Abstract:
The above-discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of prior art are overcome or alleviated by the closed system access device of the present invention. The closed system access device provides a tool for managing fluid transactions that ensures the sterility of a needle, prevents exposure to toxic or hazardous medicines, and protects against needle stick by completely encasing the needle in a housing. The device allows for a protected needle withdrawal of blood, injection of medicine and transfer of fluids by use of an unexposed, internal needle which inhibits contamination and prevents contact with the transferred blood and/or medicine.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The invention relates generally to a device for the administration of transactions involving bodily fluids, and particularly, to a housing with an encased needle which, when used in conjunction with any one of a variety of common access devices, minimizes or eliminates the health care professional&#39;s risk of needle stick while protecting the patient against needle contamination during the collection and transfer of bodily fluids and the injection of medication and the like. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Increased occurrence of blood-borne pathogens such as HIV and hepatitis have led healthcare institutions to search for safety devices which decrease an employee&#39;s risk of exposure to patient blood. The prevalence of needles in traditional phlebotomy and other procedures subjects health care workers to a significant threat of such exposure through sharps incidents, i.e. needlesticks. Each year, throughout the nation&#39;s healthcare facilities, thirty sharps injuries occur per one hundred occupied hospital beds. Seventyfour percent of ‘high risk’ sharps injuries, those injuries associated with blood filled needles, are incurred by health care practitioners in relation to blood drawing procedures. 
     Traditional blood drawing procedures involve various apparatus and methods. One common method entails the use of a hypodermic syringe. A conventional hypodermic syringe includes a syringe body, a piston member, a hypodermic needle, and a needle cap. With the piston member in a decompressed position, blood is drawn through the needle into the syringe body while the needle is inserted directly into the vein or into a tube connected to a second needle that is inserted in the vein. A second common method of drawing blood involves a blood bag system. A conventional blood bag system consists of a length of tubing connected to a first needle at one end and to a bag at the other. The first needle is inserted into a vein to draw blood from the vein, through the tube, into the bag or test tube or other collection device. 
     Due to the spread of infectious diseases, most syringes and needle assemblies used today are designed for one use only and immediate disposal. Although disposal of syringes and needle assemblies immediately after they are used reduces human exposure to contaminated needles, it does not eliminate all of the problems associated with traditional blood draw methods. Contact with a needle before it is used can contaminate the needle and hence any medication which passes through it, thus threatening the patient. Contact with a needle after it is used can result in the transmission of disease from patient to health care practitioner. Contact with toxic or hazardous medication contained in the needle, syringe, or tube threatens the safety of both practitioner and patient. 
     Various technologies have addressed the need to protect health care practitioners and patients from the risks associated with the use of exposed needles in phlebotomy procedures. A safety syringe, discussed fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,985 (&#39;985) and incorporated herein by reference, describes a syringe device having a safety apparatus for shielding the needle and another apparatus for removing said needle after use. A blood collecting apparatus, discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,283 (&#39;283) and incorporated herein by reference, describes a tube arrangement to be used with a blood bag wherein needles used for piercing a vein and for filling test tubes with blood for various screening tests are safety shielded. U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,211 (&#39;211), incorporated herein by reference, teaches a device which facilitates the safe withdrawal of toxic or otherwise hazardous medicine from a bottle into a syringe. 
     These and other technologies fail to adequately protect patients and practitioners from the hazards associated with needle use in phlebotomy procedures. Despite their safety features, the devices referred to above still require the practitioner to handle needles before and after usage and also expose both the practitioner and patient to the risk of contact with hazardous medicine and bodily fluids. The device described in the &#39;985 patent provides a member for ‘hands-free’ removal of a used needle, however, the health care employee still encounters the risk of needlestick when inserting a used needle into the removing member. Both devices of the &#39;985 and &#39;283 patents provide needle shields to protect the user from unintended needle contact. However, these shields are slidably mounted and thus are only effective when engaged. When the needle is disengaged the practitioner is subject to needlestick and the patent is endangered by the threat of needle contamination. Further, neither the &#39;985 nor the &#39;283 patents provide protection against contact with medicine which may be toxic or hazardous in nature. The device discussed in the &#39; 211  patent allows for the safe drawing of such medicine into a syringe but no protection is offered in transferring the medicine to the patient and injecting it into a vein. 
     Thus the need has arisen for a device to be used in venous transactions which protects both health care practitioners and patients from the risks inherent in phlebotomy procedures by protecting against needlestick, ensuring the sterility of needles, and preventing contact with dangerous medicines. 
     Summary of the Invention 
     The above-discussed and other drawbacks and deficiencies of prior art are overcome or alleviated by the closed system access device of the present invention. The closed system access device provides a tool for managing fluid transactions that ensures the sterility of a needle, prevents exposure to toxic or hazardous medicines, and protects against needle stick by completely encasing the needle in a housing. The device allows for a protected needle withdrawal of blood, injection of medicine and transfer of fluids by use of an unexposed, internal needle which inhibits contamination and prevents contact with the transferred blood and/or medicine. In an exemplary embodiment, the device comprises a protective shielding assembly including a housing having an outer wall and an intermediate wall extending between the outer wall of the housing. The intermediate wall partitions the housing into a first section and a second section. A first needle extends from the first section to the second section of the housing through the intermediate wall, wherein the first needle having a first portion disposed in the first section and a second portion disposed in the second section. The assembly also includes a first connector disposed in the second section about the first needle for connecting a first member to the first needle in the second section and a second needle is disposed at least partially in the first section of the housing and extends through the outer wall of the housing. The second needle preferably terminates in a needle-less fluid port in which the fluid port is for fluid connection to a second member. The assembly further includes a removable guide liner having a body including a first end, an opposing second end, and an outer wall complementary to the outer wall of the housing so that the removable guide liner is intimately received within the first section of the housing. The body has a guide slot formed therein where the guide slot extends from the first end to an end wall proximate the second end. The end wall includes an opening formed therein for receiving the first portion of the first needle and a portion of the second needle so that the first portion and the second needle extend into the guide slot. The guide slot receives a third member which is fluidly connected to the first and second needles so that a fluid transfer may occur between the third member and at least one of the first and second members where the first and second needles are fully encased within the housing so as to protect the user from contact therewith. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several Figures: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a device in an assembled state in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional side elevational view of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a housing assembly of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a removable guide liner of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a central line assembly of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of an arrangement for using the device of FIG. 1 as a central venous line; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of an arrangement for transferring fluid into a test tube using the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of an arrangement for administering liquid medication using the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a device according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is an alternative embodiment of a guide liner for use in the device according to the present invention; and 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of a device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevated view of a closed system access device, shown generally at  100 . Access device  100  includes a housing  102 , a removable guide liner  104 , and a line assembly  106 . In one exemplary embodiment, central access device  100  comprises a central venous access device. It will be appreciated that central access device  100  has other potential uses including but not limited to: non-professional use of the central access device  100  by a layperson in a setting other than a healthcare facility; applications in veterinary medicine; uses in pathology; uses in dental medicine; applications in medical specimen collection and transportation; applications in collection, transportation, and disposal of hazardous bodily fluids (e.g., blood, cerebral-spinal fluid, pleural fluid, synovial fluid, peritoneal dialysate and amniotic fluid); and potential uses in medication administration during medical procedures. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-5. Housing  102  is shaped substantially as a cylindrical tubular member having an outer wall  108  and an interior  110 . Housing outer wall  108  has a first end  112  and a second end  114 . A first housing opening  116  is located at first end  112  and a second housing opening  118  is located at second end  114 . A central wall  120  is mounted perpendicular to housing outer wall  108  such that interior  110  is divided into a first part  110 A and a second part  110 B. A first needle  122  is mounted such that it perpendicularly bisects central wall  120 . First needle  122  extends into both first part  110 A and second part  110 B of housing interior  110 . A preferred embodiment of housing  102  has needle  122  as a single lumen needle with one passage through the length of the needle  122  with openings at opposite ends thereof. First needle  122  passes through a syringe locking device  125  which is mounted to central wall  120  in second part  11  OB of housing interior  110 . Second needle  124  is substantially L-shaped with a first portion  126  and a second portion  128 . First portion  126  is mounted adjacent to and in intimate contact with first needle  122  in first part  110 A of housing interior  110 . Second portion  128  of second needle  124  is mounted perpendicular to first portion  126  and extends through and perpendicular to outer wall  108  terminating at a needle-less flush port  130 . In a preferred embodiment, second needle  124  is a single lumen needle with one passage through the length of the needle  124  with openings at the non-joined ends of first portion  126  and second portion  128 . 
     Removable guide liner  104  includes a guide liner body  132  and a flange  134 . Guide liner body  132  comprises a substantially tubular member with a diameter slightly less than that of an inner surface  109  of outer wall  108  to permit insertion of removable guide liner  104  into housing  102  while maintaining significant friction to prevent slippage during usage. 
     Guide liner body  132  includes an exterior surface  144 , a first end  136 , and a second end  138 . Guide liner body  132  includes a slot  140  formed therein, wherein the slot  140  has a diameter slightly larger than that of a body  146  to allow insertion of central line assembly  106  into removable guideliner  104  while maintaining significant friction to prevent slippage during usage. Removable guideliner  104  is of universal design and may be used with a variety of central lines, as is discussed further below. 
     Second end  138  includes a capping member  142  mounted perpendicular to guide liner body  132  such that guide liner body  132  is closed at second end  138 . Capping member  142  is preferably of a self-sealing type, such as a self-sealing membrane which seals after an object inserted therethrough is removed. Capping member  142  includes a groove  123  which runs perpendicularly through the center of capping member  142  to allow for the insertion of needle  122 , as is discussed in further detail below. First end  136  includes an opening  139  which defines and is part of slot  140 . 
     Flange  134  is preferably of an annular shape with an outer diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of housing flange  115 . Flange  134  is mounted perpendicular to guide liner body  132  at first end  136 . Flange  134  contacts and seats against housing flange  115  when removable guideline  104  is inserted into housing first end  116  of housing  102 . 
     Central line assembly  106  includes a body  146  and a locking member  148 . Body  146  includes a channel formed therein and extending therethrough. In other words, in a preferred embodiment, the body  146  is tubular in nature with a channel  149  formed therein and extending from a first end  150  to a second end  152 . Second end  152  preferably includes a self-sealing membrane  154  in communication with the channel, wherein the self-sealing membrane  154  is pierced by needle  122  when central line assembly  106  is inserted into removable guide liner  104  fitted into first end opening  116  of housing  102 . First end  150  includes a connector  155  and a syringe tip  156  to facilitate connection with various venous access devices as is discussed further below. In one exemplary embodiment, connector  155  is of a threaded type which is designed to lockingly mate with an object while permitting fluid to pass therethrough from one member to another member. 
     Locking member  148  includes a top member  158  and a locking flange  164 . Top member  158  includes a locking side  160  and a top side  162 . Top member  158  is substantially annular in shape with a diameter greater than a diameter of flange  134 . Top member  158  is perpendicularly bisected by body  146  such that connector  155  is mounted adjacent to and in intimate contact with top side  162  and syringe tip  156  extends perpendicularly away from top side  162  of locking member  148 . First end  152  extends perpendicularly from locking side  160  of top member  158 . 
     Locking flange  164  also includes a first locking flange member  166  and a second locking flange member  168 . First locking flange member  166  is mounted to top member  158  perpendicular to locking side  162 . Second locking flange member  168  is mounted perpendicular to first member  166  such that it extends towards body  146 . First locking flange member  166  is of sufficient length to create a catch  170  between top member  158  and second locking member  168 . Upon attaching central line assembly  106  to housing  102  fitted with removable guide liner  104 , locking flange  164  snaps into a locked position with housing flange  115  and flange  134  captured in catch  170 . 
     The uses of a closed system central access device  100  in accordance with this invention will now be discussed. 
     Referring now to FIGS.  1  and  6 - 8  in which access device  100  will be described as being used as a central venous access device. It being understood that the following uses for central access device  100  are merely exemplary in nature and do not limit the scope of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional exploded side elevational view of an exemplary method of drawing blood using the closed system central venous access device  100  of FIG.  1 . Venous access device  100  is prepared by first inserting removable guide liner  104  into first part  110 A of housing interior  110 . Next, central line assembly  106  is inserted through first end  136  into slot  140  such that first needle  122  and second needle  124  pierce self-sealing membrane  154  and enter channel  149  of body  146 . Central line assembly  106  is inserted into removable guide liner  104  until locking flange  164  snaps locks over both guide line flange  134  and housing flange  115 . The venous access device is now assembled as is shown in FIG.  1 . An access line  400  is fitted on screw connector  155  and connects the venous access device  100  to the vein of a patient. In an exemplary embodiment, the access line  400  comprises a central venous line. It being understood that access line  400  may comprise any number of members which are used to transfer bodily fluids. For example, the access line  400  shown in FIG. 6 is of a central venous line screw-type configuration which mates with connector  155 . It is within the scope of the present invention that other accessing lines  400  may be used, including but not limited to a variety of ports or catheters for medical collection purposes, e.g., venous devices (Hickman catheter, PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter), midline catheter, Groshong catheter, Port-a-Cath); spinal catheters; shunts; or any other device for accessing bodily fluids depending upon the precise application for central access device  100 . 
     A vacuum sealed test tube  200  is inserted into second part  110 B of interior  110  of housing  102  such that needle  122  punctures a test tube cap  202  and enters a test tube body  204 . Test tube cap  202  is preferably of a self-sealing membrane type. Pressure differential and gravity cause blood to be drawn through venous access line  400 , into channel  149  of body  146 , through first needle  122 , and, finally, into test tube  200 . 
     Alternatively, blood may be drawn into a syringe  210  by configuring venous access device  100  as described above and inserting syringe  210 , instead of test tube  200 , through second housing opening  118  into second part  110 B of housing interior  110 . Syringe  210  includes a syringe body  216 , a syringe screw connector  214 , a syringe tip  212  and a slidably contained compression member  218 . Syringe  210  is inserted into housing  102  such that needle  122  enters syringe tip  212 . Syringe screw connector  214  is mated with syringe locking device  125 . Compression member  218  is then placed in the decompressed position drawing blood through venous access device  100  into channel  149  of body  146 , through needle  122 , and, finally, into syringe body  216 . 
     If the liquid medication injected requires a fluid, such as saline to be injected before or after a blood draw, to flush the vein or the venous access line  400 , such injection may be made using a second syringe  310 . Syringe  310  includes a second syringe body  316 , a second syringe tip  312 , a second syringe screw connector  314 , and a slidably contained second compression member  318 . Injection fluid is placed into second syringe body  316  such that second compression member  318  is placed in the decompressed position. Second syringe tip  312  is inserted into needle-less flush port  130  and locked into position with second syringe screw connector  314 . To administer fluid, second decompression member  318  is compressed injecting fluid through flush port  130 , through second needle  124 , into channel  149  of body  146 , into venous access line  400  and finally into the patient&#39;s vein. A second fluid flush injection may be made by simply attaching to flush port  130  a new syringe containing fluid and following the procedure described above. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of an arrangement for transferring fluid using access device  100  of FIG.  1 . To prepare access device  100  to transfer fluids, removable guide liner  104  and central line assembly  106  are detached from housing  102 . Fluid contained in a test tube  200  or a syringe  210  may be transferred without needle stick and without contact with the fluid by first inserting either test tube  200  or syringe  210  into second part  110 B of housing interior  110 . Test tube  200  is inserted such that first needle  122  pierces test tube cap  202  and enters test tube body  204 . Syringe  210  is inserted such that first needle  122  enters syringe tip  212  and then syringe body  216 . Syringe screw connector  214  is mated with syringe locking device  125 . Then, with test tube  200  or syringe  210  in place, vacuumed sealed receiving test tube  401  is inserted into first part  110 A of housing interior  110  such that first needle  122  pierces receiving test tube cap  402  and enters receiving test tube body  404 . Gravity and the pressure differential draw the fluid into receiving test tube  401 . 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an arrangement for administering liquid medication using the device of FIG.  1 . Central access device  100  is prepared and connected to access line  400  as is described above with reference to FIG.  6 . Liquid medication is placed in a medication syringe  275 . Medication syringe  275  includes a body  280  for holding a predetermined amount of medication, a compression member  282 , a syringe tip  284 , and a connector  286 . Medication syringe  275  is inserted through second housing opening  118  into housing interior  110  such that first needle  122  enters syringe tip  284  and then syringe body  280 . Connector  286  is mated with syringe locking device  125  securing syringe  275  to housing  102 . Compression member  282  is compressed thereby injecting liquid medication through first needle  122 , into channel  149  of body  146 , through venous access implement  400  and into patient&#39;s vein. 
     If the liquid medication injected requires a fluid such as saline to be injected before or after administration of medication to flush the vein or the access implement  400 , such injection may be made using a second syringe  310 . Second syringe  310  includes a second body  316 , a second tip  312 , a second connector  314 , and a slidably contained second compression member  318 . Injection fluid is placed into second syringe body  316  such that second compression member  318  is placed in the decompressed position. Second syringe tip  312  is inserted into needle-less flush port  130  and locked into position with second syringe screw connector  314 . To administer fluid second decompression member is compressed injecting fluid through flush port, through second needle  124 , into channel  149  of body  146 , into access line  400  and finally into patient&#39;s vein. A second fluid flush injection may be made by simply attaching to flush port  130  a new syringe containing fluid and following the procedure described above. 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevational side view of an alternative embodiment of the device of FIG.  1 . Alternative access device  500  includes a syringe body  502 , a guide liner housing  504 , a removable guide liner  506 , and a connecting wall  508 . Syringe body  502  is shaped substantially as a tubular member and includes an outer wall  516 , an interior  518 , a first end  520 , and a second end  522 . Outer wall  516  is of sufficient diameter such that a twenty to thirty cubic centimeter syringe may be inserted into interior  518 . First end  520  includes opening  524 . Second end  522  includes closing member  526  which is mounted perpendicular to outer wall  516  such that second end  522  is closed. Closing member  526  is perpendicularly bisected by a first needle  510 . First needle  510  passes through a syringe locking device  528  which is mounted to closing member  526  extending into interior  518 . 
     Guide liner housing  504  is shaped substantially as a tubular member and includes an outer wall  530 , an interior  536 , a first end  532 , and a second end  534 . Outer wall  530  is of diameter and thickness sufficient to allow for the insertion of removable guide liner  506  into interior  536 . First end  532  includes an opening  538 . Second end  534  includes a guide liner housing member  540  mounted perpendicular to outer wall  530  such that second end  534  is closed. Guide liner housing member  540  is perpendicularly bisected by first needle  510  and a second needle  512  adjacent to and in intimate contact with first needle  510 . Removable guideliner  506  is preferably identical to that described above with reference to FIG.  4 . 
     Connecting wall  508  joins syringe body  502  with guide liner housing  504 . Syringe body  502  is mounted to connecting wall  508  at syringe closing member  526 . Guide liner housing  504  is mounted to connecting wall  508  at guide liner housing member  540 . 
     First needle  510  and second needle  512  are encased within alternative venous access device  500  to prevent needle stick and needle contamination. First needle  510  bisects connecting wall  508  and extends in either direction through syringe closing member  526  and guide line housing member  504  into syringe interior  518  and guide line housing interior  536 , respectively. Second needle  512  includes a first portion  511  and a second portion  513 . First portion  511  is mounted adjacent to and in intimate contact with first needle  510 . Second portion  513  is joined perpendicularly to first portion  511  and extends outside of connecting wall  508 . The free end of second portion  513  is fitted with needle-less flush port  514 . 
