Smiths Medical 304206 - Ref 3042, Catheter 16gx1-1/4" Protectiv IV Safety Straight Gray 50/Bx, 4 BX/CA

Smiths Medical 304206 Ref 3042 is a Protectiv IV safety straight catheter designed for peripheral intravenous access in clinical care settings. This 16G x 1-1/4 inch gray catheter supports reliable venous access where a larger gauge catheter is clinically appropriate, including emergency care, surgical departments, infusion areas, and acute care environments.

Packaged as 50 catheters per box and 4 boxes per case, this product is suitable for healthcare facilities that require dependable IV catheter inventory for routine and higher-volume clinical use. The integrated safety design helps support sharps injury reduction protocols while allowing clinicians to maintain efficient IV insertion workflows.

Key Benefits

• 16G catheter size supports higher-flow peripheral IV access when clinically indicated.
• 1-1/4 inch catheter length provides practical access for a range of adult venous access applications.
• Straight safety catheter design supports familiar handling for trained clinicians.
• Gray color coding helps with quick gauge identification in busy clinical settings.
• Protectiv IV safety feature is designed to help reduce accidental needlestick risk after use.
• Bulk case packaging helps hospitals, surgery centers, and clinics maintain consistent supply levels.
• Suitable for controlled clinical environments where standardized IV access products are required.

Compatibility and Applications

The Smiths Medical 304206 Protectiv IV safety catheter is intended for peripheral intravenous catheterization by qualified healthcare professionals. It is commonly used in hospitals, emergency departments, outpatient surgical centers, infusion clinics, and other medical facilities where peripheral IV access is required.

This catheter may be used with compatible IV administration sets, extension sets, connectors, and standard clinical infusion equipment as directed by facility protocol and the product instructions for use. Because compatibility can vary depending on the connected device, medication, fluid type, and clinical procedure, users should always confirm compatibility before use.

Typical applications may include fluid administration, medication delivery, blood draw procedures when permitted by protocol, perioperative access, emergency access, and other peripheral IV procedures where a 16G catheter is appropriate.

Usage Guidelines

This device should only be used by trained medical personnel following aseptic technique, institutional policy, and the manufacturers instructions for use. The clinician should select catheter gauge and length based on the patients vein condition, therapy requirements, infusion rate needs, and overall clinical assessment.

Before use, inspect the package for damage, confirm the correct catheter size, and verify that the product has not expired. Prepare the insertion site according to facility infection prevention procedures. After catheter placement, secure the catheter according to clinical protocol and activate the safety mechanism as instructed to help reduce sharps exposure risk.

Dispose of used devices immediately in an approved sharps container. Do not reuse, reprocess, or resterilize single-use IV catheters.

Certifications and Safety Standards

Smiths Medical IV catheter products are manufactured for professional healthcare use and should be handled in accordance with applicable medical device labeling, facility safety policies, infection control standards, and sharps injury prevention requirements. Users should refer to the product packaging and manufacturer documentation for the most current regulatory, sterility, and safety information.

Facilities should ensure that staff are trained on proper catheter insertion, securement, safety activation, and sharps disposal procedures. Compliance with OSHA bloodborne pathogen requirements, local healthcare regulations, and institutional IV therapy guidelines should be maintained at all times.

Comparison with Competitors

Compared with standard non-safety peripheral IV catheters, the Smiths Medical 304206 Protectiv IV safety catheter offers the added benefit of an integrated safety feature designed to help reduce accidental needlestick risk after catheter use. This makes it a strong option for facilities focused on clinician safety, standardized vascular access practices, and sharps injury prevention.

Compared with many general-purpose IV catheter options, this 16G x 1-1/4 inch straight gray configuration is especially useful when a larger-bore catheter is needed. The combination of a familiar straight catheter format, safety-focused design, and bulk packaging makes it well suited for high-demand clinical departments that require reliable supply availability and efficient point-of-care use.

Typical User Profile and Application Scenarios

This product is intended for use by nurses, physicians, emergency care providers, anesthesia teams, infusion specialists, surgical staff, and other qualified healthcare professionals trained in peripheral IV catheter placement.

Common application scenarios include emergency department access, preoperative preparation, inpatient IV therapy, rapid fluid administration when clinically appropriate, procedural care, and general acute care settings. The 50/Bx, 4 Bx/Ca packaging format supports purchasing teams, materials managers, and clinical supply departments that need dependable case quantities for ongoing facility use.

Best Practices for Use and Maintenance

Store the Smiths Medical 304206 Protectiv IV safety catheter in a clean, dry area according to the storage conditions listed on the product packaging. Keep products in their original packaging until ready for use to help maintain sterility and product integrity.

Use the correct catheter size based on patient assessment and therapy requirements. Follow evidence-based IV insertion practices, including hand hygiene, skin antisepsis, proper site selection, securement, dressing application, and routine monitoring for infiltration, phlebitis, occlusion, leakage, or signs of infection.

Maintain accurate documentation of insertion date, site location, catheter size, patient response, and any complications according to facility policy. Dispose of all used catheters and needles immediately in approved sharps containers.

Regulatory and Safety Information

The Smiths Medical 304206 Protectiv IV safety catheter is a professional medical device intended for use by qualified healthcare personnel. It should be used only for its intended purpose and in accordance with the manufacturers instructions for use, facility policy, and applicable healthcare regulations.

Do not use the product if the package is opened, damaged, contaminated, or expired. Do not attempt to reuse or reprocess the catheter. Reuse of single-use medical devices can increase the risk of infection, device failure, patient injury, and inaccurate clinical performance.

Clinical teams should confirm the correct product, gauge, and packaging configuration before use. For full safety information, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and disposal requirements, refer to the official product labeling and facility clinical guidelines.

How to Order

Select the Smiths Medical 304206 Ref 3042, Catheter 16gx1-1/4" Protectiv IV Safety Straight Gray 50/Bx, 4 BX/CA and add it to your cart. Complete checkout with your preferred shipping and payment options. For bulk orders, quotes, or further assistance, contact CIA Medical customer service at (312)275-5850 or use the contact form on this page.