Needle safety device

An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a chamber;
• a needle received in the chamber;
• a needle safety device slidably arranged on the needle, the needle safety device comprising:
• a main body having a proximal end, the proximal end defined by a base portion having a bore extending in an axial direction therethrough for receiving the needle;
• and
• first and second opposing jaws extending from the base portion toward a tip of the received needle generally in the axial direction, the first and second opposing jaws configured to receive the needle between first jaw and second jaw;
• wherein the first jaw is formed integrally with the base portion;
• wherein the second jaw comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion extending toward the tip of the received needle, the proximal portion having a proximal face and a distal face and extending transverse to the axial direction;
• wherein at least a portion of the second jaw is formed from a strip of sheet metal having spring-like properties, wherein the distal face of the proximal portion of the second jaw attaches to the main body by overlapping with a proximal end face of the base portion, wherein the distal portion of the second jaw is deflectable with respect to the first jaw in order to allow the needle received in the bore of the base portion to extend all the way through the needle safety device;
• and
• an at least part annular locking depression formed at an inner surface of the housing for receiving a locking shoulder or protrusion of the needle safety device.

An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising:

• a housing defining a chamber;
• a needle received in the chamber;
• and
• a needle safety device slidably arranged on the needle, the needle safety device comprising:
• a main body having a proximal end, the proximal end defined by a base portion having a bore extending in an axial direction therethrough for receiving the needle;
• and
• first and second opposing jaws extending from the base portion toward a tip of the received needle generally in the axial direction, the first and second opposing jaws configured to receive the needle between first jaw and second jaw;
• wherein the first jaw is formed integrally with the base portion;
• wherein the second jaw comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion extending toward the tip of the received needle, the proximal portion having a proximal face and a distal face and extending transverse to the axial direction;
• wherein at least a portion of the second jaw is formed from a strip of sheet metal having spring-like properties, wherein the distal face of the proximal portion of the second jaw attaches to the main body by overlapping with a proximal end face of the base portion, wherein the distal portion of the second jaw is deflectable with respect to the first jaw in order to allow the needle received in the bore of the base portion to extend all the way through the needle safety device;
• and wherein
• a proximal end section of the chamber has a non-circular inner cross-section adapted to a correspondingly non-circular outer cross-section of the needle safety device.

A needle safety device for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising:

• a main body having a proximal end, the proximal end defined by a base portion formed from a plastic material and having a bore extending in an axial direction therethrough for receiving a needle;
• first and second opposing jaws extending from the base portion towards a tip of a received needle generally in the axial direction, the first and second opposing jaws configured to receive the needle between first jaw and second jaw;
• wherein the first jaw is formed integrally with the base portion;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the second jaw is formed from a strip of sheet metal having spring-like properties, the portion of the second jaw attached to a proximal end face of the base portion, wherein said portion of the second jaw is deflectable with respect to the first jaw in order to allow the needle received in the bore of the base portion to extend all the way through the needle safety device.