Catheter introducer

A catheter introducer comprising:

• a sheath section having distal and proximal end portions.
• a generally cylindrical sheath hub formed on said proximal end portion of said sheath section, said sheath hub including an outer circumference and a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough;
• a generally elongate and tubular sheath member formed on said distal end portion of said sheath section, a longitudinal passageway extending therethrough and said passageway extending in flow communication with said passageway of said sheath hub;
• a dilator member having distal and proximal end portions thereof and said dilator member being operatively associated with said sheath member in use;
• a generally cylindrical dilator hub formed on said end portion of said dilator member, said dilator hub including a flange means extending from a distal portion thereof and said flange being sized to receive at least a portion of said sheath hub therewith;
• and
• means for locking said sheath hub on said dilator hub wherein said means for locking includes at least one protrusion and at least one channel and one of said at least one protrusion and at least one channel is formed on said outer circumference of said sheath hub and the other of said at least one protrusion and at least one channel is formed on said flange member, said at least one protrusion and said at least one channel being formed to interlock such that rotational and longitudinal movement of said sheath hub and said dilator hub is prevented when said at least one protrusion and said at least one channel are interlocked and said at least one protrusion and said at least one channel are sized and oriented to unlock when a lateral force is applied to said dilator hub with respect to said sheath hub to release said sheath hub from said dilator hub.