Method of making a needle shielding device

摘要

Methods of manufacturing a catheter introducer or needle assembly and needle shield are disclosed. A needle shield has a blocking object (preferably a ball) which moves from an non-shielding position to a shielding position. The catheter introducer is made by placing the blocking object into the shield and inserting the proximal end of the needle into the shield while the blocking object is in the shielding position. The catheter introducer is made using extruded polymeric tubes which may have coextruded reinforcing.

主权项

1. A method of making a needle assembly comprising:
providing a needle having a proximal end, a sharp distal end and a longitudinal axis; providing a needle shield assembly comprising:
a blocking object carrier,a blocking object having a blocking object axis, anda lumen coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the needle, the lumen having a proximal end and a distal end,wherein the blocking object is moveable from a shielding position in which the blocking object at least partially occludes the lumen and a non-shielding position in which the needle can slide along the lumen; placing the blocking object in the blocking object carrier in the shielding position, wherein in the shielding position, the blocking object carrier holds the blocking object in a position in which the blocking object axis is offset from the longitudinal axis of the needle; inserting the proximal end of the needle into the distal end of the lumen; and moving the needle shield assembly such that the needle moves the blocking object from the shielding position to a non-shielding position.