Patent ID: 7025746
Filing Date: 2006-04-11
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A preassembled vascular access device, the device comprising: a hollow needle having a bore and a sharpened distal tip and defining a side hole proximal to the distal tip; a guidewire preloaded in the needle; a dilator coaxially mounted on the needle thereby defining a first annular space between the dilator and needle, the first annular space communicating with the hollow needle bore through the side hole so that blood, if any, exiting the side hole may flow to the first annular space; and a sheath coaxially mounted on the dilator thereby defining a second annular space between the sheath and the dilator or between the sheath and the needle; wherein at least one of the dilator and sheath is clear, semi-opaque, or translucent, so that blood, if any, in at least one of the annular spaces, may be visualized through the dilator and/or sheath to confirm proper placement of the needle in a blood vessel; and wherein the dilator is slideably displaceable relative to the sheath.