WO2011044296A1

WO2011044296A1 - Extendable extension set

Info

Publication number: WO2011044296A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/051709
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rafael V. Andino; Chris Brooks
Original assignee: Venetec International, Inc.
Priority date: 2009-10-06
Filing date: 2010-10-06
Publication date: 2011-04-14

Abstract

An extension set includes a medical tube having an accordion-like shape that allows a healthcare provider to lengthen and/or shorten the tube as needed for a particular application. The extension set includes first and second medical articles at first and second ends of the medical tube. The first and second medical articles can include, for example, one or more connector fittings, catheter hubs, and adaptors, hi a shortened (collapsed) state, at least a portion of the medical tube can be enclosed within a housing forming part of the extension set.

Description

EXTENDABLE EXTENSION SET

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/249,223, filed October 6, 2009, entitled "Extendable Extension Set," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an extension set for connecting to a catheter or a medical line. More particularly, this invention relates to an expandable extension set having a variable length.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] It is frequently desirable in the medical treatment of patients for medical personnel to have some form of access to the vasculature of the patient for delivery or withdrawal of fluids to or from the bloodstream. When such access is required over any period of time, it is common to introduce a catheter into the bloodstream of the patient to provide reusable access, for instance in order to deliver medication and/or fluids directly into the bloodstream of the patient. It may be desirable to leave such an intravenous catheter in place within the patient throughout treatment to avoid repeatedly having to introduce new catheters.

[0004] In intravenous applications, the catheter is generally short and includes a luer connector at one end that is designed for attachment to another medical line. Such a connector may also include a spin nut to lock the medical line to the catheter. In this way the same catheter may be connected to and released from different medical lines in order to exchange the medical lines without the need to introduce multiple intravenous catheters. In some cases, an extension set comprising a medical tube with a spin nut at one end can be connected to the catheter, so that the free end of the extension set can be attached to another medical line or system as desired, at a location further away from the insertion site than the catheter hub. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In one aspect of the invention, an extension set comprises a connector fitting, an adaptor, and a medical tube disposed between the connector fitting and the adaptor, the medical tube having an accordion-fold configuration so as to be extendable from a first length to a second length, the second length being longer than the first length.

[0006] In another aspect of the invention, a catheter system comprises a catheter hub, an adaptor, and a medical tube having an accordion-fold configuration and a first and second end, the medical tube being connected at the first end to the catheter hub and connected at the second end to the adaptor, the medical tube having a varying length between a collapsed position and an extended position.

[0007] In a further aspect of the invention, a medical tube has an internal lumen for use with a catheter, and at least a portion of the medical tube has an accordion-fold configuration so as to be extendable from a first length to a second length, the second length being longer than the first length.

[0008] In a further aspect of the invention, a method of starting a medical line in a patient comprises providing a catheter system comprising a catheter, a catheter hub, an adaptor, and a medical tube having an accordion-fold configuration and a first and second end, the medical tube being connected at the first end to the catheter hub and connected at the second end to the adaptor. The method also comprises inserting the catheter in the skin of the patient at an insertion site and moving the adaptor away from the catheter hub by extending the medical tube from a collapsed position to an extended position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an extendable extension set according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a collapsed or shortened state.

[0010] FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the extendable extension set of FIGURE 1, shown in an extended or lengthened state.

[0011] FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the extendable extension set of FIGURE 1, shown in an extended or lengthened state and connected to an exemplary catheter secured in an exemplary retainer to a patient. [0012] FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a catheter having an integrated extendable extension set, according to another embodiment. The integral extension set is shown in a collapsed or shortened state and received within a handpiece.

[0013] FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the integrated catheter and extendable extension set of FIGURE 4, shown in a collapsed state with the handpiece pulled away from the extension set.

[0014] FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the integrated catheter and extendable extension set of FIGURE 4, shown apart from the handpiece and in a collapsed or shortened state.

[0015] FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the integrated catheter and extendable extension set of FIGURE 4, shown in an extended or lengthened state and apart from the handpiece.

