Retractable needle syringe assembly
First Claim
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1. A syringe including a retractable needle comprising:
- a barrel having a fluid chamber defining a longitudinal axis and including a proximal end, and a distal end adapted to be attached to a needle;
a plunger rod having a distal end and proximal end, the plunger rod including an inner sleeve slidably engageable with an outer housing, the inner and outer housing being axially moveable with respect to each other upon activation of a decoupling element associated with the plunger rod; and
a compressible stopper mounted on the distal end of the of the plunger rod, the stopper being configured such that when distal force is applied to the plunger rod, the stopper is compressed in the direction of the longitudinal axis in an amount to allow distal movement of the plunger rod along the longitudinal axis a distance sufficient to permit activation of the decoupling element, causing the inner sleeve to decouple from the outer housing and move distally with respect to the outer housing and retraction of the needle within the syringe barrel,wherein the decoupling element includes one or more flexible fingers formed on the inner sleeve of the plunger rod and the barrel includes an inner surface and a shoulder formed on the inner surface adjacent the proximal end adapted to engage a contact surface on the inner sleeve of the plunger rod, causing the one or more flexible fingers to flex inwardly and permit relative distal movement between the outer housing and inner sleeve.
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Abstract
A syringe including a barrel (14), a retractable needle (12) and a plunger rod assembly (22) including inner (30) and outer (24) members with a stopper (46) for expelling fluids from the syringe is disclosed. An activation member (40, 44) associated with the plunger rod permits relative movement of the inner and outer members when activated. The stopper is configured to compress a sufficient amount when advanced distally in the barrel to cause the activation element to engage and cause retraction of the needle within the syringe.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A syringe including a retractable needle comprising:
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a barrel having a fluid chamber defining a longitudinal axis and including a proximal end, and a distal end adapted to be attached to a needle; a plunger rod having a distal end and proximal end, the plunger rod including an inner sleeve slidably engageable with an outer housing, the inner and outer housing being axially moveable with respect to each other upon activation of a decoupling element associated with the plunger rod; and a compressible stopper mounted on the distal end of the of the plunger rod, the stopper being configured such that when distal force is applied to the plunger rod, the stopper is compressed in the direction of the longitudinal axis in an amount to allow distal movement of the plunger rod along the longitudinal axis a distance sufficient to permit activation of the decoupling element, causing the inner sleeve to decouple from the outer housing and move distally with respect to the outer housing and retraction of the needle within the syringe barrel, wherein the decoupling element includes one or more flexible fingers formed on the inner sleeve of the plunger rod and the barrel includes an inner surface and a shoulder formed on the inner surface adjacent the proximal end adapted to engage a contact surface on the inner sleeve of the plunger rod, causing the one or more flexible fingers to flex inwardly and permit relative distal movement between the outer housing and inner sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A syringe comprising:
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a barrel having a fluid chamber, an inside surface, a proximal end, a proximal shoulder located on the inside surface, a distal end adapted to be attached to a needle and a ceiling located on the inside surface and adjacent the distal end; and a plunger rod having a distal end and a proximal end, the plunger rod adapted to slidingly engage the inside surface of the fluid chamber, the plunger rod including a hollow outer housing defined by a wall and a hollow inner sleeve slidably receivable within the outer housing and defining a cavity, and a stopper located on the distal end of the plunger rod, the stopper including a distal face and an outer wall surface, the outer housing including at least one window extending axially through the wall adjacent the proximal end of the plunger rod, the inner sleeve including at least one flexible finger adapted to be flexed inwardly towards the cavity, the flexible finger including a distal end, a proximal end, a distal facing ramp surface adapted to engage with the shoulder of the barrel and a distal facing edge, the inner sleeve further including a proximal facing stop edge, the finger being sized and shaped to be received within the window, the stopper including a distal rib, a proximal rib and a gap region between the ribs located along the outer wall surface, wherein the configuration of the ramp surface and the stopper is such that axial compression of the stopper permits sufficient axial movement of the plunger rod so that ramp surface engages the shoulder of the barrel, causing inward deflection of the fingers and relative movement of the inner sleeve and outer housing and retraction of the needle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification