Retractable needle medical device for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge

• US 6,752,798 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Barker, John, Botich, Michael J., Halseth, Thor R., McWethy, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US09/916,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/500, 604/506, 604/181, 604/187, 604/194-199, 604/201, 604/208-210, 604/220, 604/224, 604/232, 604/227-229, 604/234, 604/235, 604/240-244, 604/263, 222/325-327, 222/386, 222/328, 433/80, 433/87-90, 433/98
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3263 Trigger provided at the distal end, i.e. syringe end for mounting a needle
• 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 5/3257 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 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position

Abstract

A device for injecting fluid from a pre-filled cartridge is provided. The device includes a needle for piercing a patient. After an injection, the needle can be retracted to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. A needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the retracted position. The needle can subsequently be re-extended to administer a subsequent injection. After the cartridge is emptied, the cartridge can be removed, if desired, and replaced with another cartridge for additional injections. Alternatively, the needle can be substantially permanently retracted into the device and safely disposed of in a sharps container.

Claims

1. A method for injecting medication from a medical device having a needle with a sharpened tip, comprising the steps of:

piercing a patient with the needle;

injecting fluid from a first cartridge into the patient;

retracting the needle into a retracted position after injecting fluid so that the sharpened tip is shielded against inadvertent contact;

releasably locking the needle in the retracted position;

replacing the cartridge with a second cartridge containing fluid;

re-extending the needle so that the sharpened tip is exposed;

injecting fluid from the second cartridge into the patient; and

retracting the needle a second time so that the sharpened tip is shielded against inadvertent contact.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of providing a biasing element for displacing the needle rearwardly during the retracting steps.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of permanently locking the needle in a retracted position to prevent further axial displacement of the needle after the needle is retracted the second time.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of releasably locking the needle in a projecting position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is exposed for use.

5. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of manually operating an actuator to release the needle from the retracted position to re-extend the needle so that the sharpened tip is exposed.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of releasably locking the needle in the extended position with a lock so that the needle is retained without manual operation of the lock.

7. A medical device, comprising:

a hollow barrel having an open rearward end;

a cartridge containing a quantity of fluid;

an inner housing slidably displaceable within the barrel, and having an opening for receiving the cartridge;

a needle having a sharpened tip in fluid communication with the cartridge;

an axially displaceable plunger operable to expel fluid from the cartridge;

a first lock releasably retaining the needle in a projecting position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is exposed for use;

a second lock releasably retaining the needle in a retracted position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is shielded against inadvertent contact; and

a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly.

8. The medical device of claim 7 comprising a manually operable actuator for releasing the first lock to actuate retraction of the needle into displacement with the second lock.

9. The medical device of claim 7 a third lock substantially permanently retaining the needle in a retracted position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is shielded against inadvertent contact, wherein the lock substantially axial displacement of the needle.

10. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the plunger is connected to the inner housing.

11. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the needle is attached to the housing in both the projecting position and the retracted position.

12. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the first lock comprises;

a radially deformable latch connected to one of the barrel and the housing; and

an opening configured to cooperate with the latch on the other of the barrel and the housing.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the latch is configured to automatically engage the opening when the needle is extended into the projecting position.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the second lock comprises a second opening cooperable with the latch.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the latch is configured to automatically engage the second opening when the needle is retracted into the retracted position.

16. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the plunger is connected to one of the barrel and the housing, an the cartridge can be removed and replaced with another cartridge without detaching the plunger.

17. The device of claim 7 wherein the first and second locks are operable to allow the needle to be repeatedly displaced between the projecting and retracted positions.

18. The device of claim 7 wherein the first lock is biased toward the locked position in which the first lock releasably retains the needle.

19. The device of claim 7 wherein the needle is attached to the inner housing to prevent relative axial displacement between the needle and the housing.

20. The device of claim 7 wherein the biasing element is disposed between the inner housing and the barrel to bias the inner housing relative to the barrel.

