Safe needle device for syringe

• US 6,322,540 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Technology Group (Greater China Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Technology Group (Greater China Corp.)
• Inventors: Mellberg, Kenneth, Kaehler, Mary Anne, Grabis, Dietrich W.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN TUONG
• Application Number:
  US09/524,144
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/198, 604/263, 604/192, 604/195, 604/218, 604/220, 604/221, 604/228
• US Class Current: 604/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3257 Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53339 Hypodermic syringe

Abstract

A needle stick safety syringe includes a outer tubular protective cover or sleeve for the inner syringe body where a concentric coil spring is compressed against the normal flange of the inner syringe body and retained there by a stop which is cantilevered from a collar affixed to the distal end of the inner syringe body. This cantilevered stop also includes a convenient button which may be easily depressed by a finger of one hand holding the outer tubular body to allow the sleeve to be slid over the needle under the bias of the spring. The cantilevered button and stop rides in a groove in the inner diameter of the tubular outer protective body and is captured by a slot which effectively prevents reuse.

Claims

1. A needle-stick safety syringe comprising:

an inner tubular body, plunger, and extended needle at the distal end of the tubular body;

a larger protective tubular body concentric with said inner tubular body freely slidable thereon;

spring means between the proximal ends of said tubular bodies for biasing them apart;

latch means for opposing said biasing including a collar with a flexible cantilevered stop, such collar being permanently fixed to the distal end of said inner tubular body and having an outer diameter which freely slides within said protective tubular body, said stop hooking against a distal edge of said protective tubular body whereby the bias of said spring means is opposed;

slot means in said protective tubular body near its proximal end for receiving and capturing said stop when pushed by a finger of a hand grasping said protective tubular body.

2. A needle stick safety syringe as in claim 1 where said latch means includes an interior groove in said protective body to guide said stop to said slot means.

3. A needle stick safety syringe as in claim 1 where said spring means is a coil spring concentric with said inner and protective tubular bodies.

5. A needle stick syringe as in claim 1 where said protective tubular body is graspable by a single human hand between the thumb and selected fingers with one of such fingers of such grasping hand being able to push said stop to allow said coil spring means to expand to cover said extended needle with said protective tubular body.

6. A needle stick safety syringe as in claim 1 where said protective tubular body includes a pair of axial guides on the inner diameter of such body for mating with a pair of grooves on said collar for preventing twisting when said stop is released and said collar slides within said protective tubular body carrying said inner tubular body of said syringe.

4. A method of constructing a needle stick safety syringe having an inner tubular body terminating in a flange at its proximal end, a plunger, and extended needle at its distal end comprising the following steps:

providing a larger concentric protective tubular body which slides over said inner tubular body of said syringe;

providing a plug for the proximal end of said larger tubular body serving as an abutment holding a coil spring against said flange;

providing a collar with a flexible cantilevered stop and an inner diameter capable of being permanently affixed to the distal end of said syringe body, the collar having an outer diameter which will freely slide in said protective tubular body;

placing said coil spring on the syringe tube, sliding on said plug and subsequently the protective tubular body against the spring bias, and affixing said stop until the cantilevered stop hooks against a distal end of said protective tubular body;

whereby pushing said stop allows it to ride against the inside of the protective tubular body which then covers the exposed needle due to the expansion of the coil spring;

and providing a slot in the proximal end of said protective tubular body in which said stop is captured thereby limiting expansion of said spring and movement of said protective tube under the bias of said expanding coil spring.