Needle protector device

• US 20040127857A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eli Shemesh, Menahem Kraus
• Original Assignee: Eli Shemesh, Menahem Kraus
• Inventors: Kraus, Menahem, Shemesh, Eli
• Granted Patent: US 6,846,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/502 for blocking the piston
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/919 Syringe, means to protect user

Abstract

A needle protector device comprising a protector tube slidingly disposed in an outer tube and slidingly disposed over a syringe comprising a needle, the protector tube comprising at least one abutment initially in engagement with the outer tube such that the protector tube is constrained from moving distally with respect to the syringe, a biasing device disposed inside the outer tube operative to provide an urging force on the protector tube in a direction that tends to urge the protector tube distally towards a tip of the needle, and a release mechanism operative to move the at least one abutment out of engagement with the outer tube upon distal pushing of a plunger of the syringe, such that when the at least one abutment is out of engagement with the outer tube, the biasing device urges the protector tube distally towards the tip of the needle.

Claims

1. A needle protector device comprising:

a protector tube slidingly disposed in an outer tube and slidingly disposed over a syringe comprising a needle, said protector tube comprising at least one abutment initially in engagement with said outer tube such that said protector tube is constrained from moving distally with respect to said syringe;

a biasing device disposed inside said outer tube operative to provide an urging force on said protector tube in a direction that tends to urge said protector tube distally towards a tip of said needle; and

a release mechanism operative to move said at least one abutment out of engagement with said outer tube upon distal pushing of a plunger of said syringe, such that when said at least one abutment is out of engagement with said outer tube, said biasing device urges said protector tube distally towards the tip of said needle.

2. The needle protector device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one abutment comprises at least one resilient tongue that tends to spring radially outwards from an outer contour of said protector tube.

3. The needle protector device according to claim 2, wherein said protector tube is formed with an elongate axial groove and a depression formed proximal to said groove, and said outer tube is formed with an elongate axial groove and a depression formed proximal to said groove, and at least one resilient tongue formed at a distal end thereof comprising lugs, wherein a proximal end of said at least one resilient tongue of said protector tube is initially fixedly received in said depression of said outer tube, and said lugs are initially received in said axial groove of said protector tube.

4. The needle protector device according to claim 3, wherein said depression of said protector tube is axially aligned with said groove of said protector tube.

5. The needle protector device according to claim 3, wherein said axial groove and said depression of said protector tube are formed through a wall thickness of said protector tube.

6. The needle protector device according to claim 3, wherein said axial groove of said protector tube is formed with a chamfered, proximal ramp.

7. The needle protector device according to claim 3, wherein said depression of said outer tube is axially aligned with said groove of said outer tube.

8. The needle protector device according to claim 3, wherein said axial groove and said depression of said outer tube are formed through a wall thickness of said outer tube.

9. The needle protector device according to claim 1, wherein said release mechanism comprises a ring with proximally extending syringe interface members and distally extending fingers.

10. The needle protector device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one abutment comprises at least one outer ear initially proximal to at least one retaining stub formed in said outer tube, said at least one retaining stub configured to yield to distal pushing of said at least one outer ear thereagainst.

11. The needle protector device according to claim 1, wherein said biasing device is not initially in a contracted state, and said release mechanism contracts said biasing device upon distal pushing of said plunger of said syringe.

12. The needle protector device according to claim 1, wherein said release mechanism comprises transverse ears arranged to lock on to a portion of said outer tube upon sufficient distal pushing of said plunger of said syringe so as to arrest movement of said release mechanism.

13. The needle protector device according to claim 1, further comprising a cap member that receives therein a head of said plunger of said syringe, said cap member being arranged to lock on to a portion of said outer tube upon sufficient distal pushing of said plunger of said syringe so as to arrest movement of said plunger.

14. The needle protector device according to claim 1, wherein said biasing device is formed as an integral extension of said protector tube.

15. A needle protector device comprising:

a protector tube slidingly disposed over a syringe comprising a needle, said protector tube being initially constrained from moving distally with respect to said syringe;

a biasing device operative to provide an urging force on said protector tube in a direction that tends to urge said protector tube distally towards a tip of said needle; and

a release mechanism operative to release and permit movement of said protector tube upon distal pushing of a plunger of said syringe, such that when said protector tube is released, said biasing device urges said protector tube distally towards the tip of said needle and said biasing device does not move reach the tip of said needle.

16. The needle protector device according to claim 15, wherein said protector tube is slidingly disposed in an outer tube.

17. The needle protector device according to claim 16, wherein said protector tube comprises at least one abutment initially in engagement with said outer tube such that said protector tube is constrained from moving distally with respect to said syringe.

18. The needle protector device according to claim 17, wherein said release mechanism is operative to move said at least one abutment out of engagement with said outer tube upon distal pushing of the plunger of said syringe.

19. The needle protector device according to claim 17, wherein said at least one abutment comprises at least one resilient tongue that tends to spring radially outwards from an outer contour of said protector tube.

20. The needle protector device according to claim 17, wherein said protector tube is formed with an elongate axial groove and a depression formed proximal to said groove, and said outer tube is formed with an elongate axial groove and a depression formed proximal to said groove, and at least one resilient tongue formed at a distal end thereof comprising lugs, wherein a proximal end of said at least one resilient tongue of said protector tube is initially fixedly received in said depression of said outer tube, and said lugs are initially received in said axial groove of said protector tube.