Self-blunting needle assembly and device including the same

• US 4,828,547 A
• Filed: 09/28/1987
• Issued: 05/09/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Sales, Inc. (ICU Medical Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bio-Plexus, Inc.
• Inventors: Phillips, Richard R., Fudge, Chester, Lamo, Jeffrey J., Sahi, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Ralph
• Application Number:
  US07/101,610
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/158, 604/164, 604/165, 604/170, 604/181, 604/187, 604/192, 604/209, 604/210, 604/267, 604/272-274
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3212 Blunting means for the sharp end of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/321 Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles
• 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 self-blunting needle assembly comprises a hollow needle, which may be of conventional construction having a needle mouth and a needle shank terminating in a puncture tip, has mounted within it a blunting member including an elongate probe which slidably fits within the bore of the needle shank. The probe terminates in a distal tip which is initially positioned short of the puncture tip of the needle so as not to interfer with injection of the needle either into a patient or into a connecting device. After injection, the blunting member is advanced to an extended position in which its distal tip protrudes beyond the puncture tip, thereby effectively blunting the needle. This protruding probe disables the needle from a re-use and blunts it sufficiently to prevent or greatly reduce accidental needlestick wounds. A mechanical extension member, such as a pin or fluid flowing through the needle may be used to advance the blunting member to its extended position.

Claims

1. A self-blunting needle assembly device suitable for attachment to a fluid flow means comprises:

(a) a needle member terminating in a puncture tip and having a needle bore extending therethrough and defining a fluid flow path extending through the needle to the puncture tip;

(b) a blunting member comprising an elongate probe having transfer means associated therewith, the blunting member being mounted within the needle member for movement of the probe by the transfer means axially along the needle bore from a retracted position in which the probe is short of the puncture tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes outwardly of, and thereby blunts, the puncture tip, the probe being dimensioned and configured to be accommodated within the needle bore while leaving the bore open to fluid flow therethrough; and

(c) locking means dimensioned and configured to engage the blunting member so as to permit its movement in an outflow direction but prevent its return movement in an inflow direction, whereby to retain it in its extended position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the transfer means comprises an extension member mounted within the needle member to transfer mechanical force applied to the extension member to the blunting member for movement thereof to its extended position.

6. The device of claim 2 or claim 5 wherein the piston has one or more flow passages extending therethrough to permit the passage of fluid along the flow path past the piston.

8. The device of claim 1, claim 3, claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the transfer means is dimensioned and configured to drive the blunting member from its retracted position to its extended position by outflow of fluid along the flow path.

9. The device of claim 1, claim 3, claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the transfer means is dimensioned and configured to drive the blunting member from its retracted position to its extended position by inflow of fluid along the flow path.

11. The device of any one of claims 1 through 10 wherein the probe and the needle bore are each dimensioned and configured to provide therebetween an annular clearance for passage of fluid around the probe and through the needle bore.

12. The device of any one of claims 1 through 10 wherein the blunting member has a probe bore extending therethrough to define at least a segment of the fluid flow path through the needle member.

13. The device of any one of claims 1 through 10 wherein the locking means comprises a detent member and a detent recess, one of which is carried on the blunting member and the other of which is disposed within the needle member, the detent member and detent recess being dimensioned and configured to engage each other so as to prevent movement of the blunting member in the direction from its extended position towards its retracted position.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the transfer means comprises a piston from which the probe axially extends and one of the detent member and detent recess is carried on the piston and the other is carried on a cylindrical thimble within which the piston is mounted for axial movement.

15. The device of any one of claims 1 through 10 wherein the needle member has a mouth dimensioned and configured to attach the needle assembly in fluid flow communication to a fluid transfer means, and the locking means is disposed within the needle mouth.

3. A self-blunting needle assembly device suitable for attachment to a fluid flow means comprises:

(a) a needle member terminating in a puncture tip and having a needle bore extending therethrough and defining a fluid flow path extending through the needle to the puncture tip;

(b) a blunting member comprising an elongate probe having associated therewith transfer means comprising a piston form which the probe axially extends, the blunting member being mounted with its piston disposed in the fluid flow path, whereby liquid flowing through the flow path acts on the piston to move the blunting member axially along the needle bore from a retracted position in which the probe is short of the puncture tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes outwardly of, and thereby blunts, the puncture tip, the probe being dimensioned and configured to be accommodated within the needle bore while leaving the bore open to fluid flow therethrough; and

(c) locking means dimensioned and configured to engage the blunting member and retain it in its extended position.

7. The device of claim 3 or claim 5 wherein the piston has a probe side from which the probe extends and an opposite pressure side, and further has one or more piston flow passages formed therein to admit fluid therethrough between the pressure side and the probe side.

4. In a hypodermic syringe device comprising (i) a hollow needle member having a shank which terminates in a puncture tip and through which a needle bore extends, (ii) a barrel member providing a liquid reservoir and connected in fluid flow communication with the needle member, and (iii) pressurizing means to impel fluid comprising a liquid along a fluid flow path including the barrel member and the needle bore, the improvement comprising:

(a) a blunting member comprised of an elongate probe having a transfer means associated therewith, the probe being dimensioned and configured to be accommodated within the needle bore while leaving the bore open to liquid flow therethrough, the blunting member being mounted in the device for movement of the probe by the transfer means axially along the needle bore from a retracted position in which the probe is short of the puncture tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes outwardly of, and thereby blunts, the puncture tip, and

(b) locking means carried within the hypodermic syringe device and dimensioned and configured to engage the blunting member and retain it in its extended position.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the transfer means comprises a piston from which the probe axially extends, the blunting member being mounted with its piston disposed in the fluid flow path whereby liquid flowing through the flow path acts on the piston to move the blunting member to its extended position.

10. The device of claim 4 wherein the transfer means comprises an extension member mounted within the needle member to transfer mechanical force applied to the extension member to the blunting member for movement thereof to its extended position.

16. The device of claim 4, claim 5 or claim 10 wherein the pressurizing means comprises a sealing plunger mounted for sliding movement within the barrel member

17. The device of claim 10 wherein the piston has a probe side from which the probe extends and an opposite, pressure side, and the extension member is mounted on the piston and extends from the pressure side thereof.

18. A self-blunting needle assembly device suitable for attachment to a fluid flow means comprises:

(a) a needle member terminating in a puncture tip and having a needle bore extending therethrough and defining a fluid flow path extending through the needle to the puncture tip, the needle member having a mouth dimensioned and configured to attach the needle assembly in fluid flow communication to a fluid transfer means;

(b) a blunting member comprising an elongate probe having associated therewith transfer means comprising a position from which the probe axially extends, the blunting member being mounted with its piston disposed in the fluid flow path, whereby liquid flowing through the flow path acts on the piston to move the blunting member axially along the needle bore form a retracted position in which the probe is short of the puncture tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes outwardly of, and thereby blunts, the puncture tip, the probe being dimensioned and configured to be accommodated within the needle bore while leaving the bore open to fluid flow therethrough; and

(c) locking means comprising a cylindrical thimble within which the piston is mounted for axial movement, said locking means being disposed within the needle mouth and being dimensioned and configured to engage the blunting member and retain it in its extended position.

19. A self-blunting needle assembly device suitable for attachment to a fluid flow means comprises:

(a) a needle member terminating in a puncture tip and having a needle bore extending therethrough and defining a fluid flow path extending through the needle to the puncture tip;

(b) a blunting member comprising an elongate probe having associated therewith transfer means comprising a piston from which the probe axially extends, the blunting member being mounted with its piston disposed in the fluid flow path, whereby liquid flowing through the flow path acts on the piston to move the blunting member axially along the needle bore from a retracted position in which the probe is short of the puncture tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes outwardly of, and thereby blunts, the puncture tip, the probe being dimensioned and configured to be accommodated within the needle bore while leaving the bore open to fluid flow therethrough;

(c) locking means dimensioned and configured to engage the blunting member and retain it in its extended position; and

(d) a pressure chamber within which the piston is mounted, the pressure chamber being in flow communication with (i) at least one chamber inlet passage to admit fluid from the needle member into the pressure chamber and (ii) with at least open chamber outlet passage to permit fluid to escape from the pressure chamber, the inlet and outlet passages having respective flow diameters dimensioned and configured to increase fluid pressure within the pressure chamber so as to drive the blunting member from its retracted position to its extended position.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the chamber outlet passage has a smaller total cross-sectional flow area than the total cross-sectional flow area of the chamber inlet passage.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the pressure chamber is dimensioned and configured to drive the blunting member from its retracted position to its extended position by outflow of fluid along the flow path.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein the pressure chamber is dimensioned and configured to drive the blunting member from its retracted position to its extended position by inflow of fluid along the flow path.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein the piston has a probe side from which the probe extends, the needle has a needle mouth within which an adapter is mounted, and the adapter is dimensioned and configured (a) to cooperate with the piston to define the pressure chamber between the adapter and the piston and (b) to expose the probe side of the piston to suction imposed on the needle mouth whereby the suction cooperates with pressure generated within the pressure chamber to impact a net force acting on the piston to urge it towards its extended position.

24. The device of claim 19 wherein the piston has a probe side from which the probe extends and an opposite pressure side, the piston is mounted within an adapter which cooperates with the piston to define the pressure chamber between the adapter and the pressure side of the piston, and the adapter has vent passages formed therein to vent the space formed between the adapter and the probe side of the piston.

25. A self-blunting needle assembly device suitable for attachment to a fluid flow means comprises:

(a) a needle member terminating in a puncture tip and having a needle bore extending therethrough and defining a fluid flow path extending through the needle to the puncture tip;

(b) a blunting member comprising an elongate probe having associated therewith transfer means comprising a piston having piston flow passages extending therethrough, the blunting member including a probe bore extending therethrough to define at least a segment of the fluid flow path through the needle member, the blunting member being mounted within the needle member for movement of the probe by the piston axially along the needle bore from a retracted position in which the probe is short of the puncture tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes outwardly of, and thereby blunts, the puncture tip, the probe being dimensioned and configured to be accommodated within the needle bore while leaving the bore open to fluid flow therethorugh;

(c) locking means dimensioned and configured to engage the blunting member and retain it in its extended position; and

said needle having a needle mouth having a floor, the piston being mounted within the needle mouth for seating on the floor thereof when the blunting member is in its extended position, and the piston having a stop member projecting axially from the probe side thereof to space the piston flow passages from the floor when the blunting member is in its extended position.

26. In a hypodermic syringe device comprising (i) a hollow needle member having a shank which terminates in a puncture tip and through which a needle bore extends, (ii) a barrel member providing a liquid reservoir and connected in fluid flow communication with the needle member, and (iii) pressurizing means to impel fluid comprising a liquid along a fluid flow path including the barrel member and the needle bore, the improvement comprising:

(a) a blunting member comprised of an elongate probe having a transfer means associated therewith, the probe being dimensioned and configured to be accommodated within the needle bore while leaving the bore open to liquid flow therethrough, the blunting member being mounted in the device for movement of the probe by the transfer means axially along the needle bore from a retracted position in which the probe is short of the puncture tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes outwardly of, and thereby blunts, the puncture tip; and

(b) locking means dimensioned and configured to engage the blunting member and retain it in its extended position;

the transfer means comprising an extension member mounted within the needle member to transfer mechanical force applied to the extension member to the blunting member for movement thereof to its extended position, the extension member being separate from and independent of the blunting member and slidably mounted in alignment with the blunting member for movement into engagement therewith to move the blunting member from its retracted to its extended position.

27. The device of claim 26 including a plunger dimensioned and configured to mechanically force fluid through the needle member, and the extension member is mounted on the plunger.

28. A self-blunting needle assembly device comprises:

(a) a needle member terminating in a puncture tip and having a needle bore extending therethorugh and defining a fluid flow path extending through the needle to the puncture tip;

(b) a blunting member comprising an elongate probe having transfer means associated therewith, the blunting member being mounted within the needle member for movement of the probe by the transfer means axially along the needle bore from a retracted position in which the probe is short of the puncture tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes tip to an extended position in which the probe protrudes outwardly of, and thereby blunts, the puncture tip, the probe being dimensioned and configured to be accommodated within the needle bore while leaving the bore open to fluid flow therethrough; and

(c) locking means carried within the needle member and dimensioned and configured to engage the blunting member and retain it in its extended position.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein the transfer means comprises a piston form which the probe extends, the device includes a needle mouth suitable for attachment to a fluid flow means, and the locking means is disposed within the needle mouth and is dimensioned and configured to therein engage and retain the piston.