Needle shield

An intravenous catheter system comprising:

• a catheter assembly having a catheter adapter forming a lumen and a catheter that extends distally from the catheter adapter;
• a needle assembly having a needle hub and a needle that extends distally from the needle hub, the needle assembly being configured to couple to the catheter assembly to cause the needle to extend through the lumen of the catheter adapter and the catheter;
• and
• a shield positioned within the lumen of the catheter adapter, the shield comprising:
• a top portion forming a top surface and opposing side surfaces that extend downwardly from the top surface;
• a bottom portion forming a bottom surface and opposing side surfaces that extend upwardly from the bottom surface;
• a proximal portion that interconnects the top portion and the bottom portion, the proximal portion forming a proximal needle opening;
• a top distal portion that extends downwardly from the top surface;
• and
• a bottom distal portion that extends upwardly from the bottom surface;
• wherein, when the needle assembly is coupled to the catheter adapter, the needle extends through the proximal needle opening and a distal needle opening of the shield to thereby maintain the shield in an unlocked position, whereas, when the needle assembly is withdrawn proximally from the catheter assembly to cause a distal tip of the needle to pass through the distal needle opening, the shield transitions to a locked position in which the distal tip of the needle is prevented from passing distally through the distal needle opening,
• wherein:
• the top distal portion comprises one or more tabs and the bottom distal portion comprises one or more notches for receiving the one or more tabs to maintain the shield in the locked position, wherein the one or more notches face in a distal direction, wherein the one or more tabs are formed by folding a portion of the top distal portion downwardly such that the one or more tabs extend distally from the top distal portion and upwardly, wherein the one or more tabs of the top distal portion extend in the distal direction through the one or more notches when the shield is in the locked position.

A peripheral intravenous catheter comprising:

• a catheter assembly having a catheter adapter forming a lumen and a catheter that extends distally from the catheter adapter;
• a needle assembly having a needle hub and a needle that extends distally from the needle hub, the needle assembly being configured to couple to the catheter assembly to cause the needle to extend through the lumen of the catheter adapter and the catheter;
• and
• a shield positioned within the lumen of the catheter adapter, the shield being formed of a single piece of material and comprising:
• a top portion forming a top surface and opposing side surfaces that extend downwardly from the top surface;
• a bottom portion forming a bottom surface and opposing side surfaces that extend upwardly from the bottom surface;
• a proximal portion that interconnects the top portion and the bottom portion, the proximal portion forming a proximal needle opening;
• a top distal portion that extends downwardly from the top surface;
• and a bottom distal portion that extends upwardly from the bottom surface;
• wherein, when the needle assembly is coupled to the catheter adapter, the needle extends through the proximal needle opening and a distal needle opening of the shield to thereby maintain the shield in an unlocked position, whereas, when the needle assembly is withdrawn proximally from the catheter assembly to cause a distal tip of the needle to pass through the distal needle opening, the shield transitions to a locked position in which the distal tip of the needle is prevented from passing distally through the distal needle opening,
• wherein:
• the top distal portion comprises one or more tabs and the bottom distal portion comprises one or more notches for receiving the one or more tabs to maintain the shield in the locked position, wherein the one or more notches face in a distal direction, wherein the one or more tabs are formed by folding a portion of the top distal portion downwardly such that the one or more tabs extend distally from the top distal portion and upwardly, wherein the one or more tabs of the top distal portion extend in the distal direction through the one or more notches when the shield is in the locked position.