PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR HYPODERMIC SYRINGE

• US 20110282296A1
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Harms, Volker, Kaemereit, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 8,888,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3213 Caps placed axially onto the needle, e.g. equipped with finger protection guards axially-extensible protective sleeves A61M5/3243
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3216 Caps placed transversally onto the needle, e.g. pivotally attached to the needle base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A protective cap coupled to a syringe having a needle attached thereto. The protective cap may be pivoted to a position in alignment with the needle so that the protective cap substantially envelops the needle. A plug may be inserted into the cap to envelop or capture the needle within a hollow body of the plug to secure at least a tip of the needle.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A protective shield for covering a needle having a sharp tip comprising:

a coupling member;

a cap defining a recessed space along a lengthwise axis and hinged to the coupling member, the cap being pivotable relative to the coupling member from a first position aligned with a longitudinal centerline of a needle and a second position non-aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the needle; and

a plug movably insertable into the recessed space of the cap.

3. The protective shield of claim 2, herein the cap is hinged to the coupling member with a living hinge.

4. The protective shield of claim 2, further comprising a push lever extending outwardly from the cap the push lever including a surface adapted to receive a compressive force to manually displace the cap.

5. The protective shield of claim 2, further comprising a retaining means for retaining the needle within the recessed space when the cap is in the first position.

6. The protective shield of claim 2, wherein the recessed space comprises an internal clearance to allow a needle of any given length to pass unobstructed when the cap is moved to the first position.

7. The protective shield of claim 2, wherein the plug comprises a hollow tubular body having an open end, the plug being displaceable with respect to the cap to capture, within the hollow tubular body though the open end, a needle occupying a portion of the recessed space.

8. The protective shield of claim 7, wherein the tubular body comprises a rack of teeth configured to engage a pawl to restrict the displacement of the tubular body to a single direction.

9. The protective shield of claim 7, wherein the plug includes a closed end having a planar exterior surface opposite the open end and adapted to be urged by a user to manually displace the tubular body.

10. The protective shield of claim 7, wherein the plug includes a lever offset with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the plug positioned opposite the open end and adapted to be urged by a user to manually displace the tubular body.

11. A protective shield comprising:

a cap defining a recessed space, an axial opening, and a coupling member for connecting to a syringe having a needle, the cap being displaceable to an open position where the recessed space is not occupied by the needle and a ready position where the needle occupies a portion of the recessed space; and

a plug having a hollow tubular body including an open end, the plug being displaceable through the axial opening of the cap to a secured position with respect to the cap to receive the needle through the open end of the plug when the cap is in the ready position.

12. The protective shield of claim 11, wherein the cap is hinged to the coupling member with a living hinge.

13. The protective shield of claim 11, further comprising a push lever extending outwardly from the cap, the push lever including a surface adapted to receive a compressive force to manually displace the cap.

14. The protective shield of claim 11, further comprising a retaining means for holding the needle within the recessed space when the cap is in the ready position.

15. The protective shield of claim 11, wherein the recessed space comprises an internal clearance to allow a needle of any given length to pass unobstructed when the cap is displaced to the ready position.

16. The protective shield of claim 11, wherein the tubular body comprises a rack of teeth configured to engage a pawl to restrict the displacement of the tubular body to a single direction.

17. The protective shield of claim 11, wherein the plug includes a button positioned opposite the open end and adapted to be urged by a user to manually displace the tubular body.

18. The protective shield of claim 11, wherein the plug includes a lever offset with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the plug positioned opposite the open end and adapted to be urged by a user to manually displace the tubular body.

19. A method for manufacturing a protective shield to shield a needle coupled to a syringe, the method comprising:

attaching a coupling member to a needle hub, said needle hub having a needle mounted thereto and said coupling member comprising a living hinge;

forming a cap comprising two side walls defining a cavity and an open axial end at a distal end of the cap, said cavity sized to receive a needle when said cap is aligned with said needle;

forming a plug comprising an open proximal end, a closed distal end and exterior teeth on the plug for engaging with the cap to limit distal movement of the plug relative to the cap; and

wherein the plug is insertable, at least in part, into the cavity of the cap.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the cap is movable by pivoting the cap about the living hinge.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said coupling member is singularly formed with said needle hub.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the open axial end on the cap is formed on an end plate that connects to the two side walls of the cap.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the open axial end on the cap is formed on a second end plate that connects to the two side walls of the cap;

said second end plate being spaced from said end plate.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the closed distal end of the plug comprises an enlarged flange.