Spring clip safety IV catheter

• US 6,117,108 A
• Filed: 06/12/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Wynkoop, Mark, Kohler, Matthew, Orth, Manfred, Woehr, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDERMOTT, CORRINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/097,170
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/263
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/325 Means obstructing the needle passage at distal end of a needle protection sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0618 having means for protecting only the distal tip of the needle, e.g. a needle guard
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0625 with a permanent connection to the needle hub, e.g. a guiding rail, a locking mechanism or a guard advancement mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3273 freely sliding on needle shaft without connection to syringe or needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3275 being connected to the needle hub or syringe by radially deflectable members, e.g. longitudinal slats, cords or bands

Abstract

A safety IV catheter includes a unitary, resilient needle guard received in a catheter hub. The needle guard includes a proximal arm or wall that includes an opening through which a needle passes for axial movement. When the needle is retracted from the catheter it releases the force that had previously prevented movement of the needle guard within the catheter hub. This in turn causes the needle guard to snap into a position in which it is clamped onto the needle shaft and in which its distal wall blocks access to the needle tip. In this condition, the spring needle guard and needle can be removed from the catheter hub. A slot or bulge may be formed in the needle shaft that engages with the needle guard after the protected needle and needle guard are removed from the catheter hub, thereby to prevent removal of the protected needle from the needle guard.

Claims

1. An IV catheter apparatus comprising a tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle having a needle shaft and a tip, said needle being received within said tubular catheter when in a ready position, a catheter hub attached to the proximal end of said catheter, said catheter hub having a hollow interior and an inner wall, said needle being movable between said ready position in which said tip is outside of said catheter hub and a retracted position in which said tip is within the interior of said catheter hub, a unitary needle guard substantially positioned in the interior of said catheter hub and including a resilient portion engaged by said needle shaft when said needle is in said ready position, a section of said resilient portion of said needle guard being urged by said needle shaft into retaining contact with an interior wall of said catheter hub when said needle is in its said ready position, means formed on said interior wall of said catheter hub for engaging a segment of said needle guard for retaining said needle guard to said catheter hub during the movement of said needle between its said ready position and said retracted position, said needle guard also including a distal wall extending from said resilient portion and spaced from said needle tip when said needle is in its said ready position and movable within the interior of said catheter hub to a blocking position distal of said needle tip when said needle is in its said retracted position in which said needle shaft no longer exerts a force on said resilient portion of said needle guard such that said retaining contact between said section of said needle guard and said catheter hub is released, and means included in said needle guard for clamping said needle guard to said needle upon the movement of said needle guard to its said blocking position.

2. The catheter of claim 1, in which said distal wall of said needle guard is contiguous with said resilient portion, said distal wall including a curved lip engaging the underside of said needle shaft when said needle is in its said ready position.

3. The catheter of claim 2, in which said engaging and retaining means includes a groove formed in said inner wall of said catheter hub, said groove receiving a portion of said needle guard when said needle is in its said ready position.

4. The catheter of claim 1, in which said engaging and retaining means includes a groove formed in said inner wall of said catheter hub, said groove receiving a portion of said needle guard when said needle is in its said ready position.

5. The catheter of claim 1, in which said needle guard further includes a transverse arm and a curved upper segment contiguous with said transverse arm and in contact with an opposed interior wall of the catheter hub when said needle is in its said ready position.

6. The catheter of claim 1, in which said needle guard further comprises a proximal wall having a lower curved segment in contact with said interior wall of said catheter hub when said needle is in its said ready position.

7. The catheter of claim 6, in which said proximal wall further includes an upper end in engagement with an opposed location of said interior wall of said catheter hub when said needle guard is in its said ready position.

8. The catheter of claim 7, in which said engaging and retaining means includes a groove formed in said interior wall of said catheter hub, said distal wall of said needle guard including a lower curved portion seated in said groove when said needle is in its said ready position.

9. The catheter of claim 1, in which said needle guard includes first and second distal walls which overlap one another and form a distal barrier to said needle when said needle guard is in its said blocking position.

10. The catheter of claim 9, in which each of said distal walls includes a curved lip engaging opposing surfaces of said needle shaft when said needle is in its said ready position.

11. The catheter of claim 10, in which said first and second distal walls each include a curved protruding segment, said engaging and retaining means including an annular groove formed in said catheter hub interior wall for receiving said protruding segments when said needle is in its said ready position.

12. The catheter of claim 11, in which said needle guard further comprises a proximal end wall and said first and second distal walls each further include a wide section and a narrow section extending from said wide section toward said proximal end wall.

13. The catheter of claim 12, in which a clamping edge is formed on a proximal edge of each of said wide sections.

14. The catheter of claim 9, in which said needle guard further comprises a proximal end wall having an opening for receiving said needle therethrough and first and second arms extending respectively between said proximal end wall and said first and second distal walls.

15. The catheter of claim 14, in which said needle includes a large diameter segment on the needle shaft inward of said needle tip, the diameter of said large diameter segment being greater than that of said opening in said proximal end wall.

16. The catheter of claim 9, in which said engaging and first and second distal walls each include a curved protruding segment, said retaining means including an annular groove formed in said catheter hub interior wall for receiving said protruding segments when said needle is in its said ready position.

17. The catheter of claim 16, in which said needle guard further comprises a proximal end wall and said first and second distal walls each further include a wide section and a narrow section extending from said wide section toward said proximal end wall.

18. The catheter of claim 17, in which a clamping edge is formed on a proximal edge of each of said wide sections.

19. An IV catheter apparatus comprising a tubular catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle having a needle shaft and a tip, said needle being received within said tubular catheter when in a ready position, a catheter hub attached to the proximal end of said catheter, said catheter hub having a hollow interior and an inner wall, said needle being movable between said ready position in which said tip is outside of said catheter hub and a retracted position in which said tip is within the interior of said catheter hub, and a unitary needle guard substantially positioned in the interior of said catheter hub and including a resilient portion engaged by said needle shaft when said needle is in said ready position, a section of said resilient portion of said needle guard being urged by said needle shaft into retaining contact with an interior wall of said catheter hub when said needle is in its said ready position, said needle guard also including a distal wall extending from said resilient portion and spaced from said needle tip when said needle is in its said ready position and movable within the interior of said catheter hub to a blocking position distal of said needle tip when said needle is in its said retracted position in which said needle shaft no longer exerts a force on said resilient portion of said needle guard such that said retaining contact between said section of said needle guard and said catheter hub is released upon the movement of said needle guard to its said blocking position, said distal wall of said needle guard further including at least one edge extending transversely to the axis of said needle for engaging said needle shaft, thereby to clamp said needle guard to said needle during the movement of said needle guard from its said ready position to its said blocking position.

20. The catheter of claim 19, in which said needle guard includes first and second distal walls which overlap one another and form a distal barrier to said needle when said needle guard is in its blocking position.

21. The catheter of claim 20, in which first and second clamping edges are formed respectively in said first and second distal walls and engage opposing surfaces of said needle when said needle guard is in its said blocking position.

22. The catheter of claim 21, in which said needle guard further comprises a proximal end wall having an opening for receiving said needle therethrough and first and second arms extending respectively between said proximal end wall and said first and second distal walls.

23. The catheter of claim 22, in which said first and second distal walls include a wide section and a narrow section extending from said wide section toward said proximal end wall.

24. The catheter of claim 23, in which said first and second clamping edges are respectively is formed on a proximal edge of each of said wide sections.

25. The catheter of claim 22, in which said needle includes a large diameter segment on the needle shaft inward of said needle tip, the diameter of said large diameter.