Blunt injection needle for a pen-type injector

• US 6,074,371 A
• Filed: 09/10/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Magnolia Medical, LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Magnolia Medical, LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Fischell, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blyveis, Deborah
• Application Number:
  US09/150,908
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 604/207, 604/181, 604/187, 604/264, 604/48
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/04 having pierceable self-sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration

Abstract

Disclosed is a needle assembly to be used with a pen-type injector and a percutaneously placed catheter device for intravenous infusion or a subcutaneously inserted cannula that is part of an injection set. Unlike all prior art needle assemblies which have a sharp point at the needle'"'"'s distal end, the needle assembly described herein has a blunt tip so as to avoid any inadvertent needle sticks. This invention envisions using such a blunt tipped needle assembly connected to a pen-type injector and used with an injection set that has a cannula placed in the subcutaneous tissue. This invention also envisions using such a blunt tipped needle assembly with a pen-type injector for intravenous injections of medication through any intravenous catheter that has a septum through which the blunt needle of the pen-type injector can be placed.

Claims

1. A system for preventing inadvertent needle sticks when administering medication to a patient, the system comprising:

a needle assembly having a hub and a needle shaft embedded into the hub, the needle shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and having a blunt tip at the needle shaft'"'"'s distal end;

a pen-type injector adapted for attachment of the needle assembly, the pen-type injector having an elongated, generally cylindrical shape, a total quantity of medication contained therein, a numerical indicator means for setting a preset quantity of medication and a plunger for delivering in a single completed stroke that preset quantity of medication into the patient, the preset quantity of medication being less than the total quantity of medication contained within the pen-type injector; and

,

an injection system adapted for percutaneous placement through the patient'"'"'s skin, the injection system having a septum through which the blunt tip at the distal end of the needle shaft can be placed to deliver medication from the pen-type injector into the patient.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein there is a sharp point at the proximal end of the needle shaft.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the injection system is an injection set having a cannula placed for the subcutaneous injection of medication.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the injection system is an intravenous catheter adapted for the infusion of medication into a vein.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the needle shaft has a side hole through which the medication is delivered.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the needle shaft has an end hole through which the medication is delivered.