Safety syringe needle device with interchangeable and retractable needle platform

• US 5,858,000 A
• Filed: 08/25/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inviro Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inviro Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: McClean, Donald A., Sharp, Fraser R., Novacek, Laurel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US08/917,337
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/187, 604/192, 604/195, 604/218, 604/228, 604/240-243, 604/263
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3101 Leak prevention means for proximal end of syringes, i.e. syringe end opposite to needle mounting end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3106 Plugs for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3118 via the distal end of a syringe, i.e. syringe end for mounting a needle cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3121 via the proximal end of a syringe, i.e. syringe end opposite to needle cannula mounting end
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31506 formed as a single piece, e.g. moulded
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3223 Means impeding or disabling repositioning of used needles at the syringe nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3224 Means to disalign the needle tip and syringe nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3231 Proximal end of needle captured or embedded inside piston head, e.g. by friction or hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3279 Breaking syringe nozzles or needle hubs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/5073 by breaking or rupturing the connection parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• 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 5/3134 characterised by constructional features of the distal end, i.e. end closest to the tip of the needle cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3135 characterised by constructional features of the proximal end
• 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 5/322 Retractable needles, i.e. disconnected from and withdrawn into the syringe barrel by the piston devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/347 rotatable, e.g. bayonet or screw A61M5/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

The syringe includes a barrel, a plunger, and an adapter for mounting the needle in the distal end of the barrel. The adapter includes a protrusion projecting away from the needle end and into the barrel defining an annular space between the barrel and the protrusion. The plunger and protrusion have complementary surfaces whereby the plunger may grip the adapter for removal of the adapter into the interior of the barrel after use. These complementary surfaces afford initial resistance to further axial movement of the plunger toward the adapter, signalling the user that further axial pressure will permanently lock the plunger and adapter to one another whereby, upon application of full axial pressure on the plunger, the complementary surfaces of the plunger and adapter permanently lock to one another to enable joint unitary movement of the plunger and adapter together with the needle carried by the adapter into the barrel. The adapter includes vent passages communicating between the central passage through the adapter and the annular space whereby air can be vented from the barrel after receiving fluid within the barrel and prior to injection. Thus, the syringe may be oriented in a vertical position needle end uppermost with the vent passages forming the most superior portion of the barrel interior whereby air may be vented.

Claims

1. A syringe comprising:

(a) a hollow, axially elongated barrel;

(b) an adapter carried by said barrel adjacent a distal end thereof and removable therefrom in response to rotation relative to said barrel, the adapter carrying a needle and providing fluid communication with the interior of said hollow barrel;

(c) a plunger axially movable in said barrel between first and second positions relative to said barrel;

(d) adapter engagement structure disposed at the distal end of the plunger and engageable with a mating connection engagement structure on the adapter, said structures having respective drive and connective engagement surfaces, said drive surfaces being engageable with one another when said plunger lies in said first position relative to said barrel and jointly movable to enable rotation of the adapter relative to the barrel in response to relative rotation of the plunger and barrel to cause the adapter to part from the distal end of the barrel, said connective surfaces being engageable with one another to connect the plunger and adapter one with the other and enable said adapter, when parted from the end of the barrel in response to joint rotation of said adapter and said plunger relative to said barrel, to be withdrawn with the needle into the interior of the barrel in response to joint axial movement of said plunger and said adapter in a direction away from the distal end of the barrel; and

(e) a cap carried by said barrel and movable between a position closing said distal end of said barrel and a position avoiding interference with the distal end of the barrel.

2. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said barrel is cylindrical and said cap in said interference avoiding position lies substantially laterally outwardly of cylindrical confines of said barrel.

3. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said cap is pivotally carried by said barrel for movement between said positions closing said barrel and avoiding interference with said distal end of the barrel.

4. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said cap is secured to said barrel by a flexible hinge.

5. A syringe according to claim 1 including structure cooperable between said cap and said barrel for retaining said cap in said interference avoiding position.

6. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said cap is secured by said barrel after said adapter and needle carried thereby have been withdrawn into the interior of the barrel.

7. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said adapter has a projection and said needle has a hub for releasable mounting on said projection, said cap being secured to said barrel to overlie said distal end of said barrel prior to mounting said hub on said projection.

8. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said cap has an open cylindrical end for receiving the distal end of said barrel and an opposite closed end.

9. A syringe according to claim 8 wherein said outer closed end has an outer flat surface having a lateral extent of about a width of said barrel.

10. A syringe according to claim 9 wherein said flat surface has a feathered edge for creating a suction upon application of said closed end and said feathered edge against an adjoining flat surface.

11. A syringe according to claim 9 wherein said flat surface has adhesive applied thereto for releasably and adhesively securing said cap to an adjoining flat surface.

12. A syringe according to claim 11 including a releasable membrane overlying said adhesive and removable therefrom to expose said adhesive.