POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT-DISENGAGEMENT CATHETER SLEEVE

PURPOSE: A positive engagement/disengagement catheter sleeve to reduce risk of needle sticks is provided, which has a base and a body defining a pair of grooves, a deformable region of the sleeve therebetween. At least one detent is provided inside the base within the deformable region, and a mechanism is provided to cause the detent to disengage when the mechanism is actuated. CONSTITUTION: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a catheter with introducer and sleeve of one embodiment of the invention. The catheter (22) is coupled to a catheter hub (26). The hub (26) has wings (24) formed as part thereof. An introducer (30) has an annular flange (28) as part thereof to engage sleeve (10). The sleeve (10) has a pair of grooves (12) disposed to receive the wings (24) of catheter hub (26). The sleeve (10) has a base (11) at an insertion end and a body (13) terminating in a distal end. The grooves define a deformable region (14) therebetween. Attached to the deformable region (14) is an arm (16). An arm (16) has a first end where it attaches to the deformable region (16) and a free end down the sleeve from the base. Pressure on the arm (16) at its distal end causes the deformable region at the base to move away from an axis of the sleeve.