Transfer needle safety apparatus

1. A transfer needle safety apparatus comprising:

a shield having a wide diameter proximal end side-wall defining a cavity and a rim defining a substantially full diameter proximal opening, said shield having a narrower diameter distal end wall with an open tubular extension extending distally therefrom, said shield having an inner contour adapted to receive a wide body collection vessel; and

a removable sleeve configured and dimensioned to be releasably retained within said cavity and self align coaxially therewith, said removable sleeve comprising an inner cylinder defining an open proximal end and an open distal end and having an inside diameter adapted for receiving a narrow body collection vessel;

wherein the removable sleeve is configured and dimensioned to be positionable within the cavity of the shield such that a narrow body collection vessel can be received in the inner cylinder and the removable sleeve is configured and dimensioned to be removable from the cavity of the shield such that a wide body collection vessel having a width greater than the narrow body collection vessel can be received within the cavity of the shield.

2. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of ribs extending radially from an outside surface of said inner cylinder to an inside diameter of said shield and cooperatively engaged therewith to provide coaxial alignment of said inner cylinder within said cavity of said shield.

3. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 1 including a transfer needle non-removably installed with said shield, said transfer needle extending proximally into said cavity from said distal end wall, and distally into said tubular extension opening.

4. A transfer needle safety apparatus comprising:

a shield having a wide diameter proximal end side-wall defining a cavity and a rim defining a substantially full diameter proximal opening, said shield having a narrower diameter distal end wall with an open tubular extension extending distally therefrom, said shield having an inner contour adapted to receive a wide body collection vessel, wherein said tubular extension is adapted to be mounted to a luer of a fluid transfer syringe; and

a removable sleeve configured to be releasably retained within said cavity and self align coaxially therewith, said removable sleeve comprising an inner cylinder defining an open proximal end and an open distal end and having an inside diameter adapted for receiving a narrow body collection vessel;

wherein the removable sleeve is configured and dimensioned to be positionable within the cavity of the shield such that a narrow body collection vessel can be received in the inner cylinder and the removable sleeve is configured and dimensioned to be removable from the cavity of the shield such that a wide body collection vessel having a width greater than the narrow body collection vessel can be received within the cavity of the shield.

5. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said tubular extension includes mounting structure including threads adapted for attachment to a threaded luer of a fluid transfer syringe.

6. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said tubular extension includes mounting structure in a distal end inside diameter of said tubular extension opening adapted for receiving a male luer of a fluid transfer syringe.

7. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said tubular extension includes mounting structure including a luer lock fitting for removable attachment to a cooperating luer lock fitting of a fluid transfer syringe.

8. The transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said open proximal end of said inner cylinder includes an annular flange extending to a diameter equal or greater than said proximal opening in said outer cylinder, and wherein said flange includes a rounded shoulder which blends into said open proximal end of said inner cylinder.

9. The transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least one slot is provided in said side-wall of said shield adjacent to said proximal opening to allow gripping and removal of said sleeve from said shield.

10. The transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said removable sleeve includes a cylindrical proximal extension adjacent to said open proximal end to allow gripping and removal of said sleeve from said shield.

11. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shield proximal end side wall includes an internal undercut adjacent to said rim and wherein at least one of said ribs includes an inwardly formed step which engages said undercut when said sleeve is installed in said shield for removable retention of said sleeve in said cavity.

12. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 1 comprising features incorporated with said sleeve and said shield to provide audible feedback indicating full insertion of said sleeve to said shield.

13. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said ribs include an inclined distal end surface for aligning said sleeve with said shield when said inclined distal end surface engages said rim during installation of said sleeve to said shield.

14. A transfer needle safety apparatus comprising:

a shield having a wide diameter proximal end side-wall defining a cavity and a rim defining a substantially full diameter proximal opening, said shield having a narrower diameter distal end wall with an open tubular extension extending distally therefrom, said shield having an inner contour adapted to receive a wide body collection vessel;

a removable sleeve adapted to fit into said cavity and self align coaxially therewith, said removable sleeve comprising an inner cylinder defining an open proximal end and an open distal end and having an inside diameter adapted for receiving a narrow body collection vessel;

a plurality of ribs extending radially from an outside surface of said inner cylinder to an inside diameter of said shield and cooperatively engaged therewith to provide coaxial alignment of said inner cylinder with said outside cylinder; and

a transfer needle non-removably installed within said shield, said transfer needle extending proximally into said cavity from said distal end wall, and distally into said tubular extension opening;

wherein each of said ribs extend far enough distally to engage said side-wall and ensure alignment of said sleeve within said shield before said distal end of said inner cylinder reaches said transfer needle tip during installation of said sleeve to said shield.

15. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 14 wherein at least one of said ribs include a rib extension protruding distally therefrom and wherein said shield includes at least one clearance window configured to accept said rib extension.

16. A transfer needle safety apparatus comprising:

a shield having a side-wall defining a cavity with a substantially full diameter proximal opening and having a narrower diameter distal end wall with an open tubular extension extending distally therefrom, said shield having an inside diameter adapted to receive a wide body collection vessel; and

a removable sleeve adapted to fit into said cavity and self align coaxially therewith, said removable sleeve comprising an inner cylinder defining an open proximal end and an open distal end and having an inside diameter adapted for receiving a narrow body collection vessel; said open proximal end of said inside cylinder having a finger extending to a diameter equal or greater than said proximal opening in said shield.

17. A transfer needle safety apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said side-wall includes a slot disposed therein configured for receiving said finger of said removable sleeve.

18. A method of safety transferring body fluids to a vessel comprising:

providing a shield having a side-wall defining a cavity with a rim defining a substantially full diameter proximal opening and having a narrower diameter distal end wall with an open tubular extension extending distally therefrom, said shield having an inside diameter adapted to receive a wide body collection vessel;

providing a fluid transfer needle permanently installed within said shield and extending from the proximal end of said tubular extension into said cavity;

providing a removable sleeve adapted to fit into said cavity and self align coaxially therewith, said removable sleeve comprising an inner cylinder defining an open proximal end and an open distal end and having an inside diameter adapted for receiving a narrow body collection vessel;

securing a fluid transfer syringe to the distal end of said tubular extension;

inserting the mouth of a narrow body fluid receptacle having a puncturable septum into said sleeve and puncturing said septum with said needle;

transferring fluid from said syringe into said narrow body receptacle; and

removing said narrow body receptacle from said sleeve.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein said tubular extension includes mounting structure and wherein said luer is fitted to said tubular extension by cooperating structure disposed on said luer engaging said mounting structure.

20. The method according to claim 18 further comprising:

removing said sleeve from said shield;

inserting the mouth of a wide body fluid receptacle having a puncturable septum into said shield and puncturing said septum with said needle;

transferring fluid from said syringe into said wide body receptacle; and

removing said wide body receptacle from said shield.