Patent Abstract:
A catheter insertion device with an automatic safety barrier includes a housing, a barrier member, and a biasing element. The housing includes a central bore configured to receive a needle therethrough, and further includes a channel extending through the housing and intersecting the central bore. The barrier member is hingedly coupled to the housing, and includes a leg to extend through the channel. An opening in the leg substantially aligns with the central bore to accommodate the needle therethrough. The biasing element biases the barrier member relative to the housing such that withdrawing the needle through the opening causes the biasing element to misalign the opening with the central bore, thereby occluding the central bore to shield an end of the needle.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to medical assemblies for the administration of fluids, and more particularly to devices for inserting an intravenous catheter into a patient for fluid administration. 
         [0002]    Hypodermic needles are notorious for spreading blood-borne diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (“HIV”), the virus that causes Autoimmune Deficiency Syndrome (“AIDS”). Health care workers are among those most at risk for contracting such diseases, as hypodermic needles are commonly used in medical fields. Needle stick injuries may arise during planned use and exposure, and/or as a result of carelessly or maliciously discarded needles. 
         [0003]    The Federal Needle Stick Safety Act was enacted into law on Nov. 6, 2000, and is aimed at reducing the risk to health care workers arising from accidental needle sticks. Among other compliance mandates, the Federal Needle Stick Safety Act requires the use of needles with engineered needle injury protections. Accordingly, many hypodermic needles manufactured today include a needle tip shield or the like to protect against accidental needle sticks. 
         [0004]    Of particular concern, however, are injuries from hollow-bore needles, especially those used for blood collection or intravenous (“IV”) catheter insertion. These devices are likely to contain residual blood and are associated with an increased risk for HIV transmission. Additionally, devices that require manipulation or disassembly after use, such as hollow-bore needles used for IV catheter insertion, have rates of injury of up to 5.3 times the rate for disposable hypodermic syringes. Such injuries most often occur during or after use and before disposal of the used needle. 
         [0005]    IV catheters are traditionally used to infuse fluids, such as saline solution, various medicaments, and/or total parenteral nutrition into a patient. Such catheters may also be used to withdraw blood from a patient, and/or monitor various parameters of the patient&#39;s vascular system. 
         [0006]    To introduce an IV catheter into a patient, an over-the-needle catheter may be mounted over a hollow-bore introducer needle having a sharp distal tip. The inner surface of the catheter may tightly engage the outer surface of the needle to prevent catheter peelback and facilitate insertion of the catheter into a blood vessel. The tip of the introducer needle may extend beyond the distal tip of the catheter to enable insertion of the catheter at a shallow angle through the patient&#39;s skin and into a blood vessel. 
         [0007]    To verify proper placement of the needle and catheter in the blood vessel, the clinician may confirm the presence of “flashback” blood in a flashback chamber associated with the catheter and needle assembly. Once proper placement is confirmed, the clinician may then apply pressure to the blood vessel to occlude the vessel, thereby minimizing further blood flow through the introducer needle and catheter. The clinician must then withdraw the needle from the catheter to enable continued access to the blood vessel through the catheter as may be required to infuse fluids or the like. This process of physically manipulating and disassembling the needle and catheter after the needle has been used to position the catheter in a patient&#39;s blood vessel creates substantial risks of both accidental needle sticks and exposure to blood and blood contaminants. 
         [0008]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a catheter insertion device with an automatic safety barrier to prevent injury from accidental needle sticks as well as from exposure to biological contaminants. Beneficially, such a device would enable simple and effective operation, minimize an amount of physical manipulation needed to disassemble the needle and catheter after use, and ensure that the end of the needle is properly shielded prior to such disassembly. Such a device is disclosed and claimed herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been met by currently available catheter insertion devices. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an apparatus, system, and method for shielding an end of a needle that overcomes many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. 
         [0010]    An apparatus to shield an end of a needle in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may include a housing, a barrier member, and a biasing element. The housing may include a central bore configured to receive a needle therethrough. The housing may further include a channel extending through the housing and intersecting the central bore. 
