Smiths Medical 3266 - CATHETER, SAFETY. VIAVALVE, IV, 20'X1 1/4", EACH

The Smiths Medical 3266 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter is designed for professional peripheral intravenous access where dependable catheter placement, patient comfort, and clinician safety are essential. This 20G x 1 1/4 inch IV safety catheter supports controlled venous access for a wide range of infusion, medication administration, and fluid delivery procedures in clinical environments.

Built for everyday hospital, emergency, outpatient, and procedural use, the ViaValve IV safety catheter helps clinicians establish access efficiently while supporting safety-focused vascular access practices. Its size makes it a practical option when moderate flow capability is needed without using a larger-gauge catheter than necessary.

Key Benefits

• 20G catheter size supports common peripheral IV access needs, including medication delivery, hydration, and routine infusion therapy.
• 1 1/4 inch catheter length provides practical reach for secure placement in suitable peripheral veins.
• Safety catheter design helps support needlestick injury reduction protocols during IV starts.
• Suitable for single-patient use in professional healthcare settings.
• Designed to help clinicians achieve reliable venous access while supporting patient-centered care.
• Each-unit packaging is convenient for procedure carts, vascular access trays, emergency rooms, and point-of-care stocking.

Compatibility and Applications

The Smiths Medical 3266 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter is intended for use with compatible IV administration components and standard peripheral vascular access procedures as directed by facility protocol and the manufacturer instructions for use. It may be used in care areas where peripheral IV access is required for fluids, medications, diagnostic support, or short-term infusion therapy.

Common application settings include acute care hospitals, emergency departments, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient clinics, infusion departments, urgent care facilities, and procedural units. The 20G x 1 1/4 inch configuration is often selected when clinicians need a balance of flow performance, catheter stability, and patient comfort.

Usage Guidelines

Use the Smiths Medical 3266 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter only by trained healthcare professionals following established aseptic technique, institutional vascular access policies, and the manufacturer instructions for use. Before use, inspect the packaging for damage, confirm the product size, check the expiration date, and verify that the catheter is appropriate for the patient, vein condition, and prescribed therapy.

Prepare the insertion site according to facility protocol, select an appropriate peripheral vein, and perform catheter insertion using standard clinical technique. After placement, secure the catheter with an appropriate stabilization method and dressing, confirm patency, and monitor the site routinely for signs of infiltration, phlebitis, leakage, occlusion, or patient discomfort.

Certifications and Safety Standards

This product is manufactured for professional medical use and should be handled in accordance with applicable healthcare facility policies, infection control standards, sharps safety procedures, and the manufacturer labeling. Sterility, lot number, expiration date, and device-specific regulatory information should be verified on the product packaging before clinical use.

Healthcare facilities should ensure that all staff using IV safety catheters are trained in safe insertion technique, bloodborne pathogen precautions, sharps disposal requirements, and post-insertion monitoring practices. Always follow current institutional guidelines and local regulatory requirements for vascular access devices.

Comparison with Competitors

Compared with conventional non-safety IV catheters, the Smiths Medical 3266 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter is designed to support safer handling during peripheral IV placement and post-insertion workflow. Safety catheter technology can help reduce exposure risks associated with sharps when used correctly and in accordance with protocol.

When compared with generic IV catheter options, Smiths Medical ViaValve catheters offer a recognized vascular access solution from an established medical device manufacturer. The 20G x 1 1/4 inch size provides a practical balance for facilities that need dependable routine IV access supplies across multiple care areas.

Typical User Profile and Application Scenarios

This IV safety catheter is commonly used by nurses, vascular access clinicians, emergency department staff, anesthesia providers, outpatient infusion teams, and other trained healthcare professionals responsible for peripheral venous access. It is suitable for facilities that prioritize safety-engineered devices, consistent supply availability, and standardized IV access products.

Typical scenarios include starting peripheral IV lines for hydration, medication administration, perioperative care, emergency access, diagnostic preparation, outpatient treatment, and short-term infusion therapy. The each-unit format is useful for departments that need flexible inventory control and quick access to individual sterile catheter units.

Best Practices for Use and Maintenance

Store the Smiths Medical 3266 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter in a clean, dry, temperature-appropriate environment according to the manufacturer storage recommendations. Keep the product in its original packaging until ready for use to help maintain sterility and traceability.

Use the correct catheter size for the ordered therapy and patient vein condition. Avoid unnecessary manipulation after insertion, maintain dressing integrity, label the IV site according to facility policy, and assess the site regularly. Dispose of used devices immediately in an approved sharps container and document placement details as required by clinical protocol.

Regulatory and Safety Information

The Smiths Medical 3266 ViaValve IV Safety Catheter is intended for use by qualified healthcare professionals in appropriate clinical environments. It should not be reused, resterilized, or used if the packaging is opened, damaged, contaminated, or expired. Use only as directed by the manufacturer instructions for use and facility policy.

Patient assessment, catheter selection, insertion technique, securement, flushing, maintenance, and removal should follow accepted clinical standards and institutional procedures. Any adverse event, device issue, or unexpected performance concern should be reported according to facility protocol and applicable regulatory requirements.

How to Order

Select the Smiths Medical 3266 CATHETER, SAFETY. VIAVALVE, IV, 20'X1 1/4", EACH 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.