Coupling device for blood collection assembly

1. A coupler for engaging a needle assembly with a needle holder comprising:

a coupler housing having a forward end and a rearward end, said forward end including a piercable septum therein, said coupler housing including at least one lug on an external surface thereof; and

a coupler needle cannula extending from said rearward end of said coupler housing;

wherein the at least one lug is configured to removably engage the coupler with the needle assembly.

2. The coupler according to claim 1 , further comprising an elastomeric sheath encompassing the coupler needle cannula which extends from said rearward end of said coupler housing.

3. The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler has a plurality of lugs.

4. The coupler according to claim 3 , wherein the coupler has at least three lugs.

5. The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the rearward end of the coupler housing includes means for engagement with a needle holder.

6. The coupler according to claim 1 , wherein the rearward end of the coupler housing includes external threads for engagement with a needle holder.

7. The coupler according to claim 6 , wherein the rearward end of the coupler housing includes a profile for snap-fit engagement with a needle holder.

8. A blood collection assembly comprising a needle holder and an intravenous needle assembly which are coupled together through the coupler of claim 1 , wherein the intravenous needle assembly includes slots for corresponding engagement with said lugs of said coupler.

9. A sampling container needle holder assembly for engagement with a needle assembly having an intravenous puncture end, a non-patient puncture tip and a guide sleeve housing with at least one slot extending along said housing adjacent said non-patient puncture tip, said needle holder assembly comprising:

a needle holder comprising a hollow body having a forward end and a rearward end having an internal opening, said needle holder capable of accommodating a plurality of sampling containers therein; and

a coupler extending from said forward end of said needle holder for providing fluid connection between the needle holder and the needle assembly, said coupler comprising a coupler housing having a forward end including a piercable septum therein and a rearward end having a coupler needle cannula extending therefrom, said forward end of said coupler housing accommodating said non-patient puncture tip of said needle assembly puncturing said piercable septum, said rearward end of said coupler housing connected with said needle holder with said coupler needle cannula extending into said hollow body of said needle holder through said forward end thereof, said coupler housing including at least one lug on an external surface thereof for removable engagement with said at least one slot of said guide sleeve housing.

10. The needle holder assembly according to claim 9 , further including an elastomeric sleeve extending about said coupler needle cannula.

11. The needle holder assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the coupler has a plurality of lugs for engagement with a plurality of corresponding slots on the guide sleeve housing.

12. The needle holder assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the coupler housing is transparent and comprises a flash chamber.

13. The needle holder assembly according to claim 9 , wherein said connection between said rearward end of said coupler housing and said needle holder comprises a threaded engagement.

14. A method for collecting a blood sample with a blood collection assembly having a double-ended needle and a needle holder, comprising:

providing a needle assembly having a intravenous puncture tip, a non-patient puncture tip and a guide sleeve housing with at least one slot extending along said housing adjacent said non-patient puncture lip;

providing a needle holder capable of accommodating a plurality of sampling containers therein and including a coupler connected to a forward end thereof, said coupler comprising

a coupler housing having a forward end including a piercable septum therein,

a rearward end having a coupler needle cannula extending into said needle holder

and at least one lug on an external surface thereof;

attaching said needle holder to said needle assembly through said coupler with said at least one lug on said coupler housing removably engaging with said at least one slot of said guide sleeve housing and said non-patient puncture tip of said needle assembly puncturing said piercable septum of said coupler housing; and

establishing fluid flow trough said needle assembly and through said coupler needle cannula for collecting a sample of blood in a sampling container within said needle holder.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the coupler needle cannula further includes an elastomeric sleeve.

16. The method to claim 14 , wherein the coupler includes a plurality of lugs.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said coupler housing and said needle holder comprise separate members which are connected together.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said coupler housing and said needle holder are connected through a threaded engagement.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein said needle holder is attached to said needle assembly through said coupler after said intravenous puncture tip of said needle assembly is emplaced within a blood vessel of a patient.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein said fluid flow is established by inserting an evacuated blood collection container into said needle holder and piercing a stopper of said evacuated blood container with said coupler needle cannula, thereby establishing a fluid connection between the interior of said evacuated blood container and said intravenous puncture tip.