Patent ID: 7604616

Claim:
A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising: a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter; an introducer needle removably disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion and no discontinuity; a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and moveable with respect to the introducer needle from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield comprising a clip having a pair of legs, which clip is adapted to flex out of engagement with the catheter hub; and a transverse barrier attached to one of the pair of legs; wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the introducer needle contacts at least a portion of the clip so that the pair of legs is retained to one side of the introducer needle in a biased position engaging the catheter hub, and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the introducer needle disengages the clip so it can flex to its unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub; and wherein, when the clip is in its unbiased position, the transverse barrier is moved into position to restrict the proximal movement of the needle shield with respect to the introducer needle.