Smiths Medical Asd, Inc.

Oscar R Abriles

Thomas T Koehler

Harsh D Chheda

Kathryn L Felicito

A safety catheter includes a catheter hub, a needle cannula having a tip, and a tip protector. The tip protector includes an outer member and an inner member therein. The outer member has a projection releasably engaging the catheter hub. The inner member has a pair of arms extending to free ends from a base. The inner member is axially shiftable relative to the outer member between a first position wherein the needle tip is distal of the tip protector and the free ends of the arms are spread apart such that the distal tip is not shielded, and a second position wherein the tip is within the inner and outer members and the free ends of the arms are brought into close proximity such that the distal tip is shielded. The inner member is entirely received within the outer member in both the fort and the second positions thereof.

Tip protector for a safety catheter

A safety catheter includes a catheter hub, a catheter tube, a needle hub, a needle cannula having a tip, and a tip protector. The tip protector includes an outer member having a flexible tab configured to releasably engage with the catheter hub and release therefrom upon inward flexing of the tab. An inner member is positioned entirely within the outer member and has a portion that impedes inward flexing of the tab when disposed adjacent the tab. The inner member is axially shiftable relative to the outer member between a first position wherein the needle tip is distal of the tip protector and the inner member portion is disposed adjacent the tab to impede release from the catheter hub, and a second position wherein the tip is within the outer member and the inner member portion is no longer adjacent the tab and no longer impedes release from the catheter hub.

An enclosed needle catheter insertion device includes a catheter assembly and a need insertion device having a needle guard housing to enclose a needle in a shielded position and a needle support supporting the needle for movement between a ready position, with the tip of the needle exposed, to a shielded position with the needle within the needle guard housing. Movement of the needle support and the needle relative to the needle guard housing is accomplished by manual manipulation of a gripping component external of the needle guard housing. A separate, proximal end cap external of the needle guard housing encloses a proximal portion of the needle guard housing, and is affixed to the needle support.

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Madison, CT, United States of America

Oscar R Abriles