Patent ID: 7591805

Claim:
A flushing device having a proximal end and a distal end utilized to flush a catheter, the flushing device comprising: a receptacle for holding a flushing medium; a mechanism for expelling the flushing medium from the receptacle; a flushing tip positioned at the distal end of the flushing device, the flushing tip having a distal end, a proximal end and a tapered inner contact surface aligned to be contacted by a catheter to be flushed, wherein an inner diameter of the distal end of the flushing tip is larger than a diameter of the catheter to be flushed and an inner diameter of the proximal end is smaller than the diameter of the catheter to be flushed such that when a tip of the catheter contacts a portion of the tapered inner contact surface the catheter tip is moved relative to the inner contact surface to align the catheter tip into desired engagement with an internal diameter of the contact surface and the catheter tip is circumscribed by an outer rim of the flushing tip, and wherein the distance between the flushing tip and the mechanism for expelling the flushing medium is less than 4.25 inches when the mechanism for expelling the flushing medium is in an extended position; and one or more gripping portions positioned distally from a middle portion of the receptacle.