Needle tip guard for hypodermic needles

• US 6,443,929 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Injectimed Inc.
• Inventors: Cohen, Richard, Kuracina, Thomas C., Ohnemus, Randall E., Smith, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/144,398
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 604/192, 604/198, 604/263, 604/187, 604/110, 128/919
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150488 Details of construction of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150496 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the double-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150641 comprising means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from covering to uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150732 Needle holders, for instance for holding the needle by the hub, used for example with double-ended needle and pre-evacuated tube,
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/154 Devices using pre-evacuated means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2414 from the side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3109 Caps sealing the needle bore by use of, e.g. air-hardening adhesive, elastomer or epoxy resin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3246 being squeezably deformable for locking or unlocking purposes, e.g. with elliptical cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/325 Means obstructing the needle passage at distal end of a needle protection sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0612 Devices for protecting the needle; Devices to help insertion of the needle, e.g. wings or holders
• 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 5/002 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 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• 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 5/3243 being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the syringe barrel devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/329 : characterised by features of the needle shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3291 : Shafts with additional lateral openings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/919 : Syringe, means to protect user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A needle tip protective device. In one embodiment the needle tip protective device includes a needle guard that is slidably mounted on a hypodermic needle having a needle tip located at the distal end of the needle. The needle guard contains a movable needle trap that is biased against or toward the hypodermic needle. The needle trap advances over the tip of the needle, entrapping the needle tip as the needle guard is urged forward near the sharpened distal end of the hypodermic needle. A tether, or other limiting means, limits the forward movement of the needle guard along the needle. In one embodiment, the needle guard is manually urged forward along the shaft of the needle by the user. In yet another embodiment, a spring, or other biasing means, is used to move the needle guard along the shaft of the needle.

Claims

1. A needle protective device comprising:

a) a needle guard slidably mounted on a needle having a proximal end and sharpened distal end, said needle having at least one change in profile formed upon the length thereof, said guard having a proximal end and a distal end, said guard containing a moveable needle trap that is transitional between a first retracted configuration wherein said trap is oriented against said needle and a second operative configuration wherein said needle trap traps said sharpened distal end of said needle; and

b) a limiting apparatus formed upon said needle guard and engageable with said change in profile formed upon said needle for limiting the distance said needle guard slidably travels upon said needle, said limiting apparatus being operative to engage with said change in profile substantially simultaneously with when said needle trap transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration.

2. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said at least one change in profile comprises at least one recessed change in profile and said limiting apparatus is engageable with said at least one recessed change in profile.

3. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said change in profile comprises at least one outwardly-bulging sidewall portion and that said limiting apparatus is engageable with said at least one outwardly-bulging sidewall portion.

4. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said change in profile comprises a combination of at least one recessed change in profile and at least one outwardly-bulging sidewall portion and that said limiting apparatus is engageable with said at least one recessed change in profile and said at least one outwardly-bulging sidewall portion.

5. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said change in profile comprises an elliptical abutment member having a first pair of opposed, outwardly-extending sidewalls formed relative said needle for engaging with said limiting apparatus and a second pair of opposed recessed sidewall portions formed relative said needle.

6. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said change in profile is integrally formed upon said cannula.

7. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said change in profile comprises a crimp made upon said cannula.

8. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein when said needle trap transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration, said limiting apparatus subsequently engages with said change in profile.

9. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein when said limiting apparatus is operative to engage with said change in profile, said needle trap subsequently transitions from first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration.

10. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said change in profile comprises at least one recessed change in profile and at least outwardly-bulging sidewall portion.

11. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said change in profile comprises a non-annular shape.

12. The needle protective device of claim 2 wherein said at least one recessed change in profile comprises a flattened recess formed upon said needle.

13. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said limiting apparatus is engageable with a portion of said change in profile.