Introducer needle with notches for improved flashback

An introducer needle, comprising:

• a proximal end, a distal tip, and a needle lumen extending therebetween;
• a wall defining the needle lumen;
• a first notch formed through the wall;
• and
• a second notch formed through the wall, wherein the second notch is proximal to the first notch, wherein a portion of the wall between the first notch and the second notch is crimped such that fluid is prevented from flowing in the needle lumen between the first notch and the second notch.

A catheter system, comprising:

• a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween;
• a catheter extending distally from the distal end of the catheter adapter;
• and
• a blood control septum disposed within the lumen and dividing the lumen into a proximal chamber and a distal chamber;
• and
• an introducer needle having a wall defining a needle lumen of the introducer needle, a first notch formed through the wall, and a second notch formed through the wall, wherein the second notch is proximal to the first notch, wherein the introducer needle extends through the catheter and beyond a distal end of the catheter when the introducer needle is in an insertion position for insertion into a patient, wherein the first notch is disposed within the catheter when the introducer needle is in the insertion position, wherein at least a portion of the catheter is transparent, wherein the second notch is disposed distal to the blood control septum when the introducer needle is in the insertion position, wherein a portion of the wall between the first notch and the second notch is crimped such that fluid is prevented from flowing in the needle lumen between the first notch and the second notch.