Blood collection set with venting mechanism

Abstract

The blood collection set includes an IV needle assembly, a length of flexible plastic tubing extending from the IV needle assembly and a non-patient needle assembly. The set is formed with a venting mechanism that permits an outflow of air, while blocking an outflow of blood or other fluids. Thus, the venting mechanism enables air that had existed in interior portions of the blood collection set to be vented allowing for greater flash visualization on venous entry, and avoids the need to employ a discard tube.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 576,140, which was filed on Jun. 2, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The subject invention relates to a blood collection set with self-venting features. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Phlebotomy procedures often are carried out using a blood collection set. A typical blood collection set includes an IV needle assembly with an IV cannula that has a proximal end, a sharply pointed distal end and a lumen extending between the ends. The needle assembly also includes a plastic IV hub with a proximal end, a distal end, and a passage extending between the ends. The proximal end of the IV cannula is mounted in the passage of the IV hub so that the lumen through the IV cannula communicates with the passage through the IV hub. The needle assembly may further include a shield for shielding the IV cannula after use and a packaging cover for safely c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The invention is a self-venting blood collection set with a self-venting mechanism that permits escape of air during use, and which, typically, also prevents an outflow of fluid, such as blood. As used herein, venting mechanism indicates one or more features or elements that provide venting of air, but which, typically, prevent fluid from passing through. Thus, air under venous pressure will be allowed to escape from the blood collection set through the mechanism until blood reaches the venting mechanism. The venting mechanism then will seal, or prevent blood flow through or around it, to prevent blood leakage and allow blood to be collected into evacuated collection tubes or into other appropriate blood collection receptacles. The invention thus provides good flash visualization, as well as the capability to provide a blood collection set that does not require a discard tube, without affecting accepted blood collection processes. A variety of venting mechanisms, venting media and venting locations are suitable, as set forth below. (As used herein, venting mechanism indicates the combination of elements, configurations, materials, etc. that provide the venting. As used herein, venting media indicates the actual element that vents the air, e.g., plug, coating, finish, etc.)

Problems solved by technology

The reduced blood volume can be undesirable such as when it adversely affects the ratio of additive to blood within the tube.

This approach adds to the cost and time of the procedure and wastes blood.

This approach also wastes blood and can lead to contamination or accidental sticks depending upon the method of venting.

However, the initial movement of air into the evacuated tube is delayed until the evacuated tube is added onto the non patient needle.

Thus, a medical practitioner may have a delayed indication of venous or arterial access and may incorrectly assume that the blood vessel was not accessed properly.

Accordingly, the patient may be subjected to unnecessary trauma during a repeated attempt to access the targeted blood vessel.

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