Miles Laboratories, Inc.

Cutter Laboratories, Inc.

Prentice C Wharff

Bruce N Kuhlemann

Kalman Horvath

Renato R Salumbides

Double-protected needle assembly comprising a needle-handle portion and a needle-protecting portion. The needle-handle portion includes a bevel-tipped needle attached to and extending from it into the needle-protector portion. The needle protecting portion comprises a rigid, tamper proof member completely enclosing the needle and attached to the needle-handle portion at a resilient tear seal member adapted to break when a twisting force is applied to either the handle portion or the protecting member. The tear seal is adapted to remove liquid from the surface of the needle when the protector is withdrawn to expose the needle. Within the protector, but not attached thereto, is a relatively soft inner tubular enclosure completely enclosing the needle extending beyond its bevel tip and adapted to prevent contact of the bevel tip with any portion of the rigid protector during assembly or when the protector is removed. The inner tubular enclosure is retained loosely within the protector by the tear seal member which is bonded to the rigid protector during steam sterilization.

Needle assembly

There is disclosed a needle assembly comprising a needle, a needle-retaining portion, a removable needle protector portion, and a resilient member for removing liquid from the surface of the needle which is disposed around the needle rearward of its point. The liquid removing member has a needle-accommodating opening with a diameter approximately that of the outside diameter of the needle. The member is contained within the needle protector portion and removable from the needle with the removal of the needle protector portion from the assembly. Also disclosed are blood bag systems comprising a donor bag and the aforementioned needle assembly.

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Oakley, CA, United States of America

Prentice C Wharff