Safety reset key and needle assembly
First Claim
1. A needle assembly comprising:
- mounting structure;
a needle mounted on the mounting structure and extending outwardly therefrom, the needle having a longitudinal axis, a sharp end and a central axial passageway;
a safety shield associated with the needle comprising;
a tubular housing adapted for movement relative to the needle between a stowed position in which the tubular housing is spaced from the sharp end of the needle and a deployed position in which the tubular housing covers the sharp end,a locking mechanism adapted to releasably lock the tubular housing in position covering the sharp end of the needle, the tubular housing having distal and proximal ends and at least one peripheral slot extending radially inward from the periphery and axially along the housing from the distal end of the housing; and
a reset key adapted to actuate release of the locking mechanism to permit the shield to be moved relative to the needle, the reset key comprising;
a support; and
at least one rib on the support sized and arranged to be received in the peripheral slot of the tubular housing for entering the tubular housing to actuate release of the locking mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safety reset key is used to release a locking mechanism holding a safety shield in place over a sharp tip of a needle. In one embodiment, the reset key has ribs that are received in peripheral slots on the safety shield to engage an unlocking mechanism that unlocks a connection of the safety shield to the needle to allow the safety shield to be moved along the needle to expose the sharp tip, such as may be necessary for a second use of the needle. In another embodiment, the reset key includes a shroud that receives the shield to prevent the shield from being inadvertently pulled off of the needle when removing the key. The reset key may be associated with an obturator used to remove biological material from a central axial passageway of the needle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A needle assembly comprising:
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mounting structure; a needle mounted on the mounting structure and extending outwardly therefrom, the needle having a longitudinal axis, a sharp end and a central axial passageway; a safety shield associated with the needle comprising; a tubular housing adapted for movement relative to the needle between a stowed position in which the tubular housing is spaced from the sharp end of the needle and a deployed position in which the tubular housing covers the sharp end, a locking mechanism adapted to releasably lock the tubular housing in position covering the sharp end of the needle, the tubular housing having distal and proximal ends and at least one peripheral slot extending radially inward from the periphery and axially along the housing from the distal end of the housing; and a reset key adapted to actuate release of the locking mechanism to permit the shield to be moved relative to the needle, the reset key comprising; a support; and at least one rib on the support sized and arranged to be received in the peripheral slot of the tubular housing for entering the tubular housing to actuate release of the locking mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A reset key for use in releasing a locking mechanism of a safety shield covering a sharp tip of a needle permitting the safety shield to move relative to the needle, the reset key comprising:
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a support defining a central open space sized and shaped for receiving at least a portion of the safety shield; and a plurality of ribs mounted on the support and located at positions spaced circumferentially from each other generally around a perimeter of the central open space, the ribs being shaped and arranged to be received in slots on the safety shield when the safety shield is received in the central open space for actuating release of the locking mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A reset key for releasing a locking mechanism of a safety shield covering a sharp tip of a needle permitting the safety shield to move relative to the needle, the reset key comprising:
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a shroud selectively engageable with and disengageable from the safety shield sized and shaped for receiving at least a majority of the safety shield during engagement of the shroud and the safety shield; and a reset member positioned with respect to the shroud for actuating release of the locking mechanism of the safety shield covering the sharp tip of the needle when the safety shield is received in the shroud, permitting the safety shield to move relative to the needle to uncover the sharp tip of the needle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification