Patent ID: 6585703
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
An introducer catheter and needle guard assembly combination comprising:a catheter having a first end and a second end and defining a fluid passageway between said first and second end, the catheter including a tube portion that terminates at the first end and is adapted for insertion into a body; the catheter further defining at least one score line extending from the first end to the second end and being adapted to facilitate separation of the catheter longitudinally into two separate halves; a needle guard assembly including a housing, a sliding needle hub slidingly mounted within said housing, and a needle mounted on the needle hub, the needle being adapted to slide on the needle hub within the housing between an extended position wherein the needle projects out of the tube portion of the catheter and a retracted position wherein the needle is completely contained within said housing; and a connector disposed on the second end of the catheter and being adapted to connect to the needle guard assembly, the connector having a first half and second half, the hub adapted to hold the first half and the second half together.