Bluntable needle assembly with open-ended blunting probe

Abstract

A needle assembly includes a needle component ( 10 ) and a blunting component ( 26 ), the needle component ( 10 ) containing a needle cannula ( 12 ) mounted in a housing ( 16 ) which defines a fluid chamber such as a fluid chamber ( 20 ). The blunting component ( 26 ) contains a non-perforated, open-ended blunting probe ( 28 ) mounted in a shuttle ( 30 ). The needle cannula ( 12 ) and the blunting probe ( 28 ) are disposed telescopically one within the other without obstructing flow through the needle passageway, and are movable between a sharpened configuration and a blunted configuration. The blunting member ( 26 ) is configured to permit the open end of the blunting probe ( 28 ) to provide flow access to the fluid chamber ( 20 ) in the housing ( 16 ).

1 . A bluntable needle assembly comprising: 
 a needle component comprising a housing and a needle cannula mounted on the housing, wherein 
 the needle cannula comprises a sharp tip, and  
 the housing defines a fluid chamber and an access port for fluid flow therethrough; and  
   a blunting component comprising a shuttle member and a blunting probe mounted on the shuttle member, wherein the blunting probe comprises a hollow tube open only at the ends, and a blunt tip;    wherein 
 the blunting probe is disposed within the needle cannula,  
 the needle component and the blunting component are configured for movement from a sharpened configuration to locking engagement in a blunted configuration, and  
 the shuttle member is configured to extend outside the fluid chamber and to permit fluid flow from the open end of the blunting probe into the fluid chamber.  
   
   
   
       2 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a detent and a stay engagement between the needle component and the blunting component, the detent being movable between: 
 (i) a locked position in which the detent bears against the stay, thereby preventing the needle assembly from moving to the sharpened configuration, and (ii) an unlocked position in which the needle assembly movable to the sharpened configuration.    
   
   
       3 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shuttle member defines a non-perforating cavity within which the blunting probe is mounted.  
   
   
       4 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shuttle member is perforated to permit fluid flow from the rearward open end of the blunting probe therein to the fluid chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shuttle member comprises an extension connected to the blunting probe in a manner that permits fluid flow from the end of the blunting probe to the fluid chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The needle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the shuttle member comprises the movable detent.  
   
   
       7 . The needle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the detent further comprises a coupling site for engagement by an accessory device.  
   
   
       8 . The needle assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the accessory device is a catheter.  
   
   
       9 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a flash chamber.  
   
   
       10 . A bluntable needle assembly comprising: 
 a needle component comprising a housing and a needle cannula mounted in the housing, the needle cannula having a sharp tip;    and a blunting component comprising a shuttle member and a blunting probe mounted on the shuttle member, the shuttle member defining a fluid chamber and an access port for fluid flow, and wherein the blunting probe comprises a hollow tube open only at the ends, and a blunt tip;    wherein 
 the blunting probe is disposed within the needle cannula and the needle component and the blunting component are configured for movement from a sharpened configuration to locking engagement in a blunted configuration with a detent and stay engagement between the needle component and the blunting component,  
 the detent is movable between (i) a locking position in which the detent bears against the stay, thereby preventing the needle assembly from moving to the sharpened configuration, and (ii) an unlocked position in which the needle assembly is movable to the sharpened configuration.  
   
   
   
       11 . The needle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the shuttle member comprises the movable detent.  
   
   
       12 . The needle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the detent further comprises a coupling site for engagement by an accessory.  
   
   
       13 . The needle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the accessory device is a catheter.  
   
   
       14 . The needle assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a flash chamber.