Catheter placement assembly having axial and rotational alignment means

Claim 1

An intravenous catheter assembly comprising: (a) a flexible plastic catheter having a distally tapered distal end; (b) a winged catheter insertion means having a tubular portion centrally disposed therethrough, the proximal end of said catheter being fixedly attached to, extending from and in fluid communication with said tubular portion of said catheter insertion means via its distal end; (c) a pair of flexible wing members extending from said winged catheter insertion means, said flexible wing members each having a weakened portion adjacent said tubular portion of said winged catheter insertion means effective to facilitate the folding upward and pinching together of said flexible wing members and, thereby, the performance of venipuncture upon the patient; (d) each of said flexible wing members also having a reduced width portion proximate the connection between said flexible wing members and said tubular portion, constructed and arranged to facilitate said folding upward of said wing members, (e) each of said flexible wing members further having, in conjunction with said reduced width portion, a cut out portion proximate the proximal end of said catheter hub, constructed and arranged to provide an open area adjacent to said proximal end of said catheter hub, so as to facilitate connection of said catheter hub to flexible tubing extending from said catheter assembly; and (f) a needle slidably disposed in and inserted through said catheter and said tubular portion of said winged catheter insertion means, said needle having a sharpened distal end extending beyond said distal end of said catheter and a proximal end attached to a needle hub.