Abstract: An apparatus is provided for safely and conveniently holding and dispensing needle assemblies. The apparatus includes a generally tubular holder with opposed dispensing and inserting ends and an elongate passageway extending therebetween. The tubular holder is dimensioned to slidably receive needle assemblies therein in axial alignment with one another. Separator disks are disposed between adjacent needle assemblies in the holder, and an end disk is disposed between the inserting end of the holder and the needle assembly adjacent thereto. The separator disks and the end disk are color coded to be readily visible through a window in the holder. The needle assembly nearest the dispensing end can be mounted to medication delivery pen or other hypodermic syringe and may be removed from the holder. The used needle assembly may then be inserted into the inserting end of the holder. This process is repeated for each administration of medication until the supply of needles is exhausted.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for containing blood flashback during insertion of a guide wire into a blood vessel. The apparatus includes a barrel having a flashback chamber. An inner cannula in the flashback chamber communicates with an inserter needle mounted on the barrel. The inner cannula includes an aperture communicating with the flashback chamber. A porous vent plug is slidably disposed in the chamber in fluid-tight engagement with both the barrel and the inner cannula. The vent plug can be slid from a proximal position where the aperture in the inner cannula is exposed to a distal position where the aperture in the inner cannula is blocked. A guide wire in the inner cannula blocks blood flow. The vent plug and the guide wire are retained proximally of the aperture in the inner cannula until blood flashback is observed. The vent plug is then axially advanced to cover the aperture and stop further blood flow. The guide wire can then be advanced safely into the blood vessel.