Patent ID: 8257313
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An integrated septum and needle tip shield apparatus for use in a catheter assembly having a needle, a catheter and a catheter hub, the apparatus comprising: an elastomeric septum configured to removably engage with an inner surface of the catheter hub, the septum having a proximal end wall a distal end wall, a distal end wall, and an outer side wall extending between the proximal and distal end walls; and a tip shield secured inside the septum, the septum encases the tip shield in proximal, distal, and radial directions, the tip shield is configured to move between an open position in which a tip of the needle is distal of the tip shield and the needle and tip shield force the septum to expand radially outward so that the outer side wall of the septum engages and interfaces with the inner surface of the catheter hub and a closed position in which the tip of the needle is protected, completely enclosed, and essentially sealed within both the tip shield and the septum and the septum returns to an original shape and correspondingly the outer side wall of the septum disengages from the inner surface of the catheter hub so as to allow the needle, the septum, and the tip shield to be withdrawn together from the catheter hub; wherein the tip shield has a plurality of resilient fingers at a distal end thereof configured to be contacted and pushed radially outward by the needle when the tip of the needle is distal of the tip shield, and to retract radially inward when the tip of the needle is withdrawn past the resilient fingers; and wherein the resilient fingers act with the needle to engage and disengage the septum from the inner surface of the catheter hub.