METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY OCCLUDING THE LUMEN OF A NEEDLE
A fluid transfer device for parenterally transferring fluid to and/or from a patient includes a housing, a needle, and an occlusion mechanism. The housing defines a fluid flow path and is couplable to a fluid reservoir. The needle has a distal end portion that is configured to be inserted into the patient and a proximal end portion that is configured to be fluidically coupled to the fluid flow path of the housing, and defines a lumen therebetween. The occlusion mechanism selectively controls a fluid flow between the needle and the fluid flow path. The occlusion mechanism includes an occlusion member that is movable between a first configuration where the lumen of the needle is obstructed during insertion into the patient and a second configuration where the lumen of the needle is unobstructed after the needle has been inserted into the patient allowing fluid transfer to or from the patient.
1 . A device for parenterally transferring fluid to or from a patient, the device comprising:
a housing that defines a fluid flow path, the housing configured to be coupleable to a fluid reservoir;
a needle having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and defining a lumen therebetween, the distal end portion configured for insertion into the patient, the proximal end portion configured to be fluidically coupleable to the fluid flow path; and
an occlusion mechanism operable to selectively control fluid flow between the needle and the fluid flow path, the occlusion mechanism including an occlusion member configured to selectively obstruct the lumen of the needle during insertion into the patient,
the occlusion mechanism being configured to be moved between a first configuration such that the lumen of the needle is obstructed during insertion into the patient, and a second configuration such that the lumen of the needle is unobstructed after the needle has been inserted into the patient allowing fluid transfer to or from the patient.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the occlusion member is a stylet configured to be disposed in the needle lumen in the first configuration, and manually removed from the lumen to place the occlusion mechanism in the second configuration.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the occlusion mechanism includes a retractor disposed in the housing and coupled to the occlusion member, the retractor configured to move the occlusion member from a first position to a second position to place the occlusion mechanism in the second configuration.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the retractor includes a coil spring.
5 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the occlusion member is disposed at the distal end portion of the needle in the first position.
6 . (canceled)
7 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the occlusion member is retracted into the housing in the second position.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the occlusion member is an outer sleeve movably disposed on the needle and configured to be movable from a first position to a second position to place the occlusion mechanism in the second configuration.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the needle has a closed distal end and a port in fluid communication with the lumen disposed in the distal end portion of the needle.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the port is obstructed when the outer sleeve is in the first position and substantially unobstructed when the outer sleeve is in the second position.
11 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the port includes a plurality of apertures disposed in the distal end portion of the needle.
12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the needle has a beveled distal end and the outer sleeve has a beveled distal end, the beveled distal ends of the needle and the outer sleeve being substantially coplanar when the outer sleeve is in the first position.
13 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the outer sleeve is configured slide proximally from the first position to the second position.
14 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the outer sleeve is configured rotate about the needle from the first position to the second position.
15 . (canceled)
16 . (canceled)
17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion of the needle defines a chamber fluidically isolated from the needle lumen, the chamber configured to receive at least one of tissue, bodily fluid, and contaminants upon insertion of the needle in to the patient.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the occlusion member is an outer sleeve movably disposed on the needle, the outer sleeve configured to be movable from a first position to a second position to place the occlusion mechanism in the second configuration.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the outer sleeve has a plurality of fingers configured to close over the chamber defined by the distal end portion in the first position.
20 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the needle has a port in fluid communication with the lumen disposed proximal the chamber defined by the distal end portion.
21 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the port is obstructed when the outer sleeve is in the first position and substantially unobstructed when the outer sleeve is in the second position.
22 . A device for parenterally transferring fluid to or from a patient, the device comprising:
a needle having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and defining a lumen therebetween, the distal end portion configured for insertion into the patient, the proximal end portion configured to be fluidically coupleable to a fluid reservoir; and
an occlusion mechanism operable to selectively control fluid flow between the patient and the fluid reservoir, the occlusion mechanism having a first configuration such that the lumen of the needle is obstructed during insertion into the patient, and a second configuration such that the lumen of the needle is unobstructed after the needle has been inserted into the patient allowing fluid transfer to or from the patient,
the occlusion mechanism configured to automatically transition from the first configuration to the second configuration when the distal end portion of the needle is inserted into the patient.
23 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the distal end portion includes a shape memory alloy.
24 . The device of claim 23 , wherein the shape memory alloy is nitinol.
25 .- 28 . (canceled)
29 . A method for transferring fluid to or from a patient using a parenteral transfer device, the device including a needle having a lumen configured for insertion into the patient, and an occlusion mechanism operable to selectively control fluid flow to or from a patient through the needle lumen, the method comprising:
disposing the occlusion mechanism in a first configuration in which the lumen of the needle is obstructed to prevent at least one of tissue, bodily fluid, and contaminants from entering the lumen;
inserting the needle into the patient; and
after the needle has been inserted into the patient, moving the occlusion mechanism to a second configuration in which the lumen of the needle is unobstructed allowing fluid transfer to or from the patient.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the occlusion mechanism includes an occlusion member configured to selectively obstruct the lumen of the needle during insertion into the patient, the method further comprising:
disposing the occlusion member at a distal end of the needle prior to insertion into the patient, the occlusion member configured to prevent tissue from entering the lumen of the needle in the first configuration.
31 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising:
retracting the occlusion member after the needle has been inserted into the patient to move the occlusion mechanism to the second configuration.
32 - 39 . (canceled)