Blood collection assembly

Abstract

A blood collection assembly has a needle assembly fixedly coupled to a finger-activated actuator and tubing and the needle assembly has a needle. Further, the blood collection assembly has a hub that houses the needle assembly and the hub has a channel in a top surface of the hub. Additionally, the channel slidably engages the finger-activated actuator such that when the finger-activated actuator is moved from a distal end of the hub to a proximal end of the hub the needle retracts within the hub. A support wall is configured to support the needle as the needle retracts.

Description

BLOOD COLLECTION ASSEMBLYBACKGROUND

[0001] Blood collection assemblies often comprise a small diameter needle having a pointed distal end and a proximal end mounted to a hub. Sometimes, the hub has wings mounted on either side. These wings may be used for a number of things. As an example, the wings may stTabilize the blood collection assembly as the needle is inserted into a patient's arm.

[0002] Some blood collection assemblies have safety devices that protect users and patients from the needle after the needle has been used. For example, one blood collection assembly comprises a button that when selected actuates a spring drawing the needle into the hub. Another blood collection assembly comprises actuating wings, such that when the wings are rotated upward and together, a spring is initiated that retracts the needle. There are other types of safety devices on other blood collection assemblies.

[0003] Many of the existing safety devices are not put in place until the needle is removed from the person's arm. Thus, many existing safety devices still leave the needle exposed momentarily. This momentary exposure can lead to an accidental needle stick.SUMMARY

[0004] A blood collection assembly has a needle assembly fixedly coupled to a finger-activated actuator and tubing and the needle assembly has a needle. Further, the blood collection assembly has a hub that houses the needle assembly and the hub has a channel in a top surface of the hub. Additionally, the channel slidably engages the finger-activated actuator such that when the finger- activated actuator is moved from a distal end of the hub to a proximal end of the hub the needle retracts within the hub. A support wall is configured to support the needle as the needle retracts.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary blood collection assembly.

[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the blood collection assembly as shown in FIG. 1, with a cover and tubing removed.

[0008] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the blood collection assembly as shown in FIG. 2.

[0009] FIG. 4A is a close-up sectional view of a portion of the blood collection assembly as shown in FIG. 2 with a needle in an advanced position.

[0010] FIG. 4B is a close-up sectional view of a portion of the blood collection assembly as shown in FIG. 4A with the needle in a partially retracted position.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of a hub of the blood collection assembly of FIG. 2.

[0012] FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the hub of FIG. 5.DESCRIPTION

[0013] The present disclosure describes an exemplary blood collection assembly. The exemplary blood collection assembly comprises a hub that contains a needle assembly. In one embodiment, the hub comprises a set of wings that are used to balance the blood collection assembly as a needle is inserted into a patient's arm.

[0014] Within a top side of the hub is a channel. Slidably coupled to the channel is a finger-activated actuator. The finger-activated actuator is situated toward the distal end of the hub when the needle is in an advanced position, such as when the needle is inserted into the patient's arm. When it is time to remove the needle from the patient's arm, a user slides the finger-activated actuator toward the proximal end of the hub until the needle is completely within the hub. Thus, the needle is removed from the patient's arm with little risk of accidental sticks.

[0015] In addition, at the distal end of the hub situated above the needle when the needle is in the advanced position is a door. The door is inside a compartment that is situated on a top side of the hub. When the needle is retracted by the finger-activated actuator, a biasing mechanism is operated to position the door between the distal end of the needle and the needle opening in the hub. The door protects users from the distal end of the needle ensuring that the needle does not advance.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a blood collection assembly 100, which includes a hub assembly 102 and tubing 103. Prior to use, a needle cover 104 is connected to the hub assembly 102. With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, hub assembly 102 includes a hub 105 defining a channel 107 extending from a distal end 106 to a proximal end 116 of the hub 105. A wing assembly 109 includes wings 110, 111 and a central enclosure 112 positioned over the distal end 106. The wings 110 and 111 are coupled to and extend laterally from the distal end 106 of the hub 105. The wings 110 and 111 stabilize the blood collection assembly 100 while the needle 101 is inserted into the patient's arm. Further, the wings 110 and 111 stabilize the blood collection assembly 100 post insertion while blood is being drawn.

[0017] Needle 101 is shown in an advanced position. An “advanced position” indicates that the needle is protruding for insertion into a patient's arm (not shown). The needle 101 protrudes from distal end 106, which defines a distal passageway 128 to accommodate needle cover 104 before use of the blood collection assembly 100. A “partially retracted position” indicates the needle 101 has been moved toward the proximal end 116 of the hub 105 and a “retracted position” indicates that the needle has been moved from the patient's arm and is housed within the hub 105.

[0018] With further reference to FIGS. 4 A and 4B, channel 107 includes an open end 118 configured to receive a finger-activated actuator 108 that is fixedly coupled to a needle assembly 121, which includes the needle 101, a needle holder 119 and a tubing coupler 123 connected to the tubing 103. Channel 107 slidably engages the finger-activated actuator 108 and includes a catch 120 to prevent finger-activated actuator 108 from separating from the channel 107. In operation, a user inserts the needle 101 in a patient's arm. Blood is collected via the flexible tubing 103. After the blood is collected, the user places his / her finger on the finger-activated actuator 108 and pulls the finger- activated actuator 108 to the proximal end 116 of the hub 105. Once the finger-activated actuator 108 has been moved to the proximal end 116 of the hub 105, the needle 101 is completely inside the hub 105. Thus, the needle 101 does not pose an accidental stick risk.

