Vascular Access Assembly with Safety Device

Abstract

A plurality of different vascular access assemblies are described which protect a clinician from accidental needle stick injury upon withdrawal of a needle from a catheter assembly. Each of the vascular access assemblies include a safety device for guarding the needle tip of the needle upon withdrawal of a needle from the catheter assembly.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A vascular access assembly and safety device comprising:
 a catheter assembly including a catheter hub and a catheter tube extending distally from the catheter hub;   a needle assembly including a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub, the needle including a needle tip; and   a safety device including a housing defining a cavity and a safety clip positioned within the cavity, the housing defining a proximal opening and a distal opening, the safety clip being formed from a resilient material and having a U-shaped configuration including a first leg positioned adjacent an inner wall of the housing and a second leg supporting a tab, wherein in an assembled state, the needle extends through the distal and proximal openings of the housing of the safety device and through the catheter assembly and the safety clip is compressed between the inner wall of the housing and the needle, the tab being in slidable engagement with the needle wherein upon withdrawal of the needle tip into the housing of the safety device and proximally of the tab of the safety clip, the safety clip moves to a non-compressed position such that the tab obstructs distal movement of the needle into the distal opening of the housing.   
     
     
         10 . The vascular access assembly and safety device according to  claim 9 , wherein the needle includes an enlarged diameter portion and a bushing is slidably supported on the needle proximally of the enlarged diameter portion, the inner diameter of the bushing being smaller than the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion, and the outer diameter of the bushing being larger than the inner diameter of the proximal opening of the housing of the safety device to prevent withdrawal of the needle tip from the proximal opening. 
     
     
         11 . The vascular access assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a resilient arm which includes a projection which is received in a recess formed in the catheter hub to releasably secure the catheter hub to the safety device. 
     
     
         12 . The vascular access assembly and safety device of  claim 9 , wherein the tab includes a rounded end portion positioned to slidably engage the needle in the assembled state. 
     
     
         13 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A vascular access assembly and safety device comprising:
 a catheter assembly including a catheter hub and a catheter tube extending distally from the catheter hub;   a needle assembly including a needle hub and a needle extending distally from the needle hub, the needle including a needle tip; and   a safety device including a housing defining a cavity and a safety clip supported within the cavity, the housing defining a proximal opening and a distal opening, the safety clip being formed from a resilient material and including a tab, wherein in an assembled state, the safety clip is positioned in a biased state between the needle and an inner wall of the housing and the needle extends through the distal and proximal openings, wherein upon withdrawal of the needle tip into the housing of the safety device to a position proximally of the tab, the safety clip moves to an unbiased state in which the tab is positioned to obstruct distal movement of the needle into the distal opening of the housing.   
     
     
         19 . The vascular access assembly and safety device according to  claim 18 , wherein in the biased state, the safety device is compressed between the needle and the inner wall of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The vascular access assembly and safety device according to  claim 18 , wherein the safety clip has a U-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The vascular access assembly and safety device according to  claim 20 , wherein the safety clip includes a first leg positioned adjacent the inner wall of the housing and a second leg which supports the tab. 
     
     
         22 . The vascular access assembly and safety device according to  claim 18 , wherein the tab is positioned in slidable engagement with the needle in the biased state of the safety clip. 
     
     
         23 . The vascular access assembly and safety device according to  claim 18 , wherein the needle includes an enlarged diameter portion and a bushing is slidably supported on the needle proximally of the enlarged diameter portion, the inner diameter of the bushing being smaller than the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion, and the outer diameter of the bushing being larger than the inner diameter of the proximal opening of the housing of the safety device to prevent withdrawal of the needle tip from the proximal opening. 
     
     
         24 . The vascular access assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the housing includes an arm which includes a projection which is received in a recess formed in the catheter hub to releasably secure the catheter hub to the safety device. 
     
     
         25 . The vascular access assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the arm is resilient.