Retractable needle medical device

• US 20050075606A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Barker, Michael Botich, Thor Halseth
• Original Assignee: John Barker, Michael Botich, Thor Halseth
• Inventors: Halseth, Thor, Barker, John, Botich, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0631 having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle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 25/0693 Flashback chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires

Abstract

A catheter insertion device is provided that includes an insertion needle that is retractable into the device after use to prevent exposure to the contaminated needle. The needle retainer releasably retains the needle in an extended position against the bias of the biasing element. When the catheter is removed from the insertion device, the needle retainer automatically releases the needle, which is propelled rearwardly into the device. A device for inserting a guide wire into a patient is also provided. The device includes an insertion needle that is retractable into the housing of the device after use. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in an extended position against the bias of the biasing element. After the guide wire is inserted into the patient, the needle retainer allows the needle to be released, so that the needle is retracted into the device.

Claims

1. A method for inserting a guide wire into a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing a device having a housing, a needle, a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly, a needle retainer for releasably retaining the needle so that the needle projects forwardly from the housing, and a guide wire operable to be inserted into a patient through the needle;

inserting the guide wire into the patient;

releasing the needle so that the biasing element retracts the needle rearwardly.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

selectively manually engaging the needle retainer to impede retraction of the needle;

releasing the selective manual engagement with the needle retainer to release the needle so that the biasing element retracts the needle rearwardly.

3. A medical device, comprising:

a hollow housing;

a needle having a sharpened tip operable between an extended position extending forwardly from the housing and a retracted position in which the needle is enclosed in the housing;

a biasing element biasing the needle toward the retracted position; and

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

a guide wire projecting through the needle for insertion into a patient;

wherein displacing the needle retainer into an unlocked position releases the needle so that the biasing element displaces the needle rearwardly so that the sharpened tip is shielded within the housing against inadvertent contact.

4. The medical device of claim 3 wherein the needle is displaced rearwardly so that the sharpened tip is enclosed within the housing.

5. The medical device of claim 3 wherein the needle retainer is a radially deformable arm.

6. The medical device of claim 3 wherein the needle retainer is cooperable with the guide wire, such that disengaging the guide wire from the needle retainer causes the needle retainer to be automatically displaced into the unlocked position.

7. The medical device of claim 3 wherein the needle retainer is integrally formed with the housing.

8. The medical device of claim 3 wherein the device is configured such that the guide wire can be inserted into the patient while the needle is inserted in the patient.