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 container assembly and method for storing, treating, transporting and stabilizing a biological sample includes a container, a closure member and a sample holder removably received in the container. The sample holder can be a platform-like device dimensioned to be supported on a ledge formed in the side wall of the container. The sample holder includes a central cavity for receiving the sample and immersing the sample in the stabilizing agent in the container. The closure member includes a body member to close the top end of the central cavity of the sample holder and to limit movement of the sample holder in the container. In another embodiment, the sample holder has a closure cap for closing the open top end of the cavity. The container includes a liquid reagent in an amount sufficient to treat the biological sample.

Abstract: An automatically shieldable blood collection set is provided. The blood collection set includes a needle assembly having a hub with inner and outer tubes. A needle cannula is fixedly attached to the inner tube. The outer tube is split longitudinal, and a first spring biases the slit into an open orientation. A safety shield is telescoped between the tubes to the hub and the needle cannula and can be moved from a proximal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a distal position where the needle cannula is safely shielded. A second spring is provided between the shield and the hub to propel the shield distally relative to the hub and into surrounding relationship with the needle cannula. However the outer tube can be biased against forces of the first spring to slit and clamp the shield in a fixed position.

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: An adaptor is provided to facilitate delivery of a fluid specimen from a syringe to a point-of-care testing cartridge. The adaptor includes a tube with an outlet end, an inlet end and a passage extending between the ends. The outlet end of the tube is dimensioned for mating with the entry port of the testing cartridge. The inlet end of the tube is dimensioned for mating with the syringe. The adaptor further includes a support wall extending transversely from the tube and at least one guide wall extending from the support wall. The guide wall is spaced transversely from the outlet of the tube by a distance substantially equal to the distance between a side wall of the testing cartridge and the entry port of the testing cartridge. Thus, the guide wall guides the outlet of the tube into the entry port of the testing cartridge.

Abstract: A kit and a method are provided for facilitating point-of-care testing of bodily fluid. The kit includes a point-of-care testing cartridge and a plastic fitting for use with a syringe to deliver the fluid sample to the testing cartridge. In other embodiments, the kit includes a plastic cannula in place of a fitting. The syringe and plastic cannula can be used with an IV access kit to obtain a sample of fluid. The syringe and plastic cannula then can be used to deliver the fluid to the reservoir the testing cartridge.

Abstract: An automatically shieldable blood collection set is provided. The blood collection set includes a needle assembly having a hub to which a needle cannula is fixedly attached. A safety shield is telescoped relative to the hub and the needle cannula such that the hub and the needle cannula can be moved from a distal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a proximal position where the needle cannula is safely shielded. A spring is provided between the shield and the hub to propel the hub and needle cannula proximally relative to the shield and into surrounding relationship with the needle cannula. A retainer is provided for releasably holding the hub and needle cannula in a distal ready-to-use condition relative to the shield. An actuator releases the retainer and enables the hub and needle cannula to be propelled by the spring. A lock may be provided for preventing inadvertent re-exposure of the needle cannula.

Abstract: An automatically shieldable blood collection set is provided. The blood collection set includes a needle assembly having a hub with spaced apart inner and outer tubes. A needle cannula is fixedly attached to the inner tube. A safety shield is telescoped for movement into the space between the inner and outer tubes of the hub. The safety shield can be moved from a proximal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a distal position where the needle cannula is safely shielded. A spring is provided between the shield and the hub to propel the shield distally relative to the hub and into surrounding relationship with the needle cannula. A retainer is provided for releasably holding the shield in a proximal ready-to-use condition relative to the hub and the needle cannula. The retainer may be provided on a fin that extends transversely from the outer tube of the hub. An actuator releases the retainer and enables the shield to be propelled by the spring.

Abstract: An automatically shieldable blood collection set is provided. The blood collection set includes a needle assembly having a hub to which a needle cannula is fixedly attached. A safety shield is telescoped relative to the hub and the needle cannula and can be moved from a proximal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a distal position where the needle cannula is safely shielded. A spring is provided between the shield and the hub to propel the shield distally relative to the hub and into surrounding relationship with the needle cannula. A retainer is provided for releasably holding the shield in a proximal ready-to-use condition relative to the hub and the needle cannula. An actuator releases the retainer and enables the shield to be propelled by the spring. A lock may be provided for preventing inadvertent re-exposure of the needle cannula.

Abstract: An automatically shieldable blood collection set is provided. The blood collection set includes a needle assembly having a hub to which a needle cannula is fixedly attached. The needle hub includes a fin formed with a latch. A safety shield is telescoped relative to the hub and the needle cannula and can be moved from a proximal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a distal position where the needle cannula is safely shielded. The latch on the fin releasably engages the shield when the shield is in the proximal position. A spring is provided between the shield and the hub to propel the shield distally relative to the hub and into surrounding relationship with the needle cannula in response to movement of the latch.

Abstract: An automatically shieldable blood collection set is provided. The blood collection set includes a needle assembly having a hub to which a needle cannula is fixedly attached. A safety shield is telescoped relative to the hub and the needle cannula and can be moved from a first position where the needle cannula is exposed to a second position where the needle cannula is safely shielded. A spring is provided between the shield and the hub to propel at least one of the shield and the hub into the second position. A retainer is provided for releasably holding the shield and the hub in the first position. A resiliently deflectable dorsal fin projects from the hub and through a slot in the shield. The dorsal fin can be deflected to release the retainer and permit the spring to drive the shield end up to the second position. The slot in the shield is configured to lockingly engage the dorsal fin when the shield and the hub are in the second position.