Catheter placement assembly

Claim 1

An improved catheter comprising, an axially aligned combination of a hollow, rigid, elongate needle with a pointed distal end and a proximal end zone, and a hub of rigid plastic material with a central zone secured about the proximal end zone of the needle, said central hub zone having a distally-extending generally cylindrical skirt spaced from said needle defining an annular, distally opening, axially extending chamber with an exterior surface and said hub including an annular shoulder intermediate the end zones and forming a partial annular end wall of the chamber, and said central hub zone having a proximally extending tubular wall defining a proximally opening flash chamber, the proximal end zone of said needle being in fluid communication with said flash chamber, and a vented removable cap closing said flash chamber, said distally opening chamber defining a mouth of said chamber in said hub with said hub being provided with rim means extending outwardly of said mouth and said rim means and exterior surface providing means to facilitate axial movement of advancement of the needle in a distal direction, said improved catheter including a thin, flexible elongate jacket having a proximal end and a distal end snugly jacketing the needle from the zone of the pointed distal end along the intermediate length of the needle and including a rigid adapter having a first end zone and a second end and means fixedly connecting the first end zone of the adapter to the jacket, said adapter being sized for snug receipt within said skirt protectively within said chamber with said second end normally in abutting engagement with the end wall of said chamber.