Abstract: A specimen collection and separation assembly is provided. The assembly includes a tube having closure secured to the open top of the tube. The closure includes a section that is pierceable by a needle cannula for depositing a liquid specimen in the tube. A separator is disposed in the tube below the closure. The separator includes top and bottom ends. Portions of the separator adjacent the top define a resiliently deformable low density sealing plug dimensioned to sealingly engage the interior of the tube. A high density ring is integrally engaged with the seal and extends to the bottom of the separator. The relative densities and dimensions of the seal and the ring are selected to achieve an overall density between densities of the phases of liquid to be separated. The ring causes the seal to elongate in response to forces imposed by a centrifuge. The separator then will move to a position in the tube between the respective phases of the specimen being separated.

Abstract: A passively shieldable needle assembly set is provided for use with a tube holder. The assembly includes a needle cannula, a hub mounted to the needle cannula and a tip guard slidably movable along the needle cannula. The tip guard can be slid into a distal position where the tip of the needle cannula is safely shielded. A collapsible guard drive is mounted to the hub and includes a pair of collapsible leaves extending from the hub to the tip guard. The leaves have a length that enable the tip guard to move into shielding engagement around the tip of the needle cannula, while preventing complete removal of the tip guard from the needle cannula. The leaves are resiliently deformable and can be collapsed onto themselves and onto the hub. The leaves can be retained in their collapsed condition by a packaging cover and subsequently by the grip of a medical practitioner.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shieldable blood collection set as well as a needle assembly for use therein. The needle assembly includes a needle cannula having a puncture tip at a distal end thereof and a hub which supports the needle cannula. A hollow outer shield co-axially surrounds a distal end of the hub and has an inner surface which is in cooperating engagement with an outer surface of the hub. The hub includes a first tab extending outwardly at a position which is exposed from the outer shield, and the outer shield includes a second tab. The first tab and the second tab are configured such that opposing forces applied against the tabs cause the outer shield to move from a retracted position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position in which the outer shield covers the puncture tip.

Abstract: A needle holder including a body having a closed end, an opposed open end, and a tubular wall therebetween. The needle holder is designed to insertably accommodate a specimen collection tube therein. The tubular wall of the needle holder body has an outer diameter adjacent the closed end which is designed to be nestably accommodated within an inner diameter of the open end of an adjacent needle holder body. Plural nestable needle holder bodies may be arranged in an array. Each array may be enclosed in a polybag. Plural such arrays may be packaged in a carton for shipping and storage.

Abstract: A method of sealing a medical container such as a vial with a polymeric closure, wherein the polymeric enclosure includes a tubular collar portion and an integral radial portion, which includes disposing the tubular collar portion over the radial rim portion of the container to surround the reduced diameter neck portion and radially deforming the tubular collar portion adjacent its free end into the reduced diameter neck portion and against the adjacent radial rim portion and, wherein the polymer selected for the closure is sufficiently malleable to permit radial deformation, yet sufficiently rigid to retain its shape following deformation and sufficiently resistant to creep to maintain a seal between the plastic closure and the container following radial deformation.

Abstract: The present invention is a passively shieldable blood collection set. The blood collection set includes a needle cannula, a hub mounted to the needle cannula and a tip guard slidably movable along the needle cannula. The tip guard can be slid into a distal position where the tip of the needle cannula is safely shielded. A collapsible guard drive is mounted to the hub and includes a pair of collapsible leaves extending from the hub to the tip guard. The leaves have a length that enable the tip guard to move into shielding engagement around the tip of the needle cannula, while preventing complete removal of the tip guard from the needle cannula. The leaves are resiliently deformable and can be collapsed onto themselves and onto the hub. The leaves can be retained in their collapsed condition by a packaging cover and subsequently by the grip of a medical practitioner.

Abstract: A shieldable needle assembly provided as part of a blood collection set includes a needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end with a puncture tip. The needle assembly has a hub member supporting the proximal end of the needle cannula and a shield member having a housing defining a central bore, which is in axial alignment with the hub member. The shield member extends co-axially about the needle cannula and is movable between a retracted position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed, and an extended position covering the puncture tip of the needle cannula. An extendable member connects the hub and shield members. A compression spring is further connected between the hub and shield members for moving the shield member to the extended position. A latch assembly provides releasable engagement between the hub and shield members.

Abstract: A method of sealing a cartridge having a barrel with a polymeric closure, wherein the polymeric closure includes a tubular collar portion and an integral radial portion, The method includes disposing the tubular collar portion over the radial rim portion of the barrel to surround the reduced diameter neck portion and incrementally rolling and radially deforming the tubular collar portion adjacent its free end into the reduced diameter neck portion with a crimping tool, wherein the polymeric closure is sufficiently malleable to permit radial deformation, yet sufficiently rigid and resistant to creep to retain its shape following deformation The crimping tool or tools include an inclined surface having a gradually decreasing angles of inclination which are driven against the tubular collar portion adjacent the free end and the cartridge assembly and crimping tool are relatively rotated.

