Intravascular access device

An intravascular access device, comprising:

• a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end adapted to be releasably coupled to a proximal end of an intravascular catheter;
• a slot in a surface of the handle, the slot having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a slider extending through and configured to translate along the slot;
• a slider leg extending from the slider into an interior portion of the handle,
• a needle carrier having a distal end and a proximal end, the needle carrier disposed within the interior portion of the handle, the needle carrier distal end is coupled to an access needle and the needle carrier proximal end has a carrier dock sized and configured to receive a portion of the slider;
• and
• a guide element coupled to a portion of the slider within the interior portion of the handle, the guide element extending along a channel the needle carrier, exiting the interior portion of the handle and extending beyond the distal end of the handle, the guide element comprising a flat side that corresponds with and is positioned alongside a flat side of the access needle, wherein the guide element is coupled to a portion of the slider that aligns directly with the location of the flat side of the needle.

An intravascular access device, comprising:

• a handle having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end adapted to be releasably coupled to a proximal end of an intravascular catheter;
• a slot in a surface of the handle, the slot having a distal end and a proximal end;
• a slider extending through and configured to translate along the slot;
• a slider leg extending from the slider into an interior portion of the handle,
• a needle carrier having a distal end and a proximal end, the needle carrier disposed within the interior portion of the handle, the needle carrier distal end is coupled to an access needle and the needle carrier proximal end has a carrier dock sized and configured to receive a portion of the slider;
• and
• a guide element coupled to a portion of the slider within the interior portion of the handle, the guide element extending along a channel the needle carrier, exiting the interior portion of the handle and extending beyond the distal end of the handle, the guide element comprising a flat side that corresponds with and is positioned alongside a flat side of the access needle, wherein the guide element comprises a transition segment from a top portion of the slider to the location of the flat side of the needle.

A cover for a vascular access device comprising:

• A body having a closed distal end and an open proximal end defining an interior portion, the open proximal end sized and configured to releasably couple to a distal end of a handle of the vascular access device;
• A pair of alignment features within the interior portion defining a lumen extending from the open proximal end to a recess in a distal most portion of the interior portion;
• and
• A ramp along the interior portion proximal to recess.

A method of accessing a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:

• advancing a tissue penetrating distal tip of an access needle of an intravascular access device in an armed configuration into a blood vessel of the patient;
• engaging a guide element with a leg of a slider, the guide element extending through a proximal end of the intravascular access device through a distal tip of a catheter;
• advancing the slider distally within a slot that extends longitudinally along the intravascular access device, wherein the slider leg is advanced across a ratchet system on an interior surface of the intravascular access device;
• advancing a distal tip of the guide element from within a notch at the distal tip of the catheter into blood vessel distal to the tissue penetrating tip of the access needle;
• advancing a distal portion of the catheter hub in the blood vessel along the guide structure;
• and
• retracting a needle carrier coupled to a proximal end of the access needle into the intravascular access device.

An intravascular access device, comprising:

• a handle comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a slot in a surface of the handle having a distal end and a proximal end, and a plurality of ratchet teeth along an interior of the handle;
• a slider positioned in the slot, the slider comprising a slider leg extending towards the plurality of ratchet teeth;
• a needle carrier having a distal end coupled to an access needle and a proximal end positioned within the handle;
• a catheter having a proximal end coupled to a catheter hub, the catheter hub configured to engage the distal end of the handle, the catheter comprising a lumen configured to accommodate the access needle extending therethrough;
• a guide element extending from the slider through the catheter lumen, the guide element comprising a distal tip configured to engage a notched distal tip of the catheter, wherein the guide element is configured to be advanced distally from the notched distal tip of the catheter by the slider leg.