Safety catheter device with removably attached housing

A safety catheter device comprising;

• a catheter hub having a proximal end and a distal end and an interior aspect therebetween;
• a catheter tube extending from the distal end of the catheter hub;
• a needle having a shaft terminating in a distal sharp tip;
• a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing being removably coupled to the catheter hub;
• and
• a member having a proximal end with an aperture and a distal end, the member proximal end being separate and movable relative to the housing proximal end, the member being disposed proximal of the catheter tube, the housing and the member adapted to slidably receive the needle therethrough between (a) a first position with the needle shaft extending through the aperture of the member and distally of the member distal end through the catheter tube with the needle distal tip exposed out therefrom and the member distal end bearing against the needle shaft, and (b) a second position with the needle shaft removed from the catheter tube, the needle distal tip disposed within the housing proximal of the housing distal end and proximal of the member distal end, and with the needle shaft extending through the aperture of the member, the member distal end being proximal of the housing distal end with the needle in the second position and being operable to maintain the needle distal tip within the housing after the needle has moved from the first position to the second position;
• the housing including a radially outwardly directed projection operable to engage the interior aspect of the catheter hub and radially moveable inwardly sufficiently to disengage therefrom, the projection being held against moving radially inwardly sufficiently to disengage when the needle is in the first position and being free to move radially inwardly sufficiently to disengage coincident with the needle being moved into the second position.