Syringe with retractable needle and safety lock

• US 6,764,465 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tiger Meditech Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tiger Meditech Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, Long Hsiung
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thissell, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US10/176,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604/111, 604/187, 604/195, 604/201, 604/198, 604/200, 604/240, 604/244, 600/576, 600/577
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150351 Caps, stoppers or lids for sealing or closing a blood collection vessel or container, e.g. a test-tube or syringe barrel caps for bottles or containers in general B65D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150473 Double-ended needles, e.g. used with pre-evacuated sampling tubes hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396; needle sets for catheters A61M25/06; needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150526 Curved or bent needles
• 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 2005/3206 Needle or needle hub disconnecting devices forming part of or being attached to the hub or syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3227 the needle being retracted laterally outside the syringe barrel, e.g. with separate guideway

Abstract

The invention provides a safety syringe for extracting blood, with retractable or removable needle that can be retracted into the syringe body or removed after use and safety locks that lock the retractable needle in an extended position during use and in a retracted position after use to ensure that the syringe is not reused or that the needle is not inadvertently extended. When retracted, the needle assembly is cocked at an angle identifying the syringe as used and adding further protection to prevent the needle from being inadvertently extended and exposed from the tube. These safety features work in conjunction to enhance the usability and increase the safety of the syringe. Thereby protecting medical workers from being injured by an exposed needle or contaminated by disease or infection from contact with the patient'"'"'s blood present on a used needle.

Claims

1. A safety syringe comprising:

a needle mounting base for providing means for attaching a needle to the safety syringe, comprising a flow tube extending through the needle mounting base and a needle mount on which a needle can be attached to the needle mounting base;

whereby the flow tube provides a directed path for blood to flow from the needle into a vacuum vial;

a needle retaining base for holding the needle mounting base and a button;

the button removably attached to the needle retaining base and the needle mounting base for moving the needle mounting base and needle retaining base through a tube body; and

the tube body with slotted track for correctly positioning the needle retaining base, the needle mounting base, and the button within the tube body;

whereby the slotted track of the tube body comprises a slanted polygon slot for locking the button in a retracted position; and

whereby pressing the button allows the needle mounting base to be removed from the safety syringe.

2. The safety syringe of claim 1, whereby when the button is locked in the retracted position, the needle mounting base and needle retaining base are held at an angle so as to prevent the needle from being extended or exposed from the tube body.

3. The safety syringe of claim 2, whereby when the button is locked in the retracted position, the angled bases identify the syringe as used.

4. The safety syringe of claim 1, whereby the slotted track of the tube body comprises a zigzag section to prevent the needle from being inadvertently exposed from the tube body.

5. The safety syringe of claim 1, whereby the slotted track of the tube body comprises an L section and locking tab;

whereby a bottom of the L section provides a fully extended position stop; and

whereby the locking tab locks the button in the fully extended position.

6. A safety syringe comprising;

a needle mounting base for providing means for attaching a needle to the safety syringe, comprising a flow tube extending through the needle mounting base and a needle mount on which a needle can be attached to the needle mounting base;

a needle retaining base for holding the needle mounting base and a button;

the button removably attached to the needle retaining base and the needle mounting base for moving the needle mounting base and needle retaining base through a body tube; and

a tube body with slotted track for correctly positioning the needle retaining base, the needle mounting base, and the button within the tube body;

whereby the slotted track comprises a slanted polygon slot for locking the button in a retracted position; and

whereby, when the button is locked in the retracted position, the needle mounting base and needle retaining base are held at an angle so as to prevent the needle from being extended or exposed from the tube body and identify the syringe as used.

7. The safety syringe of claim 6, whereby the slotted track of the tube body comprises a zigzag section to prevent the needle from being inadvertently exposed from the tube body.

8. The safety syringe of claim 6, whereby the slotted track of the tube body comprises an L section and locking tab;

whereby a bottom of the L section provides a fully extended position stop; and

whereby when the button is moved through the L section and past the locking tab, the locking tab locks the button in the fully extended position.

9. A safety syringe comprising:

a needle mounting base for providing means for attaching a needle to the safety syringe, comprising a flow tube extending through the needle mounting base and a needle mount on which a needle can be attached to the needle mounting base;

whereby the flow tube provides a directed path for blood to flow from the needle into a vacuum vial;

a needle retaining base for holding the needle mounting base and a button;

the button removably attached to the needle retaining base and the needle mounting base for moving the needle mounting base and needle retaining base through a tube body; and

the tube body with slotted track for correctly positioning the needle retaining base, the needle mounting base, and the button within the tube body;

whereby the slotted track of the tube body comprises a slanted polygon slot for locking the button in a retracted position;

whereby pressing the button allows the needle mounting base to be removed from the safety syringe;

whereby the tube body comprises an opening in a top and side of the tube body; and

whereby the opening comprises a closed section for preventing the needle mounting base from being removed from the safety syringe and an open section for allowing the needle mounting base to be removed from the safety syringe.

10. The safety syringe of claim 9, whereby when the button is locked in the retracted position, the needle mounting base and needle retaining base are held at an angle so as to prevent the needle from being extended or exposed from the tube body.

11. The safety syringe of claim 10, whereby when the button is locked in the retracted position, the angled bases identify the syringe as used.

12. The safety syringe of claim 9, whereby the slotted track of the tube body comprises a zigzag section to prevent the needle from being inadvertently exposed from the tube body.

13. The safety syringe of claim 9, whereby the slotted track of the tube body comprises an L section and locking tab;

whereby a bottom of the L section provides a fully extended position stop; and

whereby the locking tab locks the button in the fully extended position.