Methods of minimizing disease transmission by used hypodermic needles, and hypodermic needles adapted for carrying out the method

• US 5,478,328 A
• Filed: 09/02/1993
• Issued: 12/26/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David G. Silverman, Sally A. Kniffin
• Original Assignee: David G. Silverman, Sally A. Kniffin
• Inventors: Kniffin, Sally A., Silverman, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELGART, VANITHA M
• Application Number:
  US08/116,212
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 604/192, 604/263, 604/273, 604/274, 604/168, 604/414, 604/198, 604/28, 604/272, 604/278, 604/290, 604/49, 128/764, 128/919
• US Class Current: 604/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3267 Biased sleeves where the needle is uncovered by insertion of the needle into a patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/32 Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub infusion needles A61M5/158; Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body A61M5/42, A61M5/46 take precedence; guide needles for catheters A61M25/065; Devices for protection of needles apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising needles A61M5/001
• 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 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3272 having projections following labyrinth paths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3291 Shafts with additional lateral openings

Abstract

A needle, related attachments, and methods of constructing and using the same, for reducing the risk of infection from material in a used hypodermic needle. The needle is formed with a solid tip having no orifice, at a distal end of the needle. At least one longitudinal bore is formed in the needle which terminates proximal to the needle tip. At least one outlet orifice is formed in communication with the bore, for passage of all material into or out of the needle, the outlet orifice being located at a lateral position spaced back from the solid tip, thereby reducing the risk that an individual who contacts the tip of the needle will contact material retained in the needle.

Claims

1. A hypodermic needle adapted for reducing the risk of infection from material in a used hypodermic needle, comprising:

a needle shaft having a bore;

a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end of said needle shaft;

at least one outlet orifice which communicates with said bore, for passage of all material into and out of said needle, said orifice being formed in said needle at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle; and

cover means located on said needle shaft and being operable from a location remote from said tip and said orifice for selectively. exposing and blocking said orifice, said cover means surrounding and being rotatable about said needle to cover said orifice when said cover means is located in a first position and to expose said orifice when said cover means is located in a second position;

wherein the cover means comprises a sheath having an aperture which can be aligned with said orifice to expose said orifice and has a solid portion which can be aligned with said orifice to block said orifice.

2. A hypodermic needle adapted for reducing the risk of infection from material in a used hypodermic needle, comprising:

a needle shaft having a bore;

a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end of said needle shaft;

at least one outlet orifice which communicates with said bore, for passage of all material into and out of said needle, said orifice being formed in said needle at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle; and

cover means located on said needle shaft and being operable from a location remote from said tip and said orifice for selectively exposing and blocking said orifice, said cover means surrounding and being rotatable about said needle to cover said orifice when said cover means is located in a first position and to expose said orifice when said cover means is located in a second position;

wherein the cover means comprises a sheath having a longer edge portion which blocks said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice and a shorter edge portion which exposes said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice.

3. A sheath for a needle, the needle having a hub and a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end thereof, at least one longitudinal bore which terminates proximal to said needle tip, at least one outlet orifice in communication with said bore for passage of all material into or out of said needle, wherein said outlet orifice is located at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle, the sheath comprising:

a sheath body having a substantially circular shape for fitting over and engaging the hub of the needle, the sheath body being rotatable about the needle so that the sheath body can be aligned with the needle orifice to cover and expose the needle orifice;

wherein

said sheath body is formed so as to be operable from a location remote from the needle tip and the needle orifice for selectively exposing and blocking the needle orifice with the sheath; and

the sheath body has an aperture formed therein which can be aligned with said orifice to expose said orifice and has a solid portion which can be aligned with said orifice to block said orifice.

4. A sheath for a needle, the needle having a hub and a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end thereof, at least one longitudinal bore which terminates proximal to said needle tip, at least one outlet orifice in communication with said bore for passage of all material into or out of said needle, wherein said outlet orifice is located at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle, the sheath comprising:

a sheath body having a substantially circular shape for fitting over and engaging the hub of the needle, the sheath body being rotatable about the needle so that the sheath body can be aligned with the needle orifice to cover and expose the needle orifice;

wherein

said sheath body is formed so as to be operable from a location remote from the needle tip and the needle orifice for selectively exposing and blocking the needle orifice with the sheath; and

the sheath has a longer edge portion which blocks said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice and a shorter edge portion which exposes said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice.