Patent ID: 6972002

Claim:
A passively activated safety system used for catheter insertion said system comprising: a catheter assembly comprising a catheter and a hub proximally affixed thereto, said hub comprising an attachable fitting, an appurtenance for displacing the catheter relative to the needle and stabilizing the catheter assembly during withdrawal of a catheter insertion needle and a catch whereby the catheter assembly is securely, but releasibly, affixed to a needle shield; the catheter insertion needle, slidably disposed within the catheter and used to facilitate inserting the catheter into a patient, but removed thereafter, leaving the inserted catheter in place, said needle comprising a distal end having a sharpened tip and a proximal end for connecting to a needle hub; a handle for gripping the device, said handle comprising exterior gripping surfaces, an interiorly disposed slide track and the needle hub medially disposed within and aligned with the slide track; the needle shield slidably engaged on a proximal end to said handle in line with the insertion needle, said shield comprising a hollow interior and a length adequate to contain said insertion needle; said needle shield further comprising a latching part having a latch which firmly joins the shield to the catheter assembly via the catch, a mechanical sensor and actuator which detects full displacement of the catheter insertion needle into protective cover of the needle shield and which passively releases the latch from the catch and therefore the catheter assembly from the catheter insertion needle, the handle and the needle shield when such full displacement occurs; a lock disposed with said needle shield which assures the shield is retained in protective engagement about said needle and needle tip upon release of the catheter assembly from the catheter insertion needle, the handle and the needle shield, wherein said lock comprises a spring clip formed with a proximally disposed plate and a spring arm extending distally from said plate, wherein said spring arm is held in tension through contact against said needle when said needle is disposed through said latching part, and said spring arm is freed when said handle is fully retracted relative to said needle shield thereby lifting said plate in line with said needle tip to unreleasibly lock said needle inside said needle shield; and a shroud extending from an outside surface of said needle shield to prevent inadvertent engagement with said latch to prevent accidental displacement of said lock.