Patent ID: 8864714

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 extension tube attached to the catheter hub and in fluid communication with the catheter hub; 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 an enlarged diameter portion; a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and slidingly mounted to the introducer needle for movement from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield including: a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a cavity, wherein the needle is disposed, at least in part, within the cavity; a wall formed in the housing; at least one tab disposed within the cavity and disposed adjacent to the wall and proximal to the wall; and means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle; wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tab flexes proximally to permit passage of the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle; and wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tab is prevented from flexing distally by the wall.