Hypodermic needle safety system

• US 5,057,087 A
• Filed: 04/24/1989
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James E. Harmon
• Original Assignee: James E. Harmon
• Inventors: Harmon, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Polutta, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US07/342,299
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 604/192, 604/198, 604/263, 604/110, 604/218, 604/187
• US Class Current: 604/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3106 Plugs for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• 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 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

The disclosed hypodermic syringe includes a syringe barrel, a needle extending from the barrel, a movable safety sleeve surrounding the barrel, and a sleeve cap to cover the forward end of the sleeve. The syringe barrel includes a forward detent, an intermediate detent, and a rear detent, and the safety sleeve includes an inner ring for selective engagement with the detents. The safety sleeve is axially movable on the syringe barrel from an initial transport position on the intermediate detent, to a retracted position on the rear detent to expose the needle, and to a locked safety position on the forward detent. The sleeve cap is held on the safety sleeve by friction when the sleeve is in the transport position, and by positive engagement with the safety sleeve when the sleeve is in the locked safety position.

Claims

1. A hypodermic needle device including a barrel, a needle extending forwardly from said barrel, and a safety sleeve surrounding said barrel and axially movable thereon:

said barrel including a forward detent an intermediate detent and a rear detent, and said safety sleeve adapted for selective operative engagement with said detents;

said safety sleeve being movable to selective positions on said barrel, including a transport position in engagement with said intermediate detent, a retracted position in engagement with said rear detent, and a locked safety position in engagement with said forward detent;

said safety sleeve including an inner ring tapered to permit axial movement of said ring relative to said intermediate and rear detents; and

sealing means responsive to the operative engagement of said sleeve with said forward detent to form a liquid tight seal at the juncture of said sleeve and said barrel.

2. A hypodermic needle device as defined in claim 1, in which said sealing means includes a quantity of sealing liquid contained in said forward detent and responsive to impact by said sleeve to flow throughout the juncture of said sleeve and said barrel to seal said juncture.

3. A hypodermic needle device as defined in claim 2, in which said sealing liquid is dye colored to provide visible indication when said syringe is locked.

4. A hypodermic needle device including a barrel, a needle extending forwardly from said barrel, a safety sleeve surrounding said barrel and axially movable thereon, and a sleeve cap adapted to cover the forward end of said safety sleeve;

said barrel including a forward detent, an intermediate detent, and a rear detent, and said safety sleeve adapted for selective operative engagement with said detents;

said safety sleeve being movable to selective positions on said barrel, including a transport position in engagement with said intermediate detent, a retracted position in engagement with said rear detent, and a locked safety position in engagement with said forward detent;

said safety sleeve including an inner ring tapered to permit axial movement of said ring relative to said intermediate and rear detents;

said sleeve cap including an annular locking ring therearound, said ring being compressible for frictional engagement on said safety sleeve when said sleeve is in said transport position, and expandable for locking engagement on said safety sleeve when said sleeve is in said locked safety position; and

sealing means responsive to the operative engagement of said sleeve with said forward detent to seal the juncture of said sleeve and said barrel.

5. A hypodermic needle device as defined in claim 4, in which said sealing means includes a quantity of sealing liquid contained in said forward detent and responsive to impact by said sleeve to flow throughout the juncture of said sleeve and said barrel to seal said juncture.

6. A hypodermic needle device as defined in claim 5, in which said sealing liquid is dye colored to provide visible indication when said syringe is locked.

7. A hypodermic needle device as defined in claim 4, further including sealing means responsive to the positive engagement of said cap with said safety sleeve to form a liquid tight seal at the juncture of said cap and said safety sleeve.