Bio-plexus, Inc.

Bio-plexus Delaware, Inc.

Marius Walter Hauri

P Spencer Kinsey

John M Polidoro

Richard G Holdaway

Chad C Smutney

Carl R Sahi

The present invention relates to a blood collection system comprising a blood collection tube, a tube holder, and a self-blunting blood collection needle. A blunting member is deployed upon withdrawal of a blood collection tube from the tube holder, to blunt the needle and so safeguard the patient and the technician from inadvertent needle sticks. The blunting member is retracted to re-sharpen the needle when a subsequent collection tube is inserted into the holder. The mechanism effects blunting and re-sharpening of the needle with requiring that the technician manipulate the mechanism in a manner different from that of conventional, non-blunting blood collection needles. Four types of mechanisms are disclosed: a rack and pinion mechanism; a cylindrical cam mechanism; lever mechanisms and a reversing strap mechanism.

Holder for blood collection needle with blunting mechanism

A needle assembly includes a needle member ( ) and a blunting member ( ), the needle member ( ) containing a needle cannula ( ), the needle cannula ( ) having a puncture tip ( ) and having a needle passageway therethrough. The blunting member ( ) contains a blunting probe ( ) having a blunt end ( ). The needle cannula ( ) and the blunting probe ( ) are disposed telescopically one within the other without obstructing flow through the needle passageway, and are movable between a sharpened configuration in which the puncture tip ( ) of the needle cannula ( ) is exposed and a blunted configuration in which the blunt end ( ) of the blunting probe ( ) extends beyond the puncture tip ( ) to blunt the needle assembly. The assembly may be combined with an accessory device (such as a catheter hub, guide wire, etc.) to produce an apparatus that is lockable in a blunted configuration and that can be released by the associated accessory, or may be configured to be released by manual manipulation.

Releasable locking needle assembly with optional release accessory therefor

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Putnam, CT, United States of America

Marius Walter Hauri