Needle safety device

• US 20040133172A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Wilkinson, Bradley M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,997,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/263
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150351 Caps, stoppers or lids for sealing or closing a blood collection vessel or container, e.g. a test-tube or syringe barrel caps for bottles or containers in general B65D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150496 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the double-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• 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 5/150717 manually removed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150732 Needle holders, for instance for holding the needle by the hub, used for example with double-ended needle and pre-evacuated tube,
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150893 by indicating if used, tampered with, unsterile or defective
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/154 Devices using pre-evacuated means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3243 being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the syringe barrel devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612
• 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

A blood collection assembly includes a needle cannula with an intravenous end and a non-patient end. The cannula is mounted to a needle holder so that the non-patient-end projects into the holder. A safety shield is telescoped over the needle cannula and is movable from a proximal position where the non-patient end of the cannula is exposed to a distal position where the non-patient end of the cannula is shielded. The safety shield is configured to be passively actuated and propelled into the distal position in response to insertion of a blood collection tube into the holder. However, a slide back actuator extends from the safety shield to permit the shield to be retracted into a proximal position during use and before the safety shield is locked in the distal position.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a piercing element having a piercing end;

a safety shield releasably held in a proximal position on said medical device where said piercing end of said piercing element is exposed and being movable to a distal position where said piercing end of said piercing element is shielded;

a release actuator movably disposed in said medical device and configured for passively releasing said safety shield from said proximal position in response to use of said medical device;

a lock for locking said safety shield in said distal position; and

a slide back actuator for moving said safety shield from an intermediate position between said proximal and distal positions back toward said proximal position.

2. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a spring for propelling said safety shield from said proximal position toward said distal position.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein said safety shield is telescoped over said piercing element for substantially linear movement from said proximal position to said distal position.

4. The safety device of claim 3, wherein said piercing element is a needle cannula.

5. The medical device of claim 4, further comprising a holder configured for slidably receiving a fluid collection tube, said needle cannula having a proximal end projecting into said holder for communicating with said blood collection tube.

6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein said release actuator extends into said holder and is configured for actuation by insertion of said fluid collection tube into said holder.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the slide back actuator includes a distally and outwardly facing actuating surface.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the slide back actuator is cantilevered proximally from a distal end of said safety shield.

9. The medical device of claim l, wherein said safety shield is telescoped within a housing, said housing including an elongate slot formed therein and said slide back actuator projecting through said slot of said housing and being slidably movable said slot.

10. A blood collection device comprising:

a hub;

at least one needle cannula mounted to said hub and having a proximal end projecting proximally from said hub and a distal end projecting distally from said hub;

a holder mounted to said hub and surrounding at least said proximal end of said cannula;

a safety shield telescoped over said needle cannula for movement from a proximal position where said distal end of said needle cannula is exposed to a distal position where said distal end of said needle cannula is shielded;

a spring for propelling said safety shield to said distal position;

at least one lock for releasably holding said safety shield in said proximal position and for substantially permanently locking said safety shield in said distal position;

a release actuator for releasing said safety shield from said proximal position passively in response to use of said blood collection needle assembly; and

a slide back actuator extending from said safety shield for moving said safety shield proximally from an intermediate position between said distal and proximal positions to enhance observation of said needle cannula during use.

11. The blood collection device of claim 10, further comprising a housing projecting distally from said holder and surrounding at least portions of said needle cannula, said safety shield being telescoped within said housing.

12. The blood collection device of claim 11, wherein said slide back actuator is cantilevered proximally from a distal end of said safety shield for movement substantially adjacent an external surface of said housing.

13. The blood collection device of claim 11, wherein said housing includes a longitudinal slot extending therethrough, said slide back actuator projecting from said safety shield and through said slot in said housing.

14. The blood collection device of claim 13, wherein said safety shield has opposite proximal and distal ends, said slide back actuator extending from said proximal end of said safety shield.

15. The blood collection device of claim 11, wherein said release actuator extends into said holder and is configured for engagement by insertion of a blood collection tube sufficiently into said holder for communicating with said proximal end of said needle cannula.