US 11,724,072 B2
Devices, systems, and methods to reduce premature needle safety activation
Megan Scherich, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Weston F. Harding, Lehi, UT (US)
Assigned to Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed by Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 3, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/88,485.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/940,103, filed on Nov. 25, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0154437 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 25/06 (2006.01); A61M 39/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 25/0631 (2013.01) [A61M 25/0606 (2013.01); A61M 25/0618 (2013.01); A61M 39/10 (2013.01); A61M 25/0693 (2013.01); A61M 2039/1077 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catheter system, comprising:
a catheter assembly, comprising:
a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end; and
a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter; and
a needle assembly, comprising:
a needle hub;
an introducer needle secured within the needle hub and extending through the catheter,
a barrel comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the needle hub is slidably disposed in the barrel, wherein the barrel is generally hollow;
a spring disposed about the introducer needle;
an activation latch comprising a top and a bottom, wherein the activation latch is adapted for selective engagement with the needle hub to hold the needle hub adjacent to the distal end of the barrel against the bias of the spring such that the introducer needle extends beyond the distal end of the barrel and through the catheter, wherein the activation latch comprises a projection disposed within the proximal end of the catheter adapter to prevent movement of the activation latch when the catheter adapter is adjacent to the distal end of the barrel; and
a cover removably coupled to the distal end of the barrel and extending proximally over at least a portion of the top of the activation latch to prevent premature depression of the activation latch, wherein in response to distal advancement of the catheter adapter with respect to the needle assembly, the cover is configured to be spaced apart from the proximal end of the catheter adapter.
 
5. A catheter system, comprising:
a catheter assembly, comprising:
a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end;
a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter; and
a needle assembly, comprising:
a needle hub;
an introducer needle secured within the needle hub and extending through the catheter,
a barrel comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the needle hub is slidably disposed in the barrel, wherein the barrel is generally hollow;
a spring disposed about the introducer needle;
a stop surface coupled to the barrel;
an activation latch comprising a top and a bottom and slidable from a distal position to a proximal position with respect to the barrel, wherein the activation latch is adapted for selective engagement with the needle hub to hold the needle hub adjacent to the distal end of the barrel against the bias of the spring such that the introducer needle extends beyond the distal end of the barrel and through the catheter, wherein in response to the activation latch being in the distal position, the stop surface contacts the activation latch and depression of the activation latch is prevented, wherein in response to sliding of the activation latch from the distal position to the proximal position, the stop surface does not contact the activation latch and the activation latch is configured to depress, wherein the activation latch comprises a projection extending from the activation latch and disposed within the proximal end of the catheter adapter, wherein in response to the activation latch being in the distal position, the stop surface contacts the projection and depression of the activation latch is prevented, wherein in response to sliding of the activation latch from the distal position to the proximal position, the stop surface does not contact the projection and the activation latch is configured to depress.
 
11. A catheter system, comprising:
a catheter assembly, comprising:
a catheter adapter, comprising a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end;
a catheter extending from the distal end of the catheter adapter; and
a needle assembly, comprising:
a needle hub;
an introducer needle secured within the needle hub and extending through the catheter,
a barrel comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the needle hub is slidably disposed in the barrel, wherein the barrel is generally hollow;
a spring disposed about the introducer needle;
a stop surface coupled to the barrel;
an activation latch comprising a top and a bottom and slidable from a proximal position to a distal position with respect to the barrel, wherein the activation latch is adapted for selective engagement with the needle hub to hold the needle hub adjacent to the distal end of the barrel against the bias of the spring such that the introducer needle extends beyond the distal end of the barrel and through the catheter,
wherein in response to the activation latch being in the proximal position, the stop surface contacts the activation latch and depression of the activation latch is prevented, wherein in response to sliding of the activation latch from the proximal position to the distal position, the stop surface does not contact the activation latch and the activation latch is configured to depress, wherein the activation latch comprises a projection extending from the activation latch and disposed within the proximal end of the catheter adapter.