Needle guard

• US 9,238,104 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Injectimed Inc.
• Original Assignee: Injectimed Inc.
• Inventors: Kuracina, Thomas C., Kitchen, Tim L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES
• Application Number:
  US13/596,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20130023835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150633 Protective sleeves which are axially extensible, e.g. sleeves connected to, or integrated in, the piercing or driving device; pivotable protective sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1587 suitable for being connected to an infusion line after insertion into a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/325 Means obstructing the needle passage at distal end of a needle protection sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0618 having means for protecting only the distal tip of the needle, e.g. a needle guard
• 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 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1626 Needle protectors therefor in combination with syringes A61M5/3202; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3205 Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3245 Constructional features thereof, e.g. to improve manipulation or functioning
• 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

Abstract

A needle guard assembly having a resilient arm extending from a base situated to slide along the shaft of a needle. In one implementation the needle guard has an elongate containment member that rides with the resilient arm and is co-operable with the resilient arm to effectuate a covering of the entire distal tip of the needle upon the needle being retracted into the needle guard.

Claims

1. A safety needle device comprising:

a needle having a needle shaft and a distal tip; and

a needle guard transitional between a ready state where the distal tip of the needle is in an unprotected state and an activated state where the distal tip of the needle is in a protected state, the needle guard comprising an arm and an elongate member slideable alongside the needle shaft as the needle guard is moved between the ready state and the activated state, the arm including a proximal section, a mid-section and a distal section, the proximal section having a first width and the distal section having a second width, the mid-section having a portion of a reduced width, the reduced width being less than one or both of the first and second widths so that an indentation is provided in a side of the arm, the arm intersecting the needle shaft along the reduced width portion of the mid-section of the arm located between the proximal and distal sections, when the needle is in the ready position and the retracted position the elongate member extends through the indentation in the mid-section of the arm, the elongate member having an open proximal end, a fixed open distal end and a through passage extending between the open proximal and distal ends, in the ready state the distal section of the arm resides on a distal section of the elongate member near the distal end of the elongate member where at least a portion of the distal section of the arm is urged against an outer side of the elongate member, the needle guard being configured such that as the needle guard transitions from the ready state to the activated state the distal section of the arm is able to move distally along the outer side of the distal section of the elongate member past the distal end of the elongate member and is able to move radially inward to at least partially lie over the fixed open distal end of the elongate member, the arm extends distally from a base having an aperture formed therein with the needle shaft passing through the aperture formed in the base, the elongate member comprises a proximal section that is disposed within the aperture of the base with the base being slideable on the proximal section of the elongate member between a first position when the needle guard is in the ready state and a second position distal to the first position when the needle guard is in the activated state.

2. A safety needle device according to claim 1, wherein the arm comprises a resilient material.

3. A safety needle device according to claim 2, wherein the elongate member extends distally from a position at or near the base when the needle guard is in the ready state.

4. A safety device according to claim 2, wherein the distal section of the arm comprises a wall segment having a distal end, the wall segment and mid-section of the arm disposed at different angular orientations with respect to the elongate member, the wall segment angled inwardly toward the elongate member, the distal end of the wall segment urged against the outer side of the elongate member when the needle guard is in the ready state, the distal end of the wall segment configured to disengage with the elongate member to at least partially lie over the distal end of the elongate member when the needle guard is in the activated state.

5. A safety device according to claim 4, wherein the distal end of the wall segment comprises a lip.

6. A safety device according to claim 5, wherein the elongate member comprises a feature at or near its distal end that is co-operable with the lip to secure the distal section of the arm to the distal end of the elongate member when the needle guard is in the activated state.

7. A safety needle device according to claim 1, wherein the needle shaft has a change in profile near the distal tip of the needle and an inner wall of the through passage located at or near the proximal end of the elongate member is configured to engage with the change in profile of the needle shaft to limit proximal movement of the needle with respect to the needle guard.

8. A safety needle device according to claim 7, wherein the elongate member has a length such that when the change in profile engages the inner wall of the through passage the entirety of the distal tip of the needle is positioned to reside within the through passage of the elongate member.

9. A safety needle device according to claim 1, wherein the needle guard is configured such that during a transition from the ready state to the activated state, upon a movement of the base from the first position to the second position, the distal section of the arm moves distally along the outer side of the elongate member.

10. A safety device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member comprises an external shoulder that is configured to limit the distal movement of the base on the elongate member to the second position.

11. A safety device according to claim 1, wherein a radially extending member is positioned on the proximal section of the elongate member to limit the distal movement of the base on the elongate member to the second position.

12. A safety device according to claim 1, wherein the elongate member comprises a recess in the distal section near the distal end of the elongate member, at least a portion of the distal section of the arm residing in the recess when the needle guard is in the ready state.

13. A safety device according to claim 12, wherein the recess is adapted to receive at least a portion of the distal section of the arm in a manner that resists rotational movement of the arm on the elongate member when the needle guard is in the ready state.

