Low profile passive protector for an i.v. catheter

A low-profile universal passive protector for an IV catheter comprising:

• a hypodermic needle;
• an over-the-needle catheter removeably disposed about the hypodermic needle;
• an elongate sheath detachably engaged with the over-the-needle catheter, the elongate sheath defining a sheath cavity and a longitudinal axis;
• a slider having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end facing the hypodermic needle, the slider being connected to the hypodermic needle and movable along the sheath between a first position and a second position, the hypodermic needle being drawn into the sheath cavity as the slider moves from the first position toward the second position;
• a finger-press plate coupled to the sheath and extending beyond the slider in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to define a plate height;
• and
• a flashback body coupled to the slider, the flashback body and slider collectively defining a cavity in fluid communication with the hypodermic needle, the entirety of the flashback body residing between the first and second ends of the slider.

A low-profile universal passive protector for use with an over-the-needle catheter, the universal passive protector comprising:

• a hypodermic needle insertable through the over-the-needle catheter;
• an elongate sheath detachably engaged with the over-the-needle catheter, the elongate sheath defining a sheath cavity and a longitudinal axis;
• a slider connected to the hypodermic needle and movable along the sheath between a first position and a second position, the hypodermic needle being drawn into the sheath cavity as the slider moves from the first position toward the second position;
• a finger-press plate coupled to the sheath and extending beyond the slider in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to define a plate height;
• and
• a flashback body coupled to the slider, the flashback body and slider collectively defining a cavity in fluid communication with the hypodermic needle, the flashback body extending from the slider in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to define a flashback body height;
• the flashback body height being less than the plate height.