Device for separating the connecting end of a hypodermic needle from the tip of an injection instrument

• US 6,889,830 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ares Trading SA (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ares Trading SA (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Bosset, Grégoire, Bergeron, Luc, Soldini, Laurent, Moulin, Jérôme
• Primary Examiner(s): Gehman, Bryon P.
• Application Number:
  US10/289,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 206365-366, 220/908, 604/110, 604/192, 604/263, 600/576, 600/577, 292/40
• US Class Current: 206/365
• 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 5/3205 Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00

Abstract

The connecting end of the hypodermic needle is so designed that it can be attached to and then disconnected from the tip of an injection instrument by pressure, that is, an axial tractional force exerted between the said needle and the said injection instrument. The extraction device has an opening delimited by locking elements forming one piece with elastic pieces so as to allow its diameter to vary between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter at least equal to the diameter of the said connecting end and at least one piece associated with the said locking elements for the purpose of converting an axial force exerted on the said piece into at least one radial component capable of being applied to the said elastic pieces so as to deform them radially in order to increase the diameter of the said opening when axial pressure is exerted by the said connecting end.

Claims

1. Device for separating a connecting end of a hypodermic needle from a tip of an injection instrument, the connecting end of the hypodermic needle having connectors complementary to connectors on the tip, one of the connectors having radial elasticity and devices for converting an axial force exerted between the needle and the injection instrument into at least one radial component capable of deforming the connectors, comprising an opening delimited by locking elements forming one piece with elastic pieces to allow its diameter to vary between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter at least equal to the diameter of the connecting end and at least one piece associated with the locking elements for the purpose of converting an axial force exerted on the one piece with elastic pieces into at least one radial component capable of being applied to the elastic pieces to deform them radially so as to increase the diameter of the opening when the connecting end is displaced along its axis with its needle pointing forward through the opening and to restore its initial diameter after the connecting end has passed through it and allow the locking elements to engage with the rear face of the connecting end, wherein the device has a guiding surface concentric with the opening, wherein the device has a cylindrical housing divided longitudinally into two parts whose respective lengths are approximately equal, matching the length of the connecting end, by the opening delimited by the locking elements which form one piece with elastic arms attached to one end of the cylindrical housing which communicates with the exterior at its other end through an access opening having a diameter approximately equal to that of the connecting end of the hypodermic needle, a ring, having an internal diameter approximately equal to that of the access opening, positioned to slide in the cylindrical housing, being capable of occupying two limiting positions within the housing, in one of which positions it is adjacent to the access opening, the ring having passages in such an arrangement and of such dimensions as to allow the locking elements to project on the inner face of this ring when the latter is adjacent to the access opening, while in its other limiting position it holds the locking elements forming one piece with the elastic arms back from the connecting end to which it adheres by friction.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the said opening serves as the access opening in a closed housing.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein one rim of the said guiding surface is linked by a horizontal surface to a storage container for a hypodermic needle.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein it has the form of a tubular body in which a number of hypodermic needles are successively placed in corresponding positions so as to be accessible to the injection instrument from one end of the tubular body, while the other end has the radially elastic locking elements to allow its diameter to vary between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter at least equal to that of the connecting end and at least one piece associated with the locking elements for the purpose of converting an axial force exerted on the piece into at least one radial component capable of being applied to the locking elements so as to deform them radially in order to increase the diameter of the opening.