[0016] FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the integrated catheter and extendable extension set of FIGURE 4, shown with the catheter portion inserted into a patient and secured to the patient's skin by a retainer, and with the extension set portion in an extended state with the handpiece removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The following description and the accompanying figures, which describe and show the preferred embodiments, are made to demonstrate several possible configurations that an extension set can take to include various aspects and features of the invention. Some of the illustrated embodiments are shown with either one or both of an illustrative example of a medical article, such as a catheter hub, and an illustrative example of a retainer configured to secure a medical article to the skin of a patient. The illustration of the extension set in these contexts is not intended to limit the disclosed aspects and features of the invention to the specified embodiments or to usage only with the illustrated medical article or retainer. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed aspects and features of the invention are not limited to use with any particular embodiment of a medical article or retainer, and extension sets which include one or more of the inventive aspects and features herein described can be designed for use with a variety of medical articles and/or retainers. [0018] The preferred embodiments of the present invention advantageously provide an extension set having an extendable and or collapsible configuration that allows a healthcare provider to change the length of the extension set as desired for a particular application. An extension set 100 according to an embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows the extension set 100 in a shortened or collapsed configuration. At its proximal end, the extension set 100 includes a connector fitting 102 that is configured to connect to a hub of a catheter (not shown). The connector fitting 102 has a generally elongated body that includes one or more radially-extending protrusions 106. Although the radially-extending protrusions 106 in the illustrated embodiment comprise annular ridges, embodiments can also include one or more radially-extending protrusions that project from the elongated body at one or more discrete radial directions. A male luer connector 108 is disposed at a proximal end of the connector fitting 102, along with a spin nut 110 which is rotatable about and slidable along at least a portion of the length of the elongated body of the connector fitting 102.

[0019] At its distal end, the extension set 100 includes an adaptor 112, which can comprise another connector fitting or other adaptor configured to connect to a corresponding fitting on a medical line, such as a fluid supply line. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the adaptor 1 12 comprises a female fitting 130 including radially-extending tabs 132.

[0020] The connector fitting 102 includes a flange 114 at its distal end which, in the fully collapsed position, abuts a corresponding flange 118 of the adaptor 112. The connector fitting 102 and the adaptor 112 can include interengaging structures which, when in the collapsed configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, cooperate to releasably lock the two parts together and limit longitudinal separation of the connector fitting 102 and the adaptor 112. The interengaging structures can include, for example, a radially-extending protrusion of the adaptor 112 and a thread on an inner surface of the connector fitting 102 configured to receive the radially-extending protrusion. In the illustrated embodiment, the interengaging structure is configured to release when the adaptor 112 is axially rotated by about 90° (as indicated by the arrow 113 in FIG. 1).

[0021] To facilitate gripping and turning of the adaptor 112, the adaptor 112 can include one or more axial protrusions or ridges 116 that extend for at least a portion of the length of the adaptor 112. Once the interengaging structure is released, the adaptor 112 can be moved in a longitudinal direction (as indicated by the arrow 115) relative to the connector fitting 102.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the extension set 100 in a lengthened or extended position, with a medical tube 120 having an accordion-like configuration extending between the connector fitting 102 and the adaptor 112. The medical tube 120 has a lumen which is in fluid communication with a lumen of the connector fitting 102 and with a lumen of the adaptor 112. Prior to being extended, the medical tube 120 is in a collapsed, shortened configuration and is housed, partially or entirely, in an inner channel of the connector fitting 102 and/or an inner channel of the adaptor 112. FIG. 3 illustrates the extension set 100 in an extended position and connected to an exemplary catheter hub 122, which is secured in an exemplary securement device 124 including a retainer 126.

[0023] The accordion-shaped medical tube can comprise any suitable material with any suitable configuration that gives it sufficient rigidity to avoid occlusion of its lumen when bent, stretched, or pressed upon, while retaining its shape when in a collapsed configuration or when pulled into an extended configuration, and sufficient flexibility to allow a healthcare provider to easily pull on an end of the tube and lengthen it from a collapsed to an extended position. In some embodiments, the tube can be configured to be extendable, but not collapsible, so that the tube can be lengthened but not shortened. In other embodiments, the tube can be configured to be both extendable and collapsible so that a healthcare provider can lengthen or shorten the tube as desired, before or after connection to a medical line. By providing an extension set having an adjustable length, embodiments of the invention allow a healthcare provider to easily adjust the length of the set to meet the requirements of a particular application, without resulting in excessive loose tubing that might interfere with medical procedures or patient movement, and which would otherwise require securement. The accordion-fold configuration of embodiments also provides a more easily manipulated medical tube, which can be bent and guided in desired directions and thereby avoid interference with medical procedures or patient movement.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrated a catheter system 200 comprising a catheter 202 having an integral extendable extension set 204 (shown in hidden lines in FIG. 4). The system 200 includes a handpiece 206 having an inner receptacle configured to receive at least a portion of the extendable extension set 204. The catheter 202 includes a hub 208 having a generally elongated body with radially-extending protrusions or ridges 210. The ridges 210 can be configured to cooperate with corresponding structure of a retainer to secure the hub 208 against the skin of a patient and inhibit longitudinal, lateral, and/or transverse movement of the hub 208.

