Patent ID: 7658725
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A safety catheter device comprising: a catheter including a catheter hub having an interior radially inwardly projecting rib, and a catheter tube extending from the catheter hub distal end; and an enclosed needle guard removably coupled to the catheter hub including: a needle support with a needle extending therefrom; a guard housing movably receiving the needle support and having a pair of cooperating members extending from an end thereof and sized to fit within the catheter hub, the members having a normally uncompressed position defining a passageway therebetween sized to freely receive the needle therethrough, at least one member including a holding portion adapted to cooperate with the catheter hub radially projecting surface to releasably hold the guard housing to the catheter hub such that the holding portion releases from the radially projecting surface by compression of the member to narrow the passageway, wherein presence of the needle in the passageway substantially limits such compression to thereby restrict release of the guard housing from the catheter hub, the needle support being movable from a ready position with the needle extending through and beyond the passageway so as to expose a sharp tip of the needle from the catheter tube to a shielded position with the needle substantially enclosed by the guard housing, the needle support being movable into a lock actuation stage with the needle in the passageway prior to moving into the shielded position; and cooperating lock elements on the needle support and guard housing locking the needle support in the shielded position, the needle support being movable from the ready position toward the lock actuation stage with the cooperating lock elements exerting increased resistance to movement of the needle support as it enters the lock actuation stage.