Patent ID: 9402966
Filing Date: 2016-08-02
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. A method of providing access to and distending one or more of the external jugular veins on the neck of a living human patient, the method comprising: providing a device to engage on both sides of the patient's neck, the device comprising: a wishbone shaped frame, the frame forming a closed end and an open end; the open end having two legs, each leg having a portion connected to the closed end at a common point and each leg having an end surface having a portion located distally of the common point of the closed end, each end surface on the open end of each of the legs being constructed and arranged to face the other end surface on the other leg; and wherein the device is constructed from a substantially resilient material to allow the end surfaces to resiliently press against the one or more jugular veins on both sides of the patient's neck when the device is placed on the patient's neck; approaching the neck of the patient with the device by moving the open end surfaces on the open end of the device towards and into engagement with both sides of the patient's neck, the end surfaces engaging the patient's neck and the one or more external jugular veins in a non-parallel direction to the orientation of the one or more external jugular veins; engaging the neck of the patient on both sides of the patient's neck with the end surfaces of the open end of the device until the external jugular vein becomes distended; and, accessing the one or more external jugular veins thus distended.