Bluntable needle assembly with open-ended blunting probe

• US 6,837,878 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2001
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ICU Medical Sales, Inc. (ICU Medical Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ICU Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Smutney, Chad C., Polidoro, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maiorino, Roz
• Application Number:
  US09/757,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20020095123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 604/192, 604/158, 604/198, 604160-171, 604264-274, 604/110, 604/506, 604/187
• US Class Current: 604/272
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3212 Blunting means for the sharp end of the needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0643 Devices having a blunt needle tip, e.g. due to an additional inner component

Abstract

A needle assembly includes a needle component (10) and a blunting component (26), the needle component (10) containing a needle cannula (12) mounted in a housing (16) which defines a fluid chamber such as a fluid chamber (20). The blunting component (26) contains a non-perforated, open-ended blunting probe (28) mounted in a shuttle (30). The needle cannula (12) and the blunting probe (28) are disposed telescopically one within the other without obstructing flow through the needle passageway, and are movable between a sharpened configuration and a blunted configuration. The blunting member (26) is configured to permit the open end of the blunting probe (28) to provide flow access to the fluid chamber (20) in the housing (16).

Claims

1. A bluntable needle assembly comprising:

a needle component comprising a housing and a needle cannula mounted in the housing, the needle cannula having a sharp tip, wherein the housing defines a fluid chamber and an access port for fluid flow therethrough; and

a blunting component comprising a shuttle member and a blunting probe received in a slot on the shuttle member, wherein the blunting probe comprises a hollow tube open only at the ends and a blunt tip, and wherein the slot is capable of fluid flow therethrough;

wherein the blunting probe is disposed within the needle cannula and wherein the needle component and the blunting component are configured for movement from a sharpened configuration to locking engagement in a blunted configuration; and

wherein the shuttle member is configured to extend outside the fluid chamber and to permit fluid flow from the open end of the blunting probe into the fluid chamber.

2. The needle assembly of claim 1 comprising a detent and a stay engagement between the needle component and the blunting component, the detent being movable between (i) a locking position in which it may bear against the stay and prevent the needle assembly from moving to the sharpened configuration and (ii) an unlocked position which permits the needle assembly to move to the sharpened configuration.

3. The needle assembly of any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the shuttle member defines a non-perforating cavity within which the blunting probe is mounted.

4. The needle assembly of claim 2 wherein the shuttle member comprises the movable detent.

5. The needle assembly of claim 2 wherein the detent further comprises a coupling site for engagement by an accessory device.

6. The needle assembly of claim 1 comprising a flash chamber.

7. A bluntable needle assembly comprising:

a needle component comprising a housing and a needle cannula mounted in the housing, the needle cannula having a sharp tip;

and a blunting component comprising a shuttle member and a blunting probe received in a slot on the shuttle member, the shuttle member defining a fluid chamber and an access port for fluid flow, and wherein the blunting probe comprises a hollow tube open only at the ends and a blunt tip, and wherein the slot is capable of fluid flow therethrough;

wherein the blunting probe is disposed within the needle cannula and the needle component and the blunting component are configured for movement from a sharpened configuration to locking engagement in a blunted configuration with a detent and stay engagement between them, the detent being movable between (i) a locking position in which it may bear against the stay and prevent the needle assembly from moving to the sharpened configuration and (ii) an unlocked position which permits the needle assembly to move to the sharpened configuration.

8. The needle assembly of claim 7 wherein the shuttle member comprises the movable detent.

9. The needle assembly of claim 7 wherein the detent further comprises a coupling site for engagement by an accessory.

10. The needle assembly of claim 7 comprising a flash chamber.