Abstract: A needle shield assembly and method of manufacturing a needle shield are provided. The needle shield assembly includes a needle hub having a needle cannula extending therefrom. A needle shield base is pivotably coupled to the needle hub. A locking assembly including a needle engagement member is coupled to the needle shield base. One or both of the needle shield base and the locking assembly include a cavity for receiving the needle cannula. The needle shield is manufactured by providing a needle shield base and a separate locking assembly including a needle engagement member, and connecting the locking assembly to the distal end portion of the needle shield base.

Abstract: A luer connector assembly is provided for enhancing the frictional engagement between medical devices such as syringes and needle assemblies. The assembly needle includes a female luer fitting having a passageway and a relatively soft, resilient member bounding the passageway. The passageway is also bounded by the body of the fitting, which is harder than the soft, resilient member. A male luer fitting inserted into the passageway engages both the soft, resilient member and the body of the female luer fitting. A method of manufacturing such a connector assembly is further provided. A first material is injected into a mold to form the body of a female luer fitting, the fitting including a passageway and a recess extending into the body. A second material is then injected such that is extends into the recess and bounds the passageway. The second material, when cool, is softer than the first material.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements. The shield includes a clip with a plurality of cannula finger locks for preventing re-exposure of the used needle.

Abstract: A system is provided which may be used for collecting and testing fluid samples at a patient point of care location. A disposable cartridge and collection device is provided for collecting a fluid sample directly into a cartridge containing testing mechanisms for immediate evaluation of the collected sample. The cartridge contains an array of electrical contacts, electrochemical sensors and circuitry configured to electrically couple with a hand-held analytical device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a stand-alone computer workstation, which controls the testing of the fluid sample within the cartridge and provides a rapid indication of test results at the point of care.

Abstract: A system is provided which may be used for collecting and testing fluid samples at a patient point of care location. A disposable collection and containment device is provided for collecting a fluid sample directly into a containment chamber containing testing mechanisms using an integrated collection mechanism for immediate evaluation of the collected sample. The integrated collection cartridge contains an array of electrical contacts, electrochemical sensors and circuitry configured to electrically couple with an analytical device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a stand-alone computer workstation, which controls the testing of the fluid sample within the cartridge and provides a rapid indication of test results at the point of care.

Abstract: A shieldable needle device is provided. The shieldable needle device includes a housing, a needle cannula, a tip guard and a flexibly resilient drive mechanism. The housing includes a first lateral extension and a second lateral extension which are interconnected at a rearward end to form a hub portion from which the needle cannula extends. The tip guard telescopes over the needle cannula from a retracted position to an extended position. The drive mechanism is attached to the tip guard and is bent or coiled within the housing between the first and second lateral extension and retained in the bent or coiled position. Upon release of the drive mechanism, the tip guard is moved from a retracted position to an extended position, thereby protectively surrounding a tip of the needle cannula.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements. The shield includes a cannula channel with a finger lock for preventing re-exposure of the used needle.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements. The shield includes a clip with a plurality of cannula finger locks for preventing re-exposure of the used needle.

Abstract: A resealable barrier closure for a container with an open top and an annular snap ring below the open top. The closure includes a shell having an outer skirt dimensioned to telescope over the open top of the container. The outer skirt has a snap ring for engaging the snap ring on the container. The shell further includes an inner skirt to telescope into the open top of the container. An elastomeric diaphragm is sealingly engaged in the inner skirt. A barrier cup extends across the bottom face of the diaphragm and telescopes upwardly over the inner skin. The barrier cup initially is sealed hermetically to the container and to the plastic shell. The container may be opened by urging the plastic shell upwardly with sufficient force to break the seal between the barrier cup and the container. The container then may be resealed by merely urging the closure back over the open top of the container.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements. The shield includes a cannula channel with a finger lock for preventing re-exposure of the used needle.

