Patent attributes
A safety catheter includes a catheter hub, a catheter tube, a needle hub, a needle cannula having a tip, and a tip protector. The tip protector includes an outer member having a flexible tab configured to releasably engage with the catheter hub and release therefrom upon inward flexing of the tab. An inner member is positioned entirely within the outer member and has a portion that impedes inward flexing of the tab when disposed adjacent the tab. The inner member is axially shiftable relative to the outer member between a first position wherein the needle tip is distal of the tip protector and the inner member portion is disposed adjacent the tab to impede release from the catheter hub, and a second position wherein the tip is within the outer member and the inner member portion is no longer adjacent the tab and no longer impedes release from the catheter hub.