Locking needle protector

• US 6,632,201 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1999
• Issued: 10/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Di Stefani, Gianni, Coneys, Thomas Walter, Mathias, Jean-Marie, Van Heems, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/442,210
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 604/164.07, 604/164.08, 604/198, 604/110, 604/263, 604/192, 604/162, 604/165.02, 604/165.03, 604/250, 604/264
• US Class Current: 604/263
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3246 being squeezably deformable for locking or unlocking purposes, e.g. with elliptical cross-section
• 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• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0631 having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle
• 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

Abstract

Needle protectors for retaining needles are disclosed. The needle protector includes a housing with an opening at each of a proximal and distal end. The needle protector may include a portion that is depressible to a substantially fixed position over the needle retracted within the housing.

Claims

1. A needle protector for use with a blood processing set of the type that includes a flexible plastic tube terminating in a needle hub and a needle mounted on said hub, wherein said protector is slidably moveable along said plastic tube, said protector comprising:

an elongated housing defined by at least a pair of facing side walls, said housing comprising an open distal end, an open proximal end, and a depressible wall frangibly attached to said housing at said distal end and hingedly attached to said housing at a location proximally spaced from said distal end;

wherein at least one of said side walls includes an interior surface comprising a retaining member extending from said surface for retaining said depressible wall in a depressed position and thereby shielding a retracted needle.

2. The needle protector of claim 1 comprising said pair of facing side walls, a bottom wall and a depressible top wall.

3. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein said depressible wall is frangibly attached to said housing by breakable tabs.

4. The needle protector of claim 2 wherein said walls comprise inner and outer surfaces, wherein at least one of said walls comprises gripping means on its outer surface.

5. The needle protector of claim 4 wherein said gripping means comprise raised ribs.

6. The needle protector of claim 4 wherein said inner surface of at least one of said walls comprises a detent extending therefrom.

7. The needle protector of claim 6 wherein said detent depends from said top wall.

8. The needle protector of claim 2 wherein said distal end is open, said opening being wider near said top wall than near said bottom wall.

9. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein said housing is made of a thermoplastic material.

10. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein said housing is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and polyethylene.

11. The needle protector of claim 10 wherein said polyethylene comprises a high density polyethylene.

12. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein said open distal end is adapted to receive a needle assembly comprising a needle mounted on a hub, wherein said distal opening is of a size sufficient to receive said hub and said proximal opening is of a size sufficient to prevent passage of said hub through said open proximal end.

13. The needle protector of claim 12 wherein said distal end opening is of a fixed size during movement of said hub into said housing.

14. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein said depressible wall is hingedly attached to said housing at said proximal end.

15. The needle protector of claim 2 wherein each of said side walls includes an outwardly extending flange at said distal end of said housing.

16. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein each of said facing side walls comprises means for capturing and retaining said top wall in a depressed and locked position.