Catheter and introducer needle assembly with needle shield

A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:

• a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter;
• an introducer needle disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• a needle shield having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a resilient clip having a generally V-shaped configuration including a pair of legs, which clip is adapted to flex into and out of engagement with the catheter hub;
• wherein when the distal end of the introducer needle extends from the distal portion of the needle shield, the introducer needle contacts the clip so that the pair of legs is retained to one side of the introducer needle and flexed into a biased position into engagement with the catheter hub and, when the sharp distal end of the introducer needle is withdrawn into the needle shield, the introducer needle no longer contacts the clip so it can flex to its unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub.

A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:

• a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the catheter hub is connected to the proximal end of the catheter;
• an introducer needle disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end, a distal end and an axis;
• and
• a needle shield having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a means for engaging the catheter hub when the distal end of the introducer needle extends from the distal portion of the needle shield and for becoming disengaged from the catheter hub when the sharp distal end of the introducer needle is withdrawn into the needle shield.

A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:

• a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
• a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter and having a thread or detent at the proximal end,
• an introducer needle disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a sharp distal end;
• and
• a needle shield having a proximal portion and a distal portion and including a resilient clip having a generally V-shaped configuration and having a spring arm and a clip arm having a finger thereon wherein clip arm and the finger are adapted to flex into and out of engagement with the thread or detent of the catheter hub and having a ramp generally inclining transverse to the axis of the introducer needle, wherein when the distal end of the introducer needle extends from the distal portion of the needle shield, the introducer needle retains the clip in a biased position to one side of the introducer needle so that the clip arm and finger are flexed into a biased position into engagement with the catheter hub and when the distal end of the introducer needle is withdrawn into the needle shield, the introducer needle no longer retains the clip and the clip flexes perpendicularly to the needle axis to its unbiased position wherein the clip arm engages the ramp as the clip moves to its unbiased position causing the clip arm and finger to move out of engagement with the catheter hub.