ### Claim 11 A method of an integrated catheter-placement device, comprising: obtaining the integrated catheter-placement device, the integrated catheter-placement device including: an intravascular catheter including a catheter tube and catheter hub, the intravascular catheter extending from a body of the integrated catheter-placement device in at least a ready-to-deploy state of the integrated catheter-placement device; and a needle including a needle shaft and a needle hub, the needle shaft extending through the catheter tube by way of a catheter-tube lumen thereof in at least the ready-to-deploy state of the integrated catheter-placement device; establishing a needle tract from an area of skin to a blood-vessel lumen of a patient with the needle, the establishing of the needle tract causing blood to flash back into the integrated catheter-placement device without egressing from an annular space within the needle shaft defined by a luminal surface of the needle shaft and a surface of an access guidewire in accordance with a blood egress-mitigating means for mitigating blood egress therefrom, the blood egress-mitigating means including a reservoir integral with a proximal portion of the needle shaft that provides a space for collecting blood; advancing the access guidewire disposed in a needle lumen of the needle into the blood-vessel lumen; advancing the catheter tube over the needle and into the blood-vessel lumen; and withdrawing both the needle and the access guidewire from the blood-vessel lumen leaving the intravascular catheter behind with the catheter tube disposed in the blood-vessel lumen of the patient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the blood egress-mitigating means further includes a composition including a superabsorbent polymer, a cellulosic polymer, a coagulant, or a combination thereof disposed in the reservoir for absorbing or coagulating blood therewith. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the reservoir includes a guidewire aperture in a proximal end thereof through which the access guidewire is allowed to axially move. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the proximal portion of the needle shaft terminates with the reservoir. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the reservoir includes a guidewire aperture in a proximal end thereof through which the access guidewire is allowed to axially move. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the proximal portion of the needle shaft terminates with the reservoir. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the proximal portion of the needle shaft terminates with the reservoir.