Coupling device for blood collection assembly
AssigneeBecton, Dickinson and Company
InventorStewart Marsden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a coupler for providing fluid connection between a needle holder and an intravenous needle assembly. The coupler includes a coupler housing and a coupler needle cannula. The coupler housing includes a forward end and a rearward end with the forward end having a piercable septum. The coupler housing also includes at least one lug on its external surface. The coupler is capable of forming a blood collection assembly to provide for fluid connection between a conventional needle holder and an intravenous needle assembly which includes guide slots traditionally provided for engagement with lugs on specific specimen tube arrangements.
Claims20
A coupler for engaging a needle assembly with a needle holder comprising:
- a coupler housing having a forward end and a rearward end, said forward end including a piercable septum therein, said coupler housing including at least one lug on an external surface thereof;
- and
- a coupler needle cannula extending from said rearward end of said coupler housing;
- wherein the at least one lug is configured to removably engage the coupler with the needle assembly.
A sampling container needle holder assembly for engagement with a needle assembly having an intravenous puncture end, a non-patient puncture tip and a guide sleeve housing with at least one slot extending along said housing adjacent said non-patient puncture tip, said needle holder assembly comprising:
- a needle holder comprising a hollow body having a forward end and a rearward end having an internal opening, said needle holder capable of accommodating a plurality of sampling containers therein;
- and
- a coupler extending from said forward end of said needle holder for providing fluid connection between the needle holder and the needle assembly, said coupler comprising a coupler housing having a forward end including a piercable septum therein and a rearward end having a coupler needle cannula extending therefrom, said forward end of said coupler housing accommodating said non-patient puncture tip of said needle assembly puncturing said piercable septum, said rearward end of said coupler housing connected with said needle holder with said coupler needle cannula extending into said hollow body of said needle holder through said forward end thereof, said coupler housing including at least one lug on an external surface thereof for removable engagement with said at least one slot of said guide sleeve housing.
A method for collecting a blood sample with a blood collection assembly having a double-ended needle and a needle holder, comprising:
- providing a needle assembly having a intravenous puncture tip, a non-patient puncture tip and a guide sleeve housing with at least one slot extending along said housing adjacent said non-patient puncture lip;
- providing a needle holder capable of accommodating a plurality of sampling containers therein and including a coupler connected to a forward end thereof, said coupler comprising
- a coupler housing having a forward end including a piercable septum therein,
- a rearward end having a coupler needle cannula extending into said needle holder
- and at least one lug on an external surface thereof;
- attaching said needle holder to said needle assembly through said coupler with said at least one lug on said coupler housing removably engaging with said at least one slot of said guide sleeve housing and said non-patient puncture tip of said needle assembly puncturing said piercable septum of said coupler housing;
- and
- establishing fluid flow trough said needle assembly and through said coupler needle cannula for collecting a sample of blood in a sampling container within said needle holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.