Catheter system to facilitate blood collection and related methods

A catheter system, comprising:

• a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end, and a side port in fluid communication with the lumen;
• a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter;
• a septum disposed within the lumen of the catheter adapter, wherein the septum comprises a first slit and a second slit generally parallel to the first slit, wherein the first slit is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the catheter, wherein the second slit is offset from the longitudinal axis of the catheter;
• a needle hub;
• and an introducer needle secured within the needle hub, wherein the introducer needle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the catheter and extends through the catheter and the first slit of the septum, wherein a cut forms a first face at a distal end of the septum, wherein the distal end of the septum comprises the first face and a second face, wherein the second face is proximate the first face and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, wherein the septum comprises a tunnel extending along the first face, wherein the tunnel extends from the side port towards the longitudinal axis of the catheter.

A catheter system, comprising:

• a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end, and a side port in fluid communication with the lumen, wherein the catheter adapter further comprises a slot extending from the proximal end of the catheter adapter;
• a catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter;
• a septum disposed within the lumen of the catheter adapter, wherein the septum comprises a first slit and a second slit generally parallel to the first slit, wherein the first slit is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the catheter, wherein the second slit is offset from the longitudinal axis of the catheter, wherein the slot is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the catheter towards the side port;
• a needle hub;
• an introducer needle secured within the needle hub, wherein the introducer needle is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the catheter and extends through the catheter and the first slit of the septum;
• and a winged needle set comprising a tab disposed in the slot and a needle extending through the second slit of the septum, wherein the needle intersects a central axis of the side port and is configured to receive blood flashback therethrough.