Safety shield system for syringes

• US 20020156426A1
• Filed: 04/24/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Gagnieux, Samuel, Jansen, Hubert
• Granted Patent: US 6,616,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/197
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3261 triggered by radial deflection of the anchoring parts between sleeve and syringe barrel, e.g. spreading of sleeve retaining hooks having slanted surfaces by engagement with conically shaped collet of the piston rod during the last portion of the injection stroke of the plunger
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3135 characterised by constructional features of the proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user

Abstract

A medical injection device including a shield system and a syringe coupled to the shield system. The shield system includes a syringe holder, a shield telescopically received in the holder and slidably coupled to the holder and an end fitting which isolates the syringe flange from the holder, preventing damage to the flange. A spring resiliently urges the shield from a retracted position to an extended position. Stop members are provided adjacent the distal end of the holder and the proximal end of the shield for maintaining the shield in the retracted position. The syringe is slidably coupled to the holder, and extends within the shield. Axial movement of the syringe with respect to the holder causes disengagement of the stop members, allowing the spring to move the shield to the extended position. Detents are provided on the holder for maintaining the shield in the extended position.

Claims

1. An injection device, comprising:

a generally cylindrical tubular barrel including a first end having a needle cannula having a sharp distal end and a second open end having a radial flange adjacent said second open end;

a tubular holder surrounding said barrel including a first open end adjacent said first end of said barrel spaced from said sharp distal end of said needle cannula and a second open end having a chamber receiving said flange of said barrel, said chamber having an abutment surface facing said flange of said barrel;

a tubular shield releaseably retained by said holder located within said holder surrounding at least a portion of said barrel including a first open end and a second open end, said tubular shield axially moveable with respect to said barrel between a retracted position, wherein said sharp distal end of said needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position, wherein said sharp distal end of said needle cannula is enclosed by said shield;

a fitting within said tubular holder having a tubular portion surrounding said tubular shield and a radial flange portion located within said chamber of said tubular holder between said flange of said barrel and said abutment surface of said chamber having at least one resiliently deformable projection extending toward said abutment surface;

and a spring operably biased between said shield and said holder urging said shield from said retracted position toward said extended position when said shield is released from said tubular holder, whereby said resiliently deformable projection on said flange portion of said fitting damps movement of said flange of said barrel in said chamber, reducing damage to said flange of said barrel.

2. The injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said resiliently deformable projection comprises a plurality of projections circumferentially spaced around said flange portion of said fitting extending toward said abutment surface of said chamber.

3. The injection device as defined in claim 2, wherein said plurality of projections are integral with said flange portion of said fitting and said fitting is formed of a resilient polymer.

4. The injection device as defined in claim 2, wherein said plurality of projections are diamond-shaped each having a pointed distal end.

5. The injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular shield includes a radially outwardly extending rib and said spring is biased between said rib of said shield and said fitting.

6. The injection device as defined in claim 5, wherein said fitting includes an inwardly projecting radial portion and said spring is biased between said rib of said tubular shield and said radial portion of said fitting.

7. The injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said holder includes a first stop member adjacent said first open end and said tubular shield includes a first stop member adjacent said first open end of said tubular shield, wherein said first stop members of said holder and said shield releaseably retain said shield in said retracted position.

8. The injection device as defined in claim 7, wherein said tubular shield includes a second stop member axially spaced from said first stop member arresting movement of said tubular shield towards said extended position.

9. The injection device as defined in claim 8, wherein said tubular holder includes a second stop member adjacent to but spaced from said first stop member which prevents retraction of said shield from said extended position enclosing said needle cannula sharp distal end.

10. The injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein said injection device includes a stopper in said barrel telescopically moveable through said barrel to inject fluid through said needle cannula and a plunger attached to said stopper extending through said second open end of said barrel, whereby force applied to said stopper against a reduced diameter end portion of said barrel applies force to said barrel, releasing said tubular shield.

