Safety needle cartridge system

• US 5,615,771 A
• Filed: 04/07/1993
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc. (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Smiths Industries Medical Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hollister, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAYOAN, BETHANNE CAROLINE
• Application Number:
  US08/043,890
• Time in Patent Office: 1,455 Days
• Field of Search: 206/365, 604/192, 604/198, 604/263
• US Class Current: 206/365
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/002 having adhesive means, e.g. an adhesive strip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/0084 Tabs inserted into slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/3001 for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/362 for sharps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3216 Caps placed transversally onto the needle, e.g. pivotally attached to the needle base

Abstract

A needle protection safety package, instead of being enclosed in a pouch or other containment wrappings, has fitted thereto at respective ends thereof caps or sheaths so that both the needle and the end to which a syringe is adapted to mate remain enclosed and sterile. Such an arrangement enables easy transport of the safety needle package and provides convenience for the user at the same time. The safety package is further designed to prevent burring of the tip of the needle as the cap or sheath is removed from the needle portion of the package. A further embodiment of the safety package incorporates a locking mechanism which prevents contact between the needle and the housing as the housing is pivoted to envelop the needle after use.

Claims

1. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end matable with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end, said sheath means being fitted to said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position to be in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein said needle assembly comprises a needle attached to a hub;

wherein after said sheath means has been removed from said second end and said needle assembly mated thereto, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping said needle mated via said hub to said second end; and

wherein said sheath means encloses at least a portion of said needle assembly including a needle, said second end of said base comprises an internal thread for receiving a hub of said needle assembly, said sheath means having a first portion cooperatively biasing against a second portion of said base so that when said sheath means is rotated to fully thread said hub into said base, said sheath means is automatically loosened from said hub for easy removal from said needle.

2. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end matable with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end, said sheath means being fitted to said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position to be in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein said needle assembly comprises a needle attached to a hub;

wherein after said sheath means has been removed from said second end and said needle assembly mated thereto, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping said needle mated via said hub to said second end; and

wherein said housing means comprises at least one opening matable with an anchor means integrated to said base such that once said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position and said anchor means lockably projected through said opening, said housing means is substantially fixedly retained at said alignment position.

3. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end matable with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end, said sheath means being fitted to said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position to be in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein said needle assembly comprises a needle attached to a hub;

wherein after said sheath means has been removed from said second end and said needle assembly mated thereto, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping said needle mated via said hub to said second end; and

wherein said housing means comprises at least two opposed openings at its lower portion each of which, when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, cooperatively mates with a corresponding extension integrated to said base such that said housing means is substantially fixedly retained at said alignment position.

4. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end adapted to mate with a syringe and a second end adapted to mate with a needle mounted to a hub;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means fitted about said hub for enclosing said needle, said hub of said needle mated to said second end of said base;

housing means hingedly attached to said base;

wherein after said sheath means is removed from said needle, said housing means being pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said needle for enveloping said needle; and

wherein said second end of said base is internally threaded for mating with said hub, said sheath means having a first portion biased against a second portion of said base so that said first and second portions would coact against each other to loosen said sheath means from said hub for easy removal when a torque force is applied to substantially seat said hub to said second end.

5. The safety package of claim 4, wherein said housing means comprises at least one opening matable with an anchor means integrated to said base such that once said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position and said anchor means lockably projected through said opening, said housing means is substantially fixedly retained at said alignment position to prevent said needle from being exposed.

6. The safety package of claim 4, wherein said housing means comprises at least two opposed openings at its lower portion each of which, when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, cooperatively mates with a corresponding extension integrated to said base such that said housing means is fixedly retained at said alignment position to prevent said needle from being exposed.

7. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end adapted to mate with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein after said sheath means is removed from said second end, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping a needle mated to said second end, said housing means comprising at least one opening matable with an anchor means integrated to said base such that once said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position and said anchor means lockably projected through said opening, said housing means is substantially fixedly retained at said alignment position.

8. The safety package of claim 7, wherein said sheath means is tightly fitted to a hub of said needle;

and

wherein said second end of said base comprises an internal thread for receiving said hub, said sheath means having a first portion biased against a second portion of said base so that when said hub is substantially threaded into said base, said first and second portions would cooperatively act against each other to loosen said sheath means from said hub for easy removal from said needle.

9. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end adapted to mate with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein after said sheath means is removed from said second end, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping a needle mated to said second end, said housing means comprising at least two opposed openings at its lower portion each of which, when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, cooperatively mates with a corresponding extension integrated to said base such that said housing means is fixedly retained at said alignment position.

10. The safety package of claim 9, wherein said sheath means is fitted to a hub of said needle;

and

wherein said second end of said base comprises an internal thread for receiving said hub, said sheath means having a first portion biased against a second portion of said base so that when said hub is substantially threaded into said base, said first and second portions would cooperatively act against each other to loosen said sheath means from said hub for easy removal from said needle.