Patent ID: 6602244
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A catheter gripping and lubricating device comprising a deformable and shape-recoverable guide housing of elastomeric material having proximal and distal end portions and defining a lubricant chamber therebetween; an end cap at said distal end portion; lubricant retention means at said proximal end portion for retaining lubricant within said chamber; said end cap having a central passage and said lubricant retention means having a coaxial aperture for sliding movement of a catheter therethrough as such catheter is advanced through said lubricant chamber of said housing; and catheter gripping means in said proximal end portion of said housing for normally and automatically frictionally engaging opposite side surfaces of the catheter to restrain sliding movement thereof but being movable into catheter releasing positions only when said proximal end portion of said housing is squeezed by a user's fingers to permit sliding movement of the catheter through said housing; said gripping means including clamping members with opposing surfaces normally spaced closely together but capable of spreading apart into the catheter releasing positions.