A medical puncture needle includes: a metal needle body formed in a tubular shape, the needle body including: a blade surface located at a distal end portion of the needle body, a planar reflection portion located at an inner surface of the needle body and configured to reflect light, and a transmission window located proximal of the blade surface and configured to transmit reflected light reflected by the planar reflection portion.

A splittable sheath includes a splittable sheath body, a splittable sheath hub, and a valve element. The sheath body comprises a generally flexible tubular structure, a proximal end, and a distal end. The sheath body defines a longitudinal axis and is splittable into two halves along a pre-determined line generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The sheath hub extends from the proximal end of the sheath body and defines a longitudinal axis generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sheath body. The sheath body and sheath hub form an inner cavity along their respective longitudinal axes. The valve element includes a resilient plate and a sealing element. The resilient plate includes a distal portion extending radially inwardly from a side of the inner cavity. The sealing element includes a sealing surface and is supported by the resilient plate such that the sealing element is biased toward a position against a second sealing surface on at least one of the splittable sheath body and hub to substantially seal the inner cavity.

This disclosure relates to methods and exemplary devices for making needle insertion safer and easier (NISE). This NISE device includes at small needle, cannula, and large needle in a nested assembly to provide less trauma to a target vessel during large needle insertion. The small needle is movable relative to a body of the device and within the cannula to a position exterior the cannula. The cannula is movable within the large needle to a position exterior to the large needle. In a preferred assembly, the cannula is provided with a dulled tip and successive cutting edges along a tapered shape from the narrow dulled tip to the cannula body, such that the cannula blunt tip prevents trauma during insertion while the successive cutting edges generally enlarge the opening for placement of the large needle. The device can be provided in a stand alone device or alternately integrated into existing off the shelf and currently available vascular devices.

A blood collection device may be configured to couple to a catheter assembly. The blood collection device may include a housing, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, and a slot. The blood collection device may include a tube disposed within the housing. The blood collection device may include an advancement element configured to move along the slot. In response to distal movement of the advancement element along the slot, the tube may be configured to advance distally beyond the distal end of the housing. The instrument advancement device may include a coil extending distal to the tube.

An indwelling catheter includes: a catheter configured to be indwelled in a living body; a catheter hub that holds and fixes the catheter; and a valve mechanism provided in a lumen of the catheter hub. The valve mechanism includes: a first member including a slit through which an inner needle is insertable, and a first liquid passage hole through which liquid is passable, a second member arranged adjacent to the first member and including a needle insertion hole through which the inner needle is insertable, and a second liquid passage hole through which the liquid is passable, and an operation member configured to move the first member and the second member relative to each between an open state and a closed state.

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 system for facilitating instrument delivery through a peripheral intravenous catheter may include a catheter adapter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending there through. The catheter adapter may include a side port. The system may include an extension tube extending from the side port. The system may include a blood control valve disposed in the lumen of the catheter adapter. The system may include a peripheral intravenous catheter extending distally from the catheter adapter.

A catheter insertion system includes a housing extending along a longitudinal axis. A needle extends distally from a distal end of the housing. The needle has a longitudinal passage coaxially aligned with the housing. A catheter has a length and is sized and shaped to be advanced from a retracted position within the longitudinal passage of the needle to an extended position with at least a portion of the catheter length extending beyond a distal tip of the needle. The needle is typically configured to be retracted back into the housing after the catheter has been advanced, thus providing an integrated catheter and catheter insertion apparatus. After needle retraction, the housing may be taped to the patient's skin while the needle remains protected within the housing. A luer on the catheter may then be connected to a fluid or other source in an otherwise conventional manner.

An apparatus comprising a catheter tube; a hub having a distal section joined to the catheter tube and a proximal section defining a housing; at least one port connected to the hub by a fluid passage through a passageway; a needle extending through the hub and the catheter tube, wherein the needle has opposite proximal and distal ends, the distal end forming a needle tip; a needle hub attached to the proximal end of the needle; a needle guard slidably arranged on the needle, wherein the needle guard is movably retained in the housing of the hub when the needle extends through the hub and the catheter tube, wherein the needle guard is removable from the hub once the needle tip is received in the needle guard upon withdrawal of the needle from the catheter tube; and wherein the hub is made of two parts each having distal and proximal end sections.

A catheter system may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end and a proximal end. The catheter system may include a catheter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, a catheter lumen extending through the distal end of the catheter and the proximal end of the catheter, and an inner surface forming the catheter lumen. The catheter may extend distally from the distal end of the catheter adapter. The distal end of the catheter may include one or more holes. The distal end of the catheter may include one or more channels. The holes and/or the channels may facilitate visualization of blood flashback indicating the catheter is disposed within a vein of a patient.