Sliding sheath for medical needles
First Claim
1. In an injection apparatus having a body member and needle protruding from the body member, an improvement comprising:
- a locking member affixed to the length of the needle sized to locally increase the diameter of the needle at a location interposed between the body member and the tip of the needle; and
a tubular sleeve disposed along the length of the needle which slides along the length of the needle from a first position whereat the tip of the needle is exposed to a second position whereat the sleeve is securely retained by the locking member to sheath the tip of the needle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods of utilizing the same to prevent accidental medical needle sticks are disclosed, characterized by use of a raised locking member coaxially mounted upon the needle approximately midway between a body member mounting the needle and the needle tip which presents an exterior contour to engage complementary features within the interior channel of a tubular sleeve which slides coaxially along the needle. The slidable sleeve is held at a first position proximate the body member and exposing the needle tip by a mechanical detent formed from frictional engagement of complementary surfaces upon the sleeve and the locking member and/or the body member. After medical use, the spent and contaminated needle is sheathed by sliding the tubular sleeve to a second position wherein it is securely held by a detent resultant from engagement with the locking member. The sheathing guards against accidental needle sticks transmitting disease. An optional end cap may be affixed including frangible affixation by engagement with the locking member, slidable sleeve, or body member. All components may be readily retrofitted upon preexisting needles.
167 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. In an injection apparatus having a body member and needle protruding from the body member, an improvement comprising:
-
a locking member affixed to the length of the needle sized to locally increase the diameter of the needle at a location interposed between the body member and the tip of the needle; and a tubular sleeve disposed along the length of the needle which slides along the length of the needle from a first position whereat the tip of the needle is exposed to a second position whereat the sleeve is securely retained by the locking member to sheath the tip of the needle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An injection apparatus comprising:
-
a body member; a needle having a proximal and distal end, said needle affixed to the body member adjacent its proximal end and extending outwardly therefrom; protuberance means mounted in a fixed position along the length of the needle between said body member and the distal end of said needle; and a cylindrical sleeve, which is shorter than the needle and substantially coaxial with the needle slidable along the length of the needle, which is moved from a first detent position along the length of the needle, in which position the distal end of the needle is exposed to a second detent position along the length of the needle, in which position the distal end of the needle is sheathed, by the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. An injection apparatus comprising:
-
a body member; a needle which is affixed to the body member; a protuberance interposed along the length of the needle; and a tubular sleeve, which is shorter than the length of the needle and disposed substantially coaxial with the needle, said sleeve slidable along the length of the needle, which is at a first time held in a first detent position along the length of the needle, in which position the tip of the needle is exposed; and which is at a second time locked in a second detent position along the length of the needle, in which the position the tip of the needle is sheathed. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method of retrofitting a sliding guard onto an injection needle comprising:
-
sliding in a first direction a small pellet of an annular ring cross-section, which pellet has a pre-existing internal axial channel of sufficient diameter to accommodate an injection needle, onto and along the needle to a position between the needle tip and the body member; affixing the pellet to the needle; sliding in the first direction a tubular sleeve, which sleeve has a central region with an internal diameter which is greater than the external diameter of the pellet and which sleeve has regions proximate each end having internal diameters which are substantially equal to the external diameter of the pellet, onto and along the needle and across the pellet affixed thereto until one end region of the sleeve is proximate the body member while the other end region of the sleeve engages the pellet by relatively tightly contacting the external diameter of the pellet; wherein the engaged sleeve is held in a first detent position along the needle proximate the body member and exposing the needle tip; and wherein the engaged sleeve may be forcibly slid in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, from the first detent position in a path along the needle and across the pellet affixed thereto until the one end of the sleeve engages the pellet, thereafter holding the sleeve in a second detent position whereat the needle tip is sheathed; whereby the cylindrical sleeve sliding in a first direction to a first detent position exposing the needle tip, and in a second direction to a second detent position sheathing the needle tip, constitutes a sliding guard to the injection needle.
-
Specification