Needle assembly with diagnostic analysis provisions

Abstract

A needle assembly. The needle assembly enabling the analysis of fluid trapped in a flashback chamber after an insertion needle has been inserted into a patient's vein.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A safety needle assembly, comprising:
 an insertion needle having a sharpened distal tip, a proximal end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween;   a needle hub operably coupled to the proximal end of the insertion needle, the needle hub including a chamber comprising a wall defining an access port; and   a sample vial coupleable to the access port of the needle hub and in fluid communication with the chamber, whereupon collection of a bodily fluid of a patient within the sample vial, the sample vial is removable from the access port to enable storage of the bodily fluid separate from the insertion needle and needle hub.   
     
     
         17 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the sample vial is tubular. 
     
     
         18 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the sample vial comprises a flash plug configured to enable air to escape as bodily fluid fills the sample vial. 
     
     
         19 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the sample vial is constructed of at least one of a transparent or translucent material to enable a clinician to visually see when bodily fluid enters the sample vial. 
     
     
         20 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a needle housing slideably coupled to the needle hub between a first position wherein the sharpened distal tip of the needle extends from the needle housing and a second position wherein the sharpened distal tip of the needle is housed within the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the sample vial is positioned in proximity to at one of a distal end or proximal end of the needle housing. 
     
     
         22 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the sample vial extends outwardly from an exterior wall of the needle housing. 
     
     
         23 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein a wall of the sample vial contains a color changing substance that changes color based on a characteristic of the bodily fluid contained within the cavity, thereby providing a visual indication of a condition of a patient. 
     
     
         24 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the patient condition is at least one of glucose level, pregnancy, pH balance, and hormone level. 
     
     
         25 . The safety needle assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the color changing substance is deposited on the interior surface in a pattern. 
     
     
         26 . A needle assembly for accessing fluid from a patient, comprising:
 an insertion needle having a sharpened distal tip, a proximal end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween;   a needle hub operably coupled to the proximal end of the insertion needle, the needle hub including a chamber comprising a wall defining an access port;   a needle housing slideably coupled to the needle hub between a first position wherein the sharpened distal tip of the needle extends from the needle housing and a second position wherein the sharpened distal tip of the needle is housed within the housing; and   a sample vial coupleable to the access port of the needle hub and in fluid communication with the chamber, whereupon collection of a bodily fluid of a patient within the sample vial, the sample vial is removable from the access port to enable storage of the bodily fluid separate from the insertion needle and needle hub.   
     
     
         27 . The needle assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the sample vial is tubular. 
     
     
         28 . The needle assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the sample vial comprises a flash plug configured to enable air to escape as bodily fluid fills the sample vial. 
     
     
         29 . The needle assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the sample vial is constructed of at least one of a transparent or translucent material to enable a clinician to visually see when bodily fluid enters the sample vial. 
     
     
         30 . The needle assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the sample vial is positioned in proximity to at one of a distal end or proximal end of the needle housing. 
     
     
         31 . The needle assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the sample vial extends outwardly from an exterior wall of the needle housing. 
     
     
         32 . The needle assembly of  claim 26 , wherein a wall of the sample vial contains a color changing substance that changes color based on a characteristic of the bodily fluid contained within the cavity, thereby providing a visual indication of a condition of a patient. 
     
     
         33 . The needle assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the patient condition is at least one of glucose level, pregnancy, pH balance, and hormone level. 
     
     
         34 . The needle assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the color changing substance is deposited on the interior surface in a pattern. 
     
     
         35 . A method of accessing fluid from a patient, comprising:
 inserting an insertion needle having a sharpened distal tip into a body of a patient, the insertion needle operably coupled to a needle hub, the needle hub including a chamber comprising a wall defining an access port, and a sample vial coupleable to the access port of the needle hub and in fluid communication with the chamber;   collecting a sample of bodily fluid of a patient within the sample vial; and   removing the sample vial from the access port to enable storage of the bodily fluid separate from the insertion needle and needle hub.