Patent ID: 8496623

Claim:
A bi-directional cannula feature capture mechanism, comprising: an inner housing having a proximal cannula feature mating component, a distal cannula feature mating component, and an outer surface having a first interlocking surface to selectively maintain a first position of the inner housing; an outer housing having an inner surface adapted to slidably receive the inner housing, the inner surface of the outer housing further having a second interlocking surface for receiving the first interlocking surface of the inner housing whereby to selectively interlock the inner housing to the outer housing at the first position within the outer housing, the outer housing further having an outer interlock component; a catheter adapter having an inner surface adapted to slidably receive the outer housing, the inner surface of the catheter adapter further having an inner interlock surface adapted to selectively retain the outer interlock component of the outer housing to selectively maintain a first position of the outer housing within the catheter adapter; and a cannula that extends into the inner housing and comprises a cannula feature having a proximal engagement surface and a distal engagement surface, wherein a tip of the cannula is shielded within the inner housing when the distal engagement surface of the cannula feature abuts the distal cannula feature mating component of the inner housing, wherein the inner housing shields the cannula tip at a point in which the proximal engagement surface contacts the proximal cannula feature mating component.