Needle assembly including a retractable sheath

• US 20020099338A1
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ISPG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ISPG, Inc.
• Inventors: Young, Christopher S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,475,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/263
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15003 for venous or arterial blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• 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: A61B 5/150717 manually removed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/153 Devices specially adapted for taking samples of venous or arterial blood, e.g. with syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/26 Cannula supporters

Abstract

A needle assembly that includes a hub, a cannula and a retractable sheath. The retractable sheath has a tubular portion that initially encases the cannula and is further slideably mounted about a portion of the hub such that the sheath is retractably slidable relative to the hub and along at least the substantial length of the cannula so that (a) at least a substantial portion of the cannula is exposed when the sheath is in its retracted position and (b) a length of the cannula is at least essentially encased when the sheath is in it non-retracted position. In a preferred embodiment, the method of reencasing the cannula after use can be achieved with one hand.

Claims

1. A needle assembly comprising:

a hub, the hub comprising;

a body portion with an internal hollow region in which fluid is one of collected or discharged; and

a neck portion having a bore therethrough that opens at a first end thereof into the hollow region in the body portion;

a cannula coupleable to the hub in which a first end of the cannula is inserted into an other end of the bore of the neck portion;

a retractable sheath comprising a tubular portion, the tubular portion being slideably mounted about the neck portion, the cannula being at least substantially encaseable along at least a substantial length thereof by the tubular portion;

wherein the tubular portion of the sheath is retractably slidable about the neck portion and along at least the substantial length of the cannula such that (a) at least a substantial portion of the cannula extending outwardly from the bore is exposed when the sheath is in its retracted position and (b) the length of the cannula extending outwardly from the bore is at least essentially encased when the sheath is in it non-retracted position.

2. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tubular portion is configured so as to split down a substantial length thereof when the sheath is retracted about the neck portion and along a length of the cannula.

3. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular portion includes a groove along a length thereof, the existence of the groove for facilitating the splitting of the tubular portion down a length thereof when the sheath is retracted about the neck portion and along a length of the cannula.

4. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tubular portion is configured to prevent the sheath from uncoupling from its engagement with the neck portion of the hub when the sheath is in its fully retracted position.

5. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hub comprises a channel for channeling the tubular portion along the neck portion and away from the hub as the sheath is retracted about the neck portion and along the length of the cannula.

6. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the channel is formed of a concave surface on the outer surface of the hub, the channel being further integrally molded with the hub body.

7. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sleeve connected to the hub body and spaced apart from the neck portion;

wherein the tubular portion of the sheath is slidably mounted on the neck portion intermediate the neck portion and the sleeve to further guide the sheath as it is being retracted about the neck portion and along a length of the cannula.

8. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a handle portion connected to the tubular portion, the handle portion comprising:

a gripping region for the gripping thereof by a user'"'"'s fingers; and

a foot region having traction means on the bottom surface thereof for increasing the friction between the handle portion of the sheath and a surface to which the handle portion may contact upon the sliding of the sheath from its retracted position to its non-retracted position about the neck portion and along a length of the cannula.

9. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sleeve includes stop-tabs depending from an outer surface thereof for preventing the sheath from oversliding about the length of the cannula when the sheath is sliding from its retracted position to its non-retracted position.

10. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sheath comprises a handle portion integrally formed with the tubular portion, and the handle portion comprises stop-lugs for engaging the stop tabs;

whereby the engagement of the stop lugs with the stop-tabs prevents the sheath from oversliding about the length of the cannula when the sheath is sliding from its retracted position to its non-retracted position.

11. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheath comprises a handle portion connected to the tubular portion, the handle portion being angled relative to the tubular portion to facilitate the return of sheath from its retracted position to its non-retracted position.

12. The needle assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the handle portion includes a relief cut to facilitate the bending of the sheath as it is pulled away from the hub.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of retracting the sheath about the neck portion and along the cannula includes the steps of:

holding or supporting the hub in one hand;

grasping the handle portion of the sheath in another hand;

pulling the handle portion in a direction (a) towards the hub and (b) downwardly away from the hub;

wherein the pulling of the handle portion in a direction towards the hub is against a channel formed on the outer surface of the hub body.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step of repositioning the sheath about the cannula includes the steps of:

holding or supporting the hub in one hand;

applying pressure against the handle portion to cause the tubular portion to slide about the neck portion of the hub until the tubular portion encases substantially the entire length of the cannula that is exposed outwardly from the bore.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step of repositioning the sheath about the cannula is achieved using only one hand.

13. A method of using a needle assembly, wherein the needle assembly comprises a hub having a body portion with an internal hollow region in which fluid is one of collected or discharged and a neck portion having a bore therethrough that opens at a first end thereof into the hollow region in the body portion;

a cannula coupleable to the hub in which a first end of the cannula is inserted into an other end of the bore of the neck portion; and

a retractable sheath comprising a tubular portion, the tubular portion being slideably mounted about the neck portion, the cannula being at least substantially encaseable along at least a substantial length thereof by the tubular portion;

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

retracting the sheath about the neck portion and along the cannula such that at least a substantial portion of the cannula extending outwardly from the bore is exposed when the sheath is in its retracted position; and

repositioning the sheath along the substantial length of the cannula such that the cannula is essentially encased.

17. A needle assembly comprising:

a hub, the hub comprising;

a body portion; and

a neck portion coupled to the body portion;

a cannula coupleable to the hub in which a first end of the cannula is coupled to or inserted in the neck portion;

a retractable sheath comprising a tubular portion, the tubular portion being slideably mounted about the neck portion, the cannula being at least substantially encaseable along at least a substantial length thereof by the tubular portion;

wherein the tubular portion of the sheath is retractably slidable about the neck portion and along at least the substantial length of the cannula such that (a) at least a second end of the cannula is exposed when the sheath is in its retracted position and (b) the second end of the cannula is covered when the sheath is in it non-retracted position.

18. A method of using a needle assembly, wherein the needle assembly comprises a hub having a body portion and a neck portion;

a cannula having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to or insertable in the hub; and

a retractable sheath comprising a tubular portion, the tubular portion being slideably mounted about the neck portion, the second end of the cannula being coverable by the tubular portion;

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

retracting the sheath about the neck portion and along the cannula such that the second end of the cannula is exposed when the sheath is in its retracted position; and

repositioning the sheath along the substantial length of the cannula such that the second end of the cannula is at least essentially covered.