Flashback chamber for catheter assembly
OwnerRichard H. McFarlaneinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flashback chamber for a catheter assembly including a main body portion having a cavity formed therein which is structured to include a path of fluid flow along its length defined by a plurality of sequentially disposed chambers separated, at least in part, by transversely located ribs. The path of fluid flow is at least partially defined by a plurality of ports formed at opposite ends of the spaced apart ribs. An air only permeable vent structure is located at the end of the path of fluid flow so as to properly vent air forced from the cavity as blood from the catheter assembly successively fills the sequentially disposed chambers.
Claims15
An improved flashback structure of the type primarily designed for use with a catheter, said structure comprising:
- (a) a main body portion structured to include an elongated cavity on the interior thereof, said cavity defining a path of fluid flow extending along the length thereof,
- (b) said main body portion comprising a bottom side and a top side disposed in spaced, parallel relation to one another and extending the length of said cavity in enclosing relation to said cavity and said path of fluid flow therein,
- (c) a slidable member having an elongated configuration and movably mounted on said main body portion in parallel relation to said top side and disposed in overlying relation to said top side and further disposed to define a space between said slidable member and said top side,
- (d) an elongated hollow needle secured to and extending outwardly from said main body portion and including a sharpened distal end, said needle including a proximal end mounted in fluid communication with said path of fluid flow,
- (e) a chamber maze formed in said cavity and comprising a plurality of successively disposed chambers positioned along the length of and at least partially defining said path of fluid flow;
- said plurality of chambers extending from one end of said cavity adjacent said proximal end of said needle to a distal end of said cavity,
- (f) a vent means for venting air from said cavity and including a vent chamber disposed at said distal end of said cavity and defining an endmost chamber of said plurality of chambers and disposed and structured on said main body portion for fluid communication with said path of fluid flow,
- (g) said vent means comprising a vent disk formed of gas only permeable material, whereby liquid may not pass therethrough, said disk element mounted in said vent chamber in fluid communication with said path of fluid flow,
- (h) said vent means further comprising an aperture means integrally formed in said top side in aligned and fluid communicating relation with said disk element, said aperture means disposed to establish fluid communication between said vent disk and said space between said slidable member and said top side, said space disposed in communicating relation with the exterior of said main body portion,
- (i) said vent means cooperatively structured and disposed relative to said cavity to force air to be vented from said cavity successively through said vent chamber, said vent disk, said aperture means and said space between said slidable member and said top side, as blood enters said chamber maze at said one end of said cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.