CATHETER SYSTEM FACILITATING REDUCED DRAG FORCE

A catheter system may include a needle assembly coupled to a catheter adapter. The needle assembly may include a housing, an introducer needle, a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a needle tip shield feature. A distal tip of the introducer needle may be configured to be proximally withdrawn from a first position to a second position in which a bump feature of the introducer needle is prevented from moving through the proximal opening. In response to withdrawal of the distal tip proximally from the second position to a third position, the needle tip shield feature may be released to block the distal opening. The needle tip shield feature may not contact the introducer needle when the distal tip moves proximally from the first position to the second position and from the second position to the third position, which may reduce a friction-based drag force on the introducer needle.