Vascular Access Assembly and Safety Device

Abstract

A safety intravenous (IV) catheter assembly is disclosed which includes a safety device having a housing defining a cavity and distal and proximal openings, and a biasing member positioned within the cavity. The biasing member is movable from a first position to a second position to tilt the housing in relation to the needle when the needle tip is withdrawn through the distal opening of the housing to misalign the needle tip and the distal opening. A blocking arm is provided on the biasing member to prevent the biasing member from moving from the second position back to the first position.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A safety device for use with an intravenous catheter assembly comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity, a distal opening and a proximal opening, the distal and proximal openings being in axial alignment; and   a resilient biasing member having a stationary portion, a movable portion and a resilient blocking arm, the movable portion being movable in relation to the stationary portion along a path of movement from a first compressed position to a second position, wherein in the first compressed position the resilient blocking arm is positioned outwardly of the path of movement of the movable portion to allow movement of the movable portion from the first compressed position to the second position and in the second position the resilient blocking arm is positioned between the stationary portion and the movable portion in the path of movement to prevent movement of the movable portion of the movable portion from the second position back to the first position.   
     
     
         22 . The safety device of  claim 21 , wherein in the second position, the movable portion is spaced further outwardly of the stationary portion than when the movable portion is in the first compressed position. 
     
     
         23 . The safety device of  claim 21 , wherein the housing includes at least one post extending from one side of the housing across the cavity, the post being positioned to engage the stationary portion of the biasing member to secure the biasing member within the housing. 
     
     
         24 . The safety device of  claim 21 , wherein the housing of the safety device includes a finger configured to releasably engage the intravenous catheter assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The safety device of  claim 24 , wherein the finger includes radial projection. 
     
     
         26 . The safety device of  claim 21 , wherein the biasing member is unitarily formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
         27 . The safety device of  claim 26 , wherein the resilient material is spring steel. 
     
     
         28 . The safety device of  claim 23 , wherein the housing is formed from molded half-sections, the at least one post being formed on one of the half-sections and extending across the cavity towards a sidewall of the other of the half-sections. 
     
     
         29 . The safety device of  claim 21 , wherein a portion of the movable portion includes a material having a low coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         30 . The safety device of  claim 24 , wherein the finger is radiused.