Safety Catheter

Abstract

A needle assembly including a needle tip guard and needle is provided. The needle tip guard includes a proximal base defining an opening that is dimensioned for passage of the needle therethrough, first and second clamp members extending from the proximal base and defining an internal cavity, and a finger tab extending from the proximal base. Each of the first and second clamp members define an inner surface including a protrusion extending into the internal cavity. A distal end of each of the clamp members includes a clamp arm, the clamp arms being supported for movement between an open position and a closed position. The finger tab includes a contacting portion for engagement by a user.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A needle assembly comprising:
 a needle tip guard comprising:
 a proximal base defining an opening dimensioned for passage of a needle; and 
 first and second clamp members extending from the proximal base and defining an internal cavity, at least one of the first and second clamp members having an inner surface including a protrusion extending into the internal cavity and a distal end supporting a clamp arm, the clamp arm being supported for movement between an open position and a closed position; 
   a needle dimensioned for insertion through the proximal base and between the clamp members, the needle having a needle cannula including a distal portion having at least one indentation dimensioned to receive the protrusion of the clamp members, the needle cannula of the needle being positionable between the clamp members to retain the clamp arm in the open position, whereby receipt of the protrusions within the at least one indentation of the needle upon retraction of the distal portion of the needle within the internal cavity of the clamp members allows the clamp arm to move to the closed position.   
     
     
         16 . The needle assembly of  claim 15 , further including a finger tab extending from the proximal base and including a contacting portion for engagement by a user, wherein the contacting portion of the finger tab extends laterally along the clamp members in spaced relation therefrom. 
     
     
         17 . The needle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the finger tab extends orthogonally outwardly from the proximal base. 
     
     
         18 . The needle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a housing extends from the proximal base coaxially around the first and second clamp members. 
     
     
         19 . The needle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the clamp members are different lengths. 
     
     
         20 . The needle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each clamp member is integrally formed with a respective clamp arm. 
     
     
         21 . A catheter and needle assembly comprising:
 a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and being configured for placement in a patient, the catheter having a catheter hub attached to the proximal end;   a needle dimensioned for insertion within the catheter, the needle having a proximal portion attached to a needle hub and a distal portion including at least one indentation, the distal portion terminating in a needle tip; and   a needle tip guard comprising:
 a proximal base defining an opening dimensioned to receive the needle; 
 first and second clamp members extending from the proximal base and defining an internal cavity, at least one of the first and second clamp members having an inner surface including a protrusion extending into the internal cavity and a distal end supporting a clamp arm, the clamp arm of the at least one of the first and second clamp members being supported for movement between an open position in which the needle tip is positioned between the first and second clamp members distally of the clamp arm and a closed position in which the protrusion of the at least one of the first and second clamp members is received within the at least one indentation of the needle and the needle tip is retracted within the internal cavity of the clamp members and is positioned proximally of the clamp arm. 
   
     
     
         22 . The catheter and needle assembly of  claim 21 , further including a finger tab extending from the proximal base, the finger tab being positioned externally of the catheter hub. 
     
     
         23 . The catheter and needle assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the needle tip guard is positioned within the catheter hub. 
     
     
         24 . The catheter and needle assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the catheter hub includes a slot defined in a proximal end thereof and the finger tab is dimensioned to be received within the slot. 
     
     
         25 . The catheter and needle assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the needle tip guard includes a housing extending from the proximal base coaxially around the first and second clamp members. 
     
     
         26 . The catheter and needle assembly of  claim 25 , wherein a distal end of the housing is positioned to abut a proximal end of the catheter hub. 
     
     
         27 . The catheter and needle assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the needle tip guard is positioned between a distal end of the needle hub and a proximal end of the catheter hub. 
     
     
         28 . The catheter and needle assembly of  claim 21 , further comprising a cap including an open proximal end releasably connectable to the needle hub.