# US 8,540,686 B2 · Blunt tip vial access cannula > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,686 B2 - Document ID: US8540686B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/070,314 - Filed: 2005-03-02 - Published: 2006-09-07 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-02 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Gregory A. Steube - Inventors: Gregory A. Steube - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540686B2 ## CPC - A61J 1/2096: {Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents} - A61J 1/201: {having one piercing end} - A61J 2200/10: Coring prevention means, e.g. for plug or septum piecing members - A61M 2205/195: by the needle tip shape - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract This present disclosure provides a non-coring vial access cannula which has sufficient structural strength that it may be made from a thermoplastic resin instead of metal, thus reducing the likelihood and severity of operator injury by an accidental needle stick. The vial access cannula of the present disclosure has (i) a needle hub suitable for receiving a hypodermic syringe or an IV set (e.g., a Luer lock), (ii) a cannula portion having a centrally disposed lumen, wherein the centrally disposed lumen terminates in one or more distal openings and is in fluid communication with the needle hub, and (iii) a solid tip member distal to the one or more distal openings, wherein the solid tip member has a blade with a cutting edge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vial access cannula comprising: a needle hub; a cannula portion connected to the needle hub and having a centrally disposed lumen, wherein said centrally disposed lumen terminates in at least one distal opening and is in fluid communication with said needle hub; a solid tip member disposed distal to said at least one distal opening, wherein said solid tip member includes at least one blade having at least one beveled face that extends to a cutting edge, and wherein a blunt distal-most tip of the solid tip member is defined by the union of a plurality of edges, at least one of the plurality of edges disposed at an angle of less than about 45° from a vertical plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cannula; and at least one planar lateral facet defining an outwardly facing exterior surface of the vial access cannula, the at least one planar lateral facet spanning an exterior distal region of said cannula portion and an exterior proximal region of said solid tip member, and the at least one lateral facet includes a medial groove running distally from said at least one distal opening and terminates proximal to said at least one blade. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein the at least one blade includes opposing beveled faces that extend to the cutting edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein the solid tip member includes at least two beveled faces that extend to at least two cutting edges. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein the centrally disposed lumen terminates in two distal openings and fluid flow through said distal openings is transverse to the axis of the cannula. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein the at least one planar lateral facet comprises a pair of planar lateral facets, wherein said pair of planar lateral facets comprises a medial groove, and wherein said medial groove (i) is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cannula, (ii) has substantially the same width as said distal openings, and (iii) runs distally from said distal openings and terminates proximal to said at least one blade. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein said at least one blade is disposed at an angle of about 5-45° from the vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cannula. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein said cutting edge of the at least one beveled face has a vertical length of about 50-95% of the diameter of the cannula portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vial access cannula of claim 7, wherein each of said at least one beveled face is medially disposed at an angle of about 5-25° from a longitudinal axis of the cannula. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein said needle hub comprises the female portion of a Luer lock. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein said needle hub further comprises a filter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein said vial access cannula is molded from plastic. ### Claim 12 A vial access cannula comprising: a needle hub, wherein said needle hub includes the female portion of a Luer lock; a cannula portion connected to the needle hub and having a centrally disposed lumen, wherein said centrally disposed lumen terminates in two laterally disposed distal openings and is in fluid communication with said needle hub; a solid tip member distal to said distal openings, wherein said solid tip member comprises at least one blade, the at least one blade having at least one beveled face that extends to a cutting edge disposed at an angle of about 5-45° from an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said cannula, and wherein the vertical length of said cutting edge is about 50-95% of the diameter of said cannula portion; and at least one planar lateral facet spanning an exterior distal region of said cannula portion and an exterior proximal region of said solid tip member, and the at least one lateral facet includes a medial groove running distally from at least one of the distal openings and terminates proximal to said at least one blade. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vial access cannula of claim 12, wherein the at least one blade includes opposing beveled faces that extend to the cutting edge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vial access cannula of claim 12, wherein the solid tip member includes at least two beveled faces that extend to at least two cutting edges. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vial access cannula of claim 12, wherein the at least one planar lateral facet comprises a pair of planar lateral facets, wherein said pair of planar lateral facets comprises a medial groove, and wherein said medial groove (i) is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cannula, (ii) has substantially the same width as said distal openings, and (iii) runs distally from said distal openings and terminates proximal to said at least one blade. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The vial access cannula of claim 12, wherein said cutting edge includes two beveled faces disposed at an angle of about 20-40° from the longitudinal axis of said cannula. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The vial access cannula of claim 12, wherein said vial access cannula is molded from plastic. ### Claim 18 A molded plastic vial access cannula comprising: (i) a needle hub suitable for receiving a hypodermic syringe or an IV set, wherein said needle hub comprises the female portion of a Luer lock; (ii) a cannula portion connected to the needle hub and having a centrally disposed lumen, wherein said centrally disposed lumen terminates in two laterally disposed distal openings and is in fluid communication with said needle hub; (iii) a solid tip member distal to said distal openings, wherein said solid tip member comprises (a) two bevels, wherein each of said bevels is medially disposed at an angle of about 5-25° from a longitudinal axis of the cannula, and (b) at least one blade, the at least one blade having at least one beveled face that extends to a cutting edge disposed at an angle of about 5-45° from an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said cannula, wherein the vertical length of said cutting edge is about 50-95% of the diameter of said cannula portion, and said cutting edge forming an angle of about 60°; and (iv) two laterally disposed planar facets, wherein said facets span an exterior distal region of said cannula portion and a proximal region of said solid tip member, wherein at least one of the laterally disposed planar facets includes a medial groove running into the proximal region of the solid tip member, the medial groove substantially spaced from two opposing longitudinal edges of the at least one planar lateral facet. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The vial access cannula of claim 18, wherein said at least one blade includes opposing beveled faces that extend to the cutting edge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The vial access cannula of claim 18, wherein the solid tip member includes at least two beveled faces that extends to at least two cutting edges. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The vial access cannula of claim 18, wherein each of said two laterally disposed planar facets comprises a medial groove, and wherein each medial groove (i) is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cannula, (ii) has substantially the same width as said distal openings, and (iii) runs distally from said distal openings and terminates proximal to said at least one blade. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The vial access cannula of claim 1, wherein the medial groove extends distally beyond a distal wall portion of the centrally disposed lumen.