Patent ID: 6749588
Filing Date: 2004-06-15
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter; an introducer needle disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, and an axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and a needle shield having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a resilient clip that is adapted to flex between a biased position and an unbiased position in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis on the introducer needle; wherein, in the biased position, the clip engages the catheter hub and, in the unbiased condition, the clip disengages the catheter hub; and wherein, when the distal end of the introducer needle extends from the distal portion of the needle shield, the clip is held to one side of the introducer needle so it is flexed into the biased position and, when the sharp distal end of the introducer needle is withdrawn into the needle shield, the clip flexes to the unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub.