Blood drawing device with flash detection

Abstract

A device for drawing fluid from a lumen, and particularly blood from a blood vessel, is disclosed. The device may provide indication of the entry of an intravenous cannula into the lumen. The device may include a central body having an outer wall and an inner fluid passage. The device may include a luer-type adapter to permit the attachment of an I.V. infusion set of various lengths (“butterfly needle”) and or any luer-type fitting attached to an existing device. The outer wall of the central body may be transparent or translucent to permit the detection of fluid within the inner fluid passage. A front cannula may extend from one end of the central body and a rear cannula may extend from the other end of the central body. Both the front and rear cannulae may communicate with the inner fluid passage. A flexible sleeve may surround at least a tip portion of the rear cannula. A venting member may be provided near a base portion of the rear cannula between the flexible sleeve and the ambient. The venting member may permit the passage of air through it, but be substantially impermeable to liquids, such as blood.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A device for assisting in drawing fluid from a lumen while providing for flash detection of the fluid, said device comprising: 
 a flexible sleeve having an open end, a wall defining an interior space, and being adapted to surround at least a tip portion of a cannula provided by a fluid drawing device; and    a means for venting air from the sleeve interior space, said means for venting air being disposed at least partially in the open end of the sleeve, being adapted to reside at least partially between the sleeve wall and said cannula, and being at least partially blood impermeable.    
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the flexible sleeve is at least partially transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 29  wherein the means for venting air comprises material selected from the group consisting of: sintered compositions, layered compositions, rolled compositions, foamed compositions, perforated compositions, impregnated compositions, hydrophyllic compositions, hydrophobic compositions, sintered polyethylene, porous polyethylene, porous polypropylene, porous polyfluorocarbon, absorbent paper, materials impregnated with dilute Russell Viper venom, molded fiber, fiberglass, felt, granular starch, cellulose, polyacrylamide gel, hydrogel, a molded admixture of porous hydrophobic/hydrophyllic granules and low density silicone, and molded open cell polyurethane.  
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the means for venting air comprises material selected from the group consisting of: sintered compositions, layered compositions, rolled compositions, foamed compositions, perforated compositions, impregnated compositions, hydrophyllic compositions, hydrophobic compositions, sintered polyethylene, porous polyethylene, porous polypropylene, porous polyfluorocarbon, absorbent paper, materials impregnated with dilute Russell Viper venom, molded fiber, fiberglass, felt, granular starch, cellulose, polyacrylamide gel, hydrogel, a molded admixture of porous hydrophobic/hydrophyllic granules and low density silicone, and molded open cell polyurethane.  
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the means for venting air comprises a porous member having an inner opening adapted to receive a cannula, a tapered outer portion, and an annular recess adjacent the tapered outer portion.  
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 a central body having an outer wall and an inner passage; and    a cannula extending from said central body passage,    wherein said sleeve surrounds at least a tip portion of the cannula, and wherein said means for venting air is disposed at least partially in the open end of the sleeve and is adapted to reside at least partially between the sleeve wall and said cannula.    
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 33  wherein the means for venting air includes a porous member, a porous collar, a porous insert, or a porous spacer.  
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the means for venting air includes a porous member, a porous collar, a porous insert, or a porous spacer.  
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 33  wherein the means for venting air includes a base portion contacting the central body.  
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 33  wherein the means for venting air includes a base portion spaced from the central body.  
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 37  further comprising a porous spacer comprising absorbent material disposed between the base portion and the central body.  
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 33  wherein at least a portion of the central body is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the means for venting air is substantially impermeable to blood.  
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the means for venting air comprises: 
 a first member adapted to vent air; and    a second member adapted to absorb blood.    
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the means for venting air includes a blood clotting agent.  
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the means for venting air comprises: 
 a first member including one or more venting features, said first member contacting a base portion of the cannula; and    a porous spacer disposed between the non-porous member and the central body.    
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 33  wherein the central body includes means for magnifying an image of fluid within the central body.  
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the means for venting air is substantially porous for gas constituents less than about 5 microns in size, and substantially non-porous for liquid constituents about 5 microns or greater in size.  
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 33  further comprising a front cannula connected to the central body.  
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 46  further comprising a flexible or semi-rigid tube connecting the front cannula to the central body.  
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 47  further comprising a means for controlling blood flow through the front cannula.  
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 33  wherein the sleeve is at least partially transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 a central body having an outer wall and an inner fluid passage;    a front cannula incorporated into a butterfly needle housing, said front cannula communicating with the inner fluid passage at a first end of the central body; and    a rear cannula communicating with the inner fluid passage at a second end of the central body,    wherein said sleeve surrounds at least a tip portion of the rear cannula, and wherein said means for venting air is disposed at least partially in the open end of the sleeve and is adapted to reside at least partially between the sleeve wall and said rear cannula.    
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the means for venting air includes a porous member, a porous collar, a porous insert, or a porous spacer.  
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the means for venting air includes a base portion contacting the central body.  
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the means for venting air includes a base portion spaced from the central body.  
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 53  further comprising a porous spacer comprising absorbent material disposed between the base portion and the central body.  
   
   
       55 . The device of  claim 50  wherein at least a portion of the central body is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       56 . The device of  claim 50  further comprising a means for controlling blood flow through the front cannula.  
   
   
       57 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the sleeve is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       58 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the means for venting air is a porous member that includes a tapered portion and an annular recess adjacent the tapered portion.  
   
   
       59 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the front cannula is connected to the central body by a transparent or translucent tube.  
   
   
       60 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the butterfly needle housing includes a transparent or translucent portion for flash detection.  
   
   
       61 . The device of  claim 28  further comprising: 
 a central body having an outer wall and an inner fluid passage;    a front cannula communicating with the inner fluid passage at a first end of the central body; and    a rear cannula communicating with the inner fluid passage at a second end of the central body,    wherein said sleeve surrounds at least a tip portion of the rear cannula, and wherein said means for venting air is disposed at least partially in the open end of the sleeve and is adapted to reside at least partially between the sleeve wall and said rear cannula.