Medical device with shield having a retractable needle

• US 20020045843A1
• Filed: 04/18/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Barker, John M., Botich, Michael J., Halseth, Thor R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,786,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150656 semi-automatically triggered, i.e. in which the triggering of the protective sleeve requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15074 Needle sets comprising wings, e.g. butterfly type, for ease of handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1535 comprising means for indicating vein or arterial entry A61B5/1545 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0631 having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0637 Butterfly or winged devices, e.g. for facilitating handling or for attachment to the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0643 Devices having a blunt needle tip, e.g. due to an additional inner component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3257 Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means

Abstract

Needle-bearing medical devices are provided for fluid infusion, fluid transfusion, and inserting a guide wire. After use the needle is shielded to render the contaminated needle safe to prevent inadvertent needle sticks. The device includes a housing and a needle having a sharpened tip. A biasing element biases the needle toward a position in which the sharpened tip is shielded.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a hollow housing;

a needle having a sharpened tip projecting forwardly from the housing;

a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly;

a needle retainer releasably retaining the needle against the rearward bias of the biasing element

a flexible shield fixedly attached to the housing, projecting forwardly from the housing;

the shield being configured for insertion into a patient;

the shield sheathing the needle such that in the projecting position, the sharpened tip of the needle projects beyond the forward edge of the shield, and in the retracted position the sharpened tip is enclosed within the shield;

wherein upon actuation of the needle retainer, the biasing element displaces the needle rearwardly so that the sharpened tip of the needle is enclosed within the shield, wherein the shield is substantially puncture resistant wherein the axial force required to buckle the shield is less than the force necessary to puncture the shield with the needle to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle.

2. A method for infusing fluid into a patient with a medical device having a needle, comprising the steps of:

inserting the needle into the patient;

shielding the needle; and

infusing fluid through the shielded needle into the patient.

3. The method of claim 2 comprising the step of providing a sheath substantially sheathing the length of the needle.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of shielding comprises the step of displacing the needle rearwardly.

5. A method for transfusing one of blood and plasma in or out of a patient with a medical device having a needle, comprising the steps of:

inserting the needle into the patient;

shielding the needle; and

transferring said one of blood and plasma through the shielded needle while a portion of the device is inserted in the patient.

6. The method of claim 5 comprising the step of providing a sheath substantially sheathing the length of the needle.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of shielding comprises the step of displacing the needle rearwardly.

8. A medical device, comprising:

a hollow housing;

a needle having a sharpened tip projecting forwardly from the housing;

a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly;

a needle retainer releasably retaining the needle against the rearward bias of the biasing element

a shield fixedly attached to the housing, projecting forwardly from the housing;

the shield being configured for insertion into a patient;

the shield sheathing the needle such that in the projecting position, the sharpened tip of the needle projects beyond the forward edge of the shield, and in the retracted position the sharpened tip is enclosed within the shield;

wherein upon actuation of the needle retainer, the biasing element displaces the needle rearwardly so that the sharpened tip of the needle is enclosed within the shield, wherein the shield is substantially puncture resistant wherein the axial force required to buckle the shield is less than the force necessary to puncture the shield with the needle to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle.