Removable flash chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9314201-B2
Application number	US-201314065727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2013
Priority date	Jul 15, 2010
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A needle hub and catheter assembly are disclosed herein. The needle hub includes an introducer needle having a lumen extending therethrough. A needle hub is coupled to a proximal end of the introducer needle. A flash chamber is removably coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle. An interior of the flash chamber is in fluid communication with the lumen of the introducer needle when the flash chamber is coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle. As such, the flash chamber can collect a sample of blood that can be accessed when the flash chamber is removed. In some instances, the blood can also be dispensed from the flash chamber into a test strip or other testing device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A catheter assembly comprising:
a catheter hub;
an introducer needle having a lumen extending therethrough;
a needle hub coupled to a proximal end of the introducer needle, the needle hub forming an internal chamber having a proximal opening;
a flash chamber having a distal end that is positioned within the internal chamber and is removably coupled to the needle hub, an interior of the flash chamber being in fluid communication with the lumen of the introducer needle when the flash chamber is coupled to the needle hub; and
a safety barrel removably coupled to the catheter hub, the safety barrel being configured to capture a sharpened distal tip of the introducer needle when the needle hub is withdrawn proximally within the safety barrel, a proximal end of the flash chamber being positioned within the safety barrel prior to the needle hub being withdrawn proximally within the safety barrel, the safety barrel having a proximal opening configured to allow the flash chamber to extend proximally out through the safety barrel when the sharpened distal tip is captured within the safety barrel thereby allowing the flash chamber to be decoupled from the needle hub, the proximal opening being sized to prevent the needle hub from extending through the proximal opening.

2. The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flash chamber comprises:
a chamber body defining an internal cavity; and
an air permeable membrane coupled to the chamber body and in fluid communication with the internal cavity.

3. The catheter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the internal cavity of the chamber body of the flash chamber has an internal volume between about 0.1 mL to about 10 mL.

4. The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flash chamber is press fit into one or both of the needle hub or introducer needle.

5. The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flash chamber is screwed onto the needle hub.

6. The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flash chamber is selectively coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle via a keyed connection.

7. The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flash chamber is selectively coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle via a breakable connection.

8. The catheter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flash chamber is a breakable ampoule.

9. A catheter assembly comprising:
a catheter adapter; and
a needle assembly comprising:
an introducer needle having a lumen extending therethrough;
a needle hub coupled to a proximal end of the introducer needle, the needle hub forming an internal chamber having a proximal opening;
a flash chamber having a distal end that is positioned within the internal chamber and is selectively coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle, an interior of the flash chamber being in fluid communication with the lumen of the introducer needle when the flash chamber is coupled to the needle hub; and
a safety barrel removably coupled to the catheter hub, the safety barrel being configured to capture a sharpened distal tip of the introducer needle when the needle hub is withdrawn proximally within the safety barrel, a proximal end of the flash chamber being positioned within the safety barrel prior to the needle hub being withdrawn proximally within the safety barrel, the safety barrel having a proximal opening configured to allow the flash chamber to extend proximally out through the safety barrel when the sharpened distal tip is captured within the safety barrel thereby allowing the flash chamber to be decoupled from the needle hub, the proximal opening being sized to prevent the needle hub from extending through the proximal opening.

10. The catheter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the needle hub comprises a valve through which the flash chamber extends, the valve sealing the proximal opening of the needle hub when the flash chamber is decoupled from the needle hub.

11. The catheter assembly of claim 10 , wherein the flash chamber is selectively coupled to the valve.

12. The catheter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flash chamber is selectively coupled to the needle hub and the introducer needle.

13. The catheter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flash chamber is screwed onto the needle hub.

14. The catheter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flash chamber is selectively coupled to the needle hub or the introducer needle via a breakable connection, the breakable connection including at least one scored line and a stress riser.

15. The catheter assembly of claim 9 , wherein the flash chamber is a breakable ampoule.

16. A catheter assembly comprising:
a catheter adapter from which a catheter extends distally;
a safety barrel secured to a proximal end of the catheter adapter, the safety barrel having a proximal opening;
a needle hub contained within the safety barrel, the needle hub including an introducer needle that extends distally from the needle hub within the catheter when the needle hub is in a first position, the needle hub forming an internal chamber having a proximal opening;
a flash chamber having a distal end that is positioned within the internal chamber and that is secured to a proximal end of the needle hub, the flash chamber being in fluid communication with the introducer needle, the flash chamber being removable from the needle hub, a proximal end of the flash chamber being positioned within the safety barrel when the needle hub is in the first position;
wherein the needle hub is configured to move proximally within the safety barrel to a second position to withdraw the introducer needle into the safety barrel, the proximal movement causing the flash chamber to move proximally through the proximal opening of the safety barrel thereby allowing the flash chamber to be decoupled from the needle hub and removed from within the safety barrel while the needle hub remains within the safety barrel, the proximal opening being sized to prevent the needle hub from extending through the proximal opening.

17. The catheter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the flash chamber collects blood that flows through the introducer needle and into the flash chamber while the flash chamber is secured to the needle hub, the flash chamber being compressible to reduce its internal volume thereby allowing the collected blood to be ejected from the flash chamber.

18. The catheter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the safety barrel is removable from the catheter adapter after the introducer needle is withdrawn into the safety barrel.

19. The catheter assembly of claim 16 , further comprising:
a spring positioned between a proximal portion of the needle hub and a distal portion of the safety barrel, the spring being compressed when the needle hub is in the first position, the decompression of the spring causing the proximal movement of the needle hub.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Burkholz Jonathan Karl
• Hoang Minh Quang

Classifications

• A61B5/150389

  Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin · CPC title

• A61B5/15074

  Needle sets comprising wings, e.g. butterfly type, for ease of handling · CPC title

• A61B5/15003

  for venous or arterial blood · CPC title

• A61B5/150519

  Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device · CPC title

• A61B5/1535 Primary

  comprising means for indicating vein or arterial entry (A61B5/1545 takes precedence) · CPC title