Patent ID: 8100859

Claim:
A catheter-insertion assembly, said assembly comprising: a catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and an inner lumen extending from said proximal end to said distal end; a needle having a proximal end and a beveled distal end forming a sharp distal point, said needle also having a length and an inner lumen having an inner diameter; and wherein said needle is positioned within said lumen of said catheter; an obturator having a proximal end and a distal end, said obturator having a diameter that is smaller than said inner diameter of said needle, and a length that is greater than said length of said needle, said obturator having a proximal portion and a distal portion in said distal end, said proximal portion and said distal portion being disposed oppositely along a single plane; wherein said obturator is slidably disposed within said lumen of said needle, said obturator being movable from a retracted position in which said proximal portion and said distal portion are disposed proximal of said beveled distal end of said needle; and wherein said obturator is movable to an extended position in which said distal portion is disposed distal of said beveled distal end of said needle such that said distal portion extends radially outward of an outer surface of said needle and contacts an inner surface of said catheter, thereby spacing said sharp distal point of said needle radially inward of said inner surface of said catheter, said proximal portion of said obturator being biased against said inner diameter of said needle and said distal portion of said obturator being biased against said inner surface of said catheter in said extended position.