Abstract: A catheter hub assembly. The catheter hub assembly includes a catheter hub body, a septum and a septum retainer, the catheter hub body having a distal end, a proximal and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal wall defining a transitional step within the internal fluid passageway, the septum positioned within the internal fluid passageway such that a distal end of the septum abuts up against the transitional step, the septum retainer at least partially receivable within the internal fluid passageway and having an outer wall shaped and sized to interlock with the inner wall of the catheter hub body, the outer wall including one or more lateral ribs configured to inhibit rotation of the septum retainer relative to the catheter hub body.

Abstract: A needle assembly for sampling fluid from a patient including a needle guard, an insertion needle, and a needle housing. The distal end of the needle guard includes a nose portion and a flexible nose extension defining a fluid collection reservoir. The proximal end of the needle guard includes a push feature. The insertion needle has a sharpened distal tip, a proximal needle end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween. The needle housing is operably coupled to the proximal needle end and is slideably coupled to the needle guard. The needle housing includes a flash chamber including a wall defining a cavity. The cavity is in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and is sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug. The push feature selectively engages the flash plug to divert captured bodily fluids to the fluid collection reservoir for sampling.

Abstract: A method of constructing a catheter assembly having an integrated septum. The method comprising molding a catheter hub having a distal end, a proximal end, and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal fluid wall defining an injection mold window located between the distal end and the proximal end; seating a catheter tube within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub, such that a proximal end of the catheter tube resides within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub, and a distal end of the catheter tube extends distally from the distal end of the catheter hub; plugging at least a proximal end of the catheter hub with a mold core shut off pin; and injection molding a septum in at least a portion of the internal fluid passageway between the mold core shut off pin and the proximal end of the catheter tube through the injection mold window.

Abstract: A self activating vent cap configured to be operably coupled to a needleless connector and automatically shifted relative to the needleless connector from the first, storage position to a second, activated position upon rotation of the vent cap relative to the needleless connector. The self activating vent cap including a threaded portion, an activation portion and a biasing mechanism, wherein shifting of the activation portion to the second, activated position is selectively precluded by the interference of at least one ridge of the threaded portion with a ledge of the activation portion.

Abstract: A needle assembly for sampling fluid from a patient including a needle guard, an insertion needle, and a needle housing. The distal end of the needle guard includes a nose portion and a flexible nose extension defining a fluid collection reservoir. The proximal end of the needle guard includes a push feature. The insertion needle has a sharpened distal tip, a proximal needle end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween. The needle housing is operably coupled to the proximal needle end and is slideably coupled to the needle guard. The needle housing includes a flash chamber including a wall defining a cavity. The cavity is in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and is sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug. The push feature selectively engages the flash plug to divert captured bodily fluids to the fluid collection reservoir for sampling.

Abstract: A catheter hub assembly. The catheter hub assembly includes a catheter hub body, a septum and a septum retainer, the catheter hub body having a distal end, a proximal and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal wall defining a transitional step within the internal fluid passageway, the septum positioned within the internal fluid passageway such that a distal end of the septum abuts up against the transitional step, the septum retainer at least partially receivable within the internal fluid passageway and having an outer wall shaped and sized to interlock with the inner wall of the catheter hub body, the outer wall including one or more lateral ribs configured to inhibit rotation of the septum retainer relative to the catheter hub body.

Abstract: A needle assembly for sampling fluid from a patient including a needle guard, an insertion needle, and a needle housing. The distal end of the needle guard includes a nose portion and a flexible nose extension defining a fluid collection reservoir. The proximal end of the needle guard includes a push feature. The insertion needle has a sharpened distal tip, a proximal needle end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween. The needle housing is operably coupled to the proximal needle end and is slideably coupled to the needle guard. The needle housing includes a flash chamber including a wall defining a cavity. The cavity is in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and is sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug. The push feature selectively engages the flash plug to divert captured bodily fluids to the fluid collection reservoir for sampling.

Abstract: A catheter hub assembly. The catheter hub assembly includes a catheter hub body, a septum and a septum retainer, the catheter hub body having a distal end, a proximal and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal wall defining a transitional step within the internal fluid passageway, the septum positioned within the internal fluid passageway such that a distal end of the septum abuts up against the transitional step, the septum retainer at least partially receivable within the internal fluid passageway and having an outer wall shaped and sized to interlock with the inner wall of the catheter hub body, the outer wall including one or more lateral ribs configured to inhibit rotation of the septum retainer relative to the catheter hub body.

Abstract: A method of constructing a catheter assembly having an integrated septum. The method comprising molding a catheter hub having a distal end, a proximal end, and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal fluid wall defining an injection mold window located between the distal end and the proximal end; seating a catheter tube within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub, such that a proximal end of the catheter tube resides within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub, and a distal end of the catheter tube extends distally from the distal end of the catheter hub; plugging at least a proximal end of the catheter hub with a mold core shut off pin; and injection molding a septum in at least a portion of the internal fluid passageway between the mold core shut off pin and the proximal end of the catheter tube through the injection mold window.

Abstract: A self activating vent cap configured to be operably coupled to a needleless connector and automatically shifted relative to the needleless connector from the first, storage position to a second, activated position upon rotation of the vent cap relative to the needleless connector. The self activating vent cap including a threaded portion, an activation portion and a biasing mechanism, wherein shifting of the activation portion to the second, activated position is selectively precluded by the interference of at least one ridge of the threaded portion with a ledge of the activation portion.

Abstract: A needle assembly for sampling fluid from a patient including a needle guard, an insertion needle, and a needle housing. The distal end of the needle guard includes a nose portion and a flexible nose extension defining a fluid collection reservoir. The proximal end of the needle guard includes a push feature. The insertion needle has a sharpened distal tip, a proximal needle end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween. The needle housing is operably coupled to the proximal needle end and is slideably coupled to the needle guard. The needle housing includes a flash chamber including a wall defining a cavity. The cavity is in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and is sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug. The push feature selectively engages the flash plug to divert captured bodily fluids to the fluid collection reservoir for sampling.

Abstract: A catheter hub assembly. The catheter hub assembly includes a catheter hub body, a septum and a septum retainer, the catheter hub body having a distal end, a proximal and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal wall defining a transitional step within the internal fluid passageway, the septum positioned within the internal fluid passageway such that a distal end of the septum abuts up against the transitional step, the septum retainer at least partially receivable within the internal fluid passageway and having an outer wall shaped and sized to interlock with the inner wall of the catheter hub body, the outer wall including one or more lateral ribs configured to inhibit rotation of the septum retainer relative to the catheter hub body.