NEEDLE SHIELD

• US 3,865,236 A
• Filed: 03/16/1973
• Issued: 02/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alan Rycroft
• Original Assignee: Alan Rycroft
• Inventors: Rycroft, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, William I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Farrow, Douglas B.
• Application Number:
  US05/342,154
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 128/218S,221 137/525,525.1 206/363-366,438 215/DIG.3,56 220/44C,DIG.19,DIG.27
• US Class Current: 206/364
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/001 Apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising syringes or needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/19 Rubber plugs and caps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7884 Side vent

Abstract

A needle shield employing a tubular member closed at one end which is adapted to be positioned in surrounding relationship with respect to a needle so as to normally maintain the needle sealed from the atmosphere. An automatic valve is on the member in normally closed position and adapted to be automatically opened when subjected to predetermined pressure. In this manner, communication is provided between the atmosphere and the interior of the member which permits fluid to pass through the opening. The valve automatically returns to the normally closed position when the predetermined pressure is relieved to reseal the enclosed needle from the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A needle shield comprising;

a tubular member of self-sealing resilient rubber closed at one end and adapted to be positioned in surrounding relationship with respect to a needle so as to normally maintain the needle sealed from the atmosphere, and surfacEs in the wall of the tubular member forming an aperture normally closed by the surrounding self-sealing resilient surfaces and the surfaces being adapted to be automatically separated to open the aperture when subjected to predetermined pressure thereby providing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the member and permitting fluid to pass through the opening and to automatically return to the normally closed position when the predetermined pressure is relieved to reseal the enclosed needle from the atmosphere, the opening being in the form of a slit passing through one side wall of the tubular member intermediate the ends thereof, the needle being mounted to a supporting surface so as to form a needle assembly and the needle shield having its open end mounted on the supporting surface in sealing engagement therewith, the slit being spaced from the portion of the tubular member mounted on the supporting surface so as to form a one-piece combined needle shield and valve structure.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tubular member is adapted to sealingly engage the forward tip portion of a needle adjacent the end thereof at a point between the forward tip of the needle and the aperture in the member so as to isolate the opening forward tip of the needle from the aperture.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a second smaller slit extends through the side wall of the tubular member intermediate the ends thereof at a point diametrically opposed to the larger slit.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the needle is mounted on a syringe to form a syringe assembly and the needle shield has its open end mounted on the syringe in sealing engagement therewith.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the aperture will remain in the normally closed position at differential pressures between the interior and exterior of the member under five inches of mercury.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein when subjected to a pressure between ten and fifteen psi, the member will cause the aperture to open and admit small quantities of gases to facilitate sterilization of the needle.

7. A needle shield comprising;

a tubular member of self-sealing resilient material closed at one end and adapted to be positioned in surrounding relationship with respect to a needle so as to normally maintain the needle sealed from the atmosphere, and surfaces in the wall of the tubular member forming an aperture normally closed by the surrounding self-sealing resilient surfaces and the surfaces being adapted to be automatically separated to open the aperture when subjected to predetermined pressure thereby providing communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the member and permitting fluid to pass through the opening and to automatically return to the normally closed position when the predetermined pressure is relieved to reseal the enclosed needle from the atmosphere, the opening being in the form of a slit passing through one side wall of the tubular member intermediate the ends thereof, a second smaller slit extending through the side wall of the tubular member intermediate the ends thereof at a point diametrically opposed to the larger slit, and the larger slit being approximately one-eighth of an inch in length and the second smaller slit being approximately one-sixty-fourth of an inch in length.