#$%^&*AU2012258327A120121213.pdf#####C:\NRPorb1lDCC\TZS\4757125 IDOC-20/1112012 ABSTRACT An IV catheter apparatus including a tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle having a needle shaft and a tip and wherein the needle is 5 attached to a distal end of a needle hub, said needle being received within said tubular catheter when the needle is in a ready position, a catheter hub attached to the proximal end of said catheter, said catheter hub having a hollow interior and an inner wall, said needle being movable between said ready position in which said tip is outside of said catheter hub and a retracted position in which said tip is 10 within the interior of said catheter hub, a needle guard positioned in the interior of said catheter hub in a spaced apart relationship from the distal end of the needle hub wherein the needle guard has a resilient portion engaged by said needle shaft when said needle is in its ready position, the needle guard resilient portion is movable within the interior of said catheter hub to a blocking position distal of said 15 needle tip when said needle is in its retracted position in which said needle shaft no longer exerts a force on said resilient portion of said needle guard wherein an outer contact surface on the needle guard is secured to a groove formed in the catheter hub hollow interior when the resilient portion is engaged by the side of the needle shaft and biased radially outwardly and wherein the needle guard 20 further includes a needle guard proximal end, wherein the needle guard is secured to the needle tip when the needle is in the fully retracted position by a portion of the needle guard proximal end making contact with a needle crimp and the resilient portion blocking the needle tip. (Figure 1)(N1 -7q tto (No ao 00 (NN C,4 oo Cl) (N o(N olN LL~ oN c(1
