US 6,306,103 B1 · Blood/body fluid collection apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus and a method of its use is disclosed for transfer of blood/body fluid from a fluids obtaining device which is placed in communication with a patient's body cavity containing the fluid desired to be obtained for analysis and depositing it in a collection container for storage and/or transport. The fluids obtaining device has a fluids retention component adapted to be alternatively coupled with either a sharp ended needle for penetrating a patient's body or a blunt ended cannula. A fluids displacing mechanism is positioned in the retention component and is reciprocated to either draw fluid from the patient into the retention component or to expel fluid therefrom. After drawing fluid from the patient, the needle is removed and replaced with the cannula. A closure member secured to an open end of the container includes a plug formed from an elastomeric material exhibiting the characteristics of being penetrable by the cannula and self resealable after withdrawal of the cannula. Removal of the needle is effected by a needle gripping mechanism associated with a “sharps” receptacle to avoid finger contact with the needle. The cannula is inserted through the plug into the container and the fluid expelled from the retention component. The cannula is then withdrawn from the plug with minimal likelihood of an accidental “stick” and discarded along with the fluids obtaining device.

Claims11

Dependent claims

Apparatus for obtaining blood/body fluid from a patient and transfer thereof to a collection container comprising:

a fluids obtaining means, a fluids collection container, and a fluids transfer means for effecting transfer of fluid from said fluids obtaining means to said collection container, wherein
said fluids obtaining means including a fluids securing device adapted to be placed in communication with a patient's body cavity containing the fluid to be obtained and a fluids displacing mechanism combined with a fluids retention component having a connecting device for coupling of said retention component to said fluids securing device, said fluids securing device being an elongated needle having mating means provided on its proximal end for removable mechanical interconnecting with the connecting device on said fluids retention component;
said fluids transfer means is adapted to be alternatively coupled to said connecting device in place of said fluids securing device, said transfer means comprising an elongated cannula having mating means attached to its proximal end and is adapted to be mechanically coupled with said connecting device in fluid tight engagement, said cannula having a blunt distal end;
and
said collection container being an elongated tube closed at one end with the opposite end being open whereby said cannula may be projected a distance interiorly of said container enabling fluid to flow from the retention component into the container while it is being held in an upright position by a health care person in their hand with its open end at the top.

2 more elements

The method of transferring a patient's blood/body fluid from fluid obtaining means used in obtaining a quantity of that fluid to a fluids collection container comprising the steps of:

drawing the fluid from the patient with a fluids securing device having a body penetrating element placed in communication with the patient's body cavity that has the fluid which is to be obtained and depositing it in a temporary fluid retention component;
removing the fluids securing device from operative fluids obtaining communication with the patient;
removing the body penetrating element from the temporary fluid retention component by means of a penetrating element gripping mechanism supported in association with a receptacle for receipt of the removed penetrating element thereby eliminating the need for manual contact with the penetrating element in effecting its removal and deposit in the receptacle;
coupling to the fluid retention component a cannula which has a distal end that is of a blunt configuration;
inserting the cannula's distal end into a fluids collection container having an open end thereof while the container is manually held in an upright position by a health care person with its open end at the top;
permitting the fluid to flow from the retention component and into the collection container;
and
withdrawing the cannula from the container after a predetermined quantity of fluid has been deposited therein and then discarding the cannula along with the retention component into a disposal receptacle.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Blood/body fluid collection apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Blood/body fluid collection apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11