Medical kit comprising a catheter, a needle and its case

• US 20040243060A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vygon
• Original Assignee: Vygon
• Inventors: Huet, Jean-Max, Rossi, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,291,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/164.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3224 Means to disalign the needle tip and syringe nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0612 Devices for protecting the needle; Devices to help insertion of the needle, e.g. wings or holders

Abstract

A sheath is provided with a stationary deflector disposed on the path of the slider so that contact between the slider and the deflector causes the slider to be inclined and consequently causes the needle to be inclined inside the sheath. A return mechanism is provided so as to push the inclined slider back in the opposite direction so that the point of the inclined need is prevented from moving. This disposition ensures that the needle cannot escape from the sheath after it has been used.

Claims

1. A medical assembly comprising a short catheter, a puncturing needle engaged in the catheter to enable the catheter to be inserted into a body, and a tubular sheath detachably coupled to the catheter to receive the entire needle after the needle has been used for puncturing and once it has been withdrawn from the catheter, the sheath presenting a longitudinal slot between a distal outlet end for coupling to the catheter and an opposite proximal end, and carrying a slider mounted to slide along the slot to control said withdrawal of the needle, the slider presenting an internal portion situated inside the sheath and constituting a base for the needle, and an external portion situated on the sheath and enabling the slider to be pushed manually to cause to it to slide towards said proximal end to a proximal position in which the needle is fully withdrawn into the tube, the sheath comprising a stationary deflector disposed inside the sheath on the path of the slider close to the end of the stroke of the slider towards said proximal end of the sheath, so that contact between the slider and the deflector causes the slider to be inclined and consequently causes the needle to be inclined inside the sheath, the assembly being characterized in that return means are provided so as to push the inclined slider back in the opposite direction so that the point of the inclined need is prevented from moving.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the distal end of the sheath presents a groove made around a needle outlet of the sheath to receive the tip of the inclined needle.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, having a groove that is formed in a coupling disposed in said distal end for connecting the catheter.

4. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the deflector is constituted by a piece disposed in the proximal end of the sheath.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, in which said deflector is constituted by a piece engaged and held in the proximal end of the sheath and presents a ramp on which an internal portion of the slider becomes engaged.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, in which the internal portion of the slider presents a resilient tongue which rubs against said ramp and which acts at the end of the slider stroke to push back the inclined slider.

7. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the deflector is a ramp constituted by an internal projection from the side wall of the sheath.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, and including a helical spring disposed between the internal portion of the slider and an abutment disposed in the proximal end of the sheath to push the inclined slider back at the end of its stroke.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, in which said spring is fixed to the internal portion of the slider.

10. An assembly according to claim 8, in which said spring is fixed to said abutment.

11. An assembly according to any claim 7, in which the abutment is the front face of a stopper inserted in the proximal end of the sheath.

12. An assembly according to claim 1, in which said return means are constituted by a rigid lug projecting towards the proximal end of the sheath over the inner portion of the slider and by a resilient blade disposed at the proximal end of the sheath so that said blade, pushed by the lug, after inclination of the needle, pushes the slider and the needle back in the opposite direction over a distance that is sufficient for the point of the inclined needle to be blocked in the distal end of the sheath.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, in which said distal end of the sheath is provided with a coupling for mounting the catheter, and in which said coupling presents, around the needle outlet of the sheath, a groove for receiving the point of the inclined and pushed-back needle.

14. An assembly according to claim 12, in which said resilient blade is formed by a wall situated in the cross-piece of the proximal end of the sheath, but which is secured to the sheath only over a portion of its circumference.

15. An assembly according to claim 12, in which the sheath comprises deflector means constituted by a ramp constituted by an inside bulge of the side wall of the sheath, and in which said wall which constitutes the resilient blade is injection molded integrally with the end of said ramp.

16. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the short catheter is provided with an inlet coupling which serves as a thrust bearing point for the user in which the distal end of the coupling of the sheath to the catheter is shaped in order to penetrate into said coupling and to secure said end to the coupling.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, in which the distal end of the sheath is provided with a coupling for connecting it to the catheter, which coupling penetrates into the catheter coupling.