Patent ID: 8444605

Claim:
An intravenous catheter assembly comprising: a catheter hub with a catheter tube; a needle having a needle shaft, a proximal end attached to a needle hub, a sharpened distal end, and a change in profile formed near the sharpened distal end; a needle guard slidably disposed about said needle shaft, said needle guard comprising a needle trap, the needle trap comprising an extending arm, a first projection, a fold located between the extending arm and the first projection such that the first projection releasably holds the catheter hub in a ready to use position and a sharp projection; the needle guard further comprising an inner chamber having a slot having the needle trap and the sharp projection disposed, at least in part, therein; wherein the needle trap is biased against the needle shaft, the first projection engages a shoulder on the catheter hub, and the first projection is movable to allow the catheter hub to separate from the needle guard when the needle trap is no longer biased by the needle shaft; and an opening on the needle guard for interacting with the change in profile to limit distal advancement of the needle guard along the needle.