Patent Publication Number: US-2019192823-A1

Title: Vascular Access Devices and Methods

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/612,043 filed on Feb. 2, 2015 and entitled “Vascular Access Devices and Methods,” the entire contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates to devices and methods for vascular access, such as a peripheral intravenous (IV) device and method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are numerous ways and reasons to access a patient&#39;s vasculature. Patients may need administration of IV therapy for hydration, antibiotics, other medications, chemotherapy, blood products, and the like. The type of vascular access device will depend on the patient, diagnosis length of time needed, lifestyle, healthcare worker&#39;s preference, patient&#39;s ability and preference, what the device is being used for, and difficulties relating to using or maintaining the device. 
     Some peripheral IV devices provide access through a skin opening using a cannula-over-needle assembly, in which a flexible plastic cannula is slidably mounted over a metal introducer needle. After the tip of the introducer needle and cannula are positioned into the patient&#39;s targeted blood vessel via venipuncture, the tip of the cannula is advanced inside the vessel over the needle to the appropriate position and secured. The introducer needle is then withdrawn and discarded while the flexible cannula is retained in its position to provide fluid communication with the targeted vessel. In some emergency treatment circumstances, blood may seep from the vessel, through the cannula, and possibly out of the proximal end of the access device (after the introducer needle is withdrawn). A user may reduce the likelihood of such blood seepage by applying finger pressure (with a first hand of the user) to the patient&#39;s skin near the targeted vessel (e.g., a tamponade) until a secondary instrument can be assembled to the proximal end of the access device (using a second hand of the user). 
     SUMMARY 
     The innovative vascular access device concepts provided herein can be adapted for implementation in various medical device designs such as, but not limited to, peripheral IV catheters, central percutaneous IV catheters, and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC lines). In some embodiments, the vascular access device is configured to reduce the likelihood of blood leakage during installation, even when the device is installed using a single hand (without requiring an additional hand of the user to apply a tamponade). For example, the vascular access device may be configured as a peripheral IV catheter assembly (e.g., including an access cannula device and an introducer needle) that is readily penetrated through a skin surface and into a targeted vessel, and a repeatably penetratable septum housed in the access cannula device can prevent blood flow to the proximal end of the access cannula device during and after withdrawal of the introducer needle. Moreover, in this example, the user may—optionally, with a single hand—withdraw an introducer needle from the assembly and install a secondary instrument at the proximal end of the access cannula device that is configured to penetrate the septum for fluid communication between the targeted vessel and the secondary instrument. 
     Some implementations of a vascular access device may include a catheter assembly, a needle introducer assembly, and a connector assembly. The catheter assembly may include a catheter hub, a catheter tube, and a septum. The catheter tube may be attached to (and extend from) the catheter hub. Also, the septum may be disposed within an interior space defined by the catheter hub. The introducer needle assembly may include an introducer needle hub, an introducer needle, and a needle guard. The introducer needle may be attached to (and extend from) the introducer needle hub. Also, the introducer needle may be configured to penetrate through the septum and to extend distally of a distal end of the catheter tube. The introducer needle may be slidably withdrawable from the septum and the catheter tube. The connector assembly may include a connector body and a connector needle attached to and extending from the connector body. The connector body may be configured to mate with the catheter hub after withdrawal of the introducer needle assembly by pressing the connector body into engagement with the catheter hub so that the connector needle penetrates the septum. 
     Additional implementations described herein may include a method of installing a vascular access device. The method may include piercing a distal tip of an introducer needle through a skin surface and positioning the distal tip in a blood vessel while the introducer needle is slidably disposed with a lumen of a catheter assembly such that a distal tip of the catheter assembly is also positioned in the blood vessel. Also, the method may include withdrawing the introducer needle from the patient while leaving the catheter assembly positioned in the blood vessel. The introducer needle may be slidably withdrawn through a sealing septum housed within the catheter assembly such that the septum seals a blood flow path through the catheter assembly after the introducer needle disengages the septum and the catheter assembly. The method may further include mounting a connector assembly with the catheter assembly into an operative configuration by pressing a connector body of the connector assembly into engagement with a catheter hub of the catheter assembly so that a connector needle of the connector assembly penetrates through the sealing septum previously occupied by the introducer needle. 
