Needle retraction system
First Claim
1. A medical assembly, comprising:
- a barrel having an internal cavity and defining a first end and a second end;
a plunger assembly adapted for longitudinal sliding movement within the barrel cavity;
structure defining a longitudinal passage disposed within the barrel cavity;
a hub member mounted to the barrel adjacent its first end and receivable into the longitudinal passage;
retraction means for retracting the hub member into the passage; and
a needle assembly separate from the hub member and selectively mountable to the hub member from the exterior of the barrel, the needle assembly including a needle head and a needle mounted thereto and extending forwardly therefrom, the needle terminating in a sharpened end, wherein the retraction means functions to retract the hub member into the internal passage to enclose the sharpened end of the needle when the needle assembly is mounted to the hub member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A retractable needle medical assembly includes a barrel and a plunger assembly defining an internal passageway within which a retraction member is mounted. The retraction member is biased into the passageway, by means of a spring or a vacuum located within the passageway. The medical assembly further includes a needle assembly consisting of a needle mounted to a hub. The hub is releasably engaged with the barrel. In one embodiment, an automatic retraction system is provided for engaging the retraction member with the hub upon movement of the plunger assembly toward the hub, and automatically releasing engagement between the hub and the barrel. Final movement of the plunger assembly toward the needle assembly disengages a retaining ring which retains the retraction member in position at the end of the passageway. The retraction member and needle assembly are then drawn into the passageway, to enclose the end of the needle to prevent accidental contact therewith and subsequent reuse of the medical assembly. The invention further contemplates a manual actuator system disposed between the needle hub and the barrel, for releasing engagement therebetween upon manual actuation by the user to result in withdrawal of the retraction member and needle into the passageway. The needle retraction system may be incorporated into a medical device such as a syringe, or into a blood collection system.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A medical assembly, comprising:
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a barrel having an internal cavity and defining a first end and a second end; a plunger assembly adapted for longitudinal sliding movement within the barrel cavity; structure defining a longitudinal passage disposed within the barrel cavity; a hub member mounted to the barrel adjacent its first end and receivable into the longitudinal passage; retraction means for retracting the hub member into the passage; and a needle assembly separate from the hub member and selectively mountable to the hub member from the exterior of the barrel, the needle assembly including a needle head and a needle mounted thereto and extending forwardly therefrom, the needle terminating in a sharpened end, wherein the retraction means functions to retract the hub member into the internal passage to enclose the sharpened end of the needle when the needle assembly is mounted to the hub member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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5. A medical assembly, comprising:
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a barrel having an internal cavity and defining a first end and a second end; a plunger assembly adapted for longitudinal sliding movement within the barrel cavity; structure defining a longitudinal passage disposed within the barrel cavity; a hub member mounted to the barrel adjacent its first end; means for retracting the hub member into the passage; and a needle assembly selectively mountable to the hub member from the exterior of the barrel, the needle assembly including a needle head and a needle mounted thereto and extending forwardly therefrom, the needle terminating in a sharpened end, wherein retraction of the hub member into the internal passage functions to enclose the sharpened end of the needle, wherein the needle assembly is mountable to the hub member by means of mating structure provided on the hub member and on the needle head for providing push-on engagement of the needle assembly with the hub member, wherein the mating structure comprises a tapered forwardly facing passageway formed in the hub member defined by a series of outwardly deformable fingers, wherein each finger defines an outer end, and wherein an inwardly extending hook is formed at the outer end of each finger, and a mating tapered external surface provided on the needle head engageable within the tapered recess provided in the hub member, the needle head further defining a shoulder, wherein push-on engagement of the needle head tapered surface within the tapered recess deflects the fingers outwardly until passage of the shoulder past the hooks, wherein the hooks return to their undeformed condition to engage the shoulder and to retain the tapered needle head within the tapered recess.
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12. A medical assembly, comprising:
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a barrel having an internal cavity and defining a first end and second end, the barrel extending along a longitudinal axis; a plunger assembly adapted for longitudinal sliding movement within the barrel cavity; a sleeve mounted to the barrel, the sleeve defining a forward end and a rearward end and an internal passage extending therebetween, wherein the sleeve extends through the plunger assembly and wherein the plunger assembly is longitudinally movable relative to the sleeve; a hub member mounted within the sleeve in a first position toward the forward end of the sleeve; a needle mounted to the hub member, the needle defining a lumen, wherein the hub member includes passage means establishing communication between the needle lumen and the barrel cavity; bias means for urging the hub member toward the rearward end of the sleeve; a releasable retainer mechanism for retaining the hub member in its first position against the force of the bias means and movable to a release position for disengaging the hub member; and a manually operable trigger member for selectively moving the releasable retainer mechanism to its release position, wherein engagement between the sleeve and the hub member is released and the bias means functions to propel the hub member, and thereby the needle, toward the rearward end of the sleeve to withdraw the needle into the internal passage defined by the sleeve; wherein the needle assembly includes a needle and a needle head, wherein the needle head is selectively engageable with the hub member.
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13. A medical assembly, comprising:
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a barrel having an internal cavity and defining a first end and second end, the barrel extending along a longitudinal axis; a plunger assembly adapted for longitudinal sliding movement within the barrel cavity; a sleeve mounted to the barrel, the sleeve defining a forward end and a rearward end and an internal passage extending therebetween, wherein the sleeve extends through the plunger assembly and wherein the plunger assembly is longitudinally movable relative to the sleeve; a hub member mounted within the sleeve in a first position toward the forward end of the sleeve; a needle mounted to the hub member, the needle defining a lumen, wherein the hub member includes passage means establishing communication between the needle lumen and the barrel cavity; bias means for urging the hub member toward the rearward end of the sleeve; a releasable retainer mechanism for retaining the hub member in its first position against the force of the bias means and movable to a release position for disengaging the hub member; and a trigger arrangement for selectively moving the releasable retainer mechanism to its release position, including a trigger member located toward the rearward end of the barrel, and a movable actuator member disposed within the sleeve for moving the releasable retainer mechanism to its release position in response to operation of the trigger member by the operator, wherein engagement between the sleeve and the hub member is released and the bias means functions to propel the hub member, and thereby the needle, toward the rearward end of the sleeve to withdraw the needle into the internal passage defined by the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification