Needle and catheter assembly

Claim 1

A disposable needle assembly (10) comprising: hub means (16) for connecting said assembly (10) to a syringe (22), said hub means (16) including a passageway (24) extending therethrough; a hollow needle portion (28) in fluid communication with said passageway (24) and including a distal tip (32); cap means (34) having a neutral position along said needle portion (32) proximate to said hub means (16) for exposing a length of said needle portion (28) and an extended position for capping said distal tip (32), said cap means including tether means (50') for connecting said cap means (34) to said first hub means (16) and limiting the extent that said cap means (34) can be extended from said first hub means (16), and said cap means further including locking means for locking said cap means (34) over said distal tip (32) when said tether means (50') is completely extended, said tether means (50') including a cord (60) interconnecting said hub means (16) and said cap means (66), characterized by said cord (60) having a first end connected to said cap means (34), said first hub means (16) including a second passageway (68) extending therethrough, said cord (60) having a length thereof releasably contained within said second passageway (68) when said cap means (34) is in said neutral position and extending from said second passageway (68) when said cap means (34) is in said extended position, said cord (60) including stop means for limiting the amount of said cord (60) extending from said passageway (68).