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 catheter assembly includes a catheter hub defining an interior cavity and a catheter tube extending distally thereof. A rigid actuator is positioned to extend proximally in the interior cavity and support a seal member positioned thereon in the interior cavity. The seal member includes a central membrane, a distal portion, and a proximal portion. An hourglass shaped actuator cavity is formed in the distal portion and receives a barbed end of the actuator. The outer surface of the seal member is in partial circumferential engagement with the catheter hub to define an air path that allows fluid communication between areas of the interior cavity distal and proximal of the seal member. The seal member may be configured for multi-use and include a biasing member that moves the seal member to force the membrane back over the actuator to close the membrane.

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.

An intravenous catheter system including a housing, a catheter, and a guide wheel rotatably disposed in the housing and manually engageable by the user. The intravenous catheter system may also include a guidewire contained within the housing and moveable by the guide wheel into and through the catheter with roation of the guide wheel with one finger, and push off tab. The intravenous catheter system may be configured such that once the guidewire is in a vein of a body, the user may use the same finger to advance the catheter by use of the push off tab A blood flash chamber can be incorporated into the housing of the system, method or device to indicate engagement between the catheter and the vein of the patient, and indicate the timing of the use of the wheel to move the guidewire.

A peripheral intravenous catheter assembly may include a low-drag septum. The septum may include a body having a distal end and a proximal end, which may be sealed. The septum may include a slot disposed within an outer surface of the body and oriented along a longitudinal axis of the body. The slot may include a distal end spaced apart from the distal end of the body, and a proximal end spaced apart from the proximal end of the body. An introducer needle may extend through the slot.

A vascular access system may include a catheter assembly, which may include a catheter hub and a catheter extending distally from the catheter hub. The vascular access system may include an instrument advancement device coupled to the catheter assembly. The instrument advancement device may include a vascular access instrument. The vascular access instrument may include a coil formed by a flat wire wound around an axis into multiple loops. The instrument advancement device may be configured to advance the vascular access instrument from a retracted position to an advanced position beyond a distal end of the catheter. The distal end of the catheter may include a distal opening. The coil may extend through the distal opening of the catheter in response to the vascular access instrument being in the advanced position.

A catheter assembly includes a catheter having a main lumen and a sub lumen and an inner needle inserted through and disposed in the main lumen and allowing blood to flow in the proximal direction of the catheter from a needle tip exposed at the distal end of the catheter. The gap between an outer peripheral surface of the inner needle and a first inner peripheral surface of the main lumen continuous with the distal end of the catheter is narrower than the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the inner needle and a second inner peripheral surface closer to the proximal end side than the first inner peripheral surface.

A passive safety catheter assembly configured to inhibit access to the distal tip of a needle cannula prior to release of a catheter insertion assembly from a catheter hub. The passive safety catheter assembly includes a safety clip assembly configured to transition between a first position in which the safety clip assembly selectively couples the catheter insertion assembly to the catheter hub, and a second position in which the safety clip assembly traps the sharp distal tip of the needle cannula within the safety clip assembly prior to release of the coupling between the catheter insertion assembly and the catheter hub.

A catheter positioning system has an inner needle assembly, an outer needle assembly and a catheter assembly. The inner needle assembly has an inner needle, a stopper connected the inner needle, and a tube connected to the stopper. The outer needle assembly has an outer needle connected to a chamber. The outer needle is arranged concentrically with the inner needle so as to surround the inner needle. The catheter assembly has an internal catheter and an access hub. The catheter is arranged concentrically over the outer needle. The catheter is placed in a vein by piercing the vein with the inner needle, infusing liquid through the tube and inner needle to inflate the vein, sliding the outer needle into the vein over the inner needle, sliding the catheter into the vein over the outer needle, and then removing the first and second needles together, leaving the catheter in the vein.

A catheter system may include one or more of the following: a catheter adapter, a catheter, a housing, an introducer needle, a tube, a guidewire advancement feature, a pinch member, and a guidewire. A proximal end of the introducer needle may be secured within the housing. The tube may be disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the proximal end of the introducer needle. The guidewire advancement feature may extend through a slot in the housing and may be movable along the slot. The pinch member may be disposed within the guidewire advancement feature and configured to move along an exterior of the tube with the guidewire advancement feature. The guidewire may be disposed within the tube. In response to moving the guidewire advancement feature distally along the slot, the pinch member may move the hub distally and the guidewire may be advanced distally.