Assembly of needle and protector

• US 4,832,696 A
• Filed: 11/02/1987
• Issued: 05/23/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medex Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Luther Medical Products, Inc. (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Luther, Ronald B., Choksi, Pradip V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Whelton, Denise
• Application Number:
  US07/115,407
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164-169, 604/158, 604/162, 604/263, 604/192, 604/198, 604/110
• US Class Current: 604/164.08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0618 having means for protecting only the distal tip of the needle, e.g. a needle guard
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0631 having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3243 being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the syringe barrel devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3273 freely sliding on needle shaft without connection to syringe or needle

Abstract

An assembly of a needle and a device for protecting the needle tip is disclosed. The assembly comprises an elongate housing which mounts the needle. A needle guard is slidably mounted within the housing and is adapted to be moved forward along the needle. Following use, the needle and housing are retracted and the needle guard becomes permanently locked with the housing while it occludes or covers the needle.

Claims

1. An assembly of a needle and protector therefor, comprising:

a. an elongate housing having sidewalls, and a first part of a detent means defined thereon;

b. a needle connected to the housing and projecting outwardly beyond one end of said housing;

c. a needle guard slidably connecting with the housing, the needle guard having a pull tab at its forward end, and including a second part of said detent means, the needle guard providing at its forward end a hub support defining a bore therein;

d. a luer-type hub and catheter mounted on the hub support, the needle being aligned within the hub support, hub and catheter, and projecting through the catheter to expose a tip thereof;

e. whereby,

i. following insertion of the needle and

catheter into a patient, the housing and attached needle are adapted to be retracted from the patient, and the needle is adapted to be retracted into the needle guard thereby enabling the sidewalls of the housing to slide in relation to the needle guard until the first and second parts of the detent means are aligned and lock together, the needle guard being sized to completely enclose the needle upon locking with the housing;

ii. the hub and catheter remain with the patient;

iii. the housing and enclosed needle are separated from the hub, catheter and patient.

2. An assembly of a needle and protector therefor, comprising:

a. an elongate housing providing sidewalls, and detent means defined thereon, the housing having a first end and a second end;

b. a needle mounted to the housing and projecting through said first end of the housing;

c. a needle guard slidably mounted to the housing, the needle guard having a pull tab at its forward end, and biased ears at least partially in contact with the sidewalls of the housing, the needle guard providing at its forward end a hub support defining a bore therein;

d. a luer-type hub and catheter mounted on the hub support, said needle being aligned within the hub support, hub and catheter, and projecting through the catheter to expose a tip thereof;

e. whereby,

i. following insertion of the needle and catheter into a patient, the housing and attached needle are adapted to be retracted from the patient, and the needle is adapted to be retracted into the needle guard thereby enabling the walls of the housing to slide relative the biased ears of the needle guard, the ears projecting into the detent means of the housing and permanently locking therewith, the needle guard being sized to completely enclose the needle upon locking with the housing;

ii. the hub and catheter remain with the patient; and

iii. the housing and enclosed needle are separated from the hub, catheter and patient.