BigPatents India

The present invention relates to an I.V. catheter comprising a tubular catheter, a needle having a needle shaft and a and a tip, said needle being received within said tubular catheter when in a ready position, a catheter hub attached to the proximal end of said catheter, said catheter hub having a hollow interior and an inner wall, said needle being movable between said ready position in which said tip is outside of said catheter hub and a retracted position in which said tip is within the interior of said catheter hub, a unitary needle guard substantially positioned in the interior of said catheter hub and having a resilient portion engaged by said needle shaft when said needle is in said ready position, a section of said resilient portion of said needle guard being urged by said needle shaft into retaining contact with an interior wall of said catheter hub, said needle guard also having a distal wall extending from said resilient portion and spaced from said needle tip when said needle is in its said ready position and movable within the interior of said catheter hub to a blocking position distal of said needle tip when said needle is in its said retracted position in which said needle shaft no longer exerts a force on said resilient portion of said needle guard, and clamping means for clamping said needle guard to said needle when said needle guardis in its said blocking position.