Patent ID: 7972313
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An intravenous catheter assembly comprising: a catheter hub having an elongated tubular catheter extending therefrom, said catheter hub comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an interior cavity having an internal surface which has a larger inside cross-sectional dimension section distal of a smaller proximal inside cross-sectional dimension section; a needle having a proximal end, a sharpened distal end, a needle surface defining a needle shaft, and an enlarged diameter section proximal of the sharpened distal end received within said tubular catheter when in a ready position, said needle being movable between said ready position in which said sharpened distal end extends out from the distal end of said tubular catheter and a retracted position in which the sharpened distal end is within the interior cavity of the catheter hub; a needle guard for shielding the tip of the needle slidably mounted on said needle, said needle guard having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein said proximal end comprises a proximal wall comprising a proximally facing wall surface, a distally facing wall surface, and an opening having a fixed circumference and having the needle passing therethrough and said needle guard including said proximal end being positioned in the interior cavity of the catheter hub when in the ready position; a needle guard portion of the needle guard abutting the larger inside cross-sectional dimension section to retain the needle guard in the catheter hub when the needle is in the ready position, said needle guard portion movable within the interior of the catheter hub to a position blocking said needle tip when said needle is in the retracted position in which said needle shaft no longer exerts a force on the needle guard portion of said needle guard such that the needle guard portion is released from the larger inside cross-sectional dimension section and moves to a needle blocking position.