Device for separating the connecting end of a hypodermic needle from the tip of an injection instrument

• US 20030078543A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ares Trading SA (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ares Trading SA (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Moulin, Jerome, Bosset, Gregoire, Bergeron, Luc, Soldini, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 6,889,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; 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

Abstract

The connecting end of the hypodermic needle is so designed that it can be attached to and then disconnected from the tip of an injection instrument by pressure, that is, an axial tractional force exerted between the said needle and the said injection instrument. The extraction device has an opening delimited by locking elements forming one piece with elastic pieces so as to allow its diameter to vary between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter at least equal to the diameter of the said connecting end and at least one piece associated with the said locking elements for the purpose of converting an axial force exerted on the said piece into at least one radial component capable of being applied to the said elastic pieces so as to deform them radially in order to increase the diameter of the said opening when axial pressure is exerted by the said connecting end.

Claims

1. Device for separating the connecting end (2a) of a hypodermic needle (2) from the tip (3) of an injection instrument (4), the connecting end (2a) of the hypodermic needle (2) having connectors (2b) complementary to connectors (3a) on the said tip (3), one of the said connectors having radial elasticity and devices for converting an axial force exerted between the said needle (2) and the said injection instrument (4) into at least one radial component capable of deforming the said elastic connectors, comprising an opening (17, 28, 37) delimited by locking elements (13, 23, 34) forming one piece with elastic pieces (10b, 12, 22c, 33) to allow its diameter to vary between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter at least equal to the diameter of the said connecting end (2a) and at least one piece (13a, 23a, 34a) associated with the said locking elements (13, 23, 34) for the purpose of converting an axial force exerted on the said piece (13a, 23a, 34a) into at least one radial component capable of being applied to the said elastic pieces (10b, 12, 22c, 33) to deform them radially so as to increase the diameter of the said opening (17, 28, 37) when the said connecting end (2a) is displaced along its axis with its needle (2) pointing forward through the said opening (17, 28, 37) and to restore its initial diameter after the said connecting end (2a) has passed through it and allow the said locking elements (13, 23, 34) to engage with the rear face of the said connecting end (2a), wherein

the device has a guiding surface (10a, 11e) concentric with the said opening (17, 28, 37).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein

the said opening (17, 28, 37) serves as the access opening in a closed housing (11, 21, 32b).

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein one rim of the said guiding surface (10a, 11e) is linked by a horizontal surface (1f) to at least one storage container (1-1e) for a hypodermic needle (2).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it has a cylindrical housing (22) divided longitudinally into two parts whose respective lengths are approximately equal, matching the length of the said connecting end (2a), by the said opening (28) delimited by the said locking elements (23) which form one piece with elastic arms (22c) attached to one end of the said cylindrical housing (22) which communicates with the exterior at its other end through an access opening (27) having a diameter approximately equal to that of the said connecting end (2a) of the hypodermic needle (2), a ring (24), having an internal diameter approximately equal to that of the said access opening (27), positioned to slide in the said cylindrical housing, being capable of occupying two limiting positions within the housing, in one of which positions it is adjacent to the said access opening (27), this ring having passages (24a) in such an arrangement and of such dimensions as to allow the said locking elements (23) to project on the inner face of this ring (24) when the latter is adjacent to the said access opening (27), while in its other limiting position it holds the said locking elements (23) forming one piece with the said elastic arms (22c) back from the said connecting end (2a) to which it adheres by friction.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 through 4, wherein it has the form of a tubular body in which a number of hypodermic needles (2) are successively placed in corresponding positions so as to be accessible to the said injection instrument (4) from one end of the said wall (31), while the other end has the said radially elastic locking elements (33, 34) to allow its diameter to vary between a minimum diameter and a maximum diameter at least equal to that of the said connecting end (2a) and at least one piece (34a) associated with the said locking elements for the purpose of converting an axial force exerted on the said piece into at least one radial component capable of being applied to the said locking elements (33, 34) so as to deform them radially in order to increase the diameter of the said opening.