A cannula for use in an access assembly includes an instrument valve housing including first and second housing sections and defining a cavity and a valve assembly disposed within the cavity of the instrument valve housing. The valve assembly includes a seal assembly including an outer flange and a septum seal extending across the outer flange, a guard assembly disposed within the outer flange of the seal assembly, and a centering mechanism. The guard assembly includes a plurality of guard members. Each guard member of the plurality of guard members includes a ring portion and a flap portion. The flap portions of the guard members of the guard assembly are configured to engage and stretch the septum seal during reception of a surgical instrument through the valve assembly.

A signal measured by a sensor connected to a needleless connector including a fluid flow path may be obtained to determine, based on the signal, an event associated with the needleless connector, such as at least one of: a scrubbing event in which the needleless connector is scrubbed with a disinfectant, a flushing event in which the needleless connector is flushed with a solution, a connection event in which the needleless connector is connected to a medical device, a disconnection event in which the needleless connector is disconnected from the medical device, or any combination thereof. An indication of the determined event may be provided.

In general, medical sheath systems that can employ retainer devices having a plurality of channels configured to retain a sheath assembly in one or more curved configurations are described. In one embodiment, a retainer device may releasably retain a curvable tube of the sheath assembly in any of multiple curved configurations that range, for example, in selectable increments between 0° to 180°.

A catheter assembly and/or an introducer may include one or more features configured to guide a probe and/or a catheter distally through a septum. The catheter assembly may include a catheter adapter and the septum. The catheter adapter may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween. In some embodiments, the septum may be disposed within the lumen. The septum may include a proximal surface that is tapered inwardly in a distal direction such that the proximal surface of the septum is configured to guide the probe and/or the catheter distally through the septum. The catheter assembly may be configured to receive an introducer, which may include an introducer element. A proximal end of the introducer element may include another proximal surface that is tapered inwardly in the distal direction such that the other proximal surface is configured to guide the probe or the catheter distally through the septum.

An antimicrobial catheter assembly can include a hub, a catheter tube connected to the hub, at least one extension leg connected to the hub, and a non-eluting antimicrobial coating on an internal or external surface of the catheter assembly. The hub includes at least one hub lumen defining a corresponding hub portion of a fluid pathway through the catheter assembly. The catheter tube includes at least one catheter-tube lumen defining a corresponding catheter-tube portion of the fluid pathway through the catheter assembly. The extension leg can include an extension-leg lumen defining a corresponding extension-leg portion of the fluid pathway through the catheter assembly. The antimicrobial coating can include a copper-based layer between a corrosion-preventing layer and the internal or external surface of the catheter assembly, an adhesion-promoting layer between the copper-based layer and the internal or external surface of the catheter assembly, or a combination thereof.

A hemostasis valve for use in a medical device. The hemostasis valve may include a generally cylindrical body having a proximal side, a distal side, and a thickness extending therebetween. The proximal side may include a tapered central region having a surface sloped towards a center of the body and the distal side may include a distally extending curved central region.

A catheter priming apparatus may include a barrier forming a reservoir. Fluid may be disposed within the reservoir. A support structure may be disposed within the barrier. The support structure may include an opening extending through the support structure and a connector configured to couple the catheter priming apparatus to a catheter system. A one-way valve may be coupled to the support structure and configured to allow the fluid to flow out of the reservoir through the connector in response to compression of a portion of the barrier aligned with the opening.

A valve for sealing the hub of a sheath assembly is provided. The valve includes a valve body having a solid thickness extending between a proximal surface and a distal surface. A bisecting slot extends across the proximal surface of the valve body and terminates at a depth less than the thickness of the valve body such that a portion of the valve body distally of the slot defines a bridge extending between opposed halves of the valve body such that the distal surface of the valve body is substantially continuous and a central portion of the proximal surface of the valve body is concave and defines a concave proximal portion.

A catheter assembly comprises a catheter (18), a needle (12) having a sharp distal tip disposed within the catheter (18), a catheter hub (14) connected to the catheter (18) having the needle (12) passing therethrough, the catheter hub (14) including a valve (38) that selectively permits or blocks a flow of fluid through the catheter (18), a valve actuator (54) that moves between a first position and a second position, and a return member (56) that returns the valve actuator (54) from the second position to the first position, and a needle protection member (176) that encloses the sharp distal tip of the needle (12).

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.