INTRAVENOUS NEEDLE ASSEMBLY

• US 3,859,998 A
• Filed: 06/05/1972
• Issued: 01/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph John Thomas, William Smith
• Original Assignee: Joseph John Thomas, William Smith
• Inventors: Smith, William, Thomas, Joseph John
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McGowan, J. C.
• Application Number:
  US05/259,886
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218R,218NV,218M,214.4,214R,276,221,347-349,DIG.5,214.2,274
• US Class Current: 604/168.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/34 Trocars; Puncturing needles pointed biopsy instruments A61B10/0233; devices for piercing the ear-lobes A44C7/001; seals or hemostasis valves A61M39/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00907 for light
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0693 Flashback chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/20 Closure caps or plugs for connectors or open ends of tubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/90 Telltale showing entry of blood into body inserted conduit

Abstract

A plug having a slitted diaphragm for venting air from, but preventing the passage of blood from, a transparent blooddetecting chamber located on the proximal end of the hub of a hollow pointed hypodermic needle during a venipuncture procedure.

Claims

1. An intravenous needle assembly comprising:

a hollow pointed needle;

a hub secured to the proximal end of said needle, said hub having a transparent blood-detecting chamber; and

a plug removably secured in said chamber, said plug having an axial opening therethrough and a thin diaphragm disposed across said opening, said diaphragm having a slit formed therein for permitting the passage of air from said chamber, the amount of material in said diaphragm being substantially unchanged by the formation of said slit therein.

2. The intravenous needle assembly of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm is located adjacent the distal end of said plug.

3. The intravenous needle assembly of claim 2 wherein said slit is diametrically oriented.

4. The intravenous needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a flexible plastic intravenous catheter disposed over said needle.

5. The intravenous needle assembly of claim 4 wherein said catheter is secured to a hub which is removably attached to the distal end of said needle hub.