Intravenous catheter insertion device and method of use

A method for inserting a catheter into a patient, comprising:

• providing a catheter insertion device comprising an outer housing, a tubular access needle attached to a needle carrier, an interlock attached at a first end to the needle carrier and at the second end to said outer housing, a tubular catheter releasably attached at a distal end of said outer housing and positioned coaxially around said tubular access needle, a safety guidewire sized and configured to be advanced through said tubular access needle, and an actuator mechanism having a handle coupled to the safety guidewire and a compressed spring disposed coaxially over a proximal portion of the tubular access needle and the safety guidewire;
• inserting a distal end of said tubular access needle into the patient;
• actuating the said actuator mechanism to advance said safety guidewire out through said tubular access needle in a distal direction;
• disengaging the tubular catheter from the outer housing;
• advancing a distal end of said tubular catheter over the tubular access needle and the safety guidewire into the patient;
• and
• actuating the handle of said actuator mechanism to disengage the interlock to release the needle carrier from the outer housing which allows the compressed spring to expand and engage the needle carrier and the safety guidewire to simultaneously withdraw said safety guidewire and said tubular access needle in a proximal direction with respect to said tubular catheter.