[0019] With additional reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, blood collection assembly 100 further includes an active closure assembly 130 positioned within hub 105. Active closure assembly 130 includes a door 132, a biasing mechanism 134 (e.g., a helical spring) and a cap 136. Door 132 includes a block 140 sized to be positioned within a cavity 146 in the hub 105. Block 140 is rectangularly shaped but can be other shapes as desired. Cavity 146 is separated from the distal passageway 128 through a support wall 150 positioned adjacent the cavity 146. In one embodiment, the cavity 146 extends in a firstdirection (e.g., vertically when the blood collection assembly 100 is positioned on a table), whereas the distal passageway 128 extends in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction (e.g., horizontally when the blood collection assembly 100 is positioned on a table). Cavity 146, in the illustrated embodiment, is similarly shaped to block 140 (e.g., rectangular). However, cavity 146 can be formed of other shapes as desired.

[0020] When finger-activated actuator 108 is in the advanced position as illustrated in FIG. 4A, biasing mechanism presses door 132 against needle holder 119 of the finger-activated actuator 108. Upon movement of the finger-activated actuator 108 to a partially retracted position as illustrated in FIG. 4B, biasing mechanism 134 operates to push door 132 against needle 101 and, once needle 101 is retracted beyond distal passageway 128, door 132 is pushed along cavity 146 toward a bottom of the cavity 146. As a result, door 132 prevents needle 101 from exiting the hub 105 and protects users of the assembly 100 from being stuck with needle 101 once finger-activated actuator 108 has been retracted.

[0021] Distal passageway 128 is illustrated as being annularly shaped, defining an inner surface 168 positioned about the needle 101. Inner surface 168 is sized to receive needle cover 104 therein, such that an outer surface of the needle cover 104 engages and establishes an interference fit with inner surface 168. In other embodiments, inner surface 168 can be other shapes, such as triangular or rectangular. Support wall 150 extends inwardly from inner surface 168 and separates distal passageway 128 and cavity 146. Further, in the advanced position of FIG. 4A, support wall 150 is positioned to support needle 101 and prevent deflection of needle 101 due to biasing mechanism 134 pushing door 132 against needle holder 119. Additionally, in the partially retracted position of FIG. 4B, when door 132 contacts needle 101, support wall 150 prevent deflection of needle 101. When viewed while blood collection assembly 100 is in an upright position, support wall 150 extends upwardly from inner surface 168 of distal passageway 128 and extends across a diameter of the distal passageway 128, terminating at an upper-most position to accommodate needle 101. In the embodiment illustrated, support wall 150 defines a recess 170 (herein an annularly shaped recess) to receive needle 101 and assist in positioning the needle 101 within distal passageway 128. In other embodiments, recess 170 can be eliminated.

[0022] Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiments] are not intended to be limiting, as many variationsand modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A blood collection assembly, comprising: a needle assembly fixedly coupled to a finger-activated actuator and tubing, the needle assembly comprising a needle; a hub including a channel in a top surface of the hub, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end defining a cavity and a distal passageway, the channel slidably engaging the finger- activated actuator such that when the finger-activated actuator is moved from a first position at a distal end of the hub to a second position toward a proximal end of the hub; an active closure assembly including a door and a biasing mechanism positioned within the cavity such that when the finger-activated actuator is in the second position, the biasing mechanism operates to move the door along the cavity to contact the needle; and a support wall positioned adjacent the cavity such that, when the finger-activated actuator is in the second position, the needle contacts the support wall.

2. The blood collection assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cap positioned within the hub, wherein the biasing mechanism is positioned between the cap and the door.

3. The blood collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring.

4. The blood collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the cavity extends in first direction and the distal passageway extends in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction.

5. The blood collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the support wall separates the cavity and the distal passageway.

6. The blood collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the support wall includes a recess configured to receive the needle.

7. The blood collection assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal passageway includes an inner surface.

8. The blood collection assembly of claim 7, wherein the inner surface is annular.

9. The blood collection assembly of claim 1, further comprising a needle cover positioned within the distal passageway.

10. The blood collection assembly of claim 9, wherein an outer surface of the needle cover engages an inner surface of the distal passageway through an interference fit.

11. A method of forming a blood collection assembly, comprising: providing a hub having a channel, a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a cavity and a distal passageway; positioning a finger-activated actuator within the channel such that a needle holder of the finger-activated actuator is positioned in the distal passageway; positioning an active closure assembly in the cavity, the active closure assembly including a door and a biasing mechanism, wherein the biasing mechanism presses the door against the needle holder; and positioning a support wall in the distal passageway, the needle contacting the support wall.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising a cap positioned within the hub, wherein the biasing mechanism is positioned between the cap and the door.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the biasing mechanism is a spring.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the cavity extends in first direction and the distal passageway extends in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the support wall separates the cavity and the distal passageway.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the support wall includes a recess configured to receive the needle.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the distal passageway includes an inner surface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the inner surface is annular.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising positioning a needle cover within the distal passageway.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein an outer surface of the needle cover engages an inner surface of the distal passageway through an interference fit.

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