Abstract: In one aspect, a medical device is provided which includes flexible tubing having a distal end and a proximal end and at least a first lumen extending from said distal end to said proximal end; a first needle cannula having proximal and distal ends, said first needle cannula being mounted at said distal end of said tubing and in fluid communication with said lumen; a second needle cannula mounted at said proximal end of said tubing and in fluid communication with said lumen; a shield disposed over said tubing, said shield extending substantially the entire length of said flexible tubing, and said shield being movable relative to said first needle cannula from an initial proximal position wherein said first needle cannula is exposed to a distal position wherein said distal end of said first needle cannula is covered by said shield; and an actuator for actuating the shield at a location spaced from the first needle cannula, preferably closer to the second needle cannula than to the first needle cannula.

Abstract: A shieldable collection needle assembly that shields the needle upon tube withdrawal includes a hub mounted on a needle cannula and a spring biased telescoping shield mounted on the hub. The needle assembly is matable with a needle holder adapted to receive the blood collection tubes. The needle assembly includes a retaining member moveably mounted on the hub and engageable with the telescoping shield when the collection tube is positioned in the needle holder. The retaining member prevents the telescoping shield from moving toward the fully extended position when engaged therewith. The telescoping shield will move toward the fully extended position when the retaining member is disengaged from the telescoping shield following removal of the collection tube from the needle holder.

Abstract: The invention is a self-venting blood collection needle assembly for the extraction of at least one fluid sample into an evacuated container for laboratory testing, this blood collection needle assembly providing a clear or translucent flashback chamber for blood to flow into, for visualization by the user to confirm successful vein entry. The self-venting mechanism permits escape of air during use, and which, typically, also prevents an outflow of fluid, such as blood. Thus, air under venous pressure will be allowed to escape from the blood collection needle assembly until blood reaches the venting mechanism.

Abstract: The invention is a self-venting blood collection needle assembly for the extraction of at least one fluid sample into an evacuated container for laboratory testing, this blood collection needle assembly providing a clear or translucent flashback chamber for blood to flow into, for visualization by the user to confirm successful vein entry. The self-venting mechanism permits escape of air during use, and which, typically, also prevents an outflow of fluid, such as blood. Thus, air under venous pressure will be allowed to escape from the blood collection needle assembly until blood reaches the venting mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a medical transport carrier, as well as a medical waste disposal container. The medical transport carrier includes a carrier tray and a medical waste disposal container. The carrier tray includes a supply area adapted for containing medical supplies. The medical waste disposal container is interengagably and removably mated with the carrier tray and is located at a location remote from the supply area. The present invention is also directed to a medical waste disposal container adapted for engaging with a carrier tray having a supply area for containing medical supplies. The medical waste disposal container is interengagably and removably matable with the carrier tray and is adapted for containing medical waste at a location remote from the supply area of the carrier tray.

Abstract: A substrate removably attached to a container that can be linked electronically to the operating stations in a laboratory and/or removed and subsequently attached to a document or another container. More particularly, the substrate is a partitioned label with human readable information and electronically readable information.

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: With the present invention, needle safety shielding is provided for medical devices, such as blood collection sets. In a broadest sense, the invention is a medical device which includes a first needle cannula mounted to a first needle hub; a second needle cannula; tubing having a first lumen for establishing fluid communication between the first and second needle cannulas; an actuatable shield movable relatively to the first needle cannula upon actuation from an initial first position where the first needle cannula is at least partially exposed to a second position where a sharp distal end of the first needle cannula is protected or at least partially encapsulated by the shield; and, an actuator for actuating the shield which is engageable at a location spaced from the first needle cannula and the first needle hub.

Abstract: A shieldable collection needle assembly that shields the needle upon tube withdrawal includes a hub mounted on a needle cannula and a spring biased telescoping shield mounted on the hub. The needle assembly is matable with a needle holder adapted to receive the blood collection tubes. The needle assembly includes a retaining member moveably mounted on the hub and engageable with the telescoping shield when the collection tube is positioned in the needle holder. The retaining member prevents the telescoping shield from moving toward the fully extended position when engaged therewith. The telescoping shield will move toward the fully extended position when the retaining member is disengaged from the telescoping shield following removal of the collection tube from the needle holder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a medical transport carrier, as well as a medical waste disposal container. The medical transport carrier includes a carrier tray and a medical waste disposal container. The carrier tray includes a supply area adapted for containing medical supplies. The medical waste disposal container is interengagably and removably mated with the carrier tray and is located at a location remote from the supply area. The present invention is also directed to a medical waste disposal container adapted for engaging with a carrier tray having a supply area for containing medical supplies. The medical waste disposal container is interengagably and removably matable with the carrier tray and is adapted for containing medical waste at a location remote from the supply area of the carrier tray.

Abstract: With the present invention, needle safety shielding is provided for medical devices, such as blood collection sets. In a broadest sense, the invention is a medical device which includes a first needle cannula mounted to a first needle hub; a second needle cannula; tubing having a first lumen for establishing fluid communication between the first and second needle cannulas; an actuatable shield movable relatively to the first needle cannula upon actuation from an initial first position where the first needle cannula is at least partially exposed to a second position where a sharp distal end of the first needle cannula is protected or at least partially encapsulated by the shield; and, an actuator for actuating the shield which is engageable at a location spaced from the first needle cannula and the first needle hub.

Abstract: A tube is provided for biological fluids that includes a closed bottom, an open top and a cylindrical sidewall extending therebetween. An alignment key is formed at a selected circumferential position on the tube. An array of machine-readable information is provided on the tube at a specified angular position relative to the alignment key. The alignment key functions to position the tube in a laboratory apparatus at a rotational position that will ensure proper alignment between the array of information and a portion of the apparatus that is operative to read the array of information. The array of information may be in the form of a magnetic strip or optically readable information such as a bar code.

Abstract: A tube assembly useful for the collection of body fluid samples includes a first elongate tube with an opened end and an inside diameter and a closed end section with an outside diameter. The tubes may be formed of different respective materials. The first tube includes a receptacle therefor for receiving a fluid sample that is accessible from the open end. A second elongate tube, substantially identical to the first tube, is included in the tube assembly. The closed end section outside diameter is less than the inside diameter of the opened end of the second tube. The first tube closed end section is conjugately disposed in the open end of the second tube so that the first tube and second tube are substantially axially aligned, forming a single tube assembly.

Abstract: A substrate removably attached to a container that can be linked electronically to the operating stations in a laboratory and/or removed and subsequently attached to a document or another container. More particularly, the substrate is a partitioned label with human readable information and electronically readable information.

Abstract: A substrate removably attached to a container that can be linked electronically to the operating stations in a laboratory and/or removed and subsequently attached to a document or another container. More particularly, the substrate is a partitioned label with human readable information and electronically readable information.

Abstract: The present invention is a collection assembly useful for collecting small quantities of blood. The assembly comprises a container with an integral lip for facilitating collection of the blood, a cap suitable for enclosing the container and a flow inducing means. The assembly further comprises a sealing arrangement for securing the cap with the container and a cam arrangement for unsecuring the cap from the container.

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 device and method is provided for separating heavier and lighter fractions of a fluid sample. The device includes a collection tube, a flowable liquid separation medium and a deformable container. A separation medium is contained within the deformable container and the deformable container is positioned within the collection tube and is deformably reconfigurable under centrifugation from a first condition permitting liquid collection within the tube to a second condition establishing physical separation between the separated liquid phases.

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.