     Particular implementations described herein include a vascular access device that may include a catheter assembly, an introducer needle assembly, and (optionally) a connector assembly. The catheter assembly may include a catheter hub, a catheter tube, and a septum disposed within an interior space defined by the catheter hub. Also, the introducer needle assembly may include an introducer needle, and the introducer needle may be configured to penetrate through the septum and to be slidably withdrawable from the septum. Optionally, the connector assembly may include a connector body and a connector needle attached to and extending from the connector body. The connector body may be configured to mate with the catheter hub by pressing the connector body into engagement with the catheter hub so that the connector needle penetrates the septum. 
     Some or all of the embodiments described herein may provide one or more of the following advantages. First, some embodiments of the vascular access devices may be configured for one-handed operation. For example, some embodiments eliminate the need for a healthcare worker to use a second hand for applying a tamponade during installation of the vascular access device. As such, the vascular access devices are both effective and efficient for healthcare workers to use, especially during emergency medical treatments where blood seepage might otherwise occur. In addition, one-handed installation allows the healthcare worker to potentially use his or her other hand to attend to other aspects of medical care treatment. 
     Second, some embodiments of the vascular access devices substantially prevent blood leakage during installation. Some such embodiments include a resilient septum (seal) in the catheter hub that substantially prevents blood from leaking or squirting out from the IV catheter prior to connecting the catheter hub to another device. Blood is therefore less prone to contact and contaminate gloves, clothing, shoes, bedding, floors, equipment, and exposed parts of the healthcare worker&#39;s body. Accordingly, some risks to healthcare workers associated with exposure to the patient&#39;s blood can be potentially mitigated. In addition, cleanliness of the healthcare setting is better maintained. Therefore, the time and expenses related to cleanup of the healthcare setting are reduced. 
     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view of a vascular access device that is in the process of being installed in a patient in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 2A-B  are cross-sectional side views of a portion of the vascular access device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3A-C  are perspective views of the vascular access device of  FIG. 1  during an example process of using the vascular access device, in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , some embodiments of a vascular access device  100  can be used to access a blood vessel  20  through the skin surface  10  of a patient. The vascular access device  100  in the depicted embodiment comprises multiple components, including a catheter assembly  110 , a connector assembly  160 . As described further below (e.g., refer to  FIG. 3A ), the vascular access device  100  may also comprise other components such as an introducer needle assembly and a protective sheath for the introducer needle assembly  300 . In this particular embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the vascular access device  100  is configured as a peripheral IV catheter assembly that is readily penetrated through the skin surface  10  and into a blood vessel  20 , and the catheter assembly  110  houses a penetratable sealing septum  130  that is configured to prevent blood seepage to the proximal end of the access cannula device during and after withdrawal of the introducer needle (described in more detail below in connection with  FIGS. 3A-C ). Also, in this particular embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the catheter assembly  110  is configured to mate with a secondary instruments (e.g., the connector assembly  160  in this example) using a single-handed, snap-fit connection such that the septum  130  (which was previously penetrated by the introducer needle until the needle was withdrawn) is penetrated again to open a fluid path between the targeted vessel  20  and the secondary instrument  160 . 
     In this embodiment, the connector assembly  160  is releasably attachable to the catheter assembly  110 . For example, a user may simultaneously grasp the catheter assembly  110  and the connector assembly  160  with a single hand to conveniently press them together in a mating position. When the connector assembly  160  is coupled with the catheter assembly  110 , and when at least a distal end portion of the catheter assembly  110  is in the blood vessel  20  (e.g., as shown), fluid communication exists between the blood vessel  20  and the connector assembly  160 . Accordingly, fluids such as medications can be infused into the blood vessel  20  via the connector assembly  160 . In another example usage mode, a blood sample from the blood vessel  20  can be taken via the connector assembly  160 . It should be understood that the view of the skin surface  10  and blood vessel  20  are not drawn to scale (magnified for purposes of illustration in  FIG. 1 ) relative to the vascular access device  100 . Furthermore, it should be understood from the description herein that the vascular access devices  100  are scalable to a range of sizes, including adult and pediatric sizes. In some embodiments, the vascular access devices provided herein have multiple lumens 
     As described further below, when the connector assembly  160  is not attached to the catheter assembly  110  (e.g., as shown), the septum  130  of the catheter assembly  110  is positioned to provide a seal that hinders blood seepage from the catheter assembly  110 . Hence, the vascular access device  100  is configured to be installed in a patient without needing to apply a tamponade force on the skin surface  10  of the patient prior to coupling the connector assembly  160  with the catheter assembly  110 . As such, the vascular access device  100  can be installed using a one-handed installation method. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the catheter assembly  110  includes a catheter hub  120  and a catheter tube  140 . The catheter tube  140  is attached to and extends distally from the catheter hub  120 . The catheter hub  120  comprises a female connector body  122  and a resilient septum  130  disposed therein. The resilient septum  130  is arranged within an interior space defined by the female connector body  122  such that the interior space is divided into a distal interior space  121   a  and a proximal interior space  121   b , with the resilient septum  130  located therebetween. 
     The catheter tube  140  defines at least one lumen. The at least one lumen of the catheter tube  140  conflates with the distal interior space  121   a  defined by the catheter hub  120 . Accordingly, fluid communication can exist from the blood vessel  20 , through the catheter tube  140 , to the distal interior space  121   a . As described further below, the resilient septum  130  is configured to occlude fluid flow through the catheter assembly  110  when the connector assembly  160  is decoupled from the catheter assembly  110 . That is, while the distal interior space  121   a  of the catheter hub  120  is confluent with the catheter tube  140 , the proximal interior space  121   b  is not in fluid communication with the catheter tube  140  when the connector assembly  160  is decoupled from the catheter assembly  110 . However, when the connector assembly  160  is coupled with the catheter assembly  110 , the resilient septum  130  is pierced by the connector assembly  160 , and then fluid flow through the vascular access device  100  is facilitated. 
     The connector assembly  160  includes a male connector body  162 , a connector needle  170 , and a connector tube  180 . The connector needle  170  is attached to and extends distally from the male connector body  162 . The connector needle  170  defines at least one lumen. The at least one lumen of the connector needle  170  conflates with an open interior space  161  defined by the male connector body  162 . The connector tube  180  is also attached to and extends from the male connector body  162 . The connector tube  180  defines at least one lumen. The at least one lumen of the connector tube  180  conflates with the open interior space  161  defined by the male connector body  162 . Accordingly, fluid communication exists from the connector needle  170 , through the male connector body  162 , to the connector tube  180 . One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that while one end of the connector tube  180  is attached to the male connector body  162 , the other end of the connector tube  180  can be attached to a variety of types of fittings, containers, devices, and the like. 
     As described further below, when the connector assembly  160  is coupled with the catheter assembly  110 , fluid communication exists from the connector tube  180 , through the connector assembly  160  and catheter assembly  110 , to the blood vessel  20 . Hence, the vascular access device  100  is then functional for infusing liquids to the blood vessel  20 , or withdrawing blood from the blood vessel  20 . To attain such an arrangement, the connector needle  170  pierces through the resilient septum  130 . Liquids can then freely flow through vascular access device  100 , rather than being occluded by the resilient septum  130 . 
     Referring now also to  FIGS. 2A-B , some embodiments of the connector assembly  160  can be configured to provide a snap-fit, sealing engagement with the catheter assembly  110 . While  FIG. 1  shows the connector assembly  160  entirely decoupled from the catheter assembly  110 ,  FIG. 2A  shows the connector assembly  160  partially mated with the catheter assembly  110 , and  FIG. 2B  shows the connector assembly  160  fully mated with the catheter assembly  110 . Hence, the series of those three figures are provided to describe the process of coupling the connector assembly  160  with the catheter assembly  110 . 
     When the connector assembly  160  is entirely decoupled the catheter assembly  110 , even though the distal end portion of the catheter tube  140  is the blood vessel  20 , the resilient septum  130  seals the catheter assembly  110  so that no blood leaks from the catheter assembly  110  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). To begin the process of coupling the connector assembly  160  with the catheter assembly  110 , in some embodiments a healthcare worker presses the male connector body  162  into the female connector body  122 . In result, the tip of the connector needle  170  is forced to begin piercing the resilient septum  130  (refer to  FIG. 2A ). In some embodiments, the proximal interior space  121   b  is vented to provide a pathway to relieve air pressure from proximal interior space  121   b  that may build up as the male connector body  162  is pressed into the female connector body  122 . 
     When the process of coupling the connector assembly  160  with the catheter assembly  110  is completed, the tip of the connector needle  170  has been forced all the way through the resilient septum  130  (refer to  FIG. 2B ). In the fully coupled configuration, the distal interior space  121   a  of the catheter hub  120  is in fluid communication with the interior space  161  of the male connector body  162 . Accordingly, the vascular access device  100  is then functional for infusing liquids to the blood vessel  20 , or withdrawing blood from the blood vessel  20 . 
     In some embodiments, the piercing of the resilient septum  130  by the connector needle  170  is accomplished without causing and/or resulting in deflection of the resilient septum  130 . Rather, in some such embodiments the piercing of the resilient septum  130  by the connector needle  170  results in a compression of the resilient septum  130 . Alternatively, in some embodiments the piercing of the resilient septum  130  by the connector needle  170  causes deflection of the resilient septum  130 . 
     In the depicted embodiment, the coupling of the male connector body  162  with the female connector body  122  can take place by pressing and snapping the male connector body  162  into the female connector body  122 . That is, an axial compression force, such as a force applied by the thumb of a healthcare worker (refer to  FIG. 1 ), can cause the male connector body  162  to be pressed and snapped into a fully seated arrangement with the female connector body  122 . Accordingly, the coupling of the male connector body  162  with the female connector body  122  can be performed using a one-handed technique. Once fully seated, the arrangement can provide a substantial resistance to decoupling so as to meeting all applicable standards and regulatory requirements for such a device. 
     To facilitate a snap-together engagement technique, in some embodiments the male connector body  162  and the female connector body  122  have complementary structural features that snap into engagement with each other. For example, in the depicted embodiment the male connector body  162  has a proximal annular protrusion  164  and a distal annular protrusion  166 . The female connector body  122 , in turn, has a proximal annular recess  124  and a distal annular recess  126 . As best seen in  FIG. 2B , the proximal annular recess  124  receives the proximal annular protrusion  164 , and the distal annular recess  126  receives the distal annular protrusion  166 . When the proximal annular protrusion  164  is seated in the proximal annular recess  124 , and the distal annular protrusion  166  is seated in the distal annular recess  126 , the tip of the connector needle  170  has been forced all the way through the resilient septum  130 , and the vascular access device  100  is functional for infusing liquids to the blood vessel  20  or withdrawing blood from the blood vessel  20 . While in the depicted embodiment the male connector body  162  and the female connector body  122  have two complementary annular protrusions/recesses, in some embodiments only one complementary annular protrusion/recess is included. In some embodiments, three or more complementary annular protrusions/recesses are included. 
     While the depicted embodiment facilitates snap-together coupling between the male connector body  162  and the female connector body  122 , in some embodiments the male connector body  162  and the female connector body  122  are configured to be coupled together in other manners. For example, in some embodiments the male connector body  162  and the female connector body  122  are configured to be coupled together in manners such as, but not limited to, screwing together, pivoting together, laterally sliding together (e.g., using a dovetail or tongue-in-groove arrangement), and the like, and combinations thereof. 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2A -B, the catheter assembly  110  includes the female connector body  122 , the resilient septum  130 , and the catheter tube  140 . These components can be attached to each other using various techniques. For example, in some embodiments one or more of the female connector body  122 , the resilient septum  130 , and the catheter tube  140  are joined to each other using an adhesive. In some embodiments, one or more of the female connector body  122 , the resilient septum  130 , and the catheter tube  140  are joined to each other using a heat-staking technique. In some embodiments, one or more of the female connector body  122 , the resilient septum  130 , and the catheter tube  140  are joined to each other by a molding process (e.g., insert molding, overmolding, and the like). In some embodiments, other joining techniques, such as, but not limited to ultrasonic welding, solvent bonding, radio-frequency welding, press-fitting, pinning, and the like, and combinations thereof, are used to join one or more of the female connector body  122 , the resilient septum  130 , and the catheter tube  140  to each other. 
     In some embodiments, the female connector body  122  comprises a flexible material such as, but not limited to, silicone, high durometer rubber, polyurethane, styrenics, copolyesters, polyamides, polyolefin blends, polyolefin alloys, reactor TPOs, polyolefin plastomers, polyolefin elastomers, and the like. The relative flexibility of the female connector body  122  (as compared to the male connector body  162 ) can facilitate the snap-together coupling between the male connector body  162  and the female connector body  122 . For example, in some embodiments as the male connector body  162  is pressed into the female connector body  122 , the female connector body  122  can flex, stretch, and/or expand to allow the proximal annular protrusion  164  and the distal annular protrusion  166  to pass through on their way to being seated in the proximal annular recess  124  and the distal annular recess  126 . 
     Optionally, in some embodiments, the female connector body  122  has wings with suture attachment holes/features for securement of the female connector body  122  to the skin  10  of the patient. In some embodiments, the female connector body  122  does not include wings. In particular embodiments, the female connector body  122  is color-coded in correspondence with the size (e.g., gauge and/or length) of the catheter tube  140 . 