         [0011]    The barrier member may be hingedly coupled to the housing, and may include a leg to extend through the channel. An opening in the leg may substantially align with the central bore to accommodate the needle therethrough. In one embodiment, the leg of the barrier member includes a lock feature to prevent withdrawing the leg through the channel upon withdrawing the needle through the opening. In other embodiments, the leg further includes a single-use feature to cooperate with the lock feature to automatically limit movement between the barrier member and the housing upon withdrawing the needle through the opening. 
         [0012]    The biasing element may bias the barrier member relative to the housing such that withdrawing the needle through the opening causes the biasing element to misalign the opening with the central bore, thereby occluding the central bore to shield an end of the needle. The needle may include a securing feature to prevent withdrawing the end of the needle through a proximal end of the housing. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention may further include a catheter to connect to a distal end of the housing such that the catheter may receive the needle through the central bore. In certain embodiments, the barrier member includes a retention hook that releasably secures the catheter to the housing. The retention hook may automatically release the catheter from the housing upon withdrawing the needle through the opening. 
         [0014]    A method to shield an end of a needle in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is also presented. The method may include providing a housing having a central bore configured to receive a needle therethrough. A channel may be integrated into the housing to extend through the housing and intersect the central bore. A barrier member may be hingedly coupled to the housing and may include a leg to extend through the channel. An opening in the leg may substantially align with the central bore to accommodate the needle therethrough. The barrier member may be biased relative to the housing such that withdrawing the needle through the opening causes the opening to misalign with the central bore, thereby occluding the central bore to shield an end of the needle. In one embodiment, a misaligned position of the opening relative to the central bore may be substantially secured upon withdrawing the needle through the opening. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the method may further include actuating the barrier member such that the leg extends through the channel. The opening in the leg may be substantially aligned with the central bore to accommodate the needle therethrough, and the needle may be inserted through the central bore and the opening. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the method further includes attaching a catheter to a distal end of the housing such that the catheter communicates with the needle through the central bore. The catheter may be releasably secured to the housing via the barrier member. Specifically, a retention hook coupled to the barrier member may be actuated to secure the catheter to the housing by inserting the needle through the opening. The catheter may be automatically released from the housing upon withdrawing the needle through the opening. 
         [0017]    A system to shield an end of a needle in accordance with the present invention may include piercing means for piercing a blood vessel to acquire intravenous access, and housing means for housing the piercing means. Barrier means may selectively occlude a portion of the housing means to shield an end of the piercing means. The barrier means may be hingedly coupled to the housing means, and may include a leg to extend through the housing means. An opening in the leg may substantially align with a bore in the housing means to accommodate the piercing means therethrough. 
         [0018]    Biasing means may bias the barrier means relative to the housing means such that withdrawing the piercing means through the opening causes the biasing means to misalign the opening with the bore. In this manner, embodiments of the present invention may occlude a portion of the bore to shield an end of the piercing means. In some embodiments, the piercing means may include a securing feature to prevent withdrawing an end thereof through a proximal end of the housing means. 
         [0019]    The system may further include communication means for communicating fluids between the blood vessel and an external source. The communication means may selectively connect to a distal end of the housing means such that the piercing means may communicate with the communication means through the housing means. In one embodiment, the system further includes retention means for releasably retaining the communication means with respect to the housing means in response to insertion of the piercing means through the opening. Certain embodiments of the system may also include locking means for automatically limiting movement between the barrier means and the housing means upon withdrawing the piercing means through the opening. 
         [0020]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention may be incorporated into certain embodiments of the invention and will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. The present invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages described herein be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other features and advantages of the invention are obtained will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is an exploded cross-sectional view of a catheter insertion device with an automatic safety barrier in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a safety barrier device integral to the catheter insertion device of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a biasing element that may be integrated into a safety barrier device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a catheter insertion device armed for use in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the catheter insertion device of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a catheter insertion device after use in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the catheter insertion device of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a catheter insertion device with an automatic safety barrier armed in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the catheter insertion device of  FIG. 7  after use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    The illustrated embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description, as presented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the invention as claimed herein. 
