Abstract: A container assembly including a shield disposed at least partially within a receiving cavity of a receptacle of a lid is disclosed. The shield provides a physical barrier that at least partially covers and blocks an entrance to the receiving cavity to prevent a patient and/or healthcare worker from needle stick injuries. In one embodiment, the shield is adapted to receive a stopper of a collection tube, and the shield is transitionable between a locked position in which the shield is restrained within an open end of the receptacle, and an unlocked position in which the shield is movable within the receiving cavity of the receptacle.

Abstract: A specimen collection container includes inner and outer tubes. The inner tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface having at least one annular protrusion extending therefrom. The inner tube includes at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end for directing a specimen into the inner tube interior, and an annular ring disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the top end. The outer tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an annular recess adapted to receive a portion of the annular protrusion therein. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and a portion of the top end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.

Abstract: A specimen collection container includes inner and outer tubes. The inner tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface having at least one annular protrusion extending therefrom. The inner tube includes at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end for directing a specimen into the inner tube interior, and an annular ring disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the top end. The outer tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an annular recess adapted to receive a portion of the annular protrusion therein. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and a portion of the top end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet and outlet end, a flashback chamber, and a venting mechanism therebetween. The venting mechanism includes a blocking member to control the fluid flow in the venting mechanism so that it flows along the longest path through the vent. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. A sealable sleeve covers the external end of the outlet cannula. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber, and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry with an internal vent positioned within the housing to divide the interior into first and second chambers, with the second chamber being adapted to maintain a negative pressure therein relative to the external environment so as to inhibit leakage of blood from the needle tip on withdrawal from the patient.

Abstract: A needle assembly is disclosed. The needle assembly includes a housing having a flash chamber, and having a distal end and a proximal end engageable with a specimen collection container. The assembly includes a cannula having a patient end, a non-patient end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining a cannula interior. The patient end of the cannula projects at least partially from the distal end of the housing, and the cannula interior is in fluid communication with the flash chamber. The assembly further includes a shield restrainably engaged with a portion of the housing and axially transitionable over the patient cannula from a retracted position in which the patient end is exposed, to an extended position in which the patient end is shielded by at least a portion of the shield, wherein at least a portion of the flash chamber is visible in the retracted position.

Abstract: A blood collection assembly includes a housing and a cannula extending distally from the housing including a patient end, and a cannula shield removably engaged with a portion of the housing. The cannula shield is capable of shielding at least the patient end of the cannula, and includes a safety shield engagement. The assembly includes a pivoting safety shield engaged with a portion of the housing, which is transitionable from a retracted position in which the patient end of the cannula is exposed, to an extended position in which the patient end of the cannula is shielded by at least a portion of the safety shield. The safety shield includes at least one locking tab releasably engageable with the safety shield engagement, wherein the locking tab is fixedly engageable with a portion of the housing in the extended position.

Abstract: A method for modeling a subsurface anomalous magnetization zone including the steps of generating a magnetic field model of the subsurface anomalous magnetization zone, inverting the magnetic field model; and generating a model of the sub-surface anomalous magnetization zone based on the inversion. The step of generating the magnetic field model include generating the magnetic field model from induced magnetization sources and remnant magnetization sources.

Abstract: A biological fluid collection device that is adapted to receive a blood sample having a cellular portion and a plasma portion is disclosed. After collection of the blood sample, the plasma portion is separated from the cellular portion. After separation, the biological fluid collection device is able to transfer the plasma portion of the blood sample to a point-of-care testing device. The biological fluid collection device also provides a closed sampling and transfer system that reduces the exposure of a blood sample and provides fast mixing of a blood sample with a sample stabilizer. The biological fluid collection device is engageable with a biological fluid testing device for closed transfer of a portion of the plasma portion from the biological fluid collection device to the biological fluid testing device. The biological fluid testing device is adapted to receive the plasma portion to analyze the blood sample.

