Automatic-locking safety needle covers and methods of use and manufacture
First Claim
1. An automatically locking needle cover comprising:
- a housing configured to couple with a medical instrument, the housing comprising a locking member with an axial length;
a needle comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and
a sleeve that is slidably receivable within the housing and slidably movable over the needle, the sleeve comprising a flange with a notch, the sleeve being moveable relative to the housing and needle from an extended position to a retracted position to a locked position;
wherein;
in the extended position, the sleeve is circumferentially oriented relative to the housing such that the notch in the flange is substantially circumferentially aligned with the locking member;
in the course of movement of the sleeve from the extended position to the retracted position;
the flange moves proximally relative to the housing and the needle;
the locking member axially passes through the notch; and
the sleeve rotates relative to the housing such that the notch in the flange is out of circumferential alignment with the locking member;
in the retracted position, the distal end of the needle is exposed;
in the course of movement of the sleeve from the retracted position to the locked position;
the flange moves distally relative to the housing and the needle;
the flange deflects the locking member from an undeflected position to a deflected position; and
in response to the flange moving distally beyond the axial length of the locking member, the locking member resiliently returns to substantially the undeflected position; and
in the locked position;
a portion of the sleeve extends distal of the distal end of the needle and inhibits access to the distal end of the needle; and
the locking member provides a physical interference to proximal movement of the sleeve relative to the housing and the needle, thereby inhibiting the distal end of the needle from being reexposed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A single-use needle cover configured to obscure, protect, or hide at least a portion of a needle from view before, during, and/or after an injection and/or aspiration procedure is disclosed. In some embodiments, the cover includes a housing at least partially containing the needle and configured to couple to a syringe, wherein the housing includes an axis and a guide member. In some embodiments, a sleeve has a plurality of tracks configured to slidingly receive the guide member, wherein the sleeve is configured to retract, extend, and rotate with respect to the housing. In some embodiments, after the sleeve has been retracted and extended one time, a first locking member inhibits further retraction of the sleeve and a second locking member inhibits rotation of the sleeve.
264 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An automatically locking needle cover comprising:
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a housing configured to couple with a medical instrument, the housing comprising a locking member with an axial length; a needle comprising a distal end and a proximal end; and a sleeve that is slidably receivable within the housing and slidably movable over the needle, the sleeve comprising a flange with a notch, the sleeve being moveable relative to the housing and needle from an extended position to a retracted position to a locked position; wherein; in the extended position, the sleeve is circumferentially oriented relative to the housing such that the notch in the flange is substantially circumferentially aligned with the locking member; in the course of movement of the sleeve from the extended position to the retracted position; the flange moves proximally relative to the housing and the needle; the locking member axially passes through the notch; and the sleeve rotates relative to the housing such that the notch in the flange is out of circumferential alignment with the locking member; in the retracted position, the distal end of the needle is exposed; in the course of movement of the sleeve from the retracted position to the locked position; the flange moves distally relative to the housing and the needle; the flange deflects the locking member from an undeflected position to a deflected position; and in response to the flange moving distally beyond the axial length of the locking member, the locking member resiliently returns to substantially the undeflected position; and in the locked position; a portion of the sleeve extends distal of the distal end of the needle and inhibits access to the distal end of the needle; and the locking member provides a physical interference to proximal movement of the sleeve relative to the housing and the needle, thereby inhibiting the distal end of the needle from being reexposed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of manufacturing an automatic locking needle cover having an axial axis, the method comprising:
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obtaining a proximal portion of a housing; obtaining a distal portion of the housing, the distal portion comprising a distal opening; obtaining a sleeve comprising a flange; wherein one of the sleeve and the distal portion of the housing comprise a guide member, and the other of the sleeve and the distal portion of the housing comprise first and second tracks that are substantially parallel with the axial axis, the first track comprising an insertion portion and a radially inclined portion; inserting the sleeve through the distal opening of the distal portion of the housing such that the guide member enters the insertion portion of the first track; sliding the guide member the axial length of the insertion portion of the first track; sliding the guide member up the radially inclined portion; sliding the guide member axially beyond the radially inclined portion, thereby moving the guide member out of the insertion portion of the first track; sliding the guide member in the first track a distance such that the guide member is proximal of, and axially spaced apart from, the radially inclined portion; engaging the sleeve with the distal portion of the housing, whereby the engagement inhibits further distal movement of the sleeve relative to the distal portion of the housing; and compressing a biasing member between the sleeve and the proximal portion of the housing, thereby energizing the biasing member and biasing the sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification