A blood collection cartridge has a distal end, a proximal end, and defines a container interior. The cartridge includes a resealable closure sealing the distal end of the container, having a closure distal end and a closure proximal end. The cartridge also includes a cap sealing the proximal end of the container, having a cap distal end and a cap proximal end. The cartridge further includes a stopper disposed within the container interior sized relative to the container to provide sealing engagement with the sidewall of the container, the stopper having a stopper distal end and a stopper proximal end. A first fluid reservoir is bounded by the sidewall between the closure proximal end and the stopper distal end, and a second fluid reservoir is bounded by the sidewall between the cap distal end and the stopper proximal end. An anticoagulant is disposed within the first fluid reservoir.

A low cost fluid collection set having an integrated package including a needle cannula having a first end and a second end, a hub configured for supporting the needle cannula, and a package at least partially enclosing the needle cannula and the hub is disclosed. The package includes at least one openable region configured for receiving a fluid collection device therein wherein this openable region is in communication with at least one of the first end or the second end of the needle cannula and wherein the package is configured to be used as a holding device to manipulate the needle cannula during fluid collection. The package also functions as a shield for the first end of the needle cannula after use. A method of using the fluid collection set having an integrated package and a method of making the fluid collection set is provided.

A needle assembly includes a housing having proximal and distal ends, an IV cannula projecting distally from the housing, and an IV shield having an engagement. The housing has a shield seat and the IV cannula has a distal tip. The IV shield has a pre-use position where the IV shield covers the distal tip of the IV cannula and the engagement is disengaged from the shield seat, and a use position where the engagement is engaged with the shield seat and the IV shield is adapted to move between a non-shielded position, in which the distal tip is exposed, and a shielded position, in which the distal tip is shielded by the IV shield.

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.

A catheter system may include a catheter adapter, which may include a distal end, a proximal end, a lumen extending through the distal end and the proximal end, and a side port in fluid communication with the lumen. A catheter may extend distally from the catheter adapter. A septum may be disposed within the lumen. The septum may include a first slit generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the catheter and a second slit offset from the longitudinal axis of the catheter. An introducer needle may be secured within a needle hub and may extend through the catheter and the first slit of the septum. A winged needle set may include: a body; a needle extending distally from the body and through the second slit of the septum; an extension tube extending from the body; and a blood collection device coupled to the extension tube.

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.

Fluid collection/injection device comprises a body having a front end, a back end, and a main hollow section arranged between the front and back ends and a needle hub securing section arranged on the front end and being structured and arranged to receive therein a needle member. The fluid collection/injection device is structured and arranged to utilize at least an operational mode, an operational mode, and a post-use mode. In the installation mode, the needle member is coupled to the body via the needle hub securing section. In the operational mode, fluid passes through the needle member and into or out of a receptacle inserted into the main hollow section.

Fluid collection/injection device comprises a body having a front end, a back end, and a main hollow section arranged between the front and back ends and a needle hub securing section arranged on the front end and being structured and arranged to receive therein a needle member. The fluid collection/injection device is structured and arranged to utilize at least an operational mode, an operational mode, and a post-use mode. In the installation mode, the needle member is coupled to the body via the needle hub securing section. In the operational mode, fluid passes through the needle member and into or out of a receptacle inserted into the main hollow section.

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.

An apparatus includes a hypodermic needle, a blood vessel dilator connected to the hypodermic needle, and an actuator connected to the blood vessel dilator in such a way that the actuator expands the blood vessel dilator. The blood vessel dilator helps mitigate blood vessel collapse.