Aspirator method

Claim 1

A method of taking a blood sample from an infant utilizing a cannula having a penetrating point at its distal end and an elongate lateral opening through the cannula wall on the side opposite the penetrating point and intersecting the end opening, comprising the steps of: providing a sleeve having a length greater than the length of the lateral opening and an outwardly-extending flat base at the end adjacent the penetrating point; slidably mounting the sleeve on the cannula for movement between a first position where the penetrating point is inside the sleeve and the lateral opening is covered by the sleeve, and a position closer to the hub; sealing the sleeve against the cannula to provide an air-tight cover extending over the lateral opening; sealing the base against an infant's skin at a location above the femoral vein and maintaining the sealing against the skin throughout the sebsequent steps; inserting the cannula into the infant's leg and through the femoral vein until the penetrating point is adjacent the femur, thereby sliding the cannula relative to the sleeve; withdrawing the cannula until the lateral opening communicates with the femoral vein; applying a slight vacuum on the cannula to withdraw blood therethrough; and thereafter withdrawing the cannula from the infant.

Claim 2

A method of taking a blood sample from an infant utilizing a cannula having a penetrating point at its distal end and an elongate lateral opening through the cannula wall on the side opposite the penetrating point and intersecting the end opening, comprising the steps of: providing a sleeve having a length greater than the length of the lateral opening and an outwardly-extending flat base at the end adjacent the penetrating point; slidably mounting the sleeve on the cannula for movement between a first position where the penetrating point is inside the sleeve and the lateral opening is covered by the sleeve, and a position closer to the hub; sealing the sleeve against the cannula to provide an air-tight cover extending over the lateral opening; sealing the base against an infant's skin at a location above the femoral vein and maintaining the sealing against the skin throughout the sebsequent steps; inserting the cannula into the infant's leg and through the femoral vein until the penetrating point is adjacent the femur, thereby sliding the cannula relative to the sleeve; withdrawing the cannula until the lateral opening communicates with the femoral vein; applying a slight vacuum on the cannula to withdraw blood therethrough; and thereafter withdrawing the cannula from the infant.

Claim 3

A method of taking a blood sample utilizing a cannula having a penetrating point at its distal end, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate lateral opening through the cannula wall on the side opposite the penetrating point and intersecting the end opening, and extending along the cannula from the distal end a distance in the range of ten to forty times the diameter of the lumen of the cannula; providing a sleeve having a length greater than the distance from the distal end to the remote end of the lateral opening and an outwardly-extending flat base at the end adjacent the penetrating point; slidably mounting the sleeve on the cannula for movement between a first position where the penetrating point is inside the sleeve and the lateral opening is covered by the sleeve, and a position closer to the hub of the cannula; sealing the sleeve against the cannula at the first position to provide an air-tight cover extending over the lateral opening; sealing the base against a patient's skin at a location above a blood vessel of undetermined depth below the skin and maintaining the sealing against the skin throughout the subsequent steps; aligning the cannula with the blood vessel and inserting the cannula into the patient to a depth sufficient to pierce the blood vessel and with the lateral opening communicating with the blood vessel and without regard to whether any portion of the lateral opening is still external of the skin; and applying a slight vacuum on the cannula to withdraw blood therethrough.

Claim 4

A method of taking a blood sample utilizing a cannula having a penetrating point at its distal end, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate lateral opening through the cannula wall on the side opposite the penetrating point and intersecting the end opening, and extending along the cannula from the distal end a distance in the range of ten to forty times the diameter of the lumen of the cannula; providing a sleeve having a length greater than the distance from the distal end to the remote end of the lateral opening and an outwardly-extending flat base at the end adjacent the penetrating point; slidably mounting the sleeve on the cannula for movement between a first position where the penetrating point is inside the sleeve and the lateral opening is covered by the sleeve, and a position closer to the hub of the cannula; sealing the sleeve against the cannula at the first position to provide an air-tight cover extending over the lateral opening; sealing the base against a patient's skin at a location above a blood vessel of undetermined depth below the skin and maintaining the sealing against the skin throughout the subsequent steps; aligning the cannula with the blood vessel and inserting the cannula into the patient to a depth sufficient to pierce the blood vessel and with the lateral opening communicating with the blood vessel and without regard to whether any portion of the lateral opening is still external of the skin; and applying a slight vacuum on the cannula to withdraw blood therethrough.