'A NEEDLE DISPOSAL FOR A SINGLE SAMPLE, TO DETERMINE THE ENTRY INTO A VEIN WHEN A SAMPLE OF BLOOD IS COLLECTED FROM A PATIENT'.

摘要

A needle assembly (10) preferably suitable for single sample blood collection and for determining vein entry when collecting a blood sample from a patient includes a housing (12) with an interior chamber (40) having a blood inlet needle (14) on one side of the housing (12) and a blood outlet needle (15) on the other. The outlet needle (15) extends into the chamber interior (40), is open at its distal end (45) and includes a side hole (48) therethrough. A vent plug (26) covers the side hole (48) by surrounding the outlet needle (15) inside the chamber (40), while a blood soluble sealant plug (27) covers the open end (45) of the outlet needle (15). This arrangement delays liquid from flowing into the holes (45, 48) while allowing gas to flow through the vent plug (26) into the side hole (48) for escape from the assembly (10) whereby the prevented liquid may then be viewed by a user through a transparent portion (42) of the housing (12). The sealant plug (27) is removable from the open end (45) by dissolving it into the blood inside the chamber (40) so that liquid is allowed to flow into the outlet needle (15) for collection.