Patent ID: 8597252
Filing Date: 2013-12-03
Classification: A61B,A61M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A catheter assembly comprising: a catheter adapter having a catheter; an introducer needle having a lumen extending therethrough; a needle hub coupled to a proximal end of the introducer needle, the needle hub being selectively coupled to the catheter adapter; a flash chamber removably coupled to the needle hub, the flash chamber comprising a body and an air permeable membrane, an internal cavity of the body of the flash chamber being in fluid communication with the lumen of the introducer needle when the flash chamber is coupled to the needle hub, and at least a portion of the body of the flash chamber being compressible; and a needle shield within which the flash chamber is contained, wherein the needle hub and flash chamber are configured to move proximally within the needle shield after the catheter is inserted into the vasculature of a patient to thereby retract the introducer needle into the needle shield, and wherein the needle shield includes an opening at the proximal end through which a portion of the flash chamber extends after the introducer needle is retracted into the needle shield thereby allowing the portion of the flash chamber to be gripped to remove the flash chamber from the needle hub.