11. An injection device, comprising:

a generally cylindrical tubular barrel formed of glass including a first reduced diameter end portion having a needle cannula attached thereto having a sharp distal end and a second open end having an integral radial flange adjacent said second open end;

a stopper located in said barrel telescopically moveable through said barrel and a plunger attached to said stopper extending through said second open end of said barrel;

a tubular holder surrounding said barrel including a first open end adjacent said first open end of said barrel and a second open end having a chamber receiving said flange of said barrel, said chamber having an abutment surfaces on opposed sides of said flange of said barrel;

a tubular shield located within said tubular holder surrounding at least a portion of said barrel releaseably retained by said holder including a first open end and a second open end, said tubular shield axially moveable with respect to said barrel between a retracted position, wherein said sharp distal end of said needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position, wherein said sharp distal end of said needle cannula is enclosed by said shield;

a fitting located within said tubular holder including a tubular portion surrounding said tubular shield and a radial flange portion located within said chamber of said holder between said flange of said tubular barrel and one of said abutment surfaces of said chamber, wherein said flange portion of said fitting includes at least one resiliently deformable projection extending toward one of said abutment surfaces of said chamber; and

a coil spring surrounding said tubular shield adjacent said second end resiliently biased between said shield and said flange portion of said fitting urging said shield from said retracted position toward said extending position when said shield is released, whereby said resiliently deformable projection on said flange portion of said fitting damps movement of said flange of said barrel in said chamber, reducing damage to said flange of said barrel.

12. The injection device as defined in claim 11, wherein one of said abutment surfaces adjacent said second open end of said chamber in said holder has a diameter less than an outside diameter of said flange of said barrel, retaining said flange in said chamber.

13. The injection device as defined in claim 12, wherein said second open end of said tubular holder includes an inwardly tapered surface permitting assembly of said flange of said barrel in said chamber.

14. The injection device as defined in claim 11, wherein said tubular shield includes a radially outwardly projecting rib spaced from said second open end of said shield and said coil spring is biased between said radially outwardly projecting rib of said shield and said flange portion of said fitting.

15. The injection device as defined in claim 11, wherein said tubular holder includes a stop member adjacent said first open end and said tubular shield includes a complimentary stop member adjacent said first open end and said stop members releaseably retaining said shield in said retracted position.

16. The injection device as defined in claim 11, wherein said at least one resiliently deformable projection comprises a plurality of projections circumferentially spaced around said flange portion of said fitting.

17. The injection device as defined in claim 16, wherein said plurality of spaced projections are integral with said flange portion of said fitting and said fitting is formed of a resilient polymer.

18. The injection device as defined in claim 16, wherein said plurality of projections are diamond-shaped each having a pointed distal end.

20. The injection device as defined in claim 19, wherein said plurality of projections are integral with said flange portion of said fitting and said fitting is formed of a resilient polymer.

21. The injection device as defined in claim 19, wherein said plurality of projections on said flange portion of said fitting are diamond-shaped each having a pointed distal end.

19. An injection device, comprising:

a generally cylindrical tubular barrel including a reduced diameter first open end having a needle cannula secured thereto having a sharp distal end and a second open end having a radial flange adjacent said second open end;

a tubular holder surrounding said barrel including a first open end adjacent said first open end of said barrel and a second open end having a chamber therein receiving said flange of said barrel, said chamber having opposed first and second abutment surfaces, wherein said first abutment surface faces said flange of said barrel;

a tubular shield located within said tubular holder surrounding at least a portion of said barrel releaseably retained by said holder including a first open end and a second open end, said tubular shield axially moveable with respect to said barrel between a retracted position, wherein said needle cannula is exposed, to an extended position, wherein said needle cannula is enclosed by said shield;

a fitting within said tubular holder having a flange portion located within said chamber of said tubular holder between said flange of said barrel and said first abutment surface including a plurality of resiliently deformable projections circumferentially spaced around said flange portion; and

a spring resiliently biased between said shield and said fitting biasing said flange of said barrel against said second abutment surface of said chamber when said shield is in said retracted position, whereby said resilient projections damp movement of said flange of said barrel in said chamber, reducing damage to said flange, when said shield is extended to said extended position.