HINGED CAP FOR NEEDLE DEVICE

• US 20120059332A1
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• 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: Woehr, Kevin, Riesenberger, Hermann, Heckmann, Harald, Rubik, Michael, Leskowich, Vince
• Granted Patent: US 8,715,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3217 Means to impede repositioning of protection cap from needle covering to needle uncovering position, e.g. catch mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3216 Caps placed transversally onto the needle, e.g. pivotally attached to the needle base
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321

Abstract

A hinged cap device for use with a syringe includes a base defining an interior cavity for mounting onto a tip and a cap connected to the base by a living hinge. The cap is moveable from a ready position to an open position to expose a needle, and from the open position to a secured position to prevent relative rotation between the cap and the base. A first latching mechanism is on the cap for engaging the needle, the first latching mechanism locatable on a first side of the needle in the ready position and locatable on a second side of the needle in the secured position. The needle is disengageable from the first latching mechanism in the ready position, and the needle is not disengageable from the first latching mechanism in the secured position.

Claims

1. A hinged cap needle device comprising:

a base defining an interior cavity for mounting onto a tip of a syringe;

a cap hingedly connected to the base and comprising a base wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall defining an open channel, wherein the cap is moveable from a ready position to an open position to expose a needle having a needle shaft and a needle tip, and from the open position to a secured position to prevent relative rotation between the cap and the base; and

wherein the base wall comprises a distal curved end and a living hinge configured for pivoting the distal curved end over the needle;

a first latching mechanism on the cap for engaging the needle, the first latching mechanism comprising a first detent located on the first side wall or the second side wall and configured to reversibly engage the needle in the ready position; and

a second latching mechanism on the cap comprising a second detent distal from the first detent and configured to permanently engage the needle in the secured position.

2. The hinged cap needle device of claim 1, wherein the first latching mechanism further comprises a catch lever attached to the cap and configured to disengage the needle from the first latching mechanism.

3. The hinged cap needle device of claim 1, wherein the living hinge on the base wall is created by a cut-out section in each of the first side wall and the second side wall.

4. The hinged cap needle device of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a coupling well configured for receiving a needle without a separate needle hub.

5. The hinged cap needle device of claim 1, wherein the base wall further comprises viewing windows.

6. The hinged cap needle device of claim 1, wherein the base and the cap are singularly formed.

7. The hinged cap needle device of claim 6, wherein the device is injection molded.

8. A hinged cap needle device comprising:

a needle hub comprising a cavity for fitting onto a syringe tip, said needle hub comprising a needle comprising a needle shaft and a needle tip;

a cap connected to the needle hub by a hinge and comprising a base wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall defining an open channel, wherein the cap is moveable from a start position to an open position to expose the needle, from the open position to a capped position; and

from the capped position to a locked position to permanently secure the needle within the cap;

a first latching mechanism disposed in the open channel and comprising an anchor plate for reversibly engaging the needle to a groove on the cap in the start position; and

a second latching mechanism in the open channel comprising a hook arm configured to engage the needle in the capped and locked positions, the hook arm comprising a curved end and an inactive surface opposing an active surface for engaging the needle, wherein the needle, the hook arm, or both the needle and the hook arm are deflectable such that the needle is movable from the inactive surface to the active surface when the cap is rotatable radially inwardly relative to the needle from the capped position to the locked position.

9. The hinged cap needle device of claim 8, wherein the first latching mechanism further comprises a cantilevered member extending from the anchor plate.

10. The hinged cap needle device of claim 8, wherein the first latching mechanism is laterally deflectable with respect to a longitudinal axis of the needle.

11. The hinged cap needle device of claim 8, wherein the needle is movable past the curved end of the hook arm when the cap is movable from the capped position to the locked position.

12. The hinged cap needle device of claim 8, wherein the inactive surface of the hook arm is sloped relative to a plane defined by the motion of the cap when the cap is movable from the capped position to the secured position.

13. The hinged cap needle device of claim 8, wherein the cap and the base are singularly formed.

14. The hinged cap needle device of claim 13, wherein the device is injection molded.

15. A hinged cap needle device comprising:

a base including a hinge;

a cap configured to pivot about the hinge, the cap being moveable from a ready position to an open position to expose a needle having a needle shaft and a needle tip, and from the open position to a secured position to prevent relative rotation between the cap and the base;

a latching mechanism comprising at least one socket on the base for receiving at least one boss on the cap, the at least one socket comprises a first groove in communication with a second groove, wherein the at least one boss is disengageable from the at least one boss in the open position, engageable with the first groove in the ready position and movable to the second groove in the secured position.

16. The hinged cap needle device of claim 15, wherein the cap further comprises a gripping lever adapted to engage the boss to the socket.

17. The hinged cap needle device of claim 15, wherein the hinge is pivotable and translatable.

18. The hinged cap needle device of claim 15, wherein the base further comprises a lock lever for locking a needle hub.

19. The hinged cap needle device of claim 15, wherein the cap and the base are singularly formed.

20. The hinged cap needle device of claim 19, wherein the device is injection molded.