Intravenous needle and holder assembly

Claim 2

An intravenous needle and holder assembly having an outer case, an intravenous needle for receipt in the outer case with at least a part of the needle projecting from a forward end of the case, and adjustment means attached to a back end of the needle for selectively establishing an insertion orientation of the assembly having a substantially rigidified junction between the needle and the case effectively preventing lateral movement of the case, relative to the needle, and an administration orientation of the assembly having a flexible junction between the needle and the case allowing lateral movement of the case relative to the needle.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the adjustment means includes a length of flexible tubing, the needle being movable along a bore in the forward end of the case between a first position establishing the insertion orientation of the assembly wherein only a part of the needle protrudes from the forward end of the case, and a second position establishing the administration orientation of the assembly wherein the entire needle and at least part of said flexible tubing protrudes from the forward end of the case.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 2 further including an inner case attached to a back end of said tubing for receipt in the outer case and for connection to intravenous tubing.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 3 including connector means between the inner case and outer case for releasably locking the assembly in the administration orientation.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the connector means comprises a cap formation on the inner case, an internal thread on said cap formation and a corresponding external thread on the outer case.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 2 including a socket in the inner case for receiving a press-in fitting on intravenous tubing.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 1 including thumb and finger indentations on the outer case to facilitate insertion of the needle in a patient's blood vessel.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 7 further including a flattened surface on the outer case to facilitate immobilization of the outer case on a patient's arm.

Claim 10

An intravenous needle and holder assembly including an outer case having a forward end with a small needle-receiving bore formed therein and an opened back end, an inner case for connection to intravenous tubing, the inner case having a forward end connection to an intravenous needle by a length of flexible tubing, the inner case being receivable in the outer case with the needle projecting through said bore, the assembly having an insertion orientation wherein the needle projects only partially from said bore so as to provide a substantially rigidified junction with the outer case, and the assembly having an administration orientation wherein the outer case is withdrawn along the inner case to expose at least part of said length of flexible tubing from the forward end of the outer case and provide substantially flexible movement of the outer case relative to the needle thereby facilitating immobilization of the outer case.

Claim 11

An intravenous needle and holder assembly including an outer case having a forward end with a small needle-receiving bore formed therein and an opened back end, an inner case for connection to intravenous tubing, the inner case having a forward end connection to an intravenous needle by a length of flexible tubing, the inner case being receivable in the outer case with the needle projecting through said bore, the assembly having an insertion orientation wherein the needle projects only partially from said bore so as to provide a substantially rigidified junction with the outer case, and the assembly having an administration orientation wherein the outer case is withdrawn along the inner case to expose at least part of said length of flexible tubing from the forward end of the outer case and provide substantially flexible movement of the outer case relative to the needle thereby facilitating immobilization of the outer case.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 9 including a screw-threaded connection between the inner case and the outer case for securing the cases together in the administration orientation of the assembly.

Claim 13

The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein the outer case is contoured to facilitate handling and immobilization on a patient's arm.

Claim 14

The invention as defined in claim 9 including a socket formation at a back end of the inner case to receive a push-in fitting at the leading end of intravenous tubing.

Claim 15

An intravenous needle and holder assembly which includes a needle, an inner case having a through-bore, a back end for connection to a supply of intravenous fluid and a forward end, a length of flexible tubing connecting the forward end of the inner case to a back end of the needle, and an outer case for surrounding and thereby rigidifying the flexible tubing during insertion of the needle, the outer case being removable from at least a part of the tubing after insertion of the needle to expose said part of the tubing for providing flexibility between the needle and the inner case during administration of a fluid therethrough.

Claim 16

An intravenous needle and holder assembly which includes a needle, an inner case having a through-bore, a back end for connection to a supply of intravenous fluid and a forward end, a length of flexible tubing connecting the forward end of the inner case to a back end of the needle, and an outer case for surrounding and thereby rigidifying the flexible tubing during insertion of the needle, the outer case being removable from at least a part of the tubing after insertion of the needle to expose said part of the tubing for providing flexibility between the needle and the inner case during administration of a fluid therethrough.

Claim 17

The assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein the outer case is configured to surround the entire length of said tubing as well as gripping a forward end portion of the inner case and a back end portion of the needle.

Claim 18

The assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein the outer case has means for entirely separating same from the flexible tubing.

Claim 19

The assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein the outer case comprises two interfitting elongate trough-like sections and said means for separating comprises detachable fastener means between the sections.

Claim 20

The assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein the fastener means comprises hook-and-eye type fastener means on one side of the outer case, and frictional-snap type fastener means on an opposite side of the outer case.

Claim 21

The assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein the outer case has as least one back end internal boss for gripping the inner case and a front end internal boss for gripping the needle.

Claim 22

The assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein the outer case includes an internal thrust means for engaging the flexible tubing and preventing lengthwise movement of the tubing and needle in the outer case during insertion of the needle.

Claim 23

The assembly as defined in claim 19 wherein the thrust means is located adjacent the front end boss.