Disposable vial holder and method to prevent needle stick injuries

• US 10,039,694 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Jewish Health
• Original Assignee: National Jewish Health
• Inventors: Musani, Ali I.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCETICH, ADAM M
• Application Number:
  US15/148,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20160250100A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3494 with safety means for protection against accidental cutting or pricking, e.g. limiting insertion depth, pressure sensors for the peridural space A61B17/3401
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/36 for collecting or disposing of used articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1406 Septums, pierceable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2003 Accessories used in combination with means for transfer or mixing of fluids, e.g. for activating fluid flow, separating fluids, filtering fluid or venting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1782 Devices aiding filling of syringes in situ combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents A61J1/2096, filling of medical containers in general B65B3/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1785 comprising radioactive shield means syringe shields or holders for storage of radioactive sources G21F5/018
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3205 Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/321 Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3213 Caps placed axially onto the needle, e.g. equipped with finger protection guards axially-extensible protective sleeves A61M5/3243
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/003 Filling medical containers such as ampoules, vials, syringes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 5/018 Syringe shields or holders syringe shielding for applying radioactive material to the body A61M5/1785

Abstract

A vial holder is provided to protect a user'"'"'s hand from needle sticks. The holder includes a handle and a shield attached to a distal end of the handle. An opening is formed in the distal end of the handle to receive a vial. The vial is placed through the opening and into a passageway of the handle with the upper end of the vial exposed. A user grasps the handle which holds the vial in a stabilized manner. A needle may then safely approach the vial in which inadvertent slippage or movement of the needle results in contact with the needle against the shield and not contact with the user'"'"'s hand.

Claims

1. A vial holder comprising:

a handle having an opening formed at distal end thereof, and a passageway communicating with the opening, the passageway extending a depth within a portion of the handle from the distal end toward a proximal end of the handle;

a shield attached to a distal end of the handle, the shield being substantially planar and extending substantially perpendicular to an axis of the handle;

a flange connected to and protruding from the opening, and the flange extending radially inward into the passageway;

the passageway is tapered commencing at a larger diameter at the opening to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle; and

wherein the vial holder is made as a single member.

2. A vial holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the shield is made from a needle impenetrable plastic having a first stiffness, and the handle is made from a plastic having a second lesser stiffness.

3. A vial holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the shield is substantially circular shaped.

4. A method of preventing needle stick injuries during use of a needle in withdrawing contents of a vial, the method comprising:

providing a vial holder including a handle having a passageway extending partially through the handle, the handle having a proximal and distal end;

providing a shield attached to a distal end of the handle, the shield extending substantially perpendicular to an axis of the handle, and the shield having a shape to substantially cover an edge of user'"'"'s hand grasping the handle;

providing a vial with contents therein, and frictionally holding the vial within the passageway of the vial holder, the passageway being tapered with a larger diameter at an opening to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle;

the vial having a base and a cylindrical sidewall extending from the base, wherein a lower portion of the cylindrical sidewall contacts an interior-surface of the passageway, and an upper portion of the cylindrical sidewall located within the passageway can be spaced from and not in contact with the interior surface of the passageway;

grasping and holding the handle of the vial holder;

moving a needle toward the upper end of the vial; and

withdrawing contents within vial.

5. In combination, a vial holder and vial comprising:

a handle having a passageway extending at least partially through the handle, the handle further having a proximal end and a distal end;

the passageway having an interior tapered surface commencing with a larger diameter at an opening of the passageway at the distal end of the handle, to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle;

a shield attached to the distal end of the handle and the shield being substantially planar;

a vial secured in the passageway, the vial having a base and a sidewall extending from the base; and

wherein a lower portion of the sidewall contacts the interior surface of the passageway, and an upper portion of the sidewall can be spaced from and not in contact with the interior surface of the passageway.