Tip shield for needle stick prevention
First Claim
1. A vascular access system for preventing injury, comprising:
- a sharp having a shaft that terminates at a tip;
a tip shield having an enclosure defining a chamber, wherein the enclosure includes at least one side wall configured to slidably engage the shaft, a closed distal end, and a proximal end slidably engaging the shaft;
a housing defining a passageway with respective proximal and distal openings through which said sharp slidably extends, wherein the proximal opening of the housing releasably retains the tip shield in the passageway; and
wherein the sharp includes a region proximate to the tip, wherein the tip shield proximal end includes an opening adapted to slidably engage the shaft without allowing the region to pass proximally through the opening, and wherein the tip shield secures the tip in the chamber upon withdrawal of the tip into the chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vascular access system for preventing needle sticks includes a needle, a tip shield, and a housing. The needle may be a hypodermic needle or other conventional needle having a needle shaft terminating at a needle tip. The tip shield provides an enclosure defining a chamber. The enclosure includes a closed distal end and a proximal end that slidably engages the needle shaft. The enclosure further includes at least one side wall configured to slidably engage the needle shaft. The housing defines a passageway with respective proximal and distal openings through which the needle extends. The tip shield is also disposed in the passageway and is releasably retained therein. The needle and/or the tip shield is adapted to prevent the needle shaft from being completely withdrawn from the tip shield. The tip shield further secures the needle tip in the chamber upon withdrawal of the needle tip into the chamber.
154 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vascular access system for preventing injury, comprising:
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a sharp having a shaft that terminates at a tip; a tip shield having an enclosure defining a chamber, wherein the enclosure includes at least one side wall configured to slidably engage the shaft, a closed distal end, and a proximal end slidably engaging the shaft; a housing defining a passageway with respective proximal and distal openings through which said sharp slidably extends, wherein the proximal opening of the housing releasably retains the tip shield in the passageway; and wherein the sharp includes a region proximate to the tip, wherein the tip shield proximal end includes an opening adapted to slidably engage the shaft without allowing the region to pass proximally through the opening, and wherein the tip shield secures the tip in the chamber upon withdrawal of the tip into the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An extravascular system for accessing the vasculature of a patient, comprising:
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a catheter assembly that defines a lumen extending from an opening at a distal end thereof to a catheter hub at a proximal end thereof; a needle assembly that includes a needle hub disposed at a proximal end of a needle having a shaft disposed within said lumen defined by said catheter assembly, a needle tip extending from the opening of the catheter assembly, and an enlarged shaft region proximate to the needle tip; a tip shield having an enclosure defining a chamber, wherein the enclosure includes a needle shaft port configured to slidably engage the needle shaft, a closed distal end, and a proximal end having an opening slidably engaging the needle shaft while preventing the enlarged shaft region from passing proximately through the opening; a housing defining a passageway with respective proximal and distal openings through which said needle slidably extends, wherein the proximal opening of the housing releasably and frictionally retains the tip shield in the passageway to allow insertion of the tip shield into the passageway of the housing upon application of a nominal force and to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the tip shield from the housing; and wherein the needle shaft extends through the opening of the tip shield and the needle shaft port disposing the tip shield at an angle with the needle shaft, wherein the opening in the proximal end of the tip shield engages the enlarged shaft region during proximal movement of the needle relative to the housing, and wherein further proximal movement of the needle relative to the housing causes the tip shield to pivot drawing the needle tip into the needle shaft port and into the chamber, disposing the tip shield coaxially with the needle shaft.
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14. A needle assembly for preventing needle sticks, comprising:
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a hypodermic needle having a needle shaft that terminates at a needle tip; a tip shield having an enclosure defining a chamber, wherein the enclosure includes a body, a proximal end, a closed distal end, and a needle trap means that slidably engages the needle shaft, wherein the needle trap means secures the needle tip in the chamber upon withdrawal of the needle tip into the chamber; housing means for releasably retaining the needle and the tip shield; and wherein withdrawal of the needle from the housing means causes said needle tip to be engaged by the needle trap means and secured within the chamber wherein the needle includes a retention means for preventing the needle from passing proximally past the proximal end of the tip shield, and wherein the needle trap means includes a needle shaft port defined by the body the enclosure and a pivot hole at the proximal end of the tip shield, wherein the needle shaft extends through the pivot hole and the needle shaft port disposing the tip shield at an angle with the needle shaft, wherein the pivot hole engages the retention means during proximal movement of the needle relative to the housing means, and wherein further proximal movement of the needle relative to the housing means causes the tip shield to pivot drawing the needle tip into the needle shaft port and into the chamber, disposing the tip shield coaxially with the needle shaft. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method for preventing needle sticks upon withdrawal of a hypodermic needle, comprising the steps of:
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providing a needle assembly having a hypodermic needle, a tip shield, and a housing, wherein the needle includes a needle shaft that terminates at a needle tip and an enlarged needle shaft region proximate to the needle tip, wherein the tip shield includes an enclosure defining a chamber, wherein the enclosure includes a needle shaft port configured to slidably engage the needle shaft, a closed distal end, and a proximal end having an opening slidably engaging the needle shaft while preventing the enlarged shaft region from passing proximately through the opening;
wherein the housing defining a passageway with respective proximal and distal openings through which said needle slidably extends, wherein the proximal opening of the housing releasably retains the tip shield in the passageway;passing the needle distally through the housing to engage the patient'"'"'s vascular system; withdrawing the needle from the housing to cause the enlarged shaft region to engage the opening in the proximal end of the tip shield to move the needle tip through the needle shaft port and into the chamber; and further withdrawing the needle from the housing to cause the tip shield to pass through the proximal opening of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification