Multiple sample needle with vein entry indicator

• US 4,340,068 A
• Filed: 06/18/1980
• Issued: 07/20/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Kaufman, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US06/160,781
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 128/766, 128/218 NV, 128/215, 128/216, 128/760, 128/763, 128/764
• US Class Current: 600/579
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150221 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150488 Details of construction of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150732 Needle holders, for instance for holding the needle by the hub, used for example with double-ended needle and pre-evacuated tube,
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/154 Devices using pre-evacuated means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/90 Telltale showing entry of blood into body inserted conduit

Abstract

A multiple sample needle assembly for determining fluid access when collecting fluid samples from a source of fluid into a vacuum collection device. The assembly includes a housing with a chamber therein having first and second access openings in fluid communication with the chamber. The housing is preferably translucent to provide for the viewing of the contents of the chamber. A cannula is associated with the first access opening, while the second access opening is adapted for fluid communication with the vacuum collection device. An operable, resilient valve member is positioned in the chamber and is normally closed against a gas permeable, liquid impermeable plug member mounted in the valve member. This valve member is adapted to open away from the plug member when the pressure at the second access opening is less than the pressure at the first access opening. When the cannula makes entry into the fluid source, fluid enters the chamber by forcing any gas therein through the porous plug member with the fluid in the chamber being viewable by the user. This fluid is adapted to remain in the chamber until the valve member opens under the pressure differential.

Claims

1. A multiple sample needle assembly for determining vein entry when collecting blood samples from a patient into an evacuated container comprising:

a housing having a forward end, rearward end and a chamber within, said housing being translucent at least around the chamber so that said chamber can be viewed by a user of said assembly;

a first access opening through the forward end of said housing in fluid communication with said chamber;

a cannula extending outwardly from said first access opening in fluid communication with said chamber adapted for insertion into a patient;

a second access opening through the rearward end of said housing in fluid communication with said chamber;

an operable, resilient, normally closed one-way valve member positioned in said chamber including an operable element adapted to open and close depending upon the pressure differential across said operable element; and

an air permeable, blood impermeable porous plug mounted in said valve member and associated with said operable element so that said element closes against said plug and operatively opens by moving away from said plug, whereby when said cannula makes entry into the vein of a patient blood enters said chamber by forcing air therein through said porous plug, the blood in said chamber able to be viewed by the user through said translucent housing, with the blood adapted to remain in said chamber until said valve member opens under the influence of lower pressure at said second access opening.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said operable element of said valve member is a substantially conically shaped, resilient extension defining a hollow cavity within with a blood flow opening at its distal end and oriented in said chamber so that said distal end faces toward said second access opening.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein said porous plug extends through said hollow cavity and said blood flow opening, with said resilient extension being normally closed against said porous plug to provide a blood-tight seal.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said valve member and said operable element are integrally formed as a unitary element.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said valve member and said operable element are made of an elastomeric material.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said porous plug is made of sintered polyethylene.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a second cannula extends from said second opening in fluid communication with said chamber adapted for penetration of an evacuated container for collection of a blood sample.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the housing includes means for connecting a holder for an evacuated container.

9. The assembly of claim 8 which further includes a holder for an evacuated container connected to said housing.

10. A multiple sample needle assembly for determining fluid access when collecting fluid samples from a source of fluid into a vacuum collection device comprising:

a housing with a chamber therein and having first and second access means therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said housing including means for viewing the contents of the chamber therein, said second access means adapted for fluid communication with said vacuum collection device;

a cannula for insertion into said fluid source extending from said first access means in fluid communication with said chamber; and

operable, resilient valve means positioned in said chamber normally closed against a gas permeable, liquid impermeable plug member mounted in said valve means, said valve means adapted to open away from said plug member when the pressure at said second access means is less than the pressure at said first access means, whereby when said cannula makes entry into said fluid source, fluid enters said chamber by forcing any gas therein through said porous plug member, the fluid in said chamber able to be viewed by the user through said viewing means, with the fluid adapted to remain in said chamber until said valve means opens under said pressure differential.

11. A multiple sample needle assembly for determining vein entry when collecting blood samples from a patient into an evacuated container comprising:

a housing having a forward end, a rearward end and a chamber within, said housing being translucent at least around the chamber so that said chamber can be viewed by a user of said assembly;

a first access opening through the forward end of said housing in fluid communication with said chamber;

a first cannula extending from said first access opening in fluid communication with said chamber and being adapted for insertion into a patient;

a second access opening through the rearward end of said housing in fluid communication with said chamber, said first and said second openings being in substantial alignment on opposite sides of said chamber;

a second cannula extending from said second access opening in fluid communication with said chamber and being adapted for penetration of an evacuated container for collection of a blood sample;

an operable, resilient, elastomeric normally closed one-way valve member positioned in said chamber, including an operable substantially conically shaped extension defining a hollow cavity within with a blood flow opening at its distal end and oriented in said chamber so that said distal end faces toward said second access opening, said operable extension adapted to open and close depending upon the pressure differential across said valve; and

an air permeable, blood impermeable porous plug mounted in said valve member so that said plug extends through said hollow cavity and said blood flow opening with said resilient extension being normally closed against said porous plug to provide a blood-tight seal, said resilient extension adapted to operatively open by moving away from said plug, whereby when said first cannula makes entry into the vein of a patient, blood enters said chamber by forcing air therein through said porous plug, the blood in said chamber able to be viewed by the user through said translucent housing, with the blood adapted to remain in said chamber until said valve member opens under the influence of lower pressure at said second access opening.