Reducing withdrawal force in a safety IV catheter

A method of manufacturing an extravascular system for accessing the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

• providing a catheter assembly;
• providing a needle;
• disposing the needle at least partially within the catheter assembly;
• providing a needle tip shield assembly having a needle cap, the needle cap having a needle shield;
• disposing the needle at least partially within the needle cap;
• preparing a structure having at least one low friction surface disposed between the needle shield and the needle such that the withdrawal force of the needle is reduced by the structure;
• and
• further comprising forming the needle shield as a V-clip having a first arm joined to a second arm by means of an elbow.

An extravascular system for accessing the vasculature of a patient, comprising:

• a catheter assembly means;
• a needle means;
• and
• a needle tip shield assembly means having a needle cap means, the needle cap means having a means for shielding a needle, said means for shielding a needle comprising a V-clip including a first arm and a second arm joined by an elbow and means for providing low friction;
• wherein the needle means is disposed within the catheter assembly means and the needle tip shield assembly means;
• and
• wherein the means for providing low friction comprises a structure residing between the means for shielding a needle and the needle means wherein the withdrawal force of the needle is reduced by the structure.