Multiple sample needle assembly with one-way valve and blood flow indicator

Claim 1

A needle assembly for facilitating the collection of a blood sample from a patient by first indicating when a venipuncture has been accomplished, then transferring blood from the patient into an evacuated container, while preventing any back flow from the container into the patient, and automatically blocking the blood flow due to venous pressure while shifting to successive sample tubes to be filled with the same venipuncture, said needle assembly comprising: a housing having a chamber therein; a forward penetrating end including a cannula extending from the housing for penetration into the blood vessel of a patient; a rearward end including a cannula extending from the housing and adapted to be coupled in fluid communication with the interior of an evacuated collection container; surfaces of said assembly to form a passageway for directing blood the blood vessel through the housing to the collection container when the forward end is in the blood vessel and the rearward end is in the container; a valve assembly mounted in the chamber in the housing and normally in the unarmed position with passages therein to permit blood to flow from the vein into the chamber upon venipuncture and being shiftable to an armed position to close the passageway from the vein into the chamber by means of a resilient elastomeric valve member in the chamber; said valve member adapted to be responsive to a reduction in a fluid pressure at the rearward end to deform and automatically open the passageway and permit blood to flow from the blood vessel to the rearward end and into a container, thereafter to be responsive to a predetermined increase in fluid pressure at the rearward end to automatically return to the closed position to thereby prevent flow of fluid from the rear end of the assembly to the blood vessel; and the rear end of the penetration cannula being mounted in the forward penetrating end of the housing extends rearwardly into the chamber of the housing; an elastomeric sleeve slidably mounted on the rear end of the penetration cannula in sealing engagement therewith, the sleeve being shiftable between an unarmed position and an armed position on said penetration cannula, the sleeve having a closed rear end and a forward open end with the penetration cannula mounted in the open end of the sleeve, at least one transverse hole in the wall of the sleeve permitting communication between the rear end of the penetration cannula and the exterior of the sleeve when the sleeve is in the unarmed position and said at least one transverse hole being closed when the sleeve is shifted to the armed position, a slit in the wall of the sleeve normally in closed position when the sleeve is in the armed and unarmed position and adapted to automatically open when there is a reduction in fluid pressure at the rearward end and thereafter to automatically close when there is a predetermined increase in fluid pressure at the rearward end, and an annular flange extending from the forward open end portion of the sleeve to facilitate engagement of the sleeve and shifting of the sleeve from the unarmed to the armed position.

Claim 25

The method of transferring blood from a patient into a blood sample assembly and container which includes the steps of: A. inserting a first sharp pointed hollow needle into a patient''s blood vessel; B. conducting the patient''s blood through said first needle and into a blood flow indicator; C. pushing in the forward direction a partially evacuated blood collecting container with a resilient closure after the blood flow indicator has shown that the first needle has been successfully inserted in the patient''s blood vessel, causing a second hollow pointed needle to penetrate through the resilient closure; and so that the blood container is operatively connected with the blood sample assembly; D. actuating a check valve incident to said forward pushing of the blood container insuring that blood can flow from the patient into the blood container but that no fluid can flow back from the container into the patient; E. opening an exit valve between a chamber of said blood sample assembly and the second hollow pointed needle incident to said forward pushing of the blood container; F. transferring blood from the patient''s blood vessel under the influence of the partial vacuum, through the first needle, through the check valve, through the chamber of the assembly, through the exit valve, and through the second needle until the blood container is substantially filled; G. removing the filled blood container in the backward direction and thereby closing the exit valve; H. repeating the foregoing steps C to G; and I. in the same manner filling as many blood containers as desired with a single puncture of the patient''s blood vessel.

Claim 26

The method of transferring blood from a patient into a blood sample assembly and container which includes the steps of: A. inserting a first sharp pointed hollow needle into a patient''s blood vessel; B. conducting the patient''s blood through said first needle and into a blood flow indicator; C. pushing in the forward direction a partially evacuated blood collecting container with a resilient closure after the blood flow indicator has shown that the first needle has been successfully inserted in the patient''s blood vessel, causing a second hollow pointed needle to penetrate through the resilient closure; and so that the blood container is operatively connected with the blood sample assembly; D. actuating a check valve incident to said forward pushing of the blood container insuring that blood can flow from the patient into the blood container but that no fluid can flow back from the container into the patient; E. opening an exit valve between a chamber of said blood sample assembly and the second hollow pointed needle incident to said forward pushing of the blood container; F. transferring blood from the patient''s blood vessel under the influence of the partial vacuum, through the first needle, through the check valve, through the chamber of the assembly, through the exit valve, and through the second needle until the blood container is substantially filled; G. removing the filled blood container in the backward direction and thereby closing the exit valve; H. repeating the foregoing steps C to G; and I. in the same manner filling as many blood containers as desired with a single puncture of the patient''s blood vessel.