Catheter system having a needle retraction mechanism

A catheter system, comprising:

• a catheter assembly, comprising:
• a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a catheter adapter lumen extending through the distal end of the catheter adapter and the proximal end of the catheter adapter;
• a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter;
• a needle assembly, comprising:
• a barrel, comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a side hole between the proximal end of the barrel and the distal end of the barrel;
• an introducer needle, comprising a sharp distal tip and a proximal end;
• a needle hub affixed to the introducer needle and movably disposed in the barrel, wherein the needle hub comprises a distally-extending arm forming a push button within the side hole, wherein the push button is configured for selective engagement with the barrel;
• and
• a spring disposed around the needle hub, wherein when the push button is within the side hole, the push button holds the needle hub against the bias of the spring.

A catheter system, comprising:

• a catheter assembly, comprising:
• a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a catheter adapter lumen extending through the distal end of the catheter adapter and the proximal end of the catheter adapter;
• a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter;
• a needle assembly, comprising:
• a telescopic barrel, comprising a main barrel and an inner sleeve nested within the main barrel, wherein the main barrel comprises a side hole, wherein the inner sleeve comprises a distally-extending arm forming a push button within the side hole, wherein the push button is configured for selective engagement with the main barrel;
• an introducer needle, comprising a sharp distal tip and a proximal end;
• a needle hub affixed to the introducer needle and coupled to the telescopic barrel;
• and
• a spring disposed around the needle hub, wherein when the push button is within the side hole, the push button holds the needle hub against the bias of the spring.

A catheter system, comprising:

• a catheter assembly, comprising:
• a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a catheter adapter lumen extending through the distal end of the catheter adapter and the proximal end of the catheter adapter;
• a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter;
• a needle assembly, comprising:
• a barrel, comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a side hole between the proximal end of the barrel and the distal end of the barrel;
• an introducer needle, comprising a sharp distal tip and a proximal end, wherein the introducer needle extends beyond the distal end of the barrel and through the catheter;
• a needle hub affixed to the introducer needle, wherein the needle hub comprises a flexible extension disposed within the side hole and holding the needle hub against the bias of a spring;
• the spring disposed around the needle hub;
• a lever arm coupled to the barrel and aligned with the side hole in the barrel, wherein in response to depression of the lever arm into the side hole, the lever arm releases the flexible extension from the side hole and the spring expands, wherein in response to the expanding of the spring, the needle hub is moved proximally and the introducer needle is retracted.