Abstract: The shieldable needle assembly includes a needle cannula and a hub member supporting a proximal end of the needle cannula. A shield member is aligned with the hub member and extends co-axially about the needle cannula. The shield member is movable between a retracted position in which a puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed, and an extended position covering the puncture tip. A pair of extendable members is connected between the hub and the shield members. The extendable members each include a pair of folding legs. A tension spring is connected between the extendable members. The hub member is movable in an axial direction away from the shield member.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shieldable blood collection set as well as a needle assembly for use therein. The needle assembly includes a needle cannula having a puncture tip at a distal end thereof and a hub which supports the needle cannula. A hollow outer shield co-axially surrounds a distal end of the hub and has an inner surface which is in cooperating engagement with an outer surface of the hub. The hub includes a first tab extending outwardly at a position which is exposed from the outer shield, and the outer shield includes a second tab. The first tab and the second tab are configured such that opposing forces applied against the tabs cause the outer shield to move from a retracted position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position in which the outer shield covers the puncture tip.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shieldable blood collection set as well as a needle assembly for use therein. The needle assembly includes a needle cannula having a puncture tip at a distal end thereof and a hub which supports the needle cannula. A hollow outer shield co-axially surrounds a distal end of the hub and has an inner surface which is in cooperating engagement with an outer surface of the hub. The hub includes a first tab extending outwardly at a position which is exposed from the outer shield, and the outer shield includes a second tab. The first tab and the second tab are configured such that opposing forces applied against the tabs cause the outer shield to move from a retracted position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position in which the outer shield covers the puncture tip.

Abstract: The present invention is a stopper and shield closure assembly 16 millimeter (mm) fluid collection tube whereby the 16 millimeter tube is compatible with conventional needle holders.

Abstract: A passively shieldable needle assembly set is provided for use with a tube holder. The assembly includes a needle cannula, a hub mounted to the needle cannula and a tip guard slidably movable along the needle cannula. The tip guard can be slid into a distal position where the tip of the needle cannula is safely shielded. A collapsible guard drive is mounted to the hub and includes a pair of collapsible leaves extending from the hub to the tip guard. The leaves have a length that enable the tip guard to move into shielding engagement around the tip of the needle cannula, while preventing complete removal of the tip guard from the needle cannula. The leaves are resiliently deformable and can be collapsed onto themselves and onto the hub. The leaves can be retained in their collapsed condition by a packaging cover and subsequently by the grip of a medical practitioner.

Abstract: A fluid collection or infusion set is provided. The set includes flexible tubing with a fitting attached to a proximal end and a needle assembly attached to the distal end. The needle assembly includes a needle hub and a needle cannula secured in the hub. An actuator arm extends proximally and outwardly from the needle hub and has an actuator button at its free end. The needle assembly is disposed in a barrel and can move from a distal position where the needle cannula is exposed to a proximal position where the needle cannula is shielded. A spring is disposed in the barrel for propelling the needle assembly to the proximal position. The barrel includes an actuating aperture that receives the actuator button for locking the spring in a compressed condition. Depression of the actuator button enables the spring to propel the needle assembly into its proximal shielded position.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for adhesive tape. The dispenser includes a tape roll chamber with a hub having an axis about which a roll of tape may rotate. A tape dispensing channel extends from the tape roll chamber. The tape dispensing channel is configured to twist the tape approximately 90° about its longitudinal axis. Additionally, the tape dispensing channel is oriented such that the axis of the tape at the end of the tape dispensing channel is aligned at an acute angle to a plane defined by the axis of the tape wound onto the roll of tape. A window is defined near the end of the tape dispensing channel to enable an index finger to apply pressure to the non-adhesive surface of the tape for urging the adhesive surface of the tape against a substrate. A blade support wall is disposed distally of the window and includes a serrated blade for severing the tape.

Abstract: A package is provided for a medical device that a spring-driven button-actuated safety shield. The package includes a tray with a bottom wall and sidewall enclosure that extends upwardly from the bottom wall a distance greater than the height or thickness of the medical device. A flange extends outwardly from edges of the sidewall enclosure opposite the bottom wall. At least two gripping towers are formed unitarily with the bottom wall and project upwardly a distance greater than the thickness or height of the medical implement. Gripping towers are spaced from one another and are configured to grippingly engage the medical implement on opposite respective sides of the actuating button for preventing inadvertent actuation of the safety shield while the medical implement is in the tray. A cover extends removably across the flange and is supported by the gripping towers.

Abstract: The present invention is a passively shieldable blood collection set. The blood collection set includes a needle cannula, a hub mounted to the needle cannula and a tip guard slidably movable along the needle cannula. The tip guard can be slid into a distal position where the tip of the needle cannula is safely shielded. A collapsible guard drive is mounted to the hub and includes a pair of collapsible leaves extending from the hub to the tip guard. The leaves have a length that enable the tip guard to move into shielding engagement around the tip of the needle cannula, while preventing complete removal of the tip guard from the needle cannula. The leaves are resiliently deformable and can be collapsed onto themselves and onto the hub. The leaves can be retained in their collapsed condition by a packaging cover and subsequently by the grip of a medical practitioner.

Abstract: A fluid transfer device collects fluid by capillary attraction into a housing and provides for the subsequent dispensing of the collected fluid. The fluid transfer device includes a housing defining a housing interior, and including an access port and elongate capillary channel in fluid communication with the access port and the housing interior. Fluid is drawn through the access port and into the capillary channel under capillary action. The housing is deformable so as to compress the housing interior and exert an expelling force on the capillary channel to expel the fluid from the access port.