Device for holding and protecting intravenous injection needles

• US 3,900,026 A
• Filed: 08/19/1974
• Issued: 08/19/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William H. Wagner
• Original Assignee: William H. Wagner
• Inventors: Wagner, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US05/498,254
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 128/132R,133,214R,214.2,215,221,348,DIG.26
• US Class Current: 128/888
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0246 fixed on the skin having a cover for covering the holding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/02 Holding devices, e.g. on the body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

A guard for intravenous needles and their connections comprises a transparent cap or cover, formed of fairly rigid but somewhat conformable plastic material, having peripheral skin-contacting flanges. The latter can be attached or secured to the patient'"'"''"'"'s arm or other body part to cover and protect the inserted needle. For needles detachable from the supply line, the device includes means secured to or integral with the cap or cover formed to surround or embrace the connecting joint between line and needle. This positively locks the joint against inadvertent separation and consequent spilling of fluid. While thus protecting the needle and its connection, the transparent cover permits visual inspection at all times of the needle and the area being treated. The guard device is made rigid enough, structurally, to give needed protection over and around the needle but at least its base parts will yield sufficiently to conform reasonably well to body parts or surfaces of various contours. The flanges which contact the skin may be self-adhesive or may be secured to the patient by supplemental means such as tape. For use with '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'butterfly'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' type needles, the cap comprises flaps or hook elements turned under to engage the wings or side elements thus helping to lock the needle securely in place.

Claims

1. A device for securely holding and protecting an intravenous injection needle when said needle is inserted in a body part of a patient, said device being substantially transparent to permit visual inspection of said needle and its condition of insertion at all times and comprising a moderately rigid cover or bubble cap member of resilient plastic material adapted to overlie and cover a said needle inserted at a proper angle into said body part, said cover or cap member including integral needle locking means for securing a separable tapered friction joint between said needle and a conventional supply tube therefor, said locking means comprising a neck or extension element of channel section integrally connected to said cap or cover through a flexible hinge, the channel section being shaped to snugly engage and hold both a flange or collar on the needle and a flange or collar on the supply tube to prevent relative movement and inadvertent separation of said needle from the tube, said flexible hinge being formed to permit angular movement of said neck or extension to accommodate said proper angle of needle insertion into the body part, and flange elements on said cover for resting on the surface of said body part.