Methods and apparatus for selectively occluding the lumen of a needle

A device for parenterally transferring bodily fluid from a patient, the device comprising:

• a housing that defines a fluid flow path;
• a needle having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and enclosing a lumen between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion, the distal end portion having a closed distal end surface and being configured for insertion into the patient, the distal end portion defining at least one opening proximal to the closed distal end surface and in fluid communication with the lumen, the proximal end portion being fluidically coupled to the housing to place the lumen of the needle in fluid communication with the fluid flow path;
• and an occlusion mechanism configured to selectively control fluid flow between the patient and the fluid flow path, the occlusion mechanism having an occlusion member coupled to and disposed about the needle, the occlusion mechanism configured to be in a first state during insertion of the needle into the patient and configured to be transitioned to a second state after the needle is inserted into the patient, the opening of the needle being obstructed by the occlusion member when the occlusion mechanism is in the first state and being unobstructed by the occlusion member when the occlusion mechanism is in the second state thereby allowing a volume of bodily fluid to flow from the patient through the fluid flow path;
• wherein the occlusion member is rotatably coupled to the needle and configured to be in a first rotational position relative to the needle when in the occlusion mechanism is in the first state and a second rotational position relative to the needle when in the occlusion mechanism is in the second state.

A method for transferring fluid to or from a patient using a parenteral transfer device, the device including a housing defining a fluid flow path, a needle having a lumen in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, and an occlusion member operable to selectively control fluid flow to or from the patient through the lumen of the needle and the fluid flow path, the needle having a closed distal end surface and defining an opening proximal to the closed distal surface and in fluid communication with the lumen of the needle, the method comprising:

• disposing the occlusion member in a first state relative to the needle such that the opening of the needle is obstructed to prevent at least one of tissue, bodily fluid, and contaminants from entering the lumen, the closed distal end surface of the needle and a distal end surface of the occlusion member being substantially coplanar when the occlusion member is in the first state;
• inserting the needle into the patient, the occlusion member being in the first state as the needle is inserted into the patient;
• and
• after the needle has been inserted into the patient, transitioning the occlusion member from the first state to a second state such that the distal end surface of the occlusion member is nonparallel to the closed distal end surface of the needle, the opening of the needle being unobstructed when the device is in the second state to allow a volume of fluid substantially free of tissue and contaminants to be transferred between the patient and the fluid flow path.