Valve assemblies having improved ability to selectively control flow of fluids through the catheter and prevent leakage of fluids from the proximal end of a catheter that is positioned within a patient. Such improved catheter valve assemblies also prevent leakage of fluids after repeated insertion and removal of medical instruments through the valve.

An apparatus may include a connector, which may include a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the connector may include a male luer adapter, which may be configured to couple with a proximal end of a catheter adapter. The apparatus may include a catheter, which may include a proximal end secured within the connector. The catheter may be configured to extend through an indwelling peripheral intravenous catheter. The catheter may include a closed distal end and a slit adjacent to the closed distal end. The slit may be closed under normal physiological pressures.

A catheter unit for use in an intravenous catheter instrument is provided. The catheter unit comprises a catheter hub and a catheter extending distally from the catheter hub. The catheter has a lumen being in flow communication with an interior cavity of the catheter hub. The interior cavity is provided with a cooperation groove at a proximal zone of the interior cavity. A catheter instrument, comprising such a catheter unit, is also provided.

A catheter assembly (10) comprises a catheter (20), a needle (22) having a sharp distal tip and disposed within the catheter (20), a catheter hub (30) connected to the catheter (20) having the needle (22) passing therethrough, and a housing (70) that encloses the sharp distal tip of the needle (22). An external surface of the catheter hub (30) and an internal surface of the housing (70) each include at least one of a channel member (34) and a raised portion (72) that interfit to restrict motion between the catheter hub (30) and the housing (70).

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.

An attachment for a catheter assembly may include a platform, which may include an upper surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface may be configured to contact skin of a patient. At least a portion of the upper surface may be configured to support the catheter assembly. The upper surface may support the catheter assembly at an angle with respect to skin of the patient that is approximately equal to an insertion angle of a catheter of the catheter assembly. The attachment may include snap feature coupled to the upper surface of the platform. The attachment may include a blunt cannula extending distally from the snap feature. The blunt cannula and the portion of the upper surface may provide a generally straight pathway for an instrument inserted distally through the attachment into the catheter assembly.

A catheter hub assembly. The catheter hub assembly includes a catheter hub body, a septum and a septum retainer, the catheter hub body having a distal end, a proximal and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal wall defining a transitional step within the internal fluid passageway, the septum positioned within the internal fluid passageway such that a distal end of the septum abuts up against the transitional step, the septum retainer at least partially receivable within the internal fluid passageway and having an outer wall shaped and sized to interlock with the inner wall of the catheter hub body, the outer wall including one or more lateral ribs configured to inhibit rotation of the septum retainer relative to the catheter hub body.

An extravascular system is provided which includes a catheter adapter having a blood control septum configured to control flow of a fluid through the catheter adapter, the catheter adapter further having a catheter configured for intravenous insertion. The extravascular system further includes a septum activator slidably inserted within the catheter adapter and configured for advancement through the blood control septum to provide a fluid pathway through the blood control septum. Further still, the extravascular system includes an external safety mechanism comprising a needle hub and a needle shield interconnected via a tether, wherein the needle shield includes a safety clip that is configured to retain a sharpened end of the introducer needle within the needle shield. Some implementations further comprise an access port forming a portion of the catheter adapter and providing selective access to the lumen of the catheter adapter.

A catheter system may include a catheter adapter, a catheter extending distally from the distal end of the catheter adapter, and a needle hub coupled to the catheter adapter. The needle hub may be transparent, and a needle may be secured within the needle hub. The catheter system may also include a flow control plug coupled to the proximal end of the needle hub. In some embodiments, a flashback pathway may be disposed between an outer surface of the flow control plug and an inner surface of the needle hub. In some embodiments, the catheter system may include an inner barrel and an outer barrel, and the inner barrel and the needle hub may be configured to move proximally within the outer barrel to retract the needle. The flashback pathway may be disposed between an outer surface of the needle hub and an inner surface of the inner barrel.

The present invention relates to a cannula comprising a catheter assembly, a body member, an elongated tubular member, a needle hub, and a safety device fixedly connected to a distal end of the elongated tubular member and releasably connected to the body member. The body member includes an annular groove, and the safety device comprises locking elements. When the needle is retracted from the catheter assembly after puncturing the vein of a patient, the body member is disengaged by disengaging the locking elements from the annular groove, thereby separating the safety device from the body member after the needle has been arrested within safety device. The locking elements are solid spherical elements of stainless steel material.