Spring clip safety IV catheter

An IV catheter apparatus comprising a tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle having a needle shaft defining a needle axis and a tip, the needle being received within the tubular catheter when in a ready position, a catheter hub attached to the proximal end of the tubular catheter, the catheter hub having a hollow interior and an inner wall, the needle being movable between the ready position in which the tip is outside of the catheter hub and a retracted position in which the tip is within the interior of the catheter hub, a needle guard for blocking the tip of the needle comprising a resilient portion positioned in the interior of the catheter hub when the needle is in the ready position, a section of the resilient portion of the needle guard being biased by the needle shaft when the needle is in the ready position, an inwardly extending protrusion formed on the inner wall of the catheter hub for engaging the needle guard for retaining the needle guard to the catheter hub during the movement of the needle between the ready position and the retracted position, the needle guard including a distally blocking member spaced apart from the needle tip when the needle is in the ready position and movable within the interior of the catheter hub to a blocking position distal of the needle tip when the needle is in the retracted position, whereby the needle guard and the protrusion disengage.

A catheter device comprising at least two components that are separable from one another, the first component comprises a catheter hub and a catheter tube fixedly secured to the catheter hub;

• and the second component comprises a needle hub and a needle fixedly secured to the needle hub;
• wherein the needle comprises a needle tip and a needle shaft, and the catheter tube comprises a catheter passage;
• and wherein the catheter hub and the needle hub further comprise:
• a catheter hub distal end and a catheter hub proximal end, the catheter hub distal end having the catheter tube extending therefrom;
• a catheter hub opening, the catheter hub opening defining a catheter hub annular space and an inner surface having a protrusion extending radially inwardly thereof;
• a needle hub distal end and a needle hub proximal end, the needle hub distal end having the needle extending therefrom;
• a needle protector clip having a resilient biasing portion, an engagement segment, and a distally blocking member;
• wherein when the needle is in the ready position, which is the position in which the needle projects into the catheter passage and the needle tip extends beyond the catheter tube;
• the needle protector clip is disposed over the needle, is located within the catheter hub annular space, and the engagement segment on the needle protector clip engages the protrusion in the catheter hub to prevent relative movement between the catheter hub and the needle protector clip when the needle moves from the ready position to a retracted position, which is the position in which the needle tip moves proximal of the distally blocking member of the needle protector clip;
• and wherein when the needle is in the retracted position, the needle protector clip is activated and attaches to the needle at the needle tip, the distal blocking member on the needle protector clip moves over and blocks the needle tip, and the segment on the needle protector clip disengages from the protrusion to permit relative movement between the catheter hub and the needle protector clip.

A catheter device comprising a catheter hub having a catheter tube extending from a distal end of the catheter hub, the catheter tube comprising a lumen and a distal end and the catheter hub comprising an interior cavity comprising an interior surface having a protrusion extending radially inwardly from the interior surface;

• a needle hub having a needle attached to a distal end of the needle hub comprising a needle tip;
• a ready position in which the needle extends through the lumen of the catheter tube and the needle tip extends beyond the distal end thereof;
• a retracted position in which the needle moves proximally relative to the catheter hub and the needle tip is within the interior cavity of the catheter hub;
• a needle protector clip comprising a proximal wall having an opening, a resilient member, a needle distally blocking member, and an engagement segment for retaining the needle protector clip to the catheter hub during movement of the needle between the ready position and the retracted position;
• wherein when the needle is in the ready position, the needle protector clip is positioned over the needle in the interior cavity of the catheter hub and the needle passes through the opening of the proximal wall;
• the resilient portion is biased by a side of the needle;
• and the segment abuts the protrusion in the interior surface of the needle hub;
• wherein when the needle moves from the ready position to the retracted position, the protrusion on the catheter hub and the segment on the needle protector clip interact to fix relative movement between the catheter hub and the needle protector clip until the needle moves proximally of the needle distally blocking member whereupon the resilient member is no longer biased by the side of the needle, the needle distally blocking member moves to block the needle tip, and the engagement segment disengages from the protrusion to then permit relative movement between the needle protector clip and the catheter hub.