# US 12,673,186 B2 · Catheter tip passive control device and related systems and methods

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- Number: US 12,673,186 B2
- Document ID: US12673186B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/346,044
- Filed: 2021-06-11
- Published: 2021-12-30
- Granted: 2026-07-07
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-30
- Assignees: Becton, Dickinson and Company
- Applicants: Becton, Dickinson and Company
- Inventors: Shaun Staley; Megan Scherich; Jonathan Karl Burkholz; Yiping Ma; Yueqiang Xue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12673186B2

## CPC

- A61M 25/09: Guide wires
- A61M 25/0017: {specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections}
- A61M 25/0026: {Multi-lumen catheters with stationary elements (catheter assemblies comprising a catheter in combination with a guide tube, sheath or sleeve A61M2025/0681; catheters comprising telescoping coaxial elements A61M2025/0175)}
- A61M 25/0074: {Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable}
- A61M 25/0152: {with pre-shaped mechanisms, e.g. pre-shaped stylets or pre-shaped outer tubes}
- A61M 25/0158: {with magnetic or electrical means, e.g. by using piezo materials, electroactive polymers, magnetic materials or by heating of shape memory materials}
- A61M 25/0606: {"Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters}
- A61M 2025/0019: {Cleaning catheters or the like, e.g. for reuse of the device, for avoiding replacement}
- A61M 2025/0063: {having means, e.g. stylets, mandrils, rods or wires to reinforce or adjust temporarily the stiffness, column strength or pushability of catheters which are already inserted into the human body}
- A61M 2025/0064: {which become stiffer or softer when heated}
- A61M 2025/0186: {Catheters with fixed wires, i.e. so called "non-over-the-wire catheters"}
- A61M 2025/09141: {made of shape memory alloys which take a particular shape at a certain temperature}
- A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials
- 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 vascular access device to passively open a fluid path within a vasculature. The vascular access device may include a catheter and a guidewire. The catheter may have a proximal end, a tip, and a length of tubing therebetween. The guidewire may extend along the length of tubing and may include a bent portion. At least a portion of the length of tubing may substantially conform to the bent portion such that the tip of the catheter avoids an obstruction within the vasculature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vascular access device comprising:
a catheter comprising a proximal end, a tip, and a length of tubing therebetween; and
a guidewire extending along the length of tubing, wherein the guidewire is embedded into at least a portion of the catheter, the guidewire comprising a bent portion, a proximal portion extending from a proximal end of the bent portion in a first direction, and a tip portion extending from a distal end of the bent portion in a second direction after insertion into the vasculature,
wherein the second direction is substantially opposite the first direction, and
after insertion into the vasculature, at least a portion of the length of tubing substantially conforms to a shape of the guidewire.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the catheter comprises a lumen having a distal opening and providing a first fluid path, and at least one fenestration providing an additional fluid path.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the guidewire comprises the bent portion before insertion into the vasculature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vascular access device of claim 3, wherein the guidewire comprises a metal, a metal alloy, polycarbonate, or plastic.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the guidewire is configured to change shape after insertion into the vasculature to form the bent portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The vascular access device of claim 5, wherein the change in shape occurs passively.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The vascular access device of claim 5, wherein the guidewire comprises one of a shape memory alloy or a material that contracts with increasing temperature.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The vascular access device of claim 5, wherein the guidewire comprises one of nitinol and scandium trifluoride (ScF3).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the guidewire is positioned on or within a single portion of a circumference of the catheter.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion and the tip portion are misaligned.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vascular access device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion and the tip portion are aligned.