Catheter Assembly with Near-Patient Connector Having Improved Back-Pressure Capability

A catheter assembly useable with a fluid transfer device having a blunt cannula distal connection, the catheter assembly comprising:

• a catheter having a catheter distal end and a catheter proximal end;
• a catheter adapter coupled to the catheter proximal end and including a lumen in fluid communication with the catheter, the catheter adapter including an adapter port in fluid communication with the lumen;
• a near-patient adapter comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end coupled to the adapter port via an extension tube;
• and
• a valve retained within the proximal end of the near-patient adapter, wherein the valve is configured to receive a blunt cannula connector of a fluid transfer device therein to fluidly connect the fluid transfer device with the inner lumen, with the blunt cannula having a diameter of 3 mm or less.

A system comprising:

• a catheter comprising a catheter distal end and a catheter proximal end;
• a catheter adapter coupled to the catheter proximal end and including a lumen in fluid communication with the catheter, the catheter adapter including an adapter port in fluid communication with the lumen;
• a near-patient adapter comprising a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end coupled to the adapter port via an extension tube;
• a needle-free connector coupled to the proximal end of the near-patient adapter, the needle-free connector comprising:
• a main body defining an inner lumen and including a distal port and a proximal port;
• a split septum valve retained within the proximal port and extending into the inner lumen;
• and
• a pressure resistance-increasing feature incorporated into or provided adjacent to the split septum valve configured, to increase a pressure capability of the needle-free connector;
• and
• a blood draw device coupled to the proximal port, via the split septum valve, the blood draw device comprising a flow tube configured to be advanced distally out from the blood draw device and into or through the catheter, to enable performing of a blood draw;
• wherein the blood draw device comprises a distal male connector that engages the split septum valve, with the pressure resistance-increasing feature preventing a leak out from the needle-free connector during performing of the blood draw.