Abstract: A mechanical separator for separating a fluid sample into first and second phases is disclosed. The mechanical separator includes a float, a ballast assembly longitudinally moveable with respect to the float, and a bellows structure. The bellows structure includes a first end, a second end, and a deformable bellows therebetween. The float is attached to a portion of the first end of the bellows structure, and the ballast is attached to a portion of the second end of the bellows structure. The attached float and bellows structure includes a releaseable interference engagement therebetween. The float has a first density, and the ballast has a second density that is greater than the first density of the float.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet and outlet end, a flashback chamber, and a venting mechanism therebetween. The venting mechanism includes a blocking member to control the fluid flow in the venting mechanism so that it flows along the longest path through the vent. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. A sealable sleeve covers the external end of the outlet cannula. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber, and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry with an internal vent positioned within the housing to divide the interior into first and second chambers, with the second chamber being adapted to maintain a negative pressure therein relative to the external environment so as to inhibit leakage of blood from the needle tip on withdrawal from the patient.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet and outlet end, a flashback chamber, and a venting mechanism therebetween. The venting mechanism includes a blocking member to control the fluid flow in the venting mechanism so that it flows along the longest path through the vent. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. A sealable sleeve covers the external end of the outlet cannula. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber, and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry with an internal vent positioned within the housing to divide the interior into first and second chambers, with the second chamber being adapted to maintain a negative pressure therein relative to the external environment so as to inhibit leakage of blood from the needle tip on withdrawal from the patient.

Abstract: A specimen collection container includes inner and outer tubes. The inner tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface having at least one annular protrusion extending therefrom. The inner tube includes at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end for directing a specimen into the inner tube interior, and an annular ring disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the top end. The outer tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an annular recess adapted to receive a portion of the annular protrusion therein. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and a portion of the top end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.

Abstract: A container assembly including a shield disposed at least partially within a receiving cavity of a receptacle of a lid is disclosed. The shield provides a physical barrier that at least partially covers and blocks an entrance to the receiving cavity to prevent a patient and/or healthcare worker from needle stick injuries. In one embodiment, the shield is adapted to receive a stopper of a collection tube, and the shield is transitionable between a locked position in which the shield is restrained within an open end of the receptacle, and an unlocked position in which the shield is movable within the receiving cavity of the receptacle.

Abstract: A specimen collection container includes inner and outer tubes. The inner tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface having at least one annular protrusion extending therefrom. The inner tube includes at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end for directing a specimen into the inner tube interior, and an annular ring disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the top end. The outer tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an annular recess adapted to receive a portion of the annular protrusion therein. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and a portion of the top end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.

Abstract: A retractable needle assembly includes a housing having a sidewall defining a hollow bore, and an elongate plunger, the distal end of the plunger forming a reservoir within the hollow bore for containing a fluid therein. The plunger is adapted for slideable movement within the hollow bore. The assembly includes a hub disposed within the hollow bore and at least partially supporting a cannula therewith, and a needle retraction member engaged with the hub for manually selectable advancement with respect to a portion of the housing. The needle retraction member may be advanced from an initial position in which at least a portion of the needle is disposed outside the housing, to a retracted position in which the needle is fully surrounded by the housing. The elongate plunger may be advanced about the hub for extracting the fluid into the reservoir or expelling the fluid from the reservoir.

Abstract: A specimen collection container includes inner and outer tubes. The inner tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior. The sidewall includes an inner surface and an outer surface having at least one annular protrusion extending therefrom. The inner tube includes at least one funnel portion adjacent the top end for directing a specimen into the inner tube interior, and an annular ring disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the sidewall adjacent the top end. The outer tube includes a bottom end, a top end, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the sidewall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an annular recess adapted to receive a portion of the annular protrusion therein. The inner tube is disposed within the outer tube and a portion of the top end of the outer tube abuts the annular ring.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet and outlet end, a flashback chamber, and a venting mechanism therebetween. The venting mechanism includes a blocking member to control the fluid flow in the venting mechanism so that it flows along the longest path through the vent. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. A sealable sleeve covers the external end of the outlet cannula. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber, and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry with an internal vent positioned within the housing to divide the interior into first and second chambers, with the second chamber being adapted to maintain a negative pressure therein relative to the external environment so as to inhibit leakage of blood from the needle tip on withdrawal from the patient.