Patent ID: 8740850

Claim:
An insertion mechanism comprising: a needle tube having a distal end and a proximal end and comprising a locking slot, the needle tube configured to removably couple to a needleless connector having a flexible catheter; a cannula control tube slidably disposed within the needle tube, the cannula control tube comprising a distal position and a fixedly attached blunt cannula at a distal end and a locking tab configured to move outward and engage the locking slot when the cannula control tube is in the distal position; and a sharp needle movably disposed within the cannula control tube, such that the needle is axially slidable relative to the cannula control tube, and comprising a distal tip and configured to urge the cannula control tube toward the distal position as the needle is moved toward the distal end of the needle tube; wherein the locking tab of the cannula control tube and the needle are configured to allow the distal tip of the needle to extend beyond the distal end of the needle tube and into the flexible catheter of a coupled needleless connector only after the locking tab is engaged in the locking slot of the needle tube.