Patent ID: 8202253

Claim:
A catheter insertion assembly comprising: a) a transparent tubular member open at each end; b) a plunger assembly slidable within said tubular member having a stem portion at a first end; c) an at least a partially transparent chamber attached to said stem portion having a needle base and sealing member on a second end of the plunger assembly; d) an elongated tubular needle embedded within said needle base and extending there from with said needle in fluid communication with said transparent chamber; e) a catheter assembly, a cannula and a transparent hub attached to said second end with said tubular needle passing longitudinally through said cannula; and f) a fluid passage formed between said needle and said cannula so that when the plunger is retracted a vacuum is established within the fluid passage and blood is drawn through the fluid passage into the transparent hub within the tubular member so that a user can identify blood flow within the transparent hub of the catheter assembly.