[0025] In the collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 4, the hub 208 abuts against a surface of an elongated housing 212 that surrounds a medical tube 214 (not visible in FIG. 4) having an accordion-fold configuration in a collapsed or compressed state. The distal end of the housing 212 is connected to an adaptor 216, which can be configured as desired to connect to a variety of medical articles, including other connector fittings, syringes, fluid supply lines, and the like. The hub 208 can include a radially-extending tab 218 which cooperates with a corresponding slot 220 in the handpiece 206 to prevent axial rotation of the handpiece 206 with respect to the hub 208, at least when a force is applied to push the handpiece 206 in the proximal direction and engage the tab 218 in the slot 220. The handpiece 206 also includes one or more contoured surfaces 222a, 222b to facilitate proper gripping of the handpiece 206. By such a configuration, the handpiece and the hub can cooperate to assist a healthcare provider in handling and placing the catheter system 200 in a patient, while avoiding accidental release and/or extension of the extension set 204.

[0026] The handpiece 206 can also include an internal receptacle for retracting and receiving a needle after insertion of the catheter 202 into the patient. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the handpiece 206 including the retracted needle can be separated and removed from the extension set 204 by simply pulling the handpiece 206 back in a distal direction. Removal of the handpiece 206 exposes the housing 212 and the adaptor 216 of the extension set 204. After removal of the handpiece 206, the extension set 204 remains in a collapsed configuration, with interengaging structure securing the longitudinal position of the housing 212 with respect to the hub 208.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when a healthcare provider decides to extend the extension set 204, he or she can rotate the housing 212 and/or the adaptor 216 by about 90° (see arrow 224 in FIG. 6) to release the interengaging structure that, in the collapsed and locked position, secures the longitudinal position of the housing 212 with respect to the hub 208. The healthcare provider can then pull back on the housing 212 and/or the adaptor 216 (in the direction indicated by the arrow 226 in FIG. 6) to release the medical tube 214 from within the housing 212 and extend it to the desired length (see FIG. 7).

[0028] As can be seen in FIG. 7, the medical tube 214 is connected to the hub 208 at a shaft portion 228 that extends in a distal direction from the hub 208. As can also be seen in FIG. 7, the hub 208 includes a radially-extending flange 230. In the collapsed position illustrated in FIG. 6, the shaft portion 228 of the hub 208 cooperates with an inner surface of a receiving channel in the adaptor to resist bending of the extension set 204 (including the housing 212 and the adaptor 216) with respect to the hub 208. The flange 230 cooperates with a corresponding surface of the housing 212 (such as a proximally-facing surface of the housing 212 or of the tab 218) to prevent advancement of the housing 212 in a proximal direction over or past the hub 208. In both the collapsed and extended configurations, a lumen of the medical tube 214 is in fluid communication with a lumen of the catheter 202, so as to allow fluid to flow freely from the medical tube 214 into the catheter 202 in both the collapsed and extended configurations.

[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates the catheter system 200 in place on a patient's hand, with the extension set 204 in an extended position, and with the hub 208 secured in an exemplary securement device 234 including a retainer 232. The retainer 232 includes a channel sized to receive at least a portion of the elongated body of the catheter hub 208, as well as ridges 236 that cooperate with the ridges 210 on the hub 208 to inhibit motion of the hub 208 in lateral, longitudinal, and transverse directions.

[0030] According to one embodiment, a healthcare provider can insert the catheter 202 into the patient's vasculature at an insertion site, with the catheter system 200 in a collapsed or compressed state, using known procedures. For example, prior to insertion, a needle, stylus, or trocar can be slidably received within a portion or portions of the catheter and then removed after the medical line has been inserted into the patient's vasculature. In some embodiments, the catheter is primed with sterile fluid to ensure the flow of fluid through the system. After inserting the catheter, the healthcare provider can release the catheter system 200 from its collapsed state and extend the length of the medical tube 214 to the extent desired. The healthcare provider can also connect the adaptor 216 to a fluid supply line. The healthcare provider can also use the securement device 234 to secure at least a portion of the catheter system 200 relative to the patient.

[0031] The various embodiments of extendable extension sets described above thus provide an extension set having a user- variable length allowing a healthcare provider to adjust the length of the set as needed for a particular application. In some embodiments, an extension set having an accordion-shaped foldable configuration provides a length of medical tubing that can be guided in particular curvatures or directions in order to avoid interference with other medical articles, with other medical procedures, or with patient movement.

