Catheter introducer assembly having safety shielded syringe

Abstract

An intravenous catheter introducer assembly having a safety feature to prevent accidental needle sticks. The introducer assembly includes a needle assembly having a groove disposed on its outer surface. The introducer includes a protector made of a hollow member having an open distal end and an inwardly disposed resilient flange or a clip disposed thereon. The protector is coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and adapted to engage the groove when a catheter assembly is removed from the needle.

1 . An assembly to prevent accidental needle sticks comprising:
 a needle assembly comprising an elongated hollow tubular needle having a proximal end attached to a needle hub, a sharp distal end extending therefrom, and a lumen running therebetween, the needle having a disruption of an outer surface thereof between the distal and proximal ends, the outer surface of the needle including a portion that is flat;   a hollow protector having open distal and proximal ends and a resilient flange, an inner surface of the protector including a portion that is flat, the protector being coaxially slidably disposed around the needle with the flange abutting the outer surface of the needle and the flat portion of the protector confronting the flat portion of the needle such that the protector and needle cannot rotate with respect to each other, the flange and disruption situated to engage and secure the protector to the needle with the open distal end of the protector being distal to the distal end of the needle.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the disruption being a notch on the outer surface 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , the notch exposing the lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the disruption being a groove on the outer surface. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the flat portion of the protector extending longitudinally along a length of the protector between the proximal and distal ends thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , the flat portion of the protector extending along the entire length of the protector between the proximal and distal ends thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the flat portion of the needle extending longitudinally along a length of the needle between the proximal and distal ends thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , the flat portion of the needle extending along the entire length of the needle between the proximal and distal ends thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a catheter assembly comprising an elongated hollow tubular catheter having a proximal end attached to a catheter hub and a distal end extending therefrom, the catheter coaxially disposed about the needle. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the flange being inwardly disposed. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the flange being located between the proximal and distal ends of the protector. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1 , the flange being defined by an integral portion of the protector. 
     
     
         13 . An intravenous catheter introducer assembly comprising:
 a catheter assembly including a catheter hub having an open proximal end and a distal end, a sidewall extending between the proximal and distal ends to define a hub space within the catheter hub, and a hollow tubular catheter attached to the catheter hub in fluid communication with the hub space and extending distally from the hub distal end;   a needle assembly comprising an elongated hollow tubular needle having a proximal end attached to a needle hub, a sharp distal end extending therefrom, and a lumen running therebetween, the needle assembly coupled to the catheter assembly in a ready position with the needle extending through the hub space and catheter to expose the sharp distal end distally of the catheter;   a tip protector coaxially slidably disposed around the needle and within the hub space in the ready position;   a flexible retainer held within the catheter hub proximal of the tip protector in the ready position, the retainer having an opening smaller than an external dimension of the tip protector so as to limit passage of the tip protector out of the hub space, the retainer being flexible so as to flex at the opening to permit passage of the tip protector out of the hub space.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , the needle including a disruption of the surface, the tip protector and needle being slidably movable to a second position with the needle removed from the catheter and the sharp distal end inside the protector between the distal and proximal ends, the tip protector including a portion adapted to selectively engage the surface disruption of the needle in the second position so as to facilitate pulling the tip protector through the retainer opening. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , the disruption being a notch on the outer surface. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , the notch exposing the lumen. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 14 , the disruption being a groove on the outer surface. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 13 , the retainer being comprised of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 13 , the needle hub being nested within the catheter hub in the ready position.