Needle protector

• US 20050049559A1
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fenwal Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Fenwal Incorporated (Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Mathias, Jean-Marie
• Granted Patent: US 7,566,327 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/263
• 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 5/150519 Details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the single-ended needle to a piercing device or sampling device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150641 comprising means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from covering to uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150916 by blocking components, e.g. piston, driving device or fluid passageway
• 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 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3243 being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the syringe barrel devices for protecting guide needles in combination with catheters A61M25/0612

Abstract

Needle protectors for housing used blood collection needles are disclosed. The needle protectