Winged catheter introducer with pre-bent wings

Claim 1

A catheter introducer set comprising: a tube having a first internal lumen; a cannula for introduction into a blood vessel, the cannula having a second internal lumen; an intermediate member disposed between the cannula and the tube such that the first and second lumens are in fluid communication, the intermediate member comprising a pair of wings attached thereto, the wings respectively being on substantially opposite sides of the intermediate member, the wings defining an angle therebetween and extending outwards from the intermediate member; a needle comprising a sharp tip, the needle being disposed lengthwise in the first and second lumens and within the intermediate member; wherein the wings are initially in a first position in which the angle between the wings is less than 180 degrees, the wings being moveable into a second position by bringing the wings together; and gripping means actuable by the wings for squeezing the intermediate member such that the intermediate member grips the needle, the gripping means being actuable by the wings when the wings are brought together in a first direction such that the angle between the wings decreases, but not actuable by the wings when the wings are brought together in a direction opposite to the first direction, and wherein the wings do not actuate the gripping means when the wings are in the first position.