Needle assembly with removable depth stop
First Claim
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1. A convertible needle assembly comprising:
- a mounting structure;
a needle having a longitudinal axis and a sharp end, the needle being mounted on the mounting structure and projecting from the mounting structure so that the sharp end is generally remote from the mounting structure;
a depth stop adapted to limit the depth of penetration of the needle;
a rotary connector adapted to releasably connect the depth stop to the needle assembly, the released depth stop being removable from the needle for increasing the possible depth of penetration of the needle,wherein the mounting structure comprises a pair of slots and the rotary connector comprises a pair of fingers constructed and arranged to be received in the slots, and the rotary connector and mounting structure are constructed for bayonet connection of the rotary connector to the mounting structure, the slots extending circumferentially around the mounting structure, each slot being open on one circumferential end and closed on another circumferential end such that rotation of the rotary connector moves the fingers out of the slots to disconnect the rotary connector from the mounting structure;
wherein the rotary connector is constructed and arranged to connect to the mounting structure by making a turn in a first direction about an axis that is less than 360 degrees, and to release from the mounting structure by making a turn in a second direction opposite the first direction about the axis that is less than 360 degrees;
wherein said pair of fingers are fingers which project inwardly from respective arms, each finger has a tapered leading edge portion allowing each arm to be resiliently deflected in a radially outward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the needle; and
wherein the mounting structure comprises a handle, the needle assembly further comprising a depth stop unit comprising a positioning stem, the depth stop mounted on the positioning stem and movable along a length of the stem to different selected positions along the stem and along the longitudinal axis of the needle, the depth stop having a stop surface adapted to limit the depth of penetration of the needle, and wherein the rotary connector is constructed and arranged to releasably connect the stem to the needle assembly wherein the slots and fingers include retention structures to resist relative rotation between the rotary connector and the handle, the retention structures comprising a triangular projection located in the slot and a triangular recess located on the finger, the triangular projection being adapted to snap into the triangular recess to provide a tactile confirmation of engagement.
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Abstract
A needle assembly (10) includes a needle (14) attached to mounting structure (12), and is used to insert the needle into the body of a patient. A depth stop unit (50) of the needle assembly provides a stop surface (58) to limit the distance the needle can be inserted into the body. The depth stop unit may include a depth stop (52) that is adjustable to selectively change the depth to which the needle can be inserted. The entire depth stop unit can be removed from the needle assembly to permit the full length of the needle to penetrate into the body.
548 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A convertible needle assembly comprising:
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a mounting structure; a needle having a longitudinal axis and a sharp end, the needle being mounted on the mounting structure and projecting from the mounting structure so that the sharp end is generally remote from the mounting structure; a depth stop adapted to limit the depth of penetration of the needle; a rotary connector adapted to releasably connect the depth stop to the needle assembly, the released depth stop being removable from the needle for increasing the possible depth of penetration of the needle, wherein the mounting structure comprises a pair of slots and the rotary connector comprises a pair of fingers constructed and arranged to be received in the slots, and the rotary connector and mounting structure are constructed for bayonet connection of the rotary connector to the mounting structure, the slots extending circumferentially around the mounting structure, each slot being open on one circumferential end and closed on another circumferential end such that rotation of the rotary connector moves the fingers out of the slots to disconnect the rotary connector from the mounting structure; wherein the rotary connector is constructed and arranged to connect to the mounting structure by making a turn in a first direction about an axis that is less than 360 degrees, and to release from the mounting structure by making a turn in a second direction opposite the first direction about the axis that is less than 360 degrees; wherein said pair of fingers are fingers which project inwardly from respective arms, each finger has a tapered leading edge portion allowing each arm to be resiliently deflected in a radially outward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the needle; and wherein the mounting structure comprises a handle, the needle assembly further comprising a depth stop unit comprising a positioning stem, the depth stop mounted on the positioning stem and movable along a length of the stem to different selected positions along the stem and along the longitudinal axis of the needle, the depth stop having a stop surface adapted to limit the depth of penetration of the needle, and wherein the rotary connector is constructed and arranged to releasably connect the stem to the needle assembly wherein the slots and fingers include retention structures to resist relative rotation between the rotary connector and the handle, the retention structures comprising a triangular projection located in the slot and a triangular recess located on the finger, the triangular projection being adapted to snap into the triangular recess to provide a tactile confirmation of engagement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification