A catheter assembly is provided that includes a puncture tool and a catheter. The puncture tool includes a hollow puncture needle configured to puncture a blood vessel, a detection portion that protrudes forward from a tip of the puncture needle and detects pulsation of the blood vessel, and a determination portion that determines whether the blood vessel is a vein or an artery based on the pulsation of the blood vessel detected by the detection portion. The detection portion includes a probe provided inside the hollow puncture needle that is configured to advance and retreat in an axial direction, and a sensor that detects pulsation of a blood vessel transmitted via the probe.

A catheter assembly includes a flexible catheter (22), a needle (12) having a sharp distal tip, the needle (12) disposed in the flexible catheter (22) and moving from a first position that exposes the needle (12) to a second position, an outer member (26) that is configured to engage and disengage a catheter hub (14), an inner member (28) disposed in the outer member (26), and a needle protection (30) member disposed in the inner member (28), the needle protection member (30) enclosing at least a portion of the needle (12) when the needle (12) is in the second position.

A safety intravenous catheter that includes a passive release feature. The catheter assembly includes ready, safe, and released positions. In the release position, a retainer being in a proximal retainer position relative to a collar enables release of the catheter hub from the catheter insertion device. The sharp tip of the insertion needle remains inaccessible in the release position in order to prevent unwanted needle sticks.

A support device to support a catheter assembly may include a platform, which may include an upper surface and a bottom surface. The support device may include an extension element coupled to the upper surface of the platform. The extension element may include a distal end, which may include a first connector configured to couple to the catheter assembly, and a proximal end, which may include a second connector. The extension element may include a valve that may be movable between a first position and a second position. In response to the valve being moved to the first position, a fluid pathway extending through the cannula and the extension element may be open and straight. In response to the valve being moved to the second position, the fluid pathway may be closed. The support device may include a cannula, which may be swaged within the extension element.

A catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending between the distal end and the proximal end, and a side port. A septum may be disposed within the lumen of the catheter assembly. The side port may include a lumen in fluid communication with the lumen of the catheter adapter. The lumen of the side port may be distally-facing, which may facilitate flushing of fluid trapped proximate a distal face of the septum. The catheter assembly may include a catheter secured within the catheter adapter and extending distally from the catheter adapter.

A delivery device to deliver a guidewire through an intravenous catheter assembly may include a housing, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot. The delivery device may include a guidewire, which may include a proximal end and a distal end. The delivery device may include a guidewire hub disposed within the housing. The guidewire may be secured to the guidewire hub, and the guidewire hub may be configured to move along the slot to advance the guidewire in a distal direction. The distal end of the guidewire may include a fluid permeable structure. For example, the fluid permeable structure may include an elongated core and a coil extending around the elongated core. In some embodiments, a space between the elongated core and the coil may be configured to receive blood in response to the guidewire being inserted into the vasculature.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a catheterization system and related methods. The systems and methods provide for the initial placement of a smaller diameter catheter within a patient, the catheter being expandable to a larger diameter by the implementation of a dilator, wherein the dilator is configured to contact and expand a lumen of the catheter as it is inserted therethrough.

A flow restriction device may include a proximal housing including an internal fluid channel, a distal housing including an internal fluid channel, and an intermediate housing interposed between the proximal and distal housings. The intermediate housing may include an internal chamber, and a slider reciprocally disposed in the internal chamber. The slider may include an internal fluid channel and a seal overlaying an outer surface of slider excluding the fluid channel, and may be reciprocally movable between (i) a first position where the internal fluid channel of the slider is axially aligned with the internal fluid channels of the proximal and distal housings to allow a fluid to flow therethrough, and (ii) a second position where the internal fluid channel of the slider is not aligned with the internal fluid channels of the proximal and distal housings and the seal blocks fluid connection between the proximal and distal housings.

A low-profile universal passive protector for an IV catheter includes a connector having a tubular body and a pair of arms pivotally connected thereto. The tubular body defines an end face and the connector includes a cavity extending from the end face. An elongate sheath is snap engageable to the tubular body. A spring is insertable within the connector cavity to extend between at least one of the pair of arms and the elongate sheath when received within the cavity. A slider is moveably coupled to the sheath. The slider includes a flashback chamber formed therein. A hypodermic needle is connected to the slider and is in fluid communication with the flashback chamber. The slider is moveable along the sheath between a first position and a second position, with the hypodermic needle being drawn into the sheath as the slider moves from the first position toward the second position.

A medical liquid injection device including a catheter with a hollow shaft having a lumen formed inside to contain medical liquid, a wire to be inserted into the lumen, and a wire moving device to move the wire forward inside the lumen from a proximal end to a distal end side in accordance with a control signal, thereby ejecting a predetermined amount of the medical liquid from the distal end of the hollow shaft.