Phlebotomy needle attachable to a vacuum container with a vent to preclude blood flashback

• US 5,450,856 A
• Filed: 04/25/1994
• Issued: 09/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wendal A. Norris
• Original Assignee: Wendal A. Norris
• Inventors: Norris, Wendal A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US08/232,639
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 128/763, 128/765, 128/766, 128/770, 604/168
• US Class Current: 600/577
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150213 Venting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150496 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the double-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• 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 5/150778 having complementary physical shapes for indexing or registration purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/154 Devices using pre-evacuated means

Abstract

A phlebotomy needle attachable to a vacuum container with a vent to preclude blood flashback, comprising an outboard needle adapted to be penetrated into the vein of a patient for extracting blood. The device further including an inboard needle adapted to be received by a vacuum tube in axial alignment with the outboard needle and in fluid communication therewith for receiving blood drawn from the patient by the outboard needle. The device further including a hollow transparent bulb coupled between the needles and in axial alignment therewith.

Claims

1. A new and improved phlebotomy needle attachable to a vacuum container with a vent to preclude blood flashback, comprising, in combination:

an outboard needle adapted to be penetrated into the vein of a patient for extracting blood;

a inboard needle adapted to be received by a vacuum tube in axial alignment with the outboard needle and in fluid communication therewith for receiving blood drawn from the patient by the outboard needle;

a hollow transparent bulb centrally coupled between the needles and in axial alignment therewith, the bulb including an outboard end with a cross section adapted to receive an outboard shield for the outboard needle, the bulb having an external threaded inboard end for removable attachment to a handle and, interingly thereof, a vacuum tube for receiving the blood of a patient, the bulb further including a radial aperture therein with an axial projection;

a button radially extending into the bulb, the button having an exterior end for depressing and an interior end with a flared radially interior surface and an intermediate extent therebetween with an axial recess, the axial recess capable of slidable riding of the axial projection of the aperture of the bulb for proper venting of air through the aperture, the button adapted to have a spring for maintaining a normally raised orientation to preclude the flow of blood through the bulb, the button movable to a depressed orientation to receive air and thereby to allow the flow of blood through the bulb and needles;

an elastomeric shield being cylindrical in configuration having an open outboard end with a vent hole adjacent thereto and a closed inboard end, the shield being positionable over the inboard needle adapted to relieve air and to preclude the flashback of blood, the shield further capable of being penetrated by the inboard needle when the vacuum tube being urged upwardly over the inboard needle engaging the bulb; and

a handle of a tubular configuration and having an outboard end with internal threads adapted to be received on the threads of the bulb, the handle having an opened inboard end for the passage of the vacuum tube therein.