Retractable needle and syringe combination

• US 5,984,898 A
• Filed: 02/17/1999
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Retrax Safety Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Retrax Safety Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Garvin, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US09/250,613
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 604/195, 604/263, 604/192, 604/198, 604/110, 604/187, 604/218
• US Class Current: 604/195
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3234 Fully automatic needle retraction, i.e. in which triggering of the needle does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/508 Means for preventing re-use by disrupting the piston seal, e.g. by puncturing

Abstract

A combination syringe and needle are disclosed wherein the needle assembly is mounted to a retractable element which retracts into the body of the syringe plunger. The needle assembly is mounted to the needle retractor which is spring biased to retract the needle. The retraction is actuated by releasing the forward end of the retractors from engagement with a collet positioned within the forward end of the syringe outer barrel. The collet is configured so as to clamp the forward end of the retractor and only releases the forward end when the collet is pushed forward, expanded, and disengages the forward end of the needle retractor. The pressure required to fully expand the collet causes the cap located on the forward end of the hollow plunger to collapse after being penetrated by puncture tabs formed on the collet base. The hollow plunger serves as a receptive container for the needle and hub forced into the syringe by spring biased upon release of the holder by the collet as it expands.

Claims

1. A syringe, comprising:

an outer barrel portion having a forward end and a rearward end;

a collet adapted for insertion into the rearward end of outer barrel, said collet having an expandable spreading portion on the forward end thereof, said forward end adapted to engage an opening in the forward end of said outer barrel, said opening constricting the collet as the collet is pulled rearwardly through said opening;

a sealed connection provided between said collet and said outer barrel so as to contain fluid in a fluid containment chamber within the interior of the outer barrel portion;

collapsible spacer positioned between the outer barrel and the collet so as to bias the collet base rearwardly with respect to the outer barrel;

a needle retractor element having a forward end adapted to receive a needle, said needle retractor having a tubular body and a fluid port contained therein, said needle retractor being inserted into the tubular body of the collet and engaged by said expandable collet, said fluid port located at the rearward end of the collet being fluid communication with the fluid containment chamber defined within the outer barrel;

spring means for biasing the needle retractor rearwardly, said spring means positioned between the collet and the needle retractor; and

,

a plunger element and collapsible cap adapted for insertion into the containment chamber for pressurizing any therein contained fluid and urging said fluid through said fluid port, located in the center of the rearward end of the collet,

whereby, at the user'"'"'s discretion, forward movement of said collet base with respect to the outer barrel releases the cap on the forward end of the plunger and releases the needle retractor element rearwardly into the hollow plunger.

2. A syringe as in claim 1, wherein said fluid port extends an entire length of said needle retractor.

3. A syringe as in claim 1, further comprising rupture tang projecting from said collet base, said rupture tangs adapted to penetrate said collapsible cap.

4. A syringe as in claim 1, further comprising:

a needle affixed to a hub member to form a needle assembly, said needle assembly connected to said forward end of the needle retractor element.

5. A syringe as in claim 4, further comprising:

screw attachment means for attaching the needle assembly to the forward end of the needle retractor.

6. A syringe as in claim 1, wherein:

said spring means comprises a coil spring.

7. A syringe as in claim 1, wherein:

said collapsible spacer comprises at least one of a single cell foam member, a polymer collapsible o-ring spacer, and a resilient spring.

8. A syringe as in claim 1, further comprising:

first discrete o-ring seal means for sealing the outer barrel portion to the collet base.

9. A syringe as in claim 8, wherein:

the first discrete o-ring seal means compromises an o-ring type seal.

10. A syringe as in claim 1, wherein:

the expandable collet has funnel shaped exterior and includes slots in the sides thereof to enable expansion and contraction of a longitudinal passageway located within the collet.