Patent ID: 6974423

Claim:
A needle holder assembly for collecting samples of fluid, said assembly comprising: a holder body having opposed proximal and distal ends, a tube receiving chamber extending into said proximal end of said holder body and continuing to a distal end wall at said distal end of said holder body, and a needle receiving chamber extending into said distal end of said holder body and continuing to a proximal end wall substantially at said proximal end of said holder body, said proximal end wall including a vent extending therethrough and communicating with said needle receiving chamber; a proximal needle cannula having a distal end mounted to said holder body and a proximal end extending into said tube receiving chamber; a distal needle cannula having proximal and distal ends, said distal needle cannula being mounted to said holder body for movement between a distal position where said distal end of said distal needle cannula projects beyond said distal end of said holder body and a proximal position where substantially all of said distal needle cannula is within said needle receiving chamber of said holder body; a passage for providing fluid communication between said distal needle cannula and said proximal needle cannula when said distal needle cannula is in said distal position; a spring for urging said distal needle cannula proximally and into said needle receiving chamber of said holder body; a trigger for releasably holding said distal needle cannula in said distal position and against forces exerted by said spring.