Needle device having retractable needle providing enhanced safety

• US 20050080386A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan Reid
• Original Assignee: Alan Reid
• Inventors: Reid, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,435,238 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/263
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1581 Right-angle needle-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1583 Needle extractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0612 Devices for protecting the needle; Devices to help insertion of the needle, e.g. wings or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• 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 5/3275 being connected to the needle hub or syringe by radially deflectable members, e.g. longitudinal slats, cords or bands

Abstract

A medical device includes a base member coupled to a needle assembly and a retractor mechanism enables retraction of the needle into the base member for safe disposal of the device. In one embodiment, a stop mechanism prevents rotation of the needle assembly in a use position.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

a base member having first and second ends and a channel;

a needle assembly coupled to a first end of the base member, the needle assembly including a needle extending from an elongate member; and

a retractor mechanism coupled to the elongate member enabling rotation of the needle and coupled to the base member enabling retraction of a protruding needle in a use position into the base member as the retractor mechanism slides in the channel to a non-use position

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the needle extends generally perpendicularly from the base member in the use position.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the needle and the base member form an angle of about 180 degrees as the needle assembly is retracted.

4. The device according to claim 1, further including at least one stop mechanism to prevent rotation of the needle assembly with respect to the base member.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one stop mechanism is actuated by pressure from a user.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one stop mechanism is biased to the non-actuated position.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one stop mechanism includes a protrusion on the elongate member that is insertable into a corresponding aperture in the retractor mechanism to prevent rotation of the needle.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the retractor mechanism includes at least one wing to receive pressure from a user.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pressure on the at least one wing and counter pressure on the first end of the base member is effective to retract the needle assembly into the base member.

10. A medical device, comprising:

a base member having first and second ends and a channel;

a needle assembly having a needle extending from an elongate member coupled to the base member; and

a retractor mechanism having first and second prongs rotatably coupled to the elongate member of the needle assembly and wings slidable coupled in the channel of the base member to enable retraction of the needle into the base member to a non-use position.

11. The device according to claim 10, further including a stop mechanism to prevent rotation of the needle assembly.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the stop mechanism includes a protrusion from the elongate member and a corresponding aperture in the first prong of the retractor mechanism.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein pressure against the wings of the retractor mechanism and counter pressure against the first end of the base member is effective to retract the needle into the base member.

14. A method of fabricating a medical device, comprising:

coupling an elongate member of a needle assembly having a needle to a retractor mechanism slidably coupled to-a base member having first and second ends such that pressure on wings of the retractor mechanism and counter pressure on the first end of the base member is effective to retract the needle into the base member.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the wings of the retractor mechanism extend through channels on either side of the base member.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the elongate member includes a stop to prevent rotation of the needle.

17. A medical device, comprising:

a base member having first and second ends;

a needle means coupled to the base member, the needle means including a needle;

a retractor means coupled to the base member and the needle means to retract the needle into the base member;

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein pressure on the first end of the base member and counter pressure on the retractor means retracts the needle into the base member.

19. The device according to claim 17, further including stop means to prevent rotation of the needle in a use position.