1. An apparatus for delivery of an elongate member into the lumen of a trans-dermal catheter, the apparatus comprising:
a protective sheath configured to at least substantially surround an elongate member and containing a shield coupler which is attached to a luer connector, the elongate member comprising a rod onto which an antimicrobial agent has been applied, and the elongate member secured to a connector insert; and
a slidable member configured to travel along the protective sheath, the slidable member removably joined to the connector insert;
wherein the elongate member is insertable into a lumen of a trans-dermal catheter by moving the slidable member and connector insert along at least a part of the length of the protective sheath such that the connector insert slides down the sheath to deliver the elongate member into the lumen of the trans-dermal catheter, and the connector insert attaches to the luer connector; and
wherein the slidable member is further configured to detach from the connector insert upon attachment of the connector insert to the luer connector, such that the connector insert and luer connector become coupled to one another, and the shield coupler and luer connector are no longer joined to one another after the connector insert and luer connector are coupled.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath has a slot along at least a portion of its length.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the slot comprises an opening along a portion of the length of the protective sheath.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the slot comprises a sealed portion configured to unseal upon contact with the slidable member.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slidable member has an inner portion and an outer portion, such that the inner portion is positioned within the sheath and is in contact with the elongate member, and the outer portion is positioned outside of the sheath and is configured for grasping by a user.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the slidable member comprises an intermediate portion between the inner and outer portions, the intermediate portion configured to cut a path along the protective sheath.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protective sheath and elongate member are substantially coaxial.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate member can be delivered into a catheter without bending of the elongate member.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a slidable member coupler releasably securing the slidable member and connector insert.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a shield coupler secured to the protective sheath and releasably connected to the luer connector.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein shield coupler is releasably connected to the luer connector by means of at least one tab projecting from the interior of the shield coupler into an opening in the luer connector.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the shield coupler is released from the luer connector by protrusions on the connector insert.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, luer connector secures the connector by protrusions on the connector insert.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a grip secured to the sheath, the grip located opposite the luer connector.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the slidable member is configured to slide along the sheath between the grip and luer connector.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the luer connector is configured to screw onto the proximal end of the catheter.
17. An apparatus for delivery of an elongate member into the lumen of a trans-dermal catheter, the apparatus comprising:
a protective sheath configured to at least substantially surround an elongate member;
a slidable member configured to travel along the protective sheath, the slidable member operatively coupled to the elongate member and further connected to a connector insert; and
a connecting member positioned on the distal end of the protective sheath, the connecting member configured to lock onto the proximal end of a trans-dermal catheter;
wherein the elongate member is insertable into the lumen of the trans-dermal catheter by moving the slidable member along at least a part of the length of the protective sheath such that the connector insert engages a luer connector such that the connector insert and luer connector become coupled to one another and the slidable member and protective sheath are released from the connector insert and luer connector.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the protective sheath has a slot along at least a portion of its length.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the slidable member has an inner portion and an outer portion, such that the inner portion is positioned within the sheath and is in contact with the connector insert, and the outer portion is positioned outside of the sheath and is configured for grasping by a user.
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the connecting member comprises a male Luer connector.
21. An apparatus for delivery of an elongate member into the lumen of a trans-dermal catheter, the apparatus comprising:
a protective sheath configured to at least substantially surround an elongate member, the elongate member comprising a rod onto which an antimicrobial agent has been applied, the elongate member positioned co-axially within the protective sheath, and wherein a first end of the protective sheath is secured to a grip, and a second end of the protective sheath is secured to a shield coupler, the coupler releasably secured to a luer connector opposite the grip;
a slidable member configured to travel along the protective sheath, the slidable member operatively coupled to the connector insert, and the connector insert operatively coupled to the elongate member;
wherein the elongate member is insertable into a lumen of a trans-dermal catheter by moving the slidable member and connector insert along at least a part of the length of the protective sheath away from the grip until the connector insert is emplaced within the luer connector and the elongate member is emplaced within the proximal end of a transdermal catheter; and
wherein the slidable member and connector insert become disengaged from one another after the connector insert is emplaced within the luer connector, and the shield coupler and luer connecter are no longer joined to one another after the connector insert and luer connector are coupled.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the protective sheath has a slot along at least a portion of its length.
23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising the luer connector positioned on the coupler at the second end of the protective sheath, the luer connector configured to lock onto the distal end of the trans-dermal catheter.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the Luer connector is configured to detach from the coupler at the second end of the protective sheath and remain locked on the trans-dermal catheter upon delivery of the elongate member into the lumen of the trans-dermal catheter.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What claimed is:
1. An electrical system mounted high on a steering column subassembly for a vehicle comprising a column electronics control assembly having a plurality of interconnectable components plugged together.
2. The electrical system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of components have integral contacts plugged into a common node.
3. The electrical system according to claim 2, wherein said common node comprises:
a circuit assembly modularly depending from the steering column subassembly; and
a communications interface for data exchange between said circuit assembly and vehicle systems.
4. The electrical system according to claim 2, wherein said common node is a modular sense and control module positioned, adapted and configured for proximate engagement and modular communication with said plurality of interconnectable components.
