Catheter assembly

Abstract

A catheter assembly is disclosed, which includes a catheter; a catheter hub fixed to a proximal end portion of the catheter; a needle having a needlepoint, and inserted into the catheter so as to be separable; an elongated member coupled to the needle; a protector displaceable in an axial direction in a range regulated with respect to the elongated member, and configured to cover at least the needlepoint of the needle in accordance with evulsion of the needle from the catheter; and wherein, in an initial state, the catheter and the needle are exposed from a distal end of the elongated member, and the elongated member overlaps the catheter hub and the protector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catheter assembly comprising:
 a catheter;   a catheter hub fixed to a proximal end portion of the catheter;   a needle having a needlepoint, and inserted into the catheter so as to be separable;   an elongated member coupled to the needle;   a protector displaceable in an axial direction in a range regulated with respect to the elongated member, and configured to cover at least the needlepoint of the needle in accordance with evulsion of the needle from the catheter; and   wherein, in an initial state, the catheter and the needle are exposed from a distal end of the elongated member, and the elongated member overlaps the catheter hub and the protector.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a needle support portion configured to support the needle through the catheter on a distal end side and distally of the catheter hub; and   the needle support portion being movable with respect to the elongated member in order to change from a first state of supporting the needle to a second state of releasing the support of the needle and allowing the catheter hub to pass.   
     
     
         3 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the needle support portion has a pair of support arms openable and closeable, and a restraining portion capable of restraining the pair of support arms in a closed state and releasing a restraint of the pair of support arms. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an operating portion for operating the catheter hub is provided on the catheter hub; and   in the initial state, at least a part of the operating portion is exposed from the elongated member.   
     
     
         5 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 wherein the elongated member includes a slit extending in the axial direction of the elongated member; and   wherein the at least the part of the operating portion exposed from the elongated member is exposed on an outside of the elongated member through the slit.   
     
     
         6 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the operating portion includes a pair of flexible wings mutually protruding in opposite directions from the catheter hub. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the protector is detachably fitted to a proximal end of the catheter hub. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the restraining portion is movable with respect to the pair of support arms by a distal movement of the catheter hub, which releases the restraint with respect to the pair of support arms. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the pair of support arms are openable and closeable in a lateral direction. 
     
     
         10 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the restraining portion is movable with respect to the pair of support arms in an axial direction. 
     
     
         11 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the restraining portion is slidable with respect to the pair of support arms in the axial direction. 
     
     
         12 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the restraining portion is slidable with respect to the pair of support arms by a distal movement of the catheter hub, which releases the restraint with respect to the pair of support arms. 
     
     
         13 . A catheter assembly comprising:
 a catheter;   a catheter hub fixed to a proximal end portion of the catheter;   a needle having a needlepoint, and inserted into the catheter so as to be separable;   an elongated member coupled to the needle;   a protector displaceable in an axial direction of the elongated member, and configured to cover at least the needlepoint of the needle in accordance with evulsion of the needle from the catheter;   a needle support portion configured to support the needle through the catheter on a distal end side and distally of the catheter hub;   the needle support portion being movable with respect to the elongated member in order to change from a first state of supporting the needle to a second state of releasing the support of the needle and allowing the catheter hub to pass;   the needle support portion having a pair of support arms openable and closeable;   a restraining portion capable of restraining the pair of support arms in a closed state and releasing a restraint of the pair of support arms; and   wherein, in the first state, the catheter and the needle are exposed from a distal end of the elongated member, and the elongated member overlaps the catheter hub and the protector.   
     
     
         14 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an operating portion configured to operate the catheter hub disposed on the catheter hub; and   in the first state, at least a part of the operating portion is exposed from the elongated member.   
     
     
         15 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the elongated member includes a slit extending in the axial direction of the elongated member; and   wherein the at least the part of the operating portion exposed from the elongated member is exposed on an outside of the elongated member through the slit.   
     
     
         16 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the operating portion includes a pair of flexible wings mutually protruding in opposite directions from the catheter hub. 
     
     
         17 . The catheter assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the protector is detachably fitted to a proximal end of the catheter hub. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly comprising:
 an outer needle;   a hub fixed to a proximal end portion of the outer needle;   an inner needle having a needlepoint, and inserted into the outer needle so as to be separable;   an elongated member coupled to the inner needle;   a protector displaceable in an axial direction of the elongated member, and configured to cover at least the needlepoint of the inner needle in accordance with evulsion of the inner needle from the outer needle; and   wherein, in an initial state, the outer needle and the inner needle are exposed from a distal end of the elongated member, and the elongated member overlaps the hub and the protector.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a needle support portion configured to support the inner needle through the outer needle on a distal end side and distally of the hub, the needle support portion having a pair of support arms openable and closeable; and   a restraining portion capable of restraining the pair of support arms in a closed state and releasing a restraint of the pair of support arms.   
     
     
         20 . The assembly according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an operating portion configured to operate the hub disposed on the hub, and in the initial state, at least a part of the operating portion is exposed from the elongated member; and   wherein the protector is detachably fitted to a proximal end of the hub.