Patent ID: 6958054

Claim:
A catheter device comprising: a hollow protective sheath having a longitudinal needle carrier track long one surface and locking slots near either end of said track; a hypodermic needle carrier slidable mounted within said sheath to expose a hypodermic needle mounted and catheter mounted thereon and retract said hypodermic needle; an actuator mounted on said needle carrier and extending through said needle carrier track; needle locking tabs on the sides of said actuator for engagement with said locking slots; a spring connecting said actuator to said needle carrier biasing said actuator outwardly to force said needle locking tabs to engage either of said locking slots; a hypodermic needle mounted on said hypodermic needle carrier and extending longitudinally in said sheath; a catheter carrier and catheter releasably connected to said hypodermic needle carrier such that said hypodermic needle extends through said catheter; and a fluid flow path through said device that by-passes said hypodermic needle when retracted to said catheter when exposed.