Needle assembly with diagnostic analysis provisions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028691-B2
Application number	US-201615012059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2016
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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 flash chamber comprising a wall defining a cavity and a circumferential groove positioned between a distal end and a proximal end of the cavity, the cavity in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug; and
a circumferential ring including a color changing substance that changes color based on a characteristic of a fluid contained within the cavity positioned within the circumferential groove, thereby providing a visual indication of a condition of the patient.

2. The needle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the patient condition is at least one of glucose level, pregnancy, pH balance, and hormone level.

3. The needle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flash chamber comprises transparent lateral walls for ease in viewing the color changing substance.

4. The needle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the circumferential ring includes two or more color changing substances that independently change color based on characteristics of a fluid contained within the cavity.

5. The needle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the two or more color changing substances change color based on different fluid characteristics.

6. The needle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the color changing substance is deposited on the circumferential ring in a pattern.

7. The needle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the pattern is at least one of a strip, a plurality of strips, a plurality of semi-spheres, a plurality of ovals, and a plurality of rhombuses.

8. The needle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the needle hub further includes a reference color to which the color changing substance can be compared.

9. The needle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the needle hub further includes a range of reference colors along a color spectrum to which the color changing substance can be compared.

10. The needle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the color changing substance is adhered to one or more layers of fluid wicking material.

11. The safety needle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a catheter that partially covers the insertion needle.

12. The needle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a needle housing operably coupled to the needle hub, the needle housing movable between a first position where in the sharpened distal tip extends from the needle housing, and a second position when the sharpened distal tip is housed within the needle housing.

13. 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 flash chamber comprising a wall defining a cavity, the cavity in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug, wherein the flash plug includes a reduced diameter portion coated with a substance that changes color based on a characteristic of a fluid contained within the cavity such that the substance is positioned in close proximity to the cavity defining wall, thereby providing a visual indication of a condition of the patient.

14. The needle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the flash plug is coated with a plurality of color changing substances that independently change color based on characteristics of a fluid contained within the cavity.

15. The needle assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a needle housing operably coupled to the needle hub, the needle housing movable between a first position where in the sharpened distal tip extends from the needle housing, and a second position when the sharpened distal tip is housed within the needle housing.

Assignees

• Smiths Medical Asd Inc

Inventors

• Goral David
• Chheda Harsh
• Breindel Jay
• Akcay Gursel
• Muskatello James
• Justmann David

Classifications

• A61M39/22

  Valves or arrangement of valves {(A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405)} · CPC title

• A61B5/150732

  Needle holders, for instance for holding the needle by the hub, used for example with double-ended needle and pre-evacuated tube · CPC title

• A61B5/15003

  for venous or arterial blood · CPC title

• A61M2205/0205

  Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent · CPC title

• A61M5/3202

  Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title