5. An electrical system substantially disposed on a steering column subassembly for a vehicle comprising a column electronics control assembly, said column electronics control assembly including:
a modular sense and control module positioned, adapted and configured for modular communication with a plurality of interconnectable components, said sense and control module comprising
a circuit assembly modularly depending from the steering column subassembly; and
a communications interface for data exchange between said 10 circuit assembly and vehicle systems.
6. The electrical system according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of interconnectable components includes at least one multifunction stalk switch adapted to be in electrical communication with said circuit assembly.
7. The electrical system according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of interconnectable components includes a clockspring coil adapted to be in electrical communication with said circuit assembly.
8. The electrical system according to claim 5, wherein said clockspring coil includes a sensor.
9. The electrical system according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of interconnectable components includes an ALDL connector adapted to be in electrical communication with said circuit assembly.
10. The electrical system according to claim 5, wherein said plurality of interconnectable components includes a hazard switch adapted to be in electrical communication with said circuit assembly.
11. The electrical system according to claim 5, wherein said sense and control module includes integration of at least one wireless communication circuit with said circuit assembly.
12. The electrical system according to claim 11, wherein said sense and control module includes integration of an antenna.
13. The electrical system according to claim 5, wherein said sense and control module is disposed proximate a steering handwheel and topside of the steering column subassembly.
14. An electrical system substantially disposed on a steering column subassembly for a vehicle comprising:
a bracket attached to the steering column subassembly;
a housing modularly coupled to said bracket; and
a circuit assembly coupled to said housing; said circuit assembly further including a communications interface for data exchange with vehicle systems, and wherein said housing, communications interface, and circuit assembly comprise a sense and control module.
15. The electrical system according to claim 14, wherein modularly depending from said bracket in electrical communication with said sense and control module further includes at least one of:
at least one multifunction stalk switch;
a clockspring coil; and
an ALDL connector.
16. The electrical system according to claim 15 wherein said at least one multifunction stalk switch is configured for releasable containment within said bracket and in electrical communication with said sense and control module.
17. The electrical system according to claim 15 wherein said at least one multifunction stalk switch includes a tab that is received and retained in a complementary opening configured to releasably and securely contain said tab.
18. The electrical system according to claim 15 wherein said configuration of said at least one multifunction stalk switch allows about a twenty percent reduction in size of a multifunction stalk.
19. The electrical system according to claim 15 wherein said clockspring coil includes a sensor.
20. The electrical system according to claim 14 wherein said sense and control module further includes a hazard switch operably depending therefrom.
21. The electrical system according to claim 14 wherein said sense and control module further includes an antenna for transmission and reception of signals for wireless communication devices.
22. The electrical system according to claim 14, wherein said communications interface comprises:
a wiring downlead connector; and
a supplemental inflatable restraint downlead connector.
23. An electrical system substantially disposed on a steering column subassembly for a vehicle comprising:
a bracket attached to the steering column subassembly;
a housing modularly coupled to said bracket; a circuit assembly having a communications interface for data exchange coupled to said housing; and
a wireless communication circuit, wherein said housing, said circuit assembly and said wireless communication circuit comprise a sense and control module.
24. The electrical system according to claim 23 wherein said sense and control module further comprises a hazard switch operably depending therefrom.
25. The electrical system according to claim 23 wherein said sense and control module further comprises:
an antenna for said wireless communication circuit.
26. The electrical system of claim 25 wherein said sense and control module and said bracket are disposed on top of the steering column subassembly proximate a steering handwheel for optimizing signal strength to said antenna.
27. The electrical system of claim 25 wherein said sense and control module and said bracket are disposed on top of the steering column subassembly proximate a steering handwheel for optimizing signal strength to any wireless communication circuit and for ease of service and replacement.
28. The electrical system according to claim 23 wherein said wireless communication circuit comprises at least one of:
a vehicle control module;
a safety system;
a vehicle state information system;
a remote start system;
a remote lock and entry system; and
a driver informationdriver controlsentertainment system.
29. A method for integrating an automobile wireless communication device comprising:
modifying a steering column subassembly to include a circuit assembly modularly depending from a steering column subassembly and further including a communications interface for data exchange between said circuit assembly and vehicle systems, wherein said communications interface, and circuit assembly comprise a sense and control module; and
positioning, adapting and configuring said sense and control module for modular communication with a plurality of interconnectable components.
30. The method according to claim 29 further comprising:
integrating a wireless communication circuit for a wireless communication device in said sense and control module; and
integrating an antenna in said sense and control module for said wireless communication device.
31. A method for increasing relative signal strength of an automobile wireless communication device comprising:
integrating an antenna in an upper steering column assembly to receive and transmit signals for the wireless communication device.
32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:
integrating a wireless communication circuit the upper steering column assembly, thereby eliminating connecting wires to and from a steering column bulkhead.
33. The method of claim 32 further comprising:
disposing said antenna and said wireless communication device within a sense and control module; and
disposing said sense and control module on the topside of said steering column subassembly and further towards a steering handwheel to increase a relative signal strength when said sense and control module protrudes above the vehicle sheet metal and protrudes further from an instrument panel, thereby reducing any shielding caused by said sheet metal and said instrument panel, while maintaining a collapsible function of steering column.