     The female connector body  122  includes a distal end portion  123 . In some embodiments, the distal end portion  123  comprises a transparent or essentially transparent material. In some embodiments, the distal end portion  123  includes one or more transparent or essentially transparent window portions. While in some embodiments the distal end portion  123  is made of a different material than the rest of the female connector body  122 , in some embodiments the distal end portion  123  is made of the same material as the rest of the female connector body  122 . The transparency of at least a portion of the distal end portion  123  facilitates visualization by a healthcare worker of the presence of blood in distal interior space  121   a , which is known as flashback detection. Flashback detection facilitates confirmation that at least the distal end portion of the catheter tube  140  is within a blood vessel as desired. 
     The catheter assembly  110  also includes the resilient septum  130 . In some embodiments, the resilient septum  130  comprises a flexible material such as, but not limited to, silicone, polyurethane, rubber, nitrile rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, and the like. In some embodiments, the resilient septum  130  comprises a biocompatible gel or semi-solid material. 
     The catheter assembly  110  also includes the catheter tube  140 . In some embodiments, the catheter tube  140  comprises polyurethane, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), silicones, nylon, nitinol, and the like. In some embodiments, the catheter tube  140  is treated to increase its lubricity. 
     The connector assembly  160  includes the male connector body  162 , the connector needle  170 , and the connector tube  180 . The components of the connector assembly  160  can be attached together using any of the techniques described above in reference to the catheter assembly  110 . 
     In some embodiments, the male connector body  162  can comprise a material such as polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, polyurethanes, silicones, other thermoplastic elastomers, and the like. In particular embodiments, the male connector body  162  is transparent or essentially transparent. As such, the open interior space  161  can serve as a flash chamber to assist the healthcare worker to detect a proper result during the process of coupling the connector assembly  160  with the catheter assembly  110 . In the depicted embodiment, the proximal annular protrusion  164  and the distal annular protrusion  166  are integral structural features of the male connector body  162  that have been molded in a unitary manner with the other portions of the male connector body  162 . In some embodiments, the proximal annular protrusion  164  and/or the distal annular protrusion  166  are distinguished from the other portions of the male connector body  162  by virtue of being made from another type of material. For example, in some embodiments the proximal annular protrusion  164  and/or the distal annular protrusion  166  are ring components that get attached to the other portions of the male connector body  162 . Consequently, in some embodiments the proximal annular protrusion  164  and/or the distal annular protrusion  166  can be made of a different material than the other portions of the male connector body  162  are made of. For example, in some such embodiments the proximal annular protrusion  164  and/or the distal annular protrusion  166  are made of a softer or more flexible material than the other portions of the male connector body  162 . 
     The connector assembly  160  also includes the connector needle  170 . The connector needle  170  can comprise a material such as, but not limited to, stainless steel, steel alloys, polymeric materials, and the like. In the depicted embodiment, the connector needle  170  has a non-coring needle tip design. For example, the opening at the tip of the connector needle  170  faces radially outward (rather than axially outward). Accordingly, when a healthcare worker presses the male connector body  162  into the female connector body  122 , the tip of the connector needle  170  can pierce through the resilient septum  130  without creating a core (plug) that could occlude the connector needle  170 . In some embodiments, the connector needle  170  may include one or more barbs. 
     The connector assembly  160  also includes the connector tube  180 . One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that while one end of the connector tube  180  is attached to the male connector body  162 , the other end of the connector tube  180  can be attached to a variety of types of fittings, containers, devices, and the like. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-C , the vascular access device  100  can include a combination of the catheter assembly  110 , a secondary instrument (such as the connector assembly  160  in this embodiment), and the introducer needle assembly  300  (which can removably pre-installed within the catheter assembly  110  as part of a packaged kit). As previously described, the secondary instrument (such as the connector assembly  160  in this embodiment) can be releasably mated to the catheter assembly  110  after the introducer needle assembly  300  is withdrawn. As described further herein, some embodiments of the installation method can be performed by the healthcare worker, optionally, using a single hand. 
     In this embodiment, the introducer needle assembly  300  and/or the catheter assembly  110  are coupled with a protective sheath  360  that is configured to cover at least the sharp tip of the introducer needle. The introducer needle assembly  300  and the protective sheath  360  as shown in  FIG. 3A  are configured together as a healthcare worker would receive and initially handle them (other than sterile packaging, not shown) prior to installing the vascular access device  100 . The protective sheath  360  covers the introducer needle assembly  300  to reduce the likelihood of accidental needle sticks. Prior to installing the catheter assembly  110  into the patient using the introducer needle assembly  300 , the healthcare worker removes the protective sheath  360  and discards it. 
