Patent ID: 7722569

Claim:
A catheter assembly comprising: a catheter hub; a needle hub; a needle attached to the needle hub and inserted through the catheter hub; a tip shield having a distal end connectable to the catheter hub, a proximal end connectable to the needle hub, a first sidewall located between the distal end and the proximal end, and an opening in the first sidewall to permit access to a resilient clip compartment during assembly, the tip shield being connectable to the needle hub; a resilient clip insertable into the resilient clip compartment through the opening in the first sidewall, the resilient clip including a U-shaped spring clip, a tab attached to a first end of the U-shaped spring clip, and a distally extending arm attached to a second end of the U-shaped spring clip, the U-shaped spring clip being laterally compressed between the needle and the tab attached to a second sidewall of the resilient clip compartment when the needle is inserted through the catheter hub, and the U-shaped spring clip moving laterally away from the tab when the needle is removed from the catheter hub, the distally extending arm being attached to the catheter hub when the U-shaped spring clip is laterally compressed between the needle and the tab, and the distally extending arm releasing its attachment to the catheter hub when the needle is removed from the catheter hub; and a covering blocking the opening in the first sidewall of the resilient clip compartment to minimize fluid leakage from the tip shield upon release of the distally extending arm of the resilient clip from the catheter hub.