Catheter with needle guard.

摘要

A catheter device is described with a safety needle guard that covers and protects the needle after use of the device. The device includes a semi-tubular needle housing (20) containing a flash chamber (26) with a hollow needle (24) extending from the distal end of the flash chamber. A tubular needle guard (30) concentrically fits and slides within the needle housing. The needle guard has a longitudinal slot (36) through which the mounting base of the flash chamber passes as the guard slides within the housing. The top of the semi-tubular housing is open so that a user may access the top of the tubular needle guard with a finger to urge the needle guard to an extended position from the distal end of the housing and in a surrounding position about the needle. As the needle guard attains its fully extended position about the needle, it locks in place in the needle housing.