Devices and Methods for Fluid Transfer Through a Placed Peripheral Intravenous Catheter

Abstract

An apparatus includes a catheter, an introducer, and an actuator. A distal end portion of the introducer is configured to couple to an indwelling peripheral intravenous line. The actuator is movably coupled to the introducer and is configured to move the catheter between a first position, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, and a second position, in which a distal end portion of the catheter is distal to the introducer. A first portion of the actuator is disposed outside of the introducer and in contact with an outer surface of the introducer such that (1) a longitudinal axis defined by a second portion of the actuator is nonparallel to a longitudinal axis defined by the introducer and (2) the second portion of the actuator exerts a force on a proximal end portion of the catheter operable to increase an internal stress within a portion of the catheter.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A fluid transfer device, comprising:
 an introducer having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the introducer defining an inner volume configured to movably receive a catheter;   a lock coupled to the distal end portion and configured to be coupled to an indwelling peripheral intravenous line; and   a support member coupled to the lock, the support member configured to dispose the fluid transfer device at a predetermined angle relative to a target surface.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is substantially equal to an angle of insertion of the peripheral intravenous line. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is between 0° and 30°. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined angle is approximately 25°. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a first portion configured to receive a portion of the lock therein and a second portion configured to contact the target surface. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion of the support member includes an annular opening extending along an axis, and wherein at least a portion of the second portion is substantially perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 6 , wherein the lock includes a proboscis, and wherein the first portion of the support member receives at least a portion of the proboscis therein. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is releasably attachable to the lock. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the lock is friction fit within the support member. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the lock includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm configured to collectively engage a portion of the peripheral intravenous line. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to provide lateral support to limit rotation of the introducer with respect to the target surface. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 11 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of contact surfaces, where each contact surface of the plurality is spaced apart from the others. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid transfer device of  claim 12 , wherein the support member includes a first portion defining an opening therein extending along an axis and configured to receive a portion of the lock therein, and wherein the plurality of contact surfaces are radially spaced from each other about the axis. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a lumen extending through the proximal end portion and the distal end portion;   an introducer having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the introducer defining an inner volume configured to movably receive the catheter;   an actuator movably coupled to the introducer and configured to move relative to the introducer to move the catheter between a first position, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, and a second position, in which the distal end portion of the catheter is disposed beyond the distal end portion of the introducer;   a lock attached to the distal end portion of the introducer, the lock configured to couple to an indwelling peripheral intravenous line, the lock defining a lumen configured to movably receive the catheter; and   a support member attached to the lock, the support member configured to dispose the apparatus at a predetermined angle relative to a target surface.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined angle is substantially equal to an angle of insertion of the peripheral intravenous line. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the lock includes a proboscis, and wherein the support member receives at least a portion of the proboscis therein. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the proboscis is friction fit within the support member. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the lock includes a first arm and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm configured to collectively engage a portion of the peripheral intravenous line. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the support member is configured to provide lateral support to limit rotation of the apparatus with respect to the target surface. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a lumen extending through the proximal end portion and the distal end portion;   an introducer having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the introducer defining an inner volume configured to movably receive the catheter;   an actuator movably coupled to the introducer and configured to move relative to the introducer to move the catheter between a first position, in which the catheter is disposed within the introducer, and a second position, in which the distal end portion of the catheter is disposed beyond the distal end portion of the introducer;   a lock attached to the distal end portion of the introducer, the lock including a proboscis, a first arm, and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm configured to collectively engage a portion of a peripheral intravenous line; and   a support member configured to dispose the apparatus at a predetermined angle relative to a target surface, the support member defining an annular opening along an axis, the annular opening receiving at least a portion of the proboscis therein, wherein the first and second arms are substantially perpendicular to the axis.