Needle tip guard for percutaneous entry needles

• US 6,629,959 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• 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, Smith, Craig W., Rollo, David, Ohnemus, Randall E., Kuracina, Thomas C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/846,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20020004650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 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 5/150236 Pistons, i.e. cylindrical bodies that sit inside the syringe barrel, typically with an air tight seal, and slide in the barrel to create a vacuum or to expel blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150244 Rods for actuating or driving the piston, i.e. the cylindrical body that sits inside the syringe barrel, typically with an air tight seal, and slides in the barrel to create a vacuum or to expel blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• 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 5/150656 semi-automatically triggered, i.e. in which the triggering of the protective sleeve requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means
• 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 2005/3109 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 2005/341 angularly adjustable or angled away from the axis of the injector
• 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 5/3275 : 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

Abstract

A needle tip protective device for use with percutaneous entry needles. In one embodiment, the needle tip protective device includes a needle guard slidably mounted on a hypodermic needle, the latter having a needle tip located at the distal end thereof, and a change of profile formed medially there along. The needle guard is movable along the hypodermic needle and engageable with the change in profile formed thereon. The engagement with the change in profile is configured to correspond with the ability of the needle trap to entrap the needle tip once the needle trap has advanced the sufficient distance distally along the hypodermic needle. In further refinements, the needle trap may be biased toward the distal needle tip of the needle.

Claims

1. A needle protective device comprising:

(a) an elongate needle having proximal and distal ends and a change in axis formed intermediate said proximal and distal ends;

(b) a needle guard mounted on said needle and slidable along a portion of said needle between said proximal end and said change in axis, said needle guard being engageable with said change in axis such that the distal advancement of said needle guard is stopped at said change in axis, said needle guard having a needle trap for covering said sharpened distal end of said needle substantially coincident with when said needle guard engages said change in axis.

2. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said needle trap of said needle guard is transitional between a first retracted configuration and a second operative configuration wherein said needle trap covers said sharpened distal end of said needle.

3. The needle protective device of claim 2 wherein said needle trap is biased against said needle when said needle trap assumes said first retracted configuration.

4. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said needle is selected from the group consisting of an epidural needle, a blood collection needle, a biopsy needle, a Seldinger needle, a Huber needle, an aspirating needle, and a solid stylet.

5. The needle protective device of claim 2 wherein when said needle trap transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration, said need guard subsequently engages with said change in axis.

6. The needle protective device of claim 2 wherein when said needle guard is operative to engage with said change in axis, said needle trap subsequently transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration.

7. The needle protector device of claim 1 wherein said change in axis defines a change in profile, said change in profile being engageable with said needle guard.

8. The needle protective device of claim 7 wherein said change in profile defined by said change in axis comprises at least one outwardly-bulging sidewall portion.

9. The needle protective device of claim 7 wherein said change in profile defined by said change in axis defines a recessed change in profile.

10. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said change in axis of said needle comprises a bend formed upon the length of said needle.