Patent ID: 9592367
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: A61M

Claim:
1. A catheter assembly comprising: a catheter adapter having a proximal end that includes a proximal opening, a distal end that includes a distal opening, an inner wall that extends between the proximal opening and the distal opening, and a lumen formed by the inner wall, wherein the catheter adapter is configured to receive a needle that includes a distal tip; a flexible septum configured to be retained within a catheter adapter; and an actuator configured to pass partially through the septum to open a blood control catheter valve, wherein the actuator includes multiple proximally-extending flexible retention arms that are biased in an outward position, wherein the flexible retention arms contact the inner wall of the catheter adapter when the flexible retention arms are in the outward position, wherein the flexible retention arms fold inwardly as the actuator moves distally through the septum and return to the outward position after the flexible retention arms have moved distally through the septum thereby retaining the actuator within the septum.