# US 8,048,031 B2 · IV catheter introducer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,048,031 B2 - Document ID: US8048031B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/464,555 - Filed: 2009-05-12 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Granted: 2011-11-01 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-12 - Assignees: Retractable Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Thomas J. Shaw; Ni Zhu; Kathryn Margaret Duesman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8048031B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0606: {"Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters} - A61M 25/0631: {having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle} - A61M 39/06: Haemostasis valves, i.e. gaskets sealing around a needle, catheter or the like, closing on removal thereof - A61M 5/3232: {Semi-automatic needle retraction, i.e. in which triggering of the needle retraction requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased retraction means} - A61M 25/0693: {Flashback chambers} - A61M 2039/062: {used with a catheter} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An IV catheter introducer having an elastomeric grommet disposed between the housing and the IV catheter assembly that helps avoid unintentional separation of IV catheter assembly from the housing during shipping and handling prior to use, that acts as a needle guide, that helps align the housing and IV catheter assembly coaxially, that indicates that top side of the catheter introducer, that provides proper rotational alignment between the grommet and housing, that wipes blood off the needle during withdrawal of the needle from the catheter assembly and grommet, that impedes blood flow out of the catheter hub after needle withdrawal, and that assists the user in separating the housing from the IV catheter assembly following insertion of the catheter and withdrawal of the needle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An IV catheter introducer comprising in coaxial alignment a housing having a needle assembly seated therein with a body section and a needle projecting forwardly from the housing, a plunger assembly having a plunger tube slidably insertable into the housing, an IV catheter assembly having a flexible catheter attached to a rearwardly facing tubular hub, an elastomeric grommet disposed between and contacting a forward end of the housing and a rear end of the hub, and a removable cover disposed over part of the needle and catheter prior to use of the IV catheter introducer; wherein the elastomeric grommet comprises a forwardly facing projection having an outside surface that frictionally engages an inside wall near the rear end of the hub, a rearwardly facing recess that receives and frictionally engages a forwardly extending tip of the body section, a thin elastomeric web disposed inside the elastomeric grommet forwardly of the rearwardly facing recess, and an upwardly extending tab identifying a top side of the catheter introducer that corresponds to a beveled side of the needle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1, further comprising a needle retraction spring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric grommet is made of rubber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1 wherein the forwardly facing projection of the elastomeric grommet is substantially cylindrical. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1 wherein the needle is inserted axially through the thin elastomeric web during assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The IV catheter assembly of claim 5 wherein the thin elastomeric web wipes the outside of the needle as the needle is withdrawn from the IV catheter assembly and from the elastomeric grommet following use. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The IV catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric grommet impedes blood flow rearwardly out of the hub following insertion of the catheter, separation of the housing from the elastomeric grommet, and withdrawal of the needle from the elastomeric grommet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The IV catheter assembly of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric grommet comprises a rearwardly facing positioning tab that cooperatively engages a notch or recess in the housing to rotationally align the grommet and housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The IV catheter introducer of claim 1, further comprising a pair of laterally extending wings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The IV catheter introducer of claim 9 wherein the wings are attached to the hub. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The IV catheter introducer of claim 10 wherein the wings each have raised finger pads.