     In this embodiment, the introducer needle assembly  300  includes the introducer needle  310 , a needle guard  320 , and an introducer needle hub  330 . The introducer needle  310  is fixedly coupled to and extending from the introducer needle hub  330 . The introducer needle hub  330  is slidably coupled with the needle guard  320 . The slidable relationship between the needle guard  320  and introducer needle hub  330  is represented by arrow  340 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , the introducer needle  310  is a sharp, hollow needle that is used to pierce through the patient&#39;s skin  10  to access the blood vessel  20 . The catheter assembly  110  is slidably coupled on the introducer needle  310 . To install the catheter assembly  110 , the healthcare worker inserts the distal tip of the introducer needle  310  through the patient&#39;s skin  10  and positions the distal tip of the introducer needle  310  in the blood vessel  20 . In doing so, the distal tip of the catheter assembly  110  is also inserted into the blood vessel  20 . When the distal tip of the introducer needle  310  is in the blood vessel  20 , some blood will flow into the lumen of the introducer needle  310  and collect in a flash chamber  334  of the introducer needle hub  330 . The rear of the flash chamber  334  is plugged by a microporous plug  336  that allows air to escape the flash chamber  334  while containing blood within the flash chamber  334 . The presence of blood in the flash chamber  334  provides a visual indication to the healthcare worker that the introducer needle  310  (and the catheter assembly  110  by association) is properly positioned within the blood vessel  20 . 
     After insertion of the introducer needle  310 , the healthcare worker slides the introducer needle hub  330  away from the patient&#39;s skin  10  as indicated by arrow  340 . In some embodiments, contoured portions  332  on the introducer needle hub  330  can be provided to assist the healthcare worker during this step. During the sliding of the introducer needle hub  330 , the healthcare worker maintains the position of the needle guard  320  generally stationary in relation to the patient. Doing so withdraws the introducer needle  310  into the safe confines of the needle guard  320 , while maintaining the catheter assembly  110  in a proper position in relation to the patient. A push-off tab  322  that is located at the distal end of the needle guard  320  and/or surface features  324  on the needle guard  320  can also be used by the healthcare worker to assist with the performance of this step. Accordingly, if desired, this step can be performed by the healthcare worker using a single hand. 
     When the healthcare worker has completed sliding the introducer needle hub  330  away from the patient&#39;s skin  10  as indicated by arrow  340  (such that the introducer needle  310  is fully within the needle guard  320 ), the healthcare worker can then separate the introducer needle assembly  300  from the catheter assembly  110  (refer to  FIG. 3C ). The sharp tip of the introducer needle  310  will be retained (e.g., locked) within the needle guard  320  so as to protect the healthcare worker (and others) from accidental needle sticks from a contaminated needle. The introducer needle assembly  300  can then be properly discarded while the needle  310  is safely covered. 
     As described above, due to the resilient septum  130  in the catheter assembly  110 , essentially no blood will leak through the lumen of the catheter assembly  110  after separation of the introducer needle assembly  300  from the catheter assembly  110 . Again, this feature can eliminate the need for the healthcare worker to apply a tamponade pressure on the skin surface  10  of the patient prior to coupling the connector assembly  160  with the catheter assembly  110 . As such, the vascular access device  100  can be optionally installed using the previously described one-handed installation method. 
     The connector assembly  160  can then be coupled with the catheter assembly  110 , as indicated by phantom line  370 . In the depicted embodiment, the connector assembly  160  and the catheter assembly  110  are configured for snap-together coupling. Therefore, to couple the connector assembly  160  and the catheter assembly  110  together, the healthcare worker can simply press the male connector body  162  into the female connector body  122  so that the proximal annular protrusion  164  is seated in the proximal annular recess  124 , and the distal annular protrusion  166  is seated in the distal annular recess  126  (refer to  FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B ). This step can be performed using a one-handed installation method. When the connector assembly  160  and the catheter assembly  110  have been properly coupled together (e.g., snapped together), and the distal tip of the catheter assembly  110  is properly within the blood vessel  20 , the open interior space  161  that serves as a flash chamber of the connector assembly may contain some blood. The presence of blood in the open interior space  161  is an indication to the healthcare worker that the vascular access device  100  has been properly installed. 
     A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.