Catheter insertion device with retractable needle

A medical device, comprising:

• a hollow housing;
• a needle having a sharpened tip operable in a projecting position which tip projects forwardly from the housing and a retracted position in which the sharpened tip is enclosed within the housing;
• a biasing element biasing the needle toward the retracted position;
• a catheter telescopingly engaging the needle, wherein the catheter is operable in three positions:
• a mounted position in which the catheter engages the needle such that the sharpened tip of the catheter projects forwardly from the catheter;
• a sheathed position displaced axially forwardly of the mounted position so that the catheter sheathes the sharpened tip of the needle;
• and a removed position in which the catheter is removed from the needle;
• a radially deformable arm releasably maintaining the needle in the projecting position against the bias of the biasing element, wherein the arm comprises:
• a first recess cooperable with the catheter when the catheter is disposed in the mounted position;
• and
• a second recess cooperable with the catheter when the catheter is disposed in the sheathed position;
• wherein displacing the catheter from the sheathed position to the removed position operates to release the needle so that the biasing element displaces the needle into the retracted position.

A method for inserting a catheter into a patient, providing the steps of:

• providing a catheter insertion device having a housing and a needle with a sharpened tip for inserting the catheter;
• piercing a patient with the sharpened tip of the needle;
• advancing the catheter relative to the needle so that the catheter sheathes the sharpened tip;
• releasably locking the catheter in the advanced position to impede rearward displacement of the catheter relative to the needle;
• inserting the advanced catheter into the patient;
• and
• shielding the needle so that the sharpened tip of the needle is shielded after use.