Abstract: A needle assembly for sampling fluid from a patient including a needle guard, an insertion needle, and a needle housing. The distal end of the needle guard includes a nose portion and a flexible nose extension defining a fluid collection reservoir. The proximal end of the needle guard includes a push feature. The insertion needle has a sharpened distal tip, a proximal needle end and a shaft defining a lumen extending therebetween. The needle housing is operably coupled to the proximal needle end and is slideably coupled to the needle guard. The needle housing includes a flash chamber including a wall defining a cavity. The cavity is in fluid communication with the lumen of the insertion needle and is sealed at one end by a gas permeable flash plug. The push feature selectively engages the flash plug to divert captured bodily fluids to the fluid collection reservoir for sampling.

Abstract: A safety intravenous catheter that includes a passive release feature. The catheter assembly includes ready, safe, and released positions. In the release position, a retainer being in a proximal retainer position relative to a collar enables release of the catheter hub from the catheter insertion device. The sharp tip of the insertion needle remains inaccessible in the release position in order to prevent unwanted needle sticks.

Abstract: A method of creating a feature on a needle. The method comprising the steps of providing a needle having a sharpened distal end for insertion into an insertion site on a subject, a proximal end, and a tubular wall defining an inner diameter and an outer diameter; gripping a distal portion of the needle about the outer diameter; gripping a proximal portion of the needle about an outer diameter; and applying a compressive force between the distal portion and the proximal portion sufficient to effect an outward buckling of the tubular wall, thereby increasing an outer diameter of the tubular wall between the distal portion and the proximal portion.

Abstract: A catheter assembly includes a catheter hub defining an interior cavity and a catheter tube extending distally thereof. A rigid actuator is positioned to extend proximally in the interior cavity and support a seal member positioned thereon in the interior cavity. The seal member includes a central membrane, a distal portion, and a proximal portion. An hourglass shaped actuator cavity is formed in the distal portion and receives a barbed end of the actuator. The outer surface of the seal member is in partial circumferential engagement with the catheter hub to define an air path that allows fluid communication between areas of the interior cavity distal and proximal of the seal member. The seal member may be configured for multi-use and include a biasing member that moves the seal member to force the membrane back over the actuator to close the membrane.

Abstract: A safety intravenous catheter that includes a passive release feature. The catheter assembly includes ready, safe, and released positions. In the release position, a retainer being in a proximal retainer position relative to a collar enables release of the catheter hub from the catheter insertion device. The sharp tip of the insertion needle remains inaccessible in the release position in order to prevent unwanted needle sticks.

Abstract: Methods and systems for configuring a plurality of infusion pumps according to a functional set. A method includes implementing a plurality of infusion pumps, each of the infusion pumps configured to administer medication to a patient, implementing a drug library, the drug library including at least one functional set defining a set of medications, receiving input data related to one of the at least one functional sets, obtaining a particular set of medications from the drug library corresponding to the input data, programming the plurality of infusion pumps according to the set of medications, and infusing the patient with the plurality of infusion pumps.

Abstract: Catheter assemblies may include introducer needles having a notch or similar structure that allows flashback blood to enter the annular space between a catheter tube and an introducer needle of an IV catheter. The presence of flashback blood in this annular space can provide a clinician with an early, visible indication that a needle has entered a vein. The notch, however, may create a leak path for blood to escape outside of the catheter assembly, unless contained. Disclosed herein is a notch containment that prevents the notch from providing a leak path for blood to escape outside of the catheter during or after needle withdrawal.

Abstract: A blood sequestration device configured to isolate an initial, potentially contaminated portion of blood from the flow of blood of a patient, prior to directing the flow of blood to an outlet port where the blood can be accessed. The blood sequestration device including a body member having an interior wall defining a fluid conduit having a distal portion, a first proximal portion, and a second proximal portion, wherein the first proximal portion defines a sequestration chamber configured to isolate an initial portion of blood of a flow of blood, a vent path configured to enable the escape of gas initially trapped within the sequestration chamber.

Abstract: A method for managing use of a disposable with an infusion pump is provided. The method can include adding validity information about a particular set of disposables to a list of disposables. Subsequent to adding the validity information, the method can include modifying the validity information about the particular set of disposables on the list of disposables. The method can include an infusion pump reading identifying information from a disposable, and can include determining whether the disposable is valid for use, based at least in part upon comparison of the identifying information read from the disposable by the infusion pump with the validity information about the particular set of disposables on the list of disposables. The method can also include the infusion pump making a determination of whether to deliver or not deliver an infusate based at least in part upon the determining whether the disposable is valid for use.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an improved catheter insertion device is described that provides an improved flashback response and use for deep vein access. In various embodiments, the improved flashback response comprises two separate and distinct flash events, the first indicating insertion of a cannula in a blood vessel, and a second indicating insertion of a catheter in the blood vessel. The two flash responses are made possible by a combination of features provided on the cannula, such as including a view window in the cannula and a flat relief portion on the outer surface of the cannula at the distal opening.

Abstract: A pole clamp assembly is configured to facilitate removable coupling of one or more medical devices to a support structure. The pole clamp assembly includes a pole clamp that is configured to selectively grip the supporting structure. The pole clamp includes a fastener hub and a locking mechanism. A docking member is configured to operably couple a medical device of the one or more medical devices to the pole clamp. The docking member includes structure defining a fastener hub aperture and one or more recesses into which a portion of the locking mechanism can selectively reside. The locking mechanism is shiftable between a non-engaged position in which the docking member is rotatable relative to the pole clamp, and an engaged position in which rotation of the docking member relative to the pole clamp is inhibited.

Abstract: A blood sequestration device configured to isolate an initial, potentially contaminated portion of blood from the flow of blood of a patient, prior to directing the flow of blood to an outlet port where the blood can be accessed. The blood sequestration device including a body member having an interior wall defining a fluid conduit having a distal portion, a first proximal portion, and a second proximal portion, wherein the first proximal portion defines a sequestration chamber configured to isolate an initial portion of blood of a flow of blood, a vent path configured to enable the escape of gas initially trapped within the sequestration chamber.

Abstract: A method of constructing a catheter assembly having an integrated septum. The method comprising molding a catheter hub having a distal end, a proximal end, and an internal wall defining an internal fluid passageway therebetween, the internal fluid wall defining an injection mold window located between the distal end and the proximal end; seating a catheter tube within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub, such that a proximal end of the catheter tube resides within the internal fluid passageway of the catheter hub, and a distal end of the catheter tube extends distally from the distal end of the catheter hub; plugging at least a proximal end of the catheter hub with a mold core shut off pin; and injection molding a septum in at least a portion of the internal fluid passageway between the mold core shut off pin and the proximal end of the catheter tube through the injection mold window.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an improved catheter insertion device is described that provides an improved flashback response and use for deep vein access. In various embodiments, the improved flashback response comprises two separate and distinct flash events, the first indicating insertion of a cannula in a blood vessel, and a second indicating insertion of a catheter in the blood vessel. The two flash responses are made possible by a combination of features provided on the cannula, such as including a view window in the cannula and a flat relief portion on the outer surface of the cannula at the distal opening.

Abstract: A catheter hub of a safety needle assembly that includes a multiuse valve uses a proximal portion of the catheter as an actuator to open the partition membrane of the valve when the valve is subjected to an external biasing force. In another embodiment, the actuator is formed as an integral component of the catheter hub.