Safety introducer apparatus and method therefor

An introducing apparatus comprising:

• an elongate tubular sheath extending from a sheath proximal end to a sheath distal end, the sheath having a bore including an internal diameter sized to receive a dilator therethrough;
• the sheath including at least one tab extending away from a longitudinal axis of the sheath;
• the dilator extending from a dilator proximal end to a dilator distal end;
• a needle disposed within the dilator, the needle extending from a needle proximal end to a needle distal end and including an intermediate portion therebetween, at least the needle distal end is flexible;
• the needle distal end extending out of the dilator distal end in a first position, the needle distal end retracted within the dilator distal end in a second position;
• and
• a needle retraction mechanism coupled with the needle and the dilator, and the needle is retractably coupled with the dilator.

A method comprising:

• disposing a needle within a dilator,
• retractably coupling said needle with said dilator, the dilator extending to a dilator distal end, where the needle extends to a needle distal end and the needle distal end is more flexible than the dilator, and the needle distal end extends beyond the dilator distal end;
• disposing the needle and dilator within a sheath to form an introducing apparatus;
• and
• inserting the introducing apparatus into a body.