Inventors:
John S. Bailey - Irvine CA
Assignee:
University of Southern California - Los Angeles CA
International Classification:
A61M 518
Abstract:
An apparatus according to the present invention is a finder-thinwall needle combination for central venous catheterization. The finder needle is slidably mounted in very close proximity to or coaxially with the thinwall needle. The tip of the finder needle initially extends a distance beyond the end of the thinwall needle, so that a technician may locate a central vein with the finder needle without significantly damaging a central artery. Then the technician may slide the thinwall needle forward along the finder needle into the vein. The present invention also encompasses a method for inserting a thinwall needle into a central vein without damaging a central artery. First, a technician finds a central vein with the sharp end portion of the finder needle. She then slides the thinwall needle forward relative to the finder needle such that the tip of the thinwall needle enters the vein. The technician then slides the finder needle back along the thinwall needle and out of the vein, thereby leaving the tip of the thinwall needle in the vein.