Catheters and catheter safety guards

A method of making a catheter device, comprising:

• providing a catheter tube having a bend and having a distal end for insertion into the body of an animal or human and a proximal end;
• providing a sealing member located on the outside of the catheter tube in the vicinity of the bend, wherein said sealing elastomer prevents the leakage of fluid from the catheter tube when the catheter tube is pierced by a needle in the vicinity of the bend;
• providing a needle having a sharpened distal end and a proximal end, wherein the needle extends through the sealing member, such that the distal end of the needle is located in the vicinity of the distal end of the catheter;
• inserting the catheter tube, sealing member, and needle into a mold;
• injection molding a plastic around at least a portion of the sealing member, catheter tube and needle to encase as least a portion of the of the sealing member, catheter tube and needle in the plastic.

A combination needle and safety guard comprising:

• a needle having a sharpened distal end and proximal end;
• a safety guard having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the needle extends beyond the distal end of the safety guard in a direction away from the proximal end of the safety guard when the needle is in use or prior to use, and the safety guard further comprises;
• a needle shield located in the vicinity of the distal end of the safety guard and fixed relative to the safety guard;
• and
• and a biasing member adapted to move the distal end of the needle relative to the needle shield, whereby when said distal end of the needle is retracted in a direction toward the proximal end of the safety guard, the needle shield prevents movement of the needle beyond the needle shield due to the relative movement of the needle relative to the needle shield.

A combination catheter device, needle and safety guard comprising:

• a needle having a sharpened distal end and proximal end;
• a catheter device comprising:
• a catheter tube having a bend and having a distal end for insertion into the body of an animal or human and a proximal end;
• and
• a sealing member located on the outside of the catheter tube in the vicinity of the bend, wherein said sealing member prevents the leakage of fluid from the catheter tube when the catheter tube is pierced by the needle in the vicinity of the bend;
• and
• safety guard having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the needle extends beyond the distal end of the safety guard in a direction away from the proximal end of the safety guard when the needle is in use or prior to use and the safety guard further comprises;
• a needle shield located in the vicinity of the distal end of the safety guard;
• and
• and a biasing member adapted to move the distal end of the needle relative to the needle shield, whereby when said distal end of the needle is retracted in a direction toward the proximal end of the safety guard, the needle shield prevents movement of the needle beyond the needle shield due to the relative movement of the needle relative to the needle shield.