Hard tip over-the needle catheter and method of manufacturing the same

A catheter/introducer assembly for inserting a catheter into an anatomical passage, comprising:

• (a) an introducer comprising:
• (i) a needle having a distal piercing tip;
• and
• (ii) an abutment surface formed proximate to the piercing tip of the needle;
• (b) a catheter comprising:
• (i) an elongate, flexible catheter body defining a distal end and a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough;
• (ii) a rigid, tubular sleeve partially inserted into the distal end of the catheter body and protruding therefrom, the sleeve being fixed to the catheter body and defining an abutment shoulder within the lumen thereof;
• and
• (iii) a distal tip member disposed on and encapsulating the exposed portion of the sleeve, the tip member defining a central opening which communicates with the lumen via the sleeve;
• (c) the abutment shoulder of the catheter being abutted against the abutment surface in a manner which inhibits proximal movement of the tip member relative to the introducer to prevent the tip member from being pushed proximally over the introducer and collapsing the catheter body during the insertion of the catheter into the anatomical passage.