Patent ID: 11936132
Assignee: BARD ACCESS SYSTEMS, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC H  A | IPC A  H

Claim 0:
1. A method for establishing an electrical connection in a catheter placement system, the method comprising:
positioning a location sensor on a patient, the location sensor comprising:
an exterior channel having a channel length;
an exterior alignment notch positioned above the exterior channel, the exterior alignment notch having a notch length less than the channel length; and
an interior receptacle including an electrical contact;

placing a drape over the location sensor;
grasping a connector tethered to a catheter tracking element, the connector comprising an alignment protrusion and a piercing element having an electrical contact; and
coupling the connector to the location sensor through the drape, comprising:
aligning the alignment protrusion with the exterior alignment notch;
moving the connector vertically downward onto the location sensor toward the patient, wherein the alignment protrusion moves through the exterior alignment notch and into the exterior channel with the drape disposed between the connector and the location sensor; and
sliding the connector horizontally through the exterior channel, wherein the piercing element pierces the drape and forms the electrical connection with the electrical contact in the interior receptacle.