Patent ID: 7510568

Claim:
A catheter device that is insertable into the body of a human or veterinary patient, said catheter device comprising: a flexible catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, said catheter being insertable, distal end first, into the patient's body such that a distal portion of the catheter resides within the patient's body and a proximal portion of the catheter remains exteriorized; and, a sterility barrier configured to substantially surround the exteriorized portion of the catheter so as to substantially prevent microbial contamination of the exteriorized portion of the catheter; a distal catheter hub that is affixable to a body surface of the patient, said distal catheter hub having a proximal end, a distal end and a hollow bore extending therethrough, the catheter slidably disposed within the hollow bore of the distal catheter hub, the catheter being advanceable through said hollow bore and into the patient's body such that the exteriorized proximal portion of the catheter extends out of the proximal end of the distal catheter hub; and, a proximal catheter hub on the proximal end of the catheter body; said sterility barrier comprising a generally tubular barrier that is affixed to and extends between the proximal catheter hub and the distal catheter hub so as to surround the exteriorized portion of the catheter; a closed loop fluid flow circuit comprising a first lumen through which a fluid may flow into the catheter body and a second lumen through which fluid that has entered the catheter body through the first lumen may subsequently flow out of the catheter body.