How a Compact Central Catheter Insertion Kit Works
This patent describes a clever way to make the tools for inserting a central catheter much smaller and easier for doctors to use by looping a guidewire inside the assembly.
Original patent title: “Compact insertion assemblies of rapidly insertable central catheters and methods thereof”
This patent describes a clever way to make the tools for inserting a central catheter much smaller and easier for doctors to use by looping a guidewire inside the assembly. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → describes a compact rapidly insertable central catheter (RICC) insertion assembly. This assembly includes a RICC, an introducer assembly, an access guidewire, and a coupler. The RICC itself contains a catheter tube, a catheter hub, and extension legs. The introducer assembly includes a needle connected to a syringe. The key innovation, as described in the abstract, is the coupler which enforces a loop in the access guidewire. This looping action allows the catheter tube to follow the guidewire's path, making the entire assembly smaller and easier to handle. For example, a medical professional could quickly deploy a central line with a pre-assembled kit that takes up less space and is less cumbersome than traditional designs.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover central catheter insertion assemblies that achieve compactness without a coupler enforcing a guidewire loop.
- Does not cover non-central catheters, such as peripheral intravenous catheters.
- Does not cover central catheter insertion methods that do not involve a guidewire.
- Does not cover introducer assemblies that are not coupled to the RICC.
- Does not cover compact catheter assemblies that achieve their small size through different mechanical arrangements.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever bit is using a coupler to intentionally create a loop in the access guidewire, allowing the catheter tube to follow this loop. This unique internal arrangement significantly compacts the entire insertion assembly, making it much easier to manage and deploy.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Compact central venous catheter kits
Pre-assembled catheter insertion trays
Medical kits designed for rapid deployment
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Central catheters are vital for delivering medications, fluids, or monitoring patients in hospitals. Making the insertion assembly compact and easier to handle can improve efficiency during critical medical procedures. This design aims to streamline the process for healthcare providers, potentially reducing setup time and improving workflow, especially in fast-paced or emergency settings.
Filed
September 27, 2022
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in vascular access devices, such as Becton Dickinson (BD), Teleflex, and Medtronic, are constantly innovating to improve catheter insertion kits. These companies focus on making devices safer, more efficient, and easier for medical professionals to use, aligning with the goals of this patent.
Market impact
This patent aims to improve the efficiency and safety of central catheter placements by offering a more compact and manageable insertion assembly. If widely adopted, it could streamline medical procedures and potentially reduce setup time for healthcare providers. As the patent was filed in 2022 and granted in 2026, its full market impact is yet to be observed, but it targets a significant need in clinical practice.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent abstract describes a compact rapidly insertable central catheter (RICC) insertion assembly. This assembly includes a RICC, an introducer assembly, an access guidewire, and a coupler. The RICC itself contains a catheter tube, a catheter hub, and extension legs. The introducer assembly includes a needle connected to a syringe. The key innovation, as described in the abstract, is the coupler which enforces a loop in the access guidewire. This looping action allows the catheter tube to follow the guidewire's path, making the entire assembly smaller and easier to handle. For example, a medical professional could quickly deploy a central line with a pre-assembled kit that takes up less space and is less cumbersome than traditional designs.
The clever bit
The clever bit is using a coupler to intentionally create a loop in the access guidewire, allowing the catheter tube to follow this loop. This unique internal arrangement significantly compacts the entire insertion assembly, making it much easier to manage and deploy.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover central catheter insertion assemblies that achieve compactness without a coupler enforcing a guidewire loop.
- Does not cover non-central catheters, such as peripheral intravenous catheters.
- Does not cover central catheter insertion methods that do not involve a guidewire.
- Does not cover introducer assemblies that are not coupled to the RICC.
- Does not cover compact catheter assemblies that achieve their small size through different mechanical arrangements.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 16.0 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How a Compact Central Catheter Insertion Kit Works (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,331). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734331/compact-insertion-assemblies-of-rapidly-insertable-central-catheters-and
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US12734331"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
More to explore
More in Biotech & Medicine
US 4683195 · 1987 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
US 8697359 · 2014 · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
US 4733665 · 1988 · Expandable Grafts Partnership
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
US 4965188 · 1990 · Cetus Corp
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Compact Central Catheter Insertion Kit Works cover?
This patent describes a clever way to make the tools for inserting a central catheter much smaller and easier for doctors to use by looping a guidewire inside the assembly.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Central catheters are vital for delivering medications, fluids, or monitoring patients in hospitals. Making the insertion assembly compact and easier to handle can improve efficiency during critical medical procedures. This design aims to streamline the process for healthcare providers, potentially reducing setup time and improving workflow, especially in fast-paced or emergency settings.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover central catheter insertion assemblies that achieve compactness without a coupler enforcing a guidewire loop.
Patent monitoring