Needle assembly

Abstract

A non-patient safety needle assembly for mounting with a conventional intravenous blood collection set is provided. The non-patient needle assembly includes a hub assembly adapted for mounting with a blood collection set, and an internal blunting member including a blunted tip. The non-patient needle assembly further includes an external cannula concentric with the internal blunting member and including a non-patient puncture tip adjacent the blunted tip. The external cannula is axially displaceable with respect to the hub assembly between a first retracted position in which the non-patient puncture tip extends beyond the blunted tip and a second activated position in which blunted tip extends beyond the non-patient puncture tip. A blood collection set including such a non-patient needle assembly interconnected with an intravenous needle assembly through tubing is also provided.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A non-patient safety needle assembly for mounting with a conventional intravenous blood collection set comprising: 
 a hub assembly having opposing first and second ends, said first end adapted for mounting with a blood collection set;    an internal blunting member in fixed engagement with said hub assembly, said internal blunting member having a first end concentric with said hub assembly, a second end having a blunted tip and an internal lumen extending through said internal blunting member from said first end to said blunted tip; and    an external cannula concentric with said internal blunting member and axially displaceable with respect to said hub assembly, said external cannula including a non-patient puncture tip adjacent said blunted tip of said internal blunting member, said external cannula adapted for axial displacement with respect to said hub assembly between a first retracted position in which said non-patient puncture tip extends beyond said blunted tip of said internal blunting member and a second activated position in which said blunted tip of said internal blunting member extends beyond said non-patient puncture tip of said external cannula.    
     
     
         2 . A safety needle assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising a carriage assembly integral with said external cannula and concentric with said internal blunting member, said carriage assembly provided for slidable engagement with said hub assembly.  
     
     
         3 . A safety needle assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve extending about said non-patient puncture tip.  
     
     
         4 . A safety needle assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising a fitting for engagement with a blood collection set.  
     
     
         5 . A safety needle assembly as in  claim 4 , wherein said fitting comprises a luer fitting.  
     
     
         6 . A safety needle assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising means for attaching said needle assembly to a holder capable of holding blood collection tubes.  
     
     
         7 . A safety needle assembly as in  claim 6 , wherein said attaching means comprises threads extending circumferentially about said hub assembly.  
     
     
         8 . A safety needle assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein said external cannula is axially displaceable between said first retracted position and said second activated position in a single axial direction.  
     
     
         9 . A safety needle assembly as in  claim 8 , further comprising a locking mechanism for preventing axial displacement of said external cannula from said second activated position to said first retracted position.  
     
     
         10 . A blood collection set comprising: 
 a) in intravenous needle assembly including a needle having an intravenous puncture tip;    b) a tubing in fluid communication with said intravenous needle assembly; and    c) a non-patient needle assembly in fluid communication with said tubing, said non-patient needle assembly comprising: 
 i) a hub assembly having opposing first and second ends, said first end in engagement with said tubing,  
 ii) an internal blunting member in fixed engagement with said hub assembly, said internal blunting member having a first end concentric with said hub assembly, a second end having a blunted tip and an internal lumen extending through said internal blunting member from said first end to said blunted tip, and  
 iii) an external cannula concentric with said internal blunting member and axially displaceable with respect to said hub assembly, said external cannula including a non-patient puncture tip adjacent said blunted tip of said internal blunting member, said external cannula adapted for axial displacement with respect to said hub assembly between a first retracted position in which said non-patient puncture tip extends beyond said blunted tip of said internal blunting member and a second activated position in which said blunted tip of said internal blunting member extends beyond said non-patient puncture tip of said external cannula.  
   
     
     
         11 . A blood collection set as in  claim 10 , further comprising a carriage assembly integral with said external cannula and concentric with said internal blunting member, said carriage assembly provided for slidable engagement with said hub assembly.  
     
     
         12 . A blood collection set as in  claim 10 , further comprising a sleeve extending about said non-patient puncture tip.  
     
     
         13 . A blood collection set as in  claim 10 , wherein said hub assembly is removably attached to said tubing.  
     
     
         14 . A blood collection set as in  claim 13 , further comprising a luer fitting between said tubing and said hub assembly.  
     
     
         15 . A blood collection set as in  claim 10 , wherein said non-patient needle assembly further comprises means for attaching said blood collection set to a holder capable of holding blood collection tubes.  
     
     
         16 . A blood collection set as in  claim 15 , wherein said attaching means comprises threads extending circumferentially about said hub assembly.  
     
     
         17 . A blood collection set as in  claim 10 , wherein said external cannula is axially displaceable between said first retracted position and said second activated position in a single axial direction.  
     
     
         18 . A blood collection set as in  claim 17 , further comprising a locking mechanism for preventing axial displacement of said external cannula from said second activated position to said first retracted position.  
     
     
         19 . A blood collection set comprising: 
 a) in intravenous needle assembly including a needle having an intravenous puncture tip;    b) a tubing in fluid communication with said intravenous needle assembly; and    c) a non-patient needle assembly in fluid communication with said tubing, said non-patient needle assembly comprising: 
 i) a hub assembly having a first end, an opposing second end, and a central opening extending through said hub assembly from said first end to said second end, said first end in engagement with said tubing,  
 ii) an internal blunting member having a first end, an opposing second end, and an internal lumen extending through said internal blunting member from said first end to said second end, said first end positioned concentrically within said central opening of said hub assembly, said second end having a blunted tip,  
 iii) a carriage assembly having a first end and an opposed second end, said first end of said carriage assembly extending through said second end of said hub assembly into said central opening of said hub assembly and in sliding engagement with said hub assembly, and  
 iv) an external cannula extending from said second end of said carriage assembly and concentric with said internal blunting member, said external cannula including a non-patient puncture tip adjacent said blunted tip of said internal blunting member,  
 wherein sliding of said carriage assembly within said hub assembly causes axial movement of said external cannula about said internal blunting member between a first retracted position in which said non-patient puncture tip extends beyond said blunted tip of said internal blunting member and a second activated position in which said blunted tip of said internal blunting member extends beyond said non-patient puncture tip of said external cannula.