Alisha M. Hammond,Matthew W. Bown,Jeremy C. Horton,Spencer R. Thomas
申请号：
US13221630
公开号：
US20120059321A1
申请日:
2011.08.30
申请国别(地区):
US
年份:
2012
代理人:
摘要：
A tunneler for producing a subcutaneous tunnel in connection with the placement of a catheter within a body of a patient is disclosed. In one embodiment, the tunneler comprises an elongate tunneler member and a sheath. The tunneler member includes a handle on its proximal end and a tapered distal end. The sheath defines an elongate lumen inside which the tunneler member is initially received. The tunneler member is configured to define a tunnel through subcutaneous tissue while disposed in the sheath, then is removable from the sheath lumen thereafter. The sheath is configured to remain within the tunnel so that a catheter can be inserted through the sheath within the tunnel. The sheath is splittable in one embodiment so as to enable its removal from the tunnel while leaving the catheter in place.
