CATHETER WITH CHECK VALVE

摘要

A catheter (10, 29) and check valve (19) combination is disclosed. In an embodiment, the catheter (10) comprises a PICC line having a first end for introduction into a body and a second end having a valve housing (11). The valve housing (11) includes an end wall (21) defining an opening, and a check valve (19) is disposed within the housing (11) and normally biased against the end wall (21) to seal the opening. The check valve (19) prevents blood loss from the patient when the catheter (10) is introduced into the body of a patient, which is particularly important for lines that connect with the vascular system of the body near the heart. In an embodiment, the catheter comprises an introducer catheter (29) and the check valve (19) prevents blood loss when the introducer catheter is inserted into the patient, as well as preventing the introduction of air or other fluid into the patient through the introducer catheter (29). In other embodiments, the introducer catheter (29) may include a guide wire (31) and/or a needle (33) that are retractable through a check valve (19) disposed in the valve housing (11).