Needle tip guard for percutaneous entry needles

• US 7,534,231 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Injectimed Inc.
• Inventors: Rollo, David, Cohen, Richard, Kuracina, Thomas C, Ohnemus, Randall E., Smith, Craig W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEDWAY, SCOTT J
• Application Number:
  US11/064,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 128/919, 604/110, 604/187, 604/192, 604/198, 604/263, 604/195, 604/193
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150488 Details of construction of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150496 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the double-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150572 Pierceable protectors, e.g. shields, caps, sleeves or films, e.g. for hygienic purposes
• 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 2005/2414 from the side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3109 Caps sealing the needle bore by use of, e.g. air-hardening adhesive, elastomer or epoxy resin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3246 being squeezably deformable for locking or unlocking purposes, e.g. with elliptical cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/325 Means obstructing the needle passage at distal end of a needle protection sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0606 "Over-the-needle" catheter assemblies, e.g. I.V. catheters
• 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 25/0625 with a permanent connection to the needle hub, e.g. a guiding rail, a locking mechanism or a guard advancement mechanism
• 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 5/24 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 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• 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
• 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 5/3273 : freely sliding on needle shaft without connection to syringe or needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3275 : being connected to the needle hub or syringe by radially deflectable members, e.g. longitudinal slats, cords or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/329 : characterised by features of the needle shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3291 : Shafts with additional lateral openings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/919 : Syringe, means to protect user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining

Abstract

A needle tip protective device for use with percutaneous entry needles. In one embodiment, the needle tip protective device includes a needle guard slidably mounted on a hypodermic needle, the latter having a needle tip located at the distal end thereof, and a change of profile formed medially there along. The needle guard is movable along the hypodermic needle and engageable with the change in profile formed thereon. The engagement with the change in profile is configured to correspond with the ability of the needle trap to entrap the needle tip once the needle trap has advanced the sufficient distance distally along the hypodermic needle. In further refinements, the needle trap may be biased toward the distal needle tip of the needle.

Claims

1. A needle protective device comprising:

an elongate needle comprising a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a change in axis comprising a bend formed between said proximal and distal ends;

a needle guard mounted and slidable along a portion of said needle between said proximal end and said distal end;

a bushing located within said needle guard, said bushing sized to slide along said needle and functions to stop said needle guard in a protective position to at least substantially circumferentially cover at least a distal-most portion of said distal end of said needle shaft, said bushing being engageable with said bend such that the distal advancement of said bushing is stopped at said bend, said needle guard having a needle tip cover that covers said sharpened distal end of said needle substantially coincident with when said bushing engages said bend.

2. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said needle tip cover of said needle guard is transitional between a first retracted configuration and a second operative configuration wherein said needle tip cover covers said sharpened distal end of said needle.

3. The needle protective device of claim 2 wherein said needle tip cover is biased against said needle when said needle tip cover is in said first retracted configuration.

4. The needle protective device of claim 1 wherein said needle is selected from the group consisting of an epidural needle, a blood collection needle, a biopsy needle, a Seldinger needle, a Huber needle, an aspirating needle, and a solid stylet.

5. The needle protective device of claim 2 wherein when said needle tip cover transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration, said needle guard subsequently engages with said change in axis.

6. The needle protective device of claim 2 wherein when said needle guard is operative to engage with said change in axis, said needle tip cover subsequently transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration.

7. A needle protective device comprising:

an elongate needle comprising a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a change in axis comprising a bend formed between said proximal and distal ends;

a needle guard mounted and slidable along a portion of said needle between said proximal end and said distal end;

a separate bushing located within said needle guard, said bushing sized to slide along said needle and functions to stop said needle guard in a protective position to at least substantially circumferentially cover at least a distal-most portion of said distal end of said needle shaft, said bushing being engageable with said bend such that the distal advancement of said bushing is stopped at said bend, said needle guard having a needle tip cover that covers said sharpened distal end of said needle substantially coincident with when said bushing engages said bend.

8. The needle protective device of claim 7 wherein said needle tip cover of said needle guard is transitional between a first retracted configuration and a second operative configuration wherein said needle tip cover covers said sharpened distal end of said needle.

9. The needle protective device of claim 8 wherein said needle tip cover is biased against said needle when said needle tip cover assumes said first retracted configuration.

10. The needle protective device of claim 7 wherein said needle is selected from the group consisting of an epidural needle, a blood collection needle, a biopsy needle, a Seldinger needle, a Huber needle, an aspirating needle, and a solid stylet.

11. The needle protective device of claim 8 wherein when said needle tip cover transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration, said needle guard subsequently engages with said change in axis.

12. The needle protective device of claim 8 wherein when said needle guard is operative to engage with said change in axis, said needle tip cover subsequently transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration.

13. A needle protective device comprising:

an elongate needle comprising a shaft having proximal and distal ends and a change in axis comprising a bend formed between said proximal and distal ends;

a needle guard mounted and slidable along a portion of said needle between said proximal end and said distal end;

a bushing slideable with said needle guard, said bushing sized to slide along said needle and functions to stop said needle guard in a protective position to at least substantially circumferentially cover at least a distal-most portion of said distal end of said needle shaft said bushing being engageable with said bend such that the distal advancement of said bushing is stopped at said bend, said needle guard having a needle tip cover that covers said sharpened distal end of said needle substantially coincident with when said bushing engages said bend.

14. The needle protective device of claim 13 wherein said needle tip cover trap of said needle guard is transitional between a first retracted configuration and a second operative configuration wherein said needle tip cover covers said sharpened distal end of said needle.

15. The needle protective device of claim 14 wherein said needle tip cover is biased against said needle when said needle tip cover is in said first retracted configuration.

16. The needle protective device of claim 13 wherein said needle is selected from the group consisting of an epidural needle, a blood collection needle, a biopsy needle, a Seldinger needle, a Huber needle, an aspirating needle, and a solid stylet.

17. The needle protective device of claim 14 wherein when said needle tip cover transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration, said needle guard subsequently engages with said change in axis.

18. The needle protective device of claim 14 wherein when said needle guard is operative to engage with said change in axis, said needle tip cover subsequently transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration.

19. the needle protective device of claim 13 wherein said bushing is located within said needle guard.