Patent ID: 8292852

Claim:
An over-the-needle peel-away catheter introducer comprising: a tube-like introducer sheath ( 10 ); an introducer hub ( 14 ) having a distal section ( 24 ) and a proximal section ( 26 ), wherein the distal section ( 24 ) is joined to the introducer sheath ( 10 ) and the proximal section ( 26 ) defines a chamber ( 38 ); a needle ( 16 ) extending through the introducer hub ( 14 ) and the introducer sheath ( 10 ) and having opposite proximal and distal ends, wherein the distal end forms a needle tip ( 18 ); a needle hub ( 20 ) attached to the proximal end of the needle ( 16 ); and a needle safety device ( 46 ) slidably arranged on the needle ( 16 ), wherein the needle safety device ( 46 ) is retained in the chamber ( 38 ) of the introducer hub ( 14 ) when the needle ( 16 ) extends through the introducer hub ( 14 ) and the introducer sheath ( 10 ), and removable from the introducer hub ( 14 ) once the needle tip ( 18 ) is received in the needle safety device ( 46 ) upon withdrawal of the needle ( 16 ) from the introducer sheath ( 10 ), and wherein the needle safety device ( 46 ) comprises a distal part ( 48 ) which has a main body ( 53 ) of generally cup like shape; a proximal part ( 50 ) which is partly received in the distal part ( 48 ) and defines an inner chamber ( 64 ); a spring clip ( 52 ) having a first leg ( 66 ) and a second leg ( 68 ), wherein the first leg ( 66 ) is fixedly arranged between the distal part ( 48 ) and the proximal part ( 50 ) and the second leg ( 68 ) extends diagonally across the inner chamber ( 64 ) when disengaged from the needle ( 16 ); and two generally L-shaped extensions ( 54 ) formed on opposite sides of the main body ( 53 ) of the distal part ( 48 ).