An intravenous (IV) device assembly may include a catheter adapter and a needle guard residing within a bore of the catheter adapter. The needle guard may include a needle formed through a guard bore. The guard bore may include a first internal diameter along a first bore portion and a second internal diameter, smaller than the first bore portion, along a second bore portion. A clip may be coupled to the exterior surface of the needle guard. The clip may include a first arm, which may include a first end guard, and a second arm, which may include a second end guard. The clip may be slidable distally along the exterior surface of the needle guard to move from an open configuration to a closed configuration, thereby blocking distal motion of the needle within the needle guard.

A valve actuator that moves in a catheter assembly between a first position where a valve is closed and a second position where the valve is open, the valve actuator including a shaft portion at a distal end of the valve actuator that is configured to pierce the valve, a mating portion at a proximal end of the valve actuator that is configured to engage a Luer device, a diameter reduction region that connects the shaft portion and the mating portion, and a plurality of windows that extend through the valve actuator for flushing fluid, the plurality of windows being disposed in the diameter reduction region, wherein each of the plurality of windows does not extend a full length of the diameter reduction region.

A catheter assembly may include a catheter, catheter adapter, needle, needle guard, and housing. The housing may be coupled to the needle guard and disposed within a lumen of the catheter adapter. The needle guard may include first and second resilient arms, which may include first and second curved portions, respectively. When the needle is in a ready position, the first and second curved portions may be urged by a shaft of the needle into retaining contact with an inner wall of the catheter adapter. When the needle is in the retracted position, the shaft may no longer bias the first and second resilient arms outwardly such that the retaining contact between the first and second curved portions and the catheter adapter is released, and the housing and the needle guard enclose a distal tip of the needle.

Disclosed are devices and methods for facilitating directed delivery of a medicament into a human organ of a patient. An apparatus to facilitate directed delivery of a medicament into a human organ of a patient may include: a needle with a sharp distalmost tip; a needle hub connected to a proximal end of the needle; and an adaptor surrounding at least a portion of the needle; wherein the sharp distalmost tip may be configured to move from a retracted position in which the sharp distalmost tip is within the adaptor to a deployed position in which the sharp distalmost tip protrudes from the adaptor.

Needle assemblies are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needle assemblies having a tip protector with a plurality of wall surfaces for preventing contact with the needle tip from a side. Aspects of the tip protectors discussed herein include a first protector body having an arm for blocking a needle tip surrounded by a second protector body having a plurality of wall surfaces.

A safety needle assembly having a first hub attached to a flexible tube and a second hub attached to a needle projecting through the flexible tube. A needle guard is positioned in an interior cavity of the first hub. The needle guard has a proximal wall having an opening and two arms each with an end and wherein the two ends spaced from and biased toward the needle in a ready position. In a particular example, a support is located inside the cavity of the first hub and wherein the two ends of the two arms on the needle guard rest on the support in the ready position.

A safety needle assembly having a first hub attached to a flexible tube and a second hub attached to a needle projecting through the flexible tube. A needle guard is positioned in an interior cavity of the first hub. The needle guard has a proximal wall having an opening and two arms each with an end and wherein the two ends spaced from and biased toward the needle in a ready position. In a particular example, a support is located inside the cavity of the first hub and wherein the two ends of the two arms on the needle guard rest on the support in the ready position.

A valve actuator that moves in a catheter assembly between a first position where a valve is closed and a second position where the valve is open, the valve actuator including a shaft portion at a distal end of the valve actuator that is configured to pierce the valve, a mating portion at a proximal end of the valve actuator that is configured to engage a Luer device, a diameter reduction region that connects the shaft portion and the mating portion, and a plurality of windows that extend through the valve actuator for flushing fluid, the plurality of windows being disposed in the diameter reduction region, wherein each of the plurality of windows does not extend a full length of the diameter reduction region.

A catheter assembly may include a catheter, catheter adapter, needle, needle guard, and housing. The housing may be coupled to the needle guard and disposed within a lumen of the catheter adapter. The needle guard may include first and second resilient arms, which may include first and second curved portions, respectively. When the needle is in a ready position, the first and second curved portions may be urged by a shaft of the needle into retaining contact with an inner wall of the catheter adapter. When the needle is in the retracted position, the shaft may no longer bias the first and second resilient arms outwardly such that the retaining contact between the first and second curved portions and the catheter adapter is released, and the housing and the needle guard enclose a distal tip of the needle.

A catheter system that includes a proximal hub having a body with a first end, a second end, and a first internal communication lumen. The catheter system includes an introducer apparatus connected to the proximal hub, the apparatus having a distal end and a second internal communication lumen in communication with the first internal communication lumen. A portion of the introducer apparatus extends from the second end of the proximal hub. The catheter system includes a distal hub having a body with a first end, a second end, and a third internal communication lumen in communication with the first internal communication lumen. The catheter system includes a catheter having a fourth internal communication lumen, the catheter extends through the first, second, and third internal communication lumens and a portion of the catheter extends from the distal end of the introducer apparatus. The introducer apparatus may be a non-splitting thin-walled sheath.