# US 2010/0168674 A1 · IV Catheter Introducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0168674 A1 - Document ID: US20100168674A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/464,555 - Filed: 2009-05-12 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2001-10-26 - Assignees: Retractable Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas J. Shaw; Ni Zhu; Kathryn Margaret Duesman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168674A1 ## CPC - A61M 25/0606: {"Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters} - A61M 25/0631: {having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle} - A61M 39/06: Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof - A61M 5/3232: {Semi-automatic needle retraction, i.e. in which triggering of the needle retraction requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased retraction means} - A61M 25/0693: {Flashback chambers} - A61M 2039/062: {used with a catheter} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An IV catheter introducer having an elastomeric grommet disposed between the housing and the IV catheter assembly that helps avoid unintentional separation of IV catheter assembly from the housing during shipping and handling prior to use, that acts as a needle guide, that helps align the housing and IV catheter assembly coaxially, that indicates that top side of the catheter introducer, that provides proper rotational alignment between the grommet and housing, that wipes blood off the needle during withdrawal of the needle from the catheter assembly and grommet, that impedes blood flow out of the catheter hub after needle withdrawal, and that assists the user in separating the housing from the IV catheter assembly following insertion of the catheter and withdrawal of the needle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An IV catheter introducer comprising in coaxial alignment a housing having a needle holder assembly seated therein with a needle projecting forwardly from the housing, a plunger assembly having a plunger tube slidably insertable into the housing, an IV catheter assembly having a flexible catheter attached to a rearwardly facing tubular hub, an elastomeric grommet disposed between the housing and hub, and a removable cover disposed over part of the needle and catheter prior to use of the IV catheter introducer; Wherein the elastomeric grommet is engageable with the housing and the hub, and has an upwardly extending tab identifying a top side of the catheter introducer that corresponds to a beveled side of the needle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1, further comprising a retraction spring seated in an annular space between the housing and a part of the needle holder, the plunger assembly and housing cooperating to maintain the retraction spring in compression until the needle holder is released to retract the needle from the catheter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1 wherein the grommet is made of rubber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1 wherein the grommet further comprises a forwardly facing projection that frictionally engages an opening in the rear of the hub. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The IV catheter introducer of claim 3 wherein the projection is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1 wherein the grommet has a thin, transverse web through which the needle is inserted axially during assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1 wherein the grommet comprises a rearwardly facing recess into which a forwardly facing tip of the needle holder is receivable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The IV catheter assembly of claim 6 wherein the web wipes the outside of the needle as it is withdrawn from the IV catheter assembly and grommet following use. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The IV catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the grommet impedes blood flow rearwardly out of the hub following insertion of the catheter, separation of the housing from the grommet, and withdrawal of the needle from the grommet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The IV catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the grommet comprises a rearwardly facing positioning tab that cooperatively engages a notch or recess in the housing to rotationally align the grommet and housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1, further comprising a pair of laterally extending wings. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The IV catheter introducer of claim 11 wherein the wings are attached to the hub. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The IV catheter introducer of claim 12 wherein the wings each have raise finger pads. ### Claim 14 An IV catheter introducer having with a retractable needle, the introducer comprising a tubular housing, a needle holder assembly having a needle holder seated inside the housing and a needle attached in fixed longitudinal relation to the tubular body, a retraction spring seated in an annular space between the housing and the tubular body of the needle holder assembly, a plunger assembly having a plunger tube insertable into the housing and engageable with the needle holder inside the housing, the plunger assembly and housing cooperating to maintain the retraction spring in compression prior to retraction, an IV catheter assembly having a flexible catheter attached to a hub, an elastomeric grommet disposed between the housing and the IV catheter assembly, and a removable cover disposed over part of the needle and catheter prior to use of the IV catheter introducer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The IV catheter introducer of claim 14 wherein the grommet is made of rubber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The IV catheter introducer of claim 14 wherein the grommet further comprises a forwardly facing, projection having a recess through which a portion of the needle passes axially. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The IV catheter introducer of claim 16 wherein the projection is frictionally engaged by the hub of the IV catheter assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The IV catheter introducer of claim 16 wherein the projection is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The IV catheter introducer of claim 16 wherein the grommet further comprises a rearwardly facing recess into which a forwardly facing tip of the tubular body of the needle holder assembly is receivable. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The IV catheter assembly of claim 14 wherein the grommet guides the needle during retraction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The IV catheter assembly of claim 14 wherein the grommet wipes the outside of the needle during retraction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The IV catheter assembly of claim 14 wherein the grommet impedes blood flow rearwardly out of the hub following retraction of the needle from the grommet. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The IV catheter assembly of claim 14 wherein the grommet further comprises an upwardly projecting tab suitable for the application of digital pressure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The IV catheter assembly of claim 14 wherein the grommet further comprises a rearwardly projecting positioning tab that is engageable with a notch or recess in the housing to rotationally align the grommet and housing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 14) The IV catheter introducer of claim 14 wherein the IV catheter assembly further comprises a pair of laterally extending wings. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The IV catheter introducer of claim 25 wherein each laterally extending wing comprises a raised finger pad.