Safety syringe needle device with interchangeable and retractable needle platform

• US 6,033,386 A
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sol-millennium Medical Hk Limited
• Original Assignee: Inviro Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Sharp, Fraser R., McLean, Donald A., Novacek, Laurel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US09/215,519
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 604/195, 604/110, 604/218, 604/228, 604/242, 604/243, 604/187
• US Class Current: 604/195
• 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 positions axially spaced from said adapter and engaging said adapter, said plunger having first and second opposite ends; and

(d) adapter engagement structure disposed at said first 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 adapter engaged position, said drive surfaces being 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 (i) lying in axial opposition to and engaged with one another when said drive surfaces are engaged with one another to connect the plunger and adapter one with the other and (ii) enabling 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.

2. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said second end of said plunger has structure for connecting said plunger second end with structure at the distal end of the barrel, rupturable structure intermediate said first and second ends of said plunger for detachably connecting said first and second ends of said plunger, whereby said first and second ends of said plunger can be detached from one another when said adapter and needle are withdrawn into the interior of the barrel, leaving said first end in said barrel, said second end being attachable to said structure at the distal end of the barrel.

3. A syringe according to claim 1 wherein said adapter engagement and connection engagement structures on said plunger and adapter, respectively, include alignment surfaces inclined to an axis of the barrel and engageable with one another in response to axial movement of said plunger toward said adapter causing relative rotation between said plunger and said adapter.

4. A syringe according to claim 3 wherein said second end of said plunger has structure for connecting said plunger second end with structure at the distal end of the barrel, rupturable structure intermediate said first and second ends of said plunger for detachably connecting said first and second ends of said plunger, whereby said first and second ends of said plunger can be detached from one another when said adapter and needle are withdrawn into the interior of the barrel, leaving said first end in said barrel, said second end being attachable to said structure at the distal end of the barrel.

5. A syringe comprising:

a hollow, axially elongated barrel having distal and proximal ends;

needle-mounting structure affixed to said distal end of said barrel;

a hollow needle releasably carried by said needle-mounting structure and having an end in communication with the interior of said barrel;

a plunger axially slidably received in said barrel through said proximal end thereof and having a thumbpress at one end external to said barrel and a bung at an opposite end within the barrel engaging interior wall portions of the barrel;

an element carried by said opposite end of said plunger and engageable with said needle mounting structure upon axial sliding movement of said plunger toward said distal end of the barrel;

said element in engagement with said needle-mounting structure effecting a breakaway of said needle-mounting structure from said hub and withdrawal of said needle into the barrel in response to axial sliding movement of said plunger away from the distal end of the barrel.

6. A syringe comprising:

(a) a hollow, axially elongated barrel having a hollow interior;

(b) an adapter carried by said barrel adjacent a distal end thereof and removable therefrom in response to rotation relative to and about the axis of 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 positions axially spaced from said adapter and engaging said adapter, said plunger having first and second opposite ends; and

(d) adapter engagement structure disposed at said first 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 of each said adapter engagement structure and said mating connection engagement structure extending radially and being spaced circumferentially from one another about the axis of said barrel, said circumferentially spaced drive surfaces of said adapter engagement structure engaging respective circumferentially spaced drive surfaces of said mating connection engagement structure in response to relative rotation of said plunger and said adapter when said plunger lies in said adapter engaged position, said drive surfaces being 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 (i) lying in axial opposition to and engaged with one another when said plunger lies in said adapter engaged position to connect the plunger and adapter one with the other and (ii) enabling 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.

7. A syringe according to claim 6 wherein said plunger includes rupturable structure intermediate said first and second ends thereof for detachably connecting said first and second ends relative to one another whereby said second end can be detached from said first end when said adapter and needle are withdrawn into the interior of the barrel.

8. A syringe according to claim 6 wherein said second end of said plunger has structure for connecting said plunger second end with structure adjacent the distal end of the barrel, rupturable structure intermediate said first and second ends of said plunger for detachably connecting said first and second ends of said plunger, whereby said second end of said plunger can be detached from said first end when said adapter and needle are withdrawn into the interior of the barrel, leaving said first end in said barrel, said second end being attachable to said structure at the distal end of the barrel.

9. A syringe according to claim 6 including an alignment surface carried by said plunger and cooperable with another alignment surface of said syringe to orient said plunger relative to said adapter so that said drive surfaces carried by the plunger lie in circumferential registration with the drive surfaces of said adapter when said plunger is moved into its axially distal-most engaged position relative to said adapter.

10. A syringe according to claim 6 wherein said adapter engagement and connection engagement structures on said plunger and adapter, respectively, include alignment surfaces engageable with one another in response to axial movement of said plunger toward said adapter causing orientation of said plunger and said adapter relative to one another to enable said drive surfaces to lie in circumferential opposition to one another.

11. A syringe according to claim 10 wherein said alignment surfaces are inclined to the axis of the barrel and engage one another in response to axial movement of the plunger toward the adapter to cause relative rotation between said plunger and said adapter to bring said drive surfaces into engagement with one another.

12. A syringe according to claim 10 wherein said second end of said plunger has structure for connecting said plunger second end with structure adjacent the distal end of the barrel, rupturable structure intermediate said first and second ends of said plunger for detachably connecting said first and second ends of said plunger, whereby said second end of said plunger can be detached from said first end when said adapter and needle are withdrawn into the interior of the barrel, leaving said first end in said barrel, said second end being attachable to said structure at the distal end of the barrel.

13. A syringe according to claim 6 wherein said connective surfaces include a radial extending projection carried by one of said plunger and said adapter and a recess carried by another of said plunger and said adapter for receiving said projection.

14. A syringe according to claim 6 wherein said connective surfaces include a pair of circumferentially spaced radially extending projections carried by one of said plunger and said adapter and grooves carried by another of said plunger and said adapter for receiving said projections.

15. A syringe according to claim 6 wherein said connective surfaces include a radial extending projection carried by one of said plunger and said adapter and a groove carried by another of said plunger and said adapter for receiving said projection in response to relative rotation of said plunger and said adapter.

16. A syringe according to claim 6 wherein said connective surfaces include a pair of radial extending projections carried by said plunger and a pair of grooves carried by said adapter for receiving said projections, respectively, in response to relative rotation of said plunger and said adapter.

17. A syringe according to claim 16 wherein said plunger includes rupturable structure intermediate said first and second ends thereof for detachably connecting said first and second ends relative to one another whereby said second end can be detached from said first end when said adapter and needle are withdrawn into the interior of the barrel, including an alignment surface carried by said plunger and cooperable with another alignment surface of said syringe to orient said plunger relative to said adapter so that said drive surfaces carried by the plunger lie in circumferential registration with the drive surfaces of said adapter when said plunger is moved into its axially distal-most engaged position relative to said adapter.