Cannula Insertion System And Methods Of Using The Same

Abstract

A cannula insertion system for cannulating a blood vessel includes a cannula system having a cannula that defines a cannula lumen and has a distal and proximal end. The system includes a cannula insertion device for coupling with the system that includes a dilator having a dilator body and a dilator lumen; a needle having a needle body and a needle lumen, the needle being translatable within the dilator lumen along a first direction; a movable dilator actuator configured to cause the dilator to move along the first direction; a movable needle actuator configured to cause movement of the needle along the first direction; and a housing defining a housing recess. The housing recess is configured to receive the cannula system, the dilator, and the needle. The needle and the dilator are configured to be moved within the cannula lumen along the first direction.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A cannula insertion system for cannulating a blood vessel in a tissue, the cannula insertion system comprising:
 a cannula system including a cannula that defines a cannula lumen therethrough, the cannula having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end; and   a cannula insertion device configured to couple with the cannula system, the cannula insertion device including:
 a dilator having a dilator body that defines a dilator lumen therethrough; 
 a needle having a needle body that defines a needle lumen therethrough, the needle being translatable within the dilator lumen along a first direction; 
 a dilator actuator configured to be moved such that movement of the dilator actuator causes movement of the dilator along the first direction; 
 a needle actuator configured to be moved such that movement of the needle actuator causes movement of the needle along the first direction; and 
 a housing defining a housing recess therein, the housing recess being configured to receive the cannula system, the dilator, and the needle, 
   wherein the needle and the dilator of the cannula insertion device are configured to be moved within the cannula lumen along the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to translate the needle from a first position, in which a distal end of the needle is positioned distally of a distal end of the dilator, to a second position, in which the distal end of the needle is positioned proximally of the distal end of the dilator. 
     
     
         3 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula system includes a Y-connector adjacent to the proximal end of the cannula, the Y-connector having a first proximal portion, which defines a first proximal channel, and a second proximal portion, which defines a second proximal channel, wherein the first and second proximal channels are configured to be in fluid communication with the cannula lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 3 , wherein the first proximal portion defines a slit seal that separates the first proximal channel from the second proximal channel, the slit seal having an open configuration, in which the dilator and the needle are inserted therethrough, and a closed configuration, in which the needle and the dilator are not extending therethrough,
 wherein when the slit seal is in the closed configuration, liquid from the cannula lumen is precluded from moving into the first proximal channel.   
     
     
         5 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 3 , further comprising a plug configured to be removably inserted into the first proximal channel. 
     
     
         6 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula system further includes a locking element thereon, and the housing includes a locking element thereon, wherein the locking element of the cannula system is configured to releasably engage with the locking element of the housing such that the cannula system is affixed to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 1 , further comprising a collet jaw configured to releasably secure the cannula to the blood vessel, the collet jaw being affixed to the cannula, the collet jaw having a base, a deformable arm, and a head,
 wherein when the collet jaw is in an open position, the head is spaced away from the blood vessel and the cannula, and when the collet jaw is in a closed position, the head is in contact with the tissue such that the blood vessel is held in place between the collet jaw and the cannula.   
     
     
         8 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 7 , wherein the collet jaw further comprises a tine on the head that extends towards the blood vessel, wherein the tine is configured to dig into the tissue when the collet jaw is in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a translucent portion configured to allow visibility through the housing into the housing recess. 
     
     
         10 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula system is configured to be operatively connected to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system. 
     
     
         11 . The cannula insertion system of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue includes an umbilical cord of a neonate. 
     
     
         12 . A method of cannulating a blood vessel in a tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 creating an opening in a wall of the blood vessel by piercing the wall with a distal end of a needle by moving the needle towards the vessel and through the wall of the vessel;   inserting a dilator into the opening and expanding the opening;   retracting the needle such that the needle is moved out of the blood vessel;   retracting the dilator such that the dilator is moved out of the blood vessel;   inserting a cannula into the opening in the wall of the blood vessel; and   securing the cannula in the blood vessel,   wherein the cannula defines a cannula lumen therethrough extending between a distal end and a proximal end, and   wherein the dilator and the needle are movable within the cannula lumen.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the needle defines a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, wherein the dilator defines a dilator lumen extending through the dilator between a distal end and a proximal end, and
 wherein the step of retracting the needle includes moving the needle in the dilator lumen from a first position, in which the distal end of the needle is outside of the dilator lumen and is distal to the distal end of the dilator, to a second position, in which the distal end of the needle is in the dilator lumen and is proximal to the distal end of the dilator.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of securing the cannula to the blood vessel includes moving a collet jaw from an unlocked position, in which the collet jaw does not contact the tissue, to a locked position, in which the collet jaw forcefully clamps the tissue such that the blood vessel is held between the collet jaw and the cannula such that at least a portion of the blood vessel is precluded from translating relative to the cannula. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further including the step of digging into the tissue with a tine disposed on the collet jaw. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising connecting the cannula to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the cannula is connected to a Y-connector that splits into a first proximal portion and a second proximal portion separate from the first proximal portion, and
 wherein the step of connecting the cannula to the ECMO system includes connecting the second proximal portion of the Y-connector to the ECMO system.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising moving the dilator and the needle out of the cannula lumen after the step of securing the blood vessel to the cannula. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cannula is connected to a Y-connector that splits into a first proximal portion and a second proximal portion separate from the first proximal portion, and
 wherein the step of moving the dilator and the needle out of the cannula lumen includes moving the dilator and the needle through the first proximal portion.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising moving the needle and the dilator through a slit seal defined in the first proximal portion of the Y-connector. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising inserting a plug into a first proximal channel of the Y-connector to prevent blood flow out of the first proximal portion. 
     
     
         22 . A cannula system comprising:
 a cannula having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end;   a cannula lumen extending through the cannula between the distal end and the proximal end; and   a slit seal disposed on the cannula, the slit seal being configured to receive a cannula insertion device,   wherein the cannula system is configured to be in fluid communication with a blood vessel and with an oxygenator.   
     
     
         23 . The cannula system of  claim 22 , wherein the cannula further includes:
 a Y-shaped connector having a first proximal portion and a second proximal portion; and   a slit seal disposed on the cannula, the slit seal being configured to receive a cannula insertion device therethrough,   wherein the cannula lumen extends through the second proximal portion of the Y-shaped connector, and   wherein the slit seal is configured to allow fluid communication between the first proximal portion and the cannula lumen.   
     
     
         24 . A cannula for fluidly communicating with a vessel of a tissue, the cannula comprising:
 a distal end;   a proximal end opposite the distal end;   a cannula lumen extending through the cannula between the distal end and the proximal end;   a Y-shaped connector having a first proximal portion and a second proximal portion; and   a slit seal disposed on the cannula, the slit seal being configured to receive a cannula insertion device therethrough,   wherein the cannula lumen extends through the second proximal portion of the Y-shaped connector, and   
       wherein the slit seal is configured to allow fluid communication between the first proximal portion and the cannula lumen.