14. A safety device according to claim 1, wherein a friction fit exists between a structure that defines the aperture and an outside surface of the proximal section of the elongate member, the friction fit sufficient to permit the base to be moved along the outside surface of the proximal section.

15. A safety device according to claim 1, further comprising a recess in an outer surface of the proximal section of the elongate member, a structure defining the aperture of the base resides in the recess when the needle guard is in the ready state.

16. A safety device according to claim 15, wherein the aperture is expandable upon a distally applied force being applied to the base to permit the base to be moved out of the recess and advanced distally to the second position.

17. A safety device according to claim 16, wherein radial expansion of the aperture is at least partially facilitated by one or more slits in the base, the one or more slits extending radially outward from an inner periphery of the aperture.

18. A safety device according to claim 1, wherein the proximal section of the elongate member comprises a frustoconical segment having a proximal end with a first diameter and a distal end with a second diameter, the second diameter greater than the first diameter, when the needle guard is in the ready state the first position of the base is at the proximal end of the frustoconical segment, the needle guard configured so that in the activated state the second position of the base is at the distal end of the frustoconical segment, in the ready state the aperture in the base has a diameter that is substantially equal to or slightly greater than the first diameter, the aperture adapted to expand to the second diameter when the base is moved distally along the frustoconical segment to the second end.

19. A safety device according to claim 18, wherein radial expansion of the aperture is at least partially facilitated by one or more slits in the base, the one or more slits extending radially outward from an inner periphery of the aperture.

20. A safety device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the proximal section of the elongate member is keyed to a structure defining the aperture so as to inhibit rotational movement of the base and arm on the elongate member when the needle guard is in the ready state.

21. A safety device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the proximal section of the elongate member is keyed to a structure defining the aperture so as to inhibit rotational movement of the base and arm on the elongate member when the needle guard is in the ready state and in the activated state.

22. A safety needle device comprising:

a needle having a needle shaft and a distal tip; and

a needle guard transitional between a ready state where the distal tip of the needle is in an unprotected state and an activated state where the distal tip of the needle is in a protected state, the needle guard comprising an arm and an elongate member slideable alongside the needle shaft as the needle guard is moved between the ready state and the activated state, the arm including a proximal section, a mid-section and a distal section, the proximal section having a first width and the distal section having a second width, the mid-section having a portion of a reduced width, the reduced width being less than one or both of the first and second widths so that an indentation is provided in a side of the arm, the arm intersecting the needle shaft along the reduced width portion of the mid-section of the arm located between the proximal and distal sections, when the needle is in the ready position and the retracted position the elongate member extends through the indentation in the mid-section of the arm, the elongate member having an open proximal end, a fixed open distal end and a through passage extending between the open proximal and distal ends, in the ready state the distal section of the arm resides on a distal section of the elongate member near the distal end of the elongate member where at least a portion of the distal section of the arm is urged against an outer side of the elongate member, the needle guard being configured such that as the needle guard transitions from the ready state to the activated state the distal section of the arm is able to move distally along the outer side of the distal section of the elongate member past the distal end of the elongate member, wherein the arm extends distally from a base having an aperture formed therein with the needle shaft passing through the aperture formed in the base, the arm comprises a resilient material with the mid-section being disposed between the proximal and distal sections, the distal section of the arm comprises a wall segment having a distal end, the wall segment and mid-section of the arm disposed at different angular orientations with respect to the elongate member, the wall segment angled inwardly toward the elongate member, the distal end of the wall segment urged against the outer side of the elongate member when the needle guard is in the ready state, the distal end of the wall segment configured to disengage with the elongate member to fully cover the distal end of the elongate member when the needle guard is in the activated state.

23. A safety device according to claim 22, wherein the wall segment and distal end of the elongate member co-operate to at least partially form a seal when the wall segment is positioned to fully cover the distal end of the elongate member.

24. A safety device according to claim 23, wherein one or both of the wall segment and the distal end of the elongate member is surface treated to enhance the formation of the seal.

25. A safety device according to claim 24, wherein one or both of the wall segment and the distal end of the elongate member is coated with a sealing agent.

26. A safety needle device comprising:

a needle having a needle shaft and a distal tip; and

a needle guard transitional between a ready state where the distal tip of the needle is in an unprotected state and an activated state where the distal tip of the needle is in a protected state, the needle guard comprising an arm having a distal section, the needle guard further comprising an elongate member slideable alongside the needle shaft as the needle guard is moved between the ready state and the activated state, the elongate member having an open proximal end, an open distal end and a through passage extending between the open proximal and distal ends, in the ready state the distal section of the arm resides on a distal section of the elongate member near the distal end of the elongate member where at least a portion of the distal section of the arm is urged against an outer side of the elongate member, the needle guard being configured such that as the needle guard transitions from the ready state to the activated state the distal section of the arm is able to move distally along the outer side of the distal section of the elongate member past the distal end of the elongate member and is able to move radially inward to at least partially lie over the open distal end of the elongate member, the elongate member comprising a proximal section and a recess in the distal section near the distal end of the elongate member, at least a portion of the distal section of the arm residing in the recess when the needle guard is in the ready state.