Becton, Dickinson and Company
Articulated Stiffening Cannulas, Access Sets, and Methods Thereof

Abstract:

Disclosed is an articulated stiffening cannula (100, 200, 300, 400). The articulated stiffening cannula (100, 200, 300, 400) include a cannula tube (110, 210, 310, 410), a compound hub (130, 230, 330, 430) disposed about a proximal-end portion of the cannula tube (110, 210, 310, 410) and an articulation mechanism controlled by a rotatable element (132, 232, 332) of the compound hub (130, 230, 330, 430). The cannula tube (110, 210, 310, 410) can include a flexible hinge (114, 214, 314, 414) along a distal length of the cannula tube (110, 210, 310, 410), and can be configured to articulate at the flexible hinge (114, 214, 314, 414) for adjusting a cannula-tube angle between a distal-end portion of the cannula tube (110, 210, 310, 410) and a proximal length of the cannula tube (110, 210, 310, 410). The articulation mechanism can include a single control line or a plurality of control lines (152, 252, 352, 452) extending from the compound hub (130, 230, 330, 430), through the cannula tube (110, 210, 310, 410) beyond the flexible hinge (114, 214, 314, 414), and to the distal-end portion of the cannula tube (110, 210, 310, 410) for adjusting the cannula-tube angle. The stiffening cannula (100, 200, 300, 400) can be configured to stiffen a catheter assembly in support of a needle throw from the catheter assembly at a chosen cannula-tube angle.