     Alternative access device  500  may be used in accordance with the device of FIG.  1 . Exemplary uses include blood drawing, liquid medication injection, and transfer of fluids from syringe to test tube, test tube to test tube, etc. These uses, with respect to the device of FIG. 1, are illustrated and described above with reference to FIGS. 6,  7 , and  8 . Alternative access device  500  is used in much the same manner. Guide liner housing  504  fitted with removable guide liner  506  may receive a central line assembly as described above with reference to FIG.  6 . An access implement (not shown) may then connect alternative venous access device  500  to a patient&#39;s vein. Syringe body  502  may be used similarly to second part  110 B of housing  102  of the device of FIG. 3 in that it may receive test tubes and/or syringes to facilitate blood draw, medication injection, or transfer of fluids. Alternatively, syringe body  502  may be used itself as a syringe by fitting it with a compression member, thus negating the step of attaching separate syringes in the uses described above. Thus, in this embodiment, syringe body  502  comprises an integral part of the alternative venous access device  500  and therefore eliminates the insertion of the separate syringe body into the device. 
     Referring now to FIG. 10 in which a closed system access device  100 ′ is shown. Access device  100 ′ is similar to access device  100  with the exception that central line assembly  106  is eliminated and the access line  400  is connected directly to the first needle  122  and the first portion  126  of the second needle  124  without the use of central line assembly  106 . In this embodiment, the access line  400  comprises an implement having a self-sealing tip  403 , e.g., a central venous line with a self-sealing membrane. The access line  400  is inserted into the slot  140  and is directed towards the wall  120  resulting in the first needle  122  and first portion  126  piercing the self-sealing tip  403  causing the access line  400  to be securely retained within the housing  102 . 
     In this embodiment when the central line assembly  106  is not used, the removable guide liner  104  is designed to be frictionally retained between the outer wall  108  of the housing  102 . The insertion of the first needle  122  and the first portion  126  of the second needle  124  through the groove  123  helps to retain the removable guide liner  104  within the housing  102 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 11 in which an alternative removable guide liner  104 ′ is illustrated. The guide liner  104 ′ is similar to the removable guide liner  104  with the exception that the guide liner  104 ′ includes a locking tab  600  extending from the guide liner flange  134 . The locking tab is designed to snap lock about the housing flange  115  to secure the guide liner  104 ′ to the housing  102 . In this configuration, the access implement  400  is disposed within the slot  140  and pierces the first and second needles  122 ,  124 , respectively, of the housing  102 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12 in which another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, a central access device  100 ″ is provided. Central access device  100 ″ comprises a device particularly suited for applications in medical specimen collection and transportation. Central access device  100 ″ comprises housing  102 ″ which includes a test tube  700  integrally formed therein. More specifically, the second part  110 B of the interior  110  actually comprises an internal cavity of the test tube  700 . In one exemplary embodiment, the test tube  700  is integrally formed as part of outer wall  108  so that the connector  125  and a portion of first needle  122  is disposed within the test tube  700 . In this embodiment, the central access device  100 ″ is designed to act as a collection and transportation device in that once a specimen is collected in the test tube  700  using the procedures set forth hereinbefore, the central access device  100 ″ is disassembled until only the housing  102 ″ including the test tube  700  remains. This one piece may then be packaged and transported to the desired location, such as a laboratory or testing facility. Thus by reducing the steps necessary for the collection and transportation of the bodily fluid, the present central access device  100 ″ reduces the risk of contamination because it involves less steps and less human contact than previous procedures. 
     According to the present invention, a closed system central access device is provided. The device has a wide range of potential applications and is particularly well suited for procedures which require withdrawal of bodily fluids or administration of substances to a body. In one exemplary embodiment, the device comprises a closed system central venous access device. The device of the present invention would significantly decrease the risk of exposure from blood-borne pathogens to healthcare workers or the like during the following procedures which are merely illustrative and not limiting: injecting blood into a vacuum tube or specimen container, recapping syringes with needles containing blood by hand, removing needles from syringes containing blood by hand, using a needle to draw blood from a venous access device. Other intended uses for the devices disclosed herein are uses in medication administration and medical procedures, e.g., plasmaphoresis, blood donation, and synovial aspiration. 
     While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.