Abstract: A device for delivering a substance into the skin of a patient includes a body and a skin penetrating device having at least one skin penetrating member, such as a microneedle. The body includes an internal cavity and a device for indicating the delivery of a sufficient amount of the substance to the patient and for producing a dispensing pressure to dispense and deliver the substance from the cavity. The indicating device is visible from the exterior of the delivery device. In some embodiments, the indicating device is an elastic expandable diaphragm which, when the cavity is filled with a substance, creates the dispensing pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shieldable blood collection set and a needle assembly for use therewith. The needle assembly includes a needle cannula having a puncture tip at a distal end, a hub which supports the needle cannula, and a shield. The hub and the shield are axially movable with respect to each other between a first sampling position, where the puncture tip is exposed from the shield, and a second shielded position where the shield covers the puncture tip. A gauze pad is connected to the shield through a tether. After a venipuncture procedure, the gauze is maintained over the needle puncture tip at the puncture site, and the needle is withdrawn from the patient by pulling on the hub. This movement causes the tether to tightly extend between the gauze and the shield, which causes the needle puncture tip to be withdrawn into the shield.

Abstract: A fluid collection or infusion set is provided with a needle assembly that is slidably disposed in a generally tubular shield. The needle assembly includes two opposed flexible wings that are slidably receivable in at least one slot of the shield. The wings can be rotated from a coplanar disposition into a position where the wings are in face-to-face engagement with one another. A flexible bridge may extend between the wings to facilitate manipulation of the needle assembly. The shield may be tapered to wider dimensions closer to the proximal end of the shield. The wings may include lugs that engage external surfaces of the shield and cause the wings to stretch as the shield is moved distally over the needle assembly. The lugs then snap into recesses at the proximal end of the shield or preventing re-exposure of the needle. Alternatively, the shield may include a locking clip that can be rotated into a position for covering portions of the slot in the shield to prevent re-exposure of the needle.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a needle and a hub mounted to each other. The hub includes a sidewall spaced outwardly from the needle cannula and extending to a distal position between the opposed ends of the needle cannula. A housing integral with the hub defines a sidewall to partially confine a safety shield. The safety shield is slidably disposed about the needle cannula and releasably retained in a proximal position and can be moved to a distal position where the safety shield completely surrounds that portion of the needle hub projecting distally from the hub. The needle assembly includes a spring for propelling the safety shield to the distal position and a latch for releasing the safety shield from the proximal position. The latch may be passively activated by normal usage of the medical implement to which the needle assembly is mounted or alternately activated manually.

Abstract: A medical implement is provided with a hub and a piercing element that projects distally from the hub. The protective cap is removably engaged with the proximal end of the hub. An IV shield is threadedly engaged with the distal end of the hub and protectively covers the piercing element. A hinged shield is hingedly mounted to the hub and can be rotated from a first position substantially adjacent the IV shield to a second position where the hinged shield is spaced rotationally from the IV shield and finally to a third position where the hinged shield encloses the piercing element. The hinged shield must be rotated from the first position to the second position to threadedly disengage the IV shield and to expose the piercing element for use. After use, the hinged shield is rotated from the second position into the third position for protectively enclosing the piercing element.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements. The shield includes a cannula channel with a finger lock for preventing re-exposure of the used needle.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements. The shield includes a clip with a plurality of cannula finger locks for preventing re-exposure of the used needle.

Abstract: The present invention is a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar for connecting the shield to a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, the safety shield assembly may be used with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of using a safety shield assembly having a shield and a collar and more particularly a method of using a safety shield assembly with a fluid handling device whereby the shield may be pivoted with respect to the collar. Preferably, a method of using a safety shield assembly with a needle assembly, an intravenous infusion set a syringe, a catheter or other fluid handling devices or assemblies that contain piercing elements.

Abstract: A resealable barrier closure is provided for a container with an open top and an annular snap ring below the open top. The closure includes a shell having an outer skirt dimensioned to telescope over the open top of the container. The outer skirt has a snap ring for engaging the snap ring on the container. The shell further includes an inner skirt to telescope into the open top of the container. An elastomeric diaphragm is sealingly engaged in the inner skirt. A barrier cup extends across the bottom face of the diaphragm and telescopes upwardly over the inner skirt. The barrier cup initially is sealed hermetically to the container and to the plastic shell. The container may be opened by urging the plastic shell upwardly with sufficient force to break the seal between the barrier cup and the container. The container then may be resealed by merely urging the closure back over the open top of the container.