Catheter hub with detachable push device

Abstract

A handle member for gripping a catheter shaft to facilitate advancement in a patient's body lumen. The handle member is configured to be releasably secured to the catheter shaft. Further, the handle is longitudinally displaceable along at least a length of the catheter shaft, so as to be slidably positional along the shaft. The handle member may be detachably connected to an adapter on the proximal end of the catheter shaft. Additionally, one embodiment of the handle member has internal grooves on the outer wall of the handle member, so that the user would have finger placement holds. The handle member may be made of a softer material than the catheter shaft, and have a tapered outer surface for comfort of the user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A handle member for gripping a catheter shaft to facilitate advancement in a patient's body lumen comprising a body having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen and a connecting member, configured to be releasably secured to the catheter shaft and when released to be longitudinally displaceable along at least a length of the catheter shaft so as to be slidably positional along the shaft.  
     
     
         2 . The handle member of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member frictionally engages the catheter shaft when secured thereto.  
     
     
         3 . The handle member of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is chosen from a group consisting of clips, clamps, clasps, vises, locks, snaps, o-ring valves and rotational hemostatic valves.  
     
     
         4 . The handle member of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member comprises 
 a) a cap having a head and a body with threads, the body extending within the handle member lumen;    b) threads on the handle member lumen complimentary to the threads on the cap body; and    c) a compressible member within the handle member lumen.    
     
     
         5 . The handle member of  claim 1 , wherein the handle member lumen has an inner diameter of no less than 0.040 inches (1.016 millimeters).  
     
     
         6 . The handle member of  claim 1 , wherein the handle member has an outer diameter of about 0.5 inches (12.7 millimeters) to about 2.0 inches (50.8 millimeters).  
     
     
         7 . The handle member of  claim 6  wherein the body has a center section, and the handle member outer diameter at the center section is smaller than the outer diameter at the proximal end, and the handle member outer diameter at the center section is smaller than the outer diameter at the distal end.  
     
     
         8 . The handle member of  claim 7 , having a proximal tapered portion between the center section and the proximal end and a distal tapered section between the center section and the distal end.  
     
     
         9 . The handle member of  claim 1  wherein the body has a deformation configured to enhanced a user's grip.  
     
     
         10 . The handle member of  claim 1  wherein the body has an outer wall with internal grooves.  
     
     
         11 . The handle member of  claim 10  wherein the grooves are configured in the shape of at least 2 ovals.  
     
     
         12 . The handle member of  claim 11  wherein the oval shapes are configured to receive a user's fingers.  
     
     
         13 . The handle member of  claim 1 , wherein the handle member lumen has an inner diameter of no less than 0.040 inches (1.016 millimeters).  
     
     
         14 . The handle member of  claim 1 , wherein the handle member has an outer diameter of about 0.5 inches (12.7 millimeters) to about 2.0 inches (50.8 millimeters).  
     
     
         15 . The catheter assembly of  claim 14  wherein the handle member has a center section, and the handle member outer diameter at the center section is smaller than the outer diameter at the proximal end.  
     
     
         16 . The catheter assembly of  claim 15 , having a proximal tapered portion between the center section and the proximal end and a distal tapered section between the center section and the distal end.  
     
     
         17 . A catheter assembly comprising 
 a) a catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen; and    b) A handle member for gripping a catheter shaft to facilitate advancement in a patient's body lumen comprising a body having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen and a connecting member, configured to be releasably secured to the catheter shaft and when released to be longitudinally displaceable along at least a length of the catheter shaft so as to be slidably positional along the shaft.    
     
     
         18 . The handle member of  claim 17 , wherein the connecting member frictionally engages the catheter shaft when secured thereto.  
     
     
         19 . The catheter assembly of  claim 17  wherein the handle member is a softer material than the catheter shaft.  
     
     
         20 . The catheter assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising an adapter attached to the catheter shaft proximal to the handle member.  
     
     
         21 . The handle member of  claim 17  wherein the body has a deformation configured to enhanced a user's grip.  
     
     
         22 . The catheter assembly of  claim 17  wherein the body has an outer wall with internal grooves.  
     
     
         23 . The catheter assembly of  claim 22  wherein the grooves are configured in the shape of at least 2 ovals.  
     
     
         24 . The catheter assembly of  claim 23  wherein the oval shapes are configured to receive a user's fingers.  
     
     
         25 . A catheter assembly comprising 
 a) a catheter shaft having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen;    b) an adapter attached to the proximal end of the catheter shaft; and    c) a handle member for gripping a catheter shaft comprising a body having a proximal end, a distal end, at least one lumen and a connecting member, configured to be releasably secured to the catheter shaft and when released to be longitudinally displaceable along at least a length of the catheter shaft so as to be slidably positional along the shaft.    
     
     
         26 . The catheter assembly of  claim 25  wherein the adapter has threads on a distal portion, and the handle member has complimentary threads on the handle member proximal end.