[0032] Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objectives or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment using the systems described herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the systems may be developed in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objectives or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0033] As will be understood by one of skill in the art, an expandable and/or collapsible medical tube having an accordion-fold configuration can be incorporated into an extension set along with a wide variety of medical articles, such as connector fittings, catheters, hubs, catheter adaptors, medical tubing, and/or fluid supply lines, or a combination of one or more such medical articles, alternatively or in addition to the illustrated fittings, adaptors, hubs, and medical lines, in order to provide an extension set particularly adapted for the intended application. Embodiments of the invention can also be adapted for use with a variety of medical articles and a wide variety of medical procedures. In embodiments of the invention, an extendable extension set can form a component of a medical line extension system, catheterization system, or securement system that includes one or more medical articles, such as connector fittings, catheters, hubs, catheter adaptors, fluid supply lines, or other articles suitable for connecting fluid pathways and/or connecting medical articles and/or medical lines together.

[0034] Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize the interchangeability of various features from different embodiments. Although these techniques and systems have been disclosed in the context of certain embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these techniques and systems may be extended beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other embodiments and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is contemplated that various aspects and features of the invention described can be practiced separately, combined together, or substituted for one another, and that a variety of combination and subcombinations of the features and aspects can be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the systems disclosed herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An extension set comprising:

a connector fitting;

an adaptor; and

a medical tube disposed between the connector fitting and the adaptor, the medical tube having an accordion-fold configuration so as to be extendable from a first length to a second length, the second length being longer than the first length.

2. The extension set of Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the medical tube is disposed within the connector fitting at least when the medical tube has the first length.

3. The extension set of Claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the medical tube is disposed within the adaptor at least when the medical tube has the first length.

4. The extension set of Claim 1, wherein the adaptor is axially rotatable with respect to the connector fitting at least when the medical tube has the first length.

5. The extension set of Claim 1 further comprising interengaging structure configured to cooperate to releasably lock the connector fitting to the adaptor.

6. The extension set of Claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the interengaging structure is disposed on the adaptor and comprises a radially-extending protrusion.

7. The extension set of Claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the interengaging structure is disposed on the connector fitting and comprises an inner thread.

8. The extension set of Claim 5, wherein the interengaging structure is configured to unlock the connector fitting from the adaptor when one of the adaptor and connector fitting is axially rotated about 90° relative to the other one of the adaptor and connector fitting.

9. The extension set of Claim 1, wherein the medical tube is extendable but not collapsible.

10. The extension set of Claim 1, wherein the medical tube is both extendable and collapsible.

11. A catheter system comprising:

a catheter hub;

an adaptor; and a medical tube having an accordion-fold configuration and a first and second end, the medical tube being connected at the first end to the catheter hub and connected at the second end to the adaptor, the medical tube having a varying length between a collapsed position and an extended position.

12. The catheter system of Claim 11, wherein the adaptor abuts the catheter hub when in the collapsed position and is spaced from the catheter hub when in the extended position.

13. The catheter system of Claim 11 further comprising a housing configured to surround at least a portion of the medical tube at least when the medical tube is in the collapsed position.

14. The catheter system of Claim 11 further comprising a handpiece having a receptacle, the receptacle receiving at least a portion of the adaptor.

15. The catheter system of Claim 14, wherein one of the catheter hub and handpiece comprises a tab and the other one of the catheter hub and handpiece comprises a slot, the tab cooperating with the slot to prevent rotation of the handpiece relative to the catheter hub.

16. A medical tube having an internal lumen for use with a catheter, at least a portion of the medical tube having an accordion-fold configuration so as to be extendable from a first length to a second length, the second length being longer than the first length.

17. A method of starting a medical line in a patient, the method comprising:

providing a catheter system comprising a catheter, a catheter hub, an adaptor, and a medical tube having an accordion-fold configuration and a first and second end, the medical tube being connected at the first end to the catheter hub and connected at the second end to the adaptor;

inserting the catheter in the skin of the patient at an insertion site; and moving the adaptor away from the catheter hub by extending the medical tube from a collapsed position to an extended position.

18. The method of Claim 17 further comprising releasing the medical tube from a locked and collapsed position by rotating a portion of the catheter system.

19. The method of Claim 18, wherein releasing the medical tube from a locked and collapsed position comprises rotating the adaptor relative to the catheter hub.

20. The method of Claim 17, further comprising securing at least a portion of the catheter system to the skin of the patient near the insertion site.