Needle tip guard

Claim 1

An intravenous catheter insertion kit and a needle guard comprising: a flexible catheter and its attached hub; an insertion needle assembly, the insertion needle having a slightly flared distal tip such that the needle diameter at said tip is slightly larger than the uniform diameter proximal of said tip; and a cylindrical needle tip guard captured within said hub and through which said needle passes, said guard being made of a material having shape retaining memory and said guard having a split end with end caps, said end caps being displaced outward from the axis of the needle by the needle surface and said end caps being closeable by said shape retaining memory to a position containing the needle tip upon entry of the needle tip into said needle tip guard, said hub having an enlarged internal diameter at said guard end caps large enough to allow displacement of the end caps away from the needle axis by the needle surface and said hub also having an internal diameter proximal of said enlarged diameter which is too small to allow passage of said end caps in their displaced out position but large enough to allow passage of said guard with said end caps in their closed position, and said guard having an inside diameter proximal of said displaced end caps smaller than said enlarged needle diameter whereby said enlarged needle diameter captures said needle tip guard and the needle tip becomes enclosed by said guard when said needle is withdrawn from said hub and catheter.