21. The device of claim 7 wherein the inner housing is in sliding contact with the barrel when the needle is displaced between the projecting and retracted positions.

22. The device of claim 7 wherein the cartridge comprises a container and a plug cooperable with the plunger, wherein an injection is made by advancing the plunger to displace the plug while maintaining the container in an axially fixed position.

23. A method for injecting medication from a medical device having a needle with a sharpened tip, comprising the steps of:

piercing a patient with the needle;

injecting fluid from a first cartridge into the patient;

retracting the needle into a retracted position after injecting fluid so that the sharpened tip is shielded against inadvertent contact;

releasably locking the needle in the retracted position;

re-extending the needle so that the sharpened tip is exposed;

injecting fluid from the cartridge into the patient after re-extending the needle; and

retracting the needle a second time so that the sharpened tip is shielded against inadvertent contact.

24. The method of claim 23 comprising the step of providing a biasing element for displacing the needle rearwardly during the retracting steps.

25. The method of claim 23 comprising the step of permanently locking the needle in a retracted position to prevent further axial displacement of the needle after the needle is retracted the second time.

26. The method of claim 23 comprising the step of releasably locking the needle in a projecting position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is exposed for use.

27. The method of claim 23 comprising the step of manually operating an actuator to release the needle from the retracted position to re-extend the needle so that the sharpened tip is exposed.

28. The method of claim 23 comprising the step of releasably locking the needle in the extended position with a lock so that the needle is retained without manual operation of the lock.

29. A medical device, comprising:

a hollow barrel having an open rearward end;

a cartridge containing a quantity of fluid;

an inner housing slidably displaceable within the barrel, and having an opening for receiving the cartridge;

a needle having a sharpened tip in fluid communication with the cartridge;

an axially displaceable plunger operable to expel fluid from the cartridge;

a first lock releasably retaining the needle in a projecting position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is exposed for use;

a second lock releasably retaining the needle in a retracted position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is shielded against inadvertent contact;

a guide for impeding rotation of the housing relative to the barrel during retraction; and

a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly.

30. The medical device of claim 29 wherein the guide comprises a groove on one of the barrel and the housing and a follower on the other of the barrel and the housing that is co-operable with the groove.

31. The medical device of claim 29 comprising a manually operable actuator for releasing the first lock to actuate retraction of the needle into displacement with the second lock.

32. The medical device of claim 29 comprising a third lock substantially permanently retaining the needle in a retracted position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is shielded against inadvertent contact, wherein the lock substantially permanently impedes axial displacement of the needle.

33. The medical device of claim 29 wherein the plunger is connected to the inner housing.

34. The medical device of claim 29 wherein the needle is attached to the housing in both the projecting position and the retracted position.

35. The medical device of claim 29 wherein the first lock comprises;

a radially deformable latch connected to one of the barrel and the housing; and

an opening configured to cooperate with the latch on the other of the barrel and the housing.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the latch is configured to automatically engage the opening when the needle is extended into the projecting position.

37. The device of claim 35 wherein the second lock comprises a second opening cooperable with the latch.

38. The device of claim 37 wherein the latch is configured to automatically engage the second opening when the needle is retracted into the retracted position.

39. The device of claim 29 wherein the first and second locks are operable to allow the needle to be repeatedly displaced between the projecting and retracted positions.

40. The device of claim 29 wherein the first lock is biased toward the locked position in which the first lock releasably retains the needle.

41. The device of claim 29 wherein the needle is attached to the inner housing to prevent relative axial displacement between the needle and the housing.

42. The device of claim 29 wherein the biasing element is disposed between the inner housing and the barrel to bias the inner housing relative to the barrel.

43. The device of claim 29 wherein the inner housing is in sliding contact with the barrel when the needle is displaced between the projecting and retracted positions.

44. The device of claim 29 wherein the cartridge comprises a container and a plug cooperable with the plunger, wherein an injection is made by advancing the plunger to displace the plug while maintaining the container in an axially fixed position.