         [0032]    As used in this specification, the term “needle” refers to any of various devices that may be used to pierce the skin to acquire intravenous access, such as a hypodermic needle, a hollow-bore needle, a surgical knife, a cannula, or the like. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a catheter insertion device  100  in accordance with the present invention may include a safety barrier device  102 , a catheter  110 , and a needle  118 . The safety barrier device  102 , catheter  110 , and needle  118  may align with each other along a longitudinal axis  122 . A proximal end  112  of the catheter  110  may attach to a distal end  104  of the safety barrier device  102  by way of, for example, a threaded connection, a press fit, or by any other means known to those in the art. The needle  118  may be directed through the central bores  108 ,  116  of each of the safety barrier device  102  and the catheter  110 , respectively, such that the tip  120  of the needle  118  may protrude through a distal end  114  of the catheter  110  to facilitate an intravenous catheterization process. 
         [0034]    The central bore  116  of the catheter  110  may include a diameter  124  slightly larger than an outside diameter  126  of the needle  118 . In certain embodiments, a distal portion  126  of the central bore  116  may tightly engage the needle  118  to prevent peelback of the catheter  110  as it is inserted into a blood vessel. In some embodiments, the inside diameter  124  of the catheter  110  may increase between the distal portion  126  and the proximal end  112 , such that the diameter  124  substantially matches an inside diameter  128  of the central bore  108  of the safety barrier device  102  at a point of attachment between the two devices  110 ,  102 . 
         [0035]    In any case, the inside diameters  124 ,  128  of the central bores  116 ,  108  may permit the needle  118  to slide with respect to the catheter  110  and safety barrier device  102 . In some embodiments, the central bores  116 ,  108  may include a substantially smooth inner surface to further facilitate relative movement between the needle  118  and the catheter  110  and safety barrier device  102 . In this manner, the needle  118  may be selectively positioned to protrude from the distal end  114  of the catheter  110  as needed to facilitate catheter  110  insertion. Likewise, the needle  118  may be selectively retracted from the proximal end  112  of the catheter  110  after use. In one embodiment, as discussed in more detail below, the needle  118  includes a securing feature  130  to prevent the tip  120  of the needle  118  from being intentionally or inadvertently withdrawn from the safety barrier device  102  after use. 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in discussing the Figures, it may be advantageous to establish a reliable coordinate system to aid in the description of several of the embodiments in accordance with the present invention. In addition to the longitudinal axis  122  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 1 , coordinate axes may include a transverse axis  204  and a lateral axis  206 , where each coordinate axis  122 ,  204 ,  206  extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the other. 
         [0037]    A safety barrier device  102  in accordance with the present invention may include a housing  200 , a barrier member  212 , and a biasing element (not shown). In one embodiment, an outer surface  202  of the housing  200  may be substantially cylindrical and molded along the longitudinal axis  122  to provide a secure, comfortable grip. In some embodiments, for example, the housing  200  may include grooves, ridges or an otherwise textured outer surface  202  to facilitate a secure grip. 
         [0038]    The central bore  108  may extend in a substantially longitudinal direction  122  from a distal end  104  to a proximal end  106  of the housing  200 . The proximal end  106  of the housing  200  may be configured to direct the needle  118  into the central bore  108 . In some embodiments, the needle  118  may extend through the central bore  108  and exit the housing  200  at its distal end  104  to communicate with a catheter  110  or other device attached thereto. 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, a diameter  128  of the central bore  108  may taper from the distal end  104  to the proximal end  106  of the housing  200 . In other embodiments, a diameter  128  of the central bore  108  at the proximal end  106  of the housing  200  may be substantially less than its diameter  128  at the distal end  104  of the housing  200 , or at an intermediate point along its longitudinal axis  204   a . In still other embodiments, a diameter  128  of the central bore  108  may be substantially consistent along a length of the housing  200 . 
