Finder-thinwall needle combination for safely inserting a catheter into a central vein

A method for inserting a catheter into a central vein without damaging a central artery, the method utilizing a finder-thinwall needle combination comprising a thin finder needle mounted in very close proximity to and parallel with the thinwall needle, with a sharp end portion of the finder needle initially extending beyond the tip of the thinwall needle, the method also utilizing a thin wire and a catheter tube, the method comprising the steps of:

• finding a central vein with the sharp end portion of the finder needle and extending the sharp end portion of the finder needle into the vein;
• sliding the thinwall needle forward relative to the finder needle such that the tip of the thinwall needle enters the vein;
• sliding the finder needle back relative to the thinwall needle and out of the vein, thereby leaving the tip of the thinwall needle in the vein;
• running a thin wire through the thinwall needle into the vein;
• sliding the thinwall needle back along the wire and out of the vein;
• sliding a catheter over the wire and into the vein;
• and
• removing the wire from the vein, thereby leaving the catheter inserted into the vein.

A method for inserting a catheter into a central vein without damaging a central artery, the method utilizing a finder-thinwall needle combination, a wire and a catheter, the method comprising:

• providing a finder-thinwall needle combination for central venous catheterization having:
• a thinwall needle having a sharp end and an opening at said sharp end;
• and
• a finder needle having a sharp tip, said finder needle extending parallel to said thinwall needle;
• wherein said sharp tip of said finder needle extends at least 1/4" beyond the opening of said thinwall needle;
• said thinwall needle has a gage of 18 or less, and wherein said finder needle has a gage of 20 or higher;
• finding a central vein with the sharp end portion of the finder needle and extending the sharp end portion of the finder needle into the vein;
• sliding the thinwall needle forward relative to the finder needle such that the tip of the thinwall needle enters the vein;
• sliding the finder needle back relative to the thinwall needle and out of the vein, thereby leaving the tip of the thinwall needle in the vein;
• running a thin wire through the thinwall needle into the vein;
• sliding the thinwall needle back along the wire and out of the vein;
• sliding a catheter over the wire and into the vein;
• and
• removing the wire from the vein, thereby leaving the catheter inserted into the vein.

A finder-thinwall needle combination with a guide wire and a catheter for central venous catheterization comprising:

• a thinwall needle having a sharp end and an opening at said sharp end;
• a finder needle having a sharp tip, said finder needle extending in parallel to said thinwall needle;
• wherein said sharp tip of said finder needle extends at least 1/4" beyond the opening of said thinwall needle;
• said thinwall needle further including a first fitting;
• said finder needle including a second fitting;
• said needle combination having a first mode in which said first and second fittings are releasably engaged with one another, with said sharp tip of said finder needle extending at least 1/4" beyond the opening of said thinwall needle;
• said needle combination having a second mode in which said first and second fittings are disengaged from one another so that said thinwall needle may slide forward to said sharp tip of said finder needle;
• said finder needle being at least 3 inches long, and said thinwall needle being at least approximately 2 inches long, such that said sharp tip of said finder needle may extend at least one inch beyond the opening of said thinwall needle;
• a catheter;
• and
• a catheter guide wire that is adapted to extend through said thinwall needle when said thinwall needle is inserted into the central vein and to extend through said catheter when said catheter is slid onto said wire;
• wherein said thinwall needle has a gage of 18 or less, and said finder needle has a gage of 20 or higher;
• and
• a technician may locate a central vein with said finder needle without significantly damaging a central artery, and the technician may then slide said thinwall needle forward along said finder needle to place said thinwall needle into the vein, then slide said guide wire through said thinwall needle and into the vein, and then slide said catheter over said guide wire and into the vein.