Instrument, system, kit and method for catheterization procedures

An instrument for facilitating catheterization comprising:

• (a) a needle having a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material to be catheterized;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasing from a distal portion to a proximal portion and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material so that catheterization is facilitated;
• (c) a distal portion and a proximal portion of said needle and at least one lumen extending through said needle between said distal and proximal portions;
• and
• (d) at least one "Y" chamber attached to said proximal portion of said needle in fluid communication with one of said at least one lumen and for insertion or removal of substances or devices therethrough.

An instrument for catheterization comprising:

• (a) a needle for puncturing a target tissue or material to be catheterized;
• (b) a "Y" chamber attached to said needle for insertion or removal of substances or devices to or from said target tissue or material to be catheterized and through said needle and said "Y" chamber;
• (c) a catheter or catheterization device operatively associated with said instrument for catheterization adapted to be at least partially insertable into said target tissue or material after it is punctured by said needle;
• and
• (d) a protective sleeve, at least partially encompassing said catheter or catheterization device without contacting said target tissue.

A kit for use in a catheterization procedure comprising:

• (a) a needle with a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasingly sized and adapted for engagement over said needle circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• and
• (c) at least one "Y" chamber constructed to be attachable to a proximal portion of said needle for insertion or removal of substances or devices therethrough.

A kit for catheterization of a target tissue or material comprising:

• (a) a needle for insertion into a tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (b) a "Y" chamber attached to said needle for insertion or removal of substances or devices from said tissue or material which is the target of the catheterization through said needle and said "Y" chamber;
• (c) a catheter or catheterization device at least partially insertable into said target tissue or material into which said needle has been inserted;
• and
• (d) a protective sleeve at least partially encompassing said catheter or catheterization device.

A kit for catheterization of a target tissue or material comprising:

• (a) a hollow tubing for use in inserting or withdrawing substances or devices from the target tissue or material to be catheterized;
• (b) a "Y" chamber attachable to said hollow tubing through which substances or devices may be inserted or tissue or material withdrawn through said hollow tubing which is in communication with said target tissue or material;
• (c) a catheter or catheterization device operatively associated with said hollow tubing for communicating with said target tissue;
• and
• (d) a protective sleeve for at least partially encompassing said catheter or catheterization device at a point thereon which is exterior to said tissue or material which is the target of catheterization.

A method for catheterization of a tissue or material which is the target of catheterization comprising the steps of:

• (a) circumferentially disposing a dilator around a needle;
• (b) inserting said needle into said target tissue or material;
• (c) sliding said dilator along said needle into said tissue or material to be catheterized for expanding said tissue or material so that catheterization is facilitated;
• and
• (d) using a "Y" chamber for insertion of substances or devices or removal of tissue or material through said needle.

A method for catheterization of a target tissue or material comprising the steps of:

• (a) puncturing said target tissue or material for catheterization with a hollow needle;
• (b) inserting a catheter or catheterization device through a "Y" chamber which is attached to said hollow needle and thence into said punctured tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• and
• (c) partially encompassing said catheter or catheterization device with a protective sleeve exterior to said tissue or material which is the target of catheterization.

A method of catheterization comprising the steps of:

• (a) inserting a guide-wire through a "Y" chamber and then into said target tissue or material;
• (b) inserting a catheter or other catheterization device along said guide-wire into said target tissue or material;
• and
• (c) at least partially encompassing said catheter or catheterization device with a protective sleeve.

An instrument for facilitating catheterization comprising:

• (a) a needle having a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material to be catheterized;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasing from a distal portion to a proximal portion and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material so that catheterization is facilitated;
• (c) a catheter or catheterization device operatively associated with said instrument and sized and adapted for insertion into tissue or material expanded by said dilator after said dilator is removed;
• and
• (d) a protective sleeve at least partially encompassing said catheter or catheterization device exterior to said tissue or material.

An instrument for facilitating catheterization comprising:

• (a) a needle having a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material to be catheterized;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasing from a distal portion to a proximal portion and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material so that catheterization is facilitated;
• and
• (c) an at least reversibly aspiratable chamber connected to said needle to allow detection of tissue or material or insertion of substances.

A kit for use in a catheterization procedure comprising:

• (a) a needle with a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasingly sized and adapted for engagement over said needle and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (c) a catheter or catheterization device sized and adapted for insertion into said punctured tissue or material expanded by said dilator when said dilator is removed from said tissue;
• and
• (d) a protective sleeve at least partially encompassing said catheter or catheterization device along a portion thereof which is exterior to said tissue or material which is the target of catheterization.

A kit for use in a catheterization procedure comprising:

• (a) a needle with a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasingly sized and adapted for engagement over said needle circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• and
• (c) a guide wire insertable through said needle into said tissue or material and by which insertion of a device used for catheterization into said tissue or material is facilitated.

A kit for use in a catheterization procedure comprising:

• (a) a needle with a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasingly sized and adapted for engagement over said needle and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• and
• (c) a reversibly aspiratable chamber in fluid communication with said needle to allow detection of tissue or material or insertion of substances.

An instrument for facilitating catheterization comprising:

• (a) a needle having a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material to be catheterized;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasing from a distal portion to a proximal portion and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material so that catheterization is facilitated;
• (c) said needle further comprising a position-sensitive feature on a distal portion thereof not solely dependent on the depth of insertion of said needle;
• and
• (d) a distinctive mark associated with a proximal portion of said needle in a fixed spatial relationship with respect to position-sensitive feature such that said distinctive mark can be observed when the needle is inserted into said target tissue or material so that the position of the position-sensitive feature is indicated by said distinctive mark.

A kit for use in a catheterization procedure comprising:

• (a) a needle with a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasingly sized for engagement over said needle and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (c) said needle further including a position-sensitive feature at a distal portion thereof not solely dependent on the depth of insertion of said needle;
• and
• (d) a distinctive mark associated with a proximal portion of said needle in a fixed relative position with respect to said position-sensitive feature so that observation of said distinctive mark outside of said target tissue or material indicates the position of said position-sensitive feature.

An instrument for facilitating catheterization comprising:

• (a) a needle having a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material to be catheterized;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasing from a distal portion to a proximal portion and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material so that catheterization is facilitated;
• and
• (c) a self-sealing device interposed within an elongated lumen in said needle for restricting movement of substances in at least one longitudinal direction through said lumen of said needle.

A kit for use in a catheterization procedure comprising:

• (a) a needle with a substantially uniform diameter for puncturing a tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (b) a dilator having an exterior diameter increasingly sized and adapted for engagement over said needle and circumferentially disposed around said needle for expanding said punctured tissue or material which is the target of catheterization;
• (c) said needle further comprising at least one elongated lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;
• and
• (d) a self-sealing device interposed within said elongated lumen for restricting movement of substances in at least one longitudinal direction through said lumen of said needle.