Patent ID: 8298186

Claim:
A catheter introducer, comprising: a catheter having a catheter hub and an axial through channel with a proximal end portion made as a female luer lock portion; a needle assembly including a needle with a distal sharp point, which extends through said catheter channel, and a safety means having a protector for protecting said needle distal sharp point after introducing said catheter into a blood vessel, wherein said needle assembly is in a protected position when said needle is protected by said protector, wherein in said protected position said needle assembly has a distal end and a proximal end; a catheter cap having a tapered male luer member with a tapered end for occluding a proximal opening of said catheter after the transposition of said needle to said protected position, said catheter cap being detachably mounted on said needle assembly; and mounting means for detachable mounting of said catheter cap on said needle assembly, wherein said mounting means includes stabilizing means that prevents rotation of said tapered male luer member with respect to said needle assembly when mounting said catheter cap onto said catheter, and wherein when said needle assembly is in said protected position said catheter cap is positioned at either of said ends of said needle assembly, and said tapered end of said tapered male luer member is directed proximally when said catheter cap is positioned at said proximal end of said needle assembly and distally when said catheter cap is positioned at said distal end of said needle assembly.