         [0040]    The barrier member  212  may attach to a proximal end  106  of the housing  200  by way of a hinge  210  or other such device known to those in the art. In one embodiment, the barrier member  212  and housing  200  are substantially monolithic, having a living hinge  210  or flexure bearing therebetween. Alternatively, the housing  200  and barrier member  212  may constitute separate components attached by a standard hinge  210  or other suitable device known to those in the art. In any case, the hinge  210  may permit the barrier member  212  to pivot with respect to the housing  200 , such that a leg  214  of the barrier member  208  may selectively extend into a channel  208  formed within the housing  200 . 
         [0041]    The channel  208  may extend in a substantially transverse direction  204  through the housing  200  and intersect the central bore  108 . In one embodiment, the channel  208  opens onto substantially opposite sides of the housing  200 . In other embodiments, the channel  208  extends only partially through the housing  200  such that a single point of entry on the outer surface  202  of the housing  200  provides access to the channel  208 . In any case, the channel  208  may include a length sufficient to accommodate the leg  214  of the barrier member  212 . 
         [0042]    The leg  214  of the barrier member  212  may extend from the body  218  of the barrier member  212  such that pivoting the barrier member  212  with respect to the housing  200  may cause the leg  214  to extend into the channel  208 . The leg  214  of the barrier member  212  may include an opening  216  that may align with the central bore  108 . Further, the opening  216  may include a diameter substantially corresponding to a diameter  128  of the central bore  108 . In this manner, the needle  118  may be advanced through the opening  216  to secure the leg  214  with respect to the channel  208 , as discussed in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5  below. 
         [0043]    The leg  214  of the barrier member  212  may include a safety barrier portion  220  to selectively block the central bore  108 , or portion thereof. In certain embodiments, as discussed in more detail below, the biasing element (not shown) may cooperate with the barrier member  212  to automatically misalign the opening  216  with the central bore  108  upon withdrawing the tip  120  of the needle  118  from the opening  216 . The safety barrier portion  220  of the leg  214  may then occlude the central bore  108  at the channel  208  to prevent access to the needle  118  through the distal end  104  of the housing  200 . In some embodiments, as discussed in more detail below, the leg  214  of the barrier member  212  may include a lock feature  222  to maintain the leg  214  within the channel  208  upon withdrawing the needle  118  from the opening  216 . 
         [0044]    The barrier member  212  may further include a retention hook  224  extending from a distal end  226  thereof. As discussed in more detail below, the retention hook  224  may secure the catheter  110  or other device to the safety barrier device  102  by creating mechanical interference between the barrier member  212  and the proximal end  112  of the catheter  110  or other attached device. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a biasing element  300  in accordance with the present invention may include a spring, an elastomeric material, a resilient material, or any other suitable material or device known to those in the art. The biasing element  300  may include an attachment feature  302  to attach the biasing element  300  to the safety barrier device  102 . The biasing element  300  may cooperate with the barrier member  112  to urge the barrier member  112  away from the housing  200  absent application of an opposite force. The barrier member  112  may be secured in a biased position relative to the housing  102  by extending the needle  118  through the central bore  108  and opening  216  to apply an opposite force. 
         [0046]    Specifically, in one embodiment, the biasing element  300  includes a leaf-spring portion  306  residing substantially adjacent to the body  218  of the barrier member  212  to urge the barrier member  212  away from the housing  200 . The biasing element  300  may be attached to the housing  200  by way of an attachment feature  302  such as a retention hook or other suitable device known to those in the art. The needle  118  may extend through the central bore  108  and the opening  216  in the leg  214  of the barrier member  212  to maintain the central bore  108  and opening  216  in alignment, thereby securing the barrier member  212  in a biased position relative to the housing  200 . In certain embodiments, such as where the biasing element  300  or attachment feature  302  would otherwise obstruct the central bore  108 , the biasing element  300  may include an opening  304  to accommodate the needle  118  therethrough. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the catheter insertion device  100  of the present invention may be armed to effectively shield a tip  120  of a needle  118  by attaching a catheter  110  or other adapter device to a distal end  104  of the housing  200  and pivoting the barrier member  212  with respect to the housing  200  such that a leg  214  thereof may be received into the channel  208 . As previously discussed with reference to  FIG. 3  above, a biasing element  300  may be integrated with the housing  200  to urge the barrier member  212  away from the housing  200 . Accordingly, pivoting the barrier member  212  towards the housing  200  to enable the leg  214  to be received into the channel  208  may require application of an opposing force. The force applied may be adjusted as needed to position the leg  214  such that an opening  216  in the leg  214  may substantially align with the central bore  108 . The needle  118  may then be inserted into the central bore  108  through a proximal end  106  of the housing  200  and advanced through the central bore  108  and opening  216  in the leg  214 . 
         [0048]    In some embodiments, the needle  118  may be further guided through the distal end  104  of the housing and into the attached catheter  110  or other device. In one embodiment, the needle  118  protrudes through the distal end  114  of the catheter  110  to facilitate an intravenous catheterization process. In this manner, the needle  118  may maintain alignment between the central bore  108  and the opening  216 , thereby securing a position of the leg  214  with respect to the channel  208 . 
         [0049]    Moreover, in some embodiments, the needle  118  may maintain a substantially fixed relationship between a retention hook  224  extending from a distal end  226  of the barrier member  212  and the catheter  110  or other adapter device attached to the housing  200 . Specifically, in some embodiments, the catheter  110  or other adapter device may include a lip  400  extending substantially radially from its proximal end  112 . The retention hook  224  may be molded to interlock with the lip  400  where the catheter  110  attaches to the distal end  104  of the housing  200 . As the retention hook  224  is integral to the barrier member  212 , the needle  118  may extend through the opening  216  in the leg  214  of the barrier member  212  to both maintain alignment between the central bore  108  and the opening  216 , as well as to secure an interlocked relationship between the retention hook  224  and the lip  400  of the catheter  110 . Accordingly, attachment of the catheter  110  to the housing  200  may also be reliably secured. 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , retracting the needle  118  through the opening  216  in a longitudinal direction  122  towards the proximal end  106  of the housing  200  may actuate the biasing element  300  to urge the barrier member  212  away from the housing  200 , thereby misaligning the opening  216  with the central bore  116 . As a result, a safety barrier portion  220  of the leg  214  positioned adjacent to the opening  216  may be forced to fully or partially occlude the central bore  108 . As previously mentioned, a lock feature  222  coupled to the leg  214  may abut or otherwise mechanically interfere with a portion of the housing  200  to prevent withdrawal of the safety barrier portion  220  of the leg  214  from the channel  208 . In certain embodiments, the lock feature  222  may include cooperating features  222   a ,  222   b  substantially adjacent either side of the opening  216 , such that withdrawing the needle  118  through the opening  216  may actuate the cooperating lock features  222   a ,  222   b  to limit movement of the leg  214  with respect to the channel  208  in either transverse direction  204 . In this manner, the lock feature  222  may reliably secure the safety barrier portion  220  to at least partially occlude the central bore  108  and thus prevent the retracted needle tip  120  from re-entering the central bore  108  at a position longitudinally distal from the channel  208 . 
         [0051]    In certain embodiments, retracting the needle  118  through the opening  216  may further disengage the interlocked relationship between the retention hook  224  and the proximal end  112  of the catheter  110 . Specifically, the biasing element  300  may urge the barrier member  212  and retention hook  224  away from the housing  200  and attached catheter  110 . The retention hook  224  may thus release the proximal end  112  of the catheter  110  to enable the catheter  110  and safety barrier device  102  to be disassembled after use. 
         [0052]    As discussed above, retracting the needle  118  through the opening  216  towards the proximal end  106  of the housing  200  effectively occludes the central bore  108  while releasing the catheter  110  from the distal end  104  of the housing  200 . As a result, embodiments of the present invention provide increased protection against accidental needle sticks and blood exposure by ensuring both proper shielding of the needle tip  120  after use, as well as by preventing disassembly of the catheter insertion device  100  prior to the needle tip  120  being properly shielded. 
         [0053]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, the needle  118  may include a securing feature  130  to prevent complete withdrawal of the needle  118  through the proximal end  106  of the housing  200 . The securing feature  130  may include, for example, one or more protrusions from the needle  118  surface, an increased diameter of the needle  118  at a particular point along its longitudinal axis  122 , or any other suitable securing feature known to those in the art. The securing feature  130  may interfere with the central bore  108  at a proximal end  106  of the housing  200  such that the needle tip  120  may not be withdrawn from the central bore  108  at the proximal end  106 . 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an alternative embodiment of a safety barrier device  102  in accordance with the present invention may include a housing  200 , a barrier member  212 , and a biasing element  300 , where the biasing element  300  includes a protrusion or other feature on the outer surface  202  of the housing located proximate to a hinge  210  connecting the housing  200  and barrier member  212 . The barrier member  212  may include a resilient material to enable the barrier member  212  to flex outwardly against the biasing element  300 , thereby generating spring energy. This may occur, for example, where the barrier member  212  pivots with respect to the housing  200  to enable a leg  214  thereof to extend through a channel  208  extending in a substantially transverse direction  204  through the housing  200 . 
         [0055]    Such spring energy may be stored by the barrier member  212  as a result of the needle  118  extending through the central bore  108  of the housing, and further through the opening  216  in the leg  214  of the barrier member  212  to maintain alignment between the central bore  108  and the opening  216 . In this position, the needle  118  may further secure a proximal end  112  of the catheter  110  to a distal end  104  of the housing  200  by actuating a retention hook  224  integrated with or coupled to a distal end of the barrier member  212 . As discussed above, the retention hook  224  may interface with the proximal end  112  of the catheter  110  to secure its position relative to the distal end  104  of the housing  200 . 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , withdrawing the needle  118  from the opening  216  in the leg  214  of the barrier member  212  may actuate a lock feature  222  integrated with or coupled to the leg  214 . The lock feature  222  may secure misalignment of the opening  216  and the central bore  108  within the channel  208  such that a safety barrier portion  220  of the leg  214  effectively and reliably obstructs the needle tip  120  relative to a distal end  104  of the central bore  108 . 
         [0057]    As illustrated, the lock feature  222  may include cooperating lock features  222   a ,  222   b , located substantially adjacent either side of the opening  216 . One lock feature  222   a  may interface with an outer surface  202  of the housing  200 , while the other lock feature  222   b  interfaces with a substantially opposite surface  202  of the housing  200 . The lock features  222   a ,  222   b  may be actuated in response to misalignment between the central bore  108  and the opening  216 . Specifically, the biasing element  300  may urge the barrier member  212  in a substantially transverse direction  204  away from the longitudinal axis  122  of the housing  200 , thereby misaligning the central bore  108  and opening  216  to actuate the lock features  222   a ,  222   b.    
         [0058]    In one embodiment, one lock feature  222   a  may be molded to project from a distal end of the leg  214  of the barrier member  212  and abut the outer surface  202  of the housing  200 , while a second lock feature  222   b  may selectively protrude from the leg  214  upon misalignment of the central bore  108  with the opening  216 . Specifically, the second lock feature  222   b  may be biased with respect to the leg  214  such that the lock feature  222   b  automatically protrudes outwardly from the leg  214  upon its emergence from within the channel  208 . The lock features  222   a ,  222   b  may thus cooperate to limit movement of the leg  214  in either transverse direction  204  relative to the housing  200 . In this manner, embodiments of the present invention may prevent complete withdrawal of the leg  214  from within the channel  208  to reliably shield a tip  120  of the needle  118 , as well as discourage re-use of the catheter insertion device  100 . 
         [0059]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its structures, methods, or other essential characteristics as broadly described herein and claimed hereinafter. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0