Needle tip guard for percutaneous entry needles

• US 7,927,314 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2008
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• 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: B Braun Melsungen AG (B. Braun Holding GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: 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:
  US12/315,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 604/192, 604/198, 604/263, 604/187, 604/110
• 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:

a needle having a shaft and a sharpened end;

a needle guard slidably mounted on the needle, the needle guard having a proximal end and

a distal end, the needle guard containing a moveable needle trap that is continually biased toward the needle, the needle trap automatically entrapping the sharpened distal end of the needle when the distal and of the needle guard moves distal of the sharpened distal end of the needle;

a feature on the needle shaft engageable with the needle guard to limit the forward movement of the needle guard along the needle; and

a resilient member, the resilient member having a substantial portion thereof located and maintained upon a portion of the needle guard in an annular fashion and wherein the substantial portion of the resilient member applies the continual biasing force radially and directly on the needle trap, thereby maintaining the bias towards the needle, whereby the biased needle trap is displaceable between a first position wherein the needle trap is biased toward the needle in an open position with the distal end of the needle exposed and a second position wherein the needle trap is biased in a closed position and entrapping the distal end of the needle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the needle trap is integral to the needle guard.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the feature on the needle shaft comprises a change in profile of the needle shaft near the sharpened distal end of the needle.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the feature on the needle shaft comprises a change in profile of the needle shaft near the sharpened distal end of the needle.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the feature on the needle shaft comprises a change in profile of the needle shaft near the sharpened distal end of the needle.

8. The device of claim 4, wherein the feature on the needle shaft comprises a change in profile of the needle shaft near the sharpened distal end of the needle.

9. An intravenous catheter assembly comprising:

a catheter hub comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

a needle having a proximal end and a sharpened distal end;

a hub comprising a needle nest for receiving the proximal end of the needle;

a needle protective device comprising a needle guard slidably mounted on the needle, the needle guard having a proximal end and a distal end, the needle guard having a movable needle trap that is continually biased toward the needle, the needle trap automatically entrapping the sharpened distal end of the needle when the distal end of the needle guard moves distal of the sharpened distal end of the needle,

a feature on the needle shaft engageable with the needle guard to limit the forward movement of the needle guard along the needle; and

a resilient member, the resilient member having a substantial portion thereof located and maintained upon a portion of the needle guard in an annular fashion and wherein the substantial portion of the resilient member applies the continual biasing force radially and directly on the needle trap, thereby maintaining the bias towards the needle, whereby the biased needle trap is displaceable between a first position wherein the needle'"'"'s trap is biased toward the needle in an open position with the distal end of the needle exposed and a second position wherein the needle trap is biased in a closed position and entrapping the distal end of the needle, the needle guard being releasably coupled to the catheter hub.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the catheter hub comprises an inside surface and an outside surface, the needle guard releasably couples to the inside surface of the catheter hub.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the catheter hub comprises a projection in its inner surface.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the needle guard comprises an arm attached to the needle trap, the arm having a recess, the projection of the catheter hub being received within the recess of the arm to couple the needle guard with the catheter hub.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the needle trap is integral to the needle guard.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the needle trap is integral to the needle guard.

15. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the needle trap is integral to the needle guard.

16. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the needle trap is integral to the needle guard.

17. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

18. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

19. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

20. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

21. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

22. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

23. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

24. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the needle trap is inherently biased toward the needle.

25. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the feature on the needle shaft comprises a change in profile of the needle shaft near the sharpened distal end of the needle.

26. A needle protective device comprising:

a needle having a shaft and a sharpened distal end;

a needle guard slidably mounted on the needle, the needle guard having a proximal end and

a distal end, the needle guard having a movable needle trap that is continually biased toward the needle, the needle trap entrapping the sharpened distal end of the needle when the distal end of the needle guard moves distal of the sharpened distal end of the needle;

a feature on the needle shaft engageable with the needle guard to limit the forward movement of the needle guard along the needle; and

a resilient member, the resilient member having at least a portion thereof located and maintained upon a portion of the needle guard in an annular fashion and wherein the at least portion of the resilient member sufficiently applies the continual biasing force on the needle trap to bias the needle trap toward the needle, whereby the biased needle trap is displaceable between a first position wherein the needle'"'"'s trap is biased toward the needle in an open position with the distal end of the needle exposed and a second position wherein the needle trap is biased in a closed position and entrapping the distal end of the needle.

27. An intravenous catheter assembly comprising:

a catheter hub comprising a proximal end and a distal end;

a needle having a proximal end and a sharpened distal end;

a hub comprising a needle nest for receiving the proximal end of the needle;

a needle protective device comprising a needle guard slidably mounted on the needle, the needle guard having a proximal end and a distal end, the needle guard having a movable needle trap that is continually biased toward the needle, the needle trap entrapping the sharpened distal end of the needle when the distal end of the needle guard moves distal of the sharpened distal end of the needle;

a feature on the needle shaft engageable with the needle guard to limit the forward movement of the needle guard along the needle; and

a resilient member, the resilient member having at least a portion thereof located and maintained upon a portion of the needle guard in an annular fashion and wherein the at least portion of the resilient member sufficiently applies the continual biasing force on the needle trap to bias the needle trap toward the needle, whereby the biased needle trap is displaceable between a first position wherein the needle'"'"'s trap is biased toward the needle in an open position with the distal end of the needle exposed and a second position wherein the needle trap is biased in a closed position and entrapping the distal end of the needle, the needle guard being releasably coupled to the catheter hub.

28. The assembly of claim 27, wherein the catheter hub comprises an inside surface and an outside surface, the needle guard releasably couples to the inside surface of the catheter hub.

29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the catheter hub comprises a projection in its inner surface.

30. The assembly of claim 29, wherein the needle guard comprises an arm attached to the needle trap, the arm having a recess, the projection of the catheter hub being received within the recess of the arm to couple the needle guard with the catheter hub.

31. The assembly of claim 27, wherein the needle trap is integral to the needle guard.