Over-the-needle catheter assembly

Claim 1

In an over-the-needle catheter assembly comprising a catheter depending from the distal end of a catheter hub; said catheter hub having a top outside surface on its upper half with respect to the intended location of a patient, and a bottom outside surface on its corresponding lower half for placement against a patient; said catheter hub having a proximal end adapted to accept a needle hub; said needle hub having a distal end and a proximal end and having a needle for accessing a blood vessel extending from the distal end of said needle hub; the improvement wherein said top outside surface of the distal portion of said catheter hub presents a generally continuous surface interrupted by means engageable by a finger for applying a distally directed force to said catheter hub; said finger engageable means comprising a depression located in said upper half of said catheter hub to the exclusion of said lower half and distal the intended location of said needle hub when engaged on said catheter hub; the floor of said depression sloping downward from said continuous surface to define a distal bearing wall therein for transmitting a force component applied by a finger of a user engaged in said depression in the direction of said catheter; whereby said top outside surface distal and proximal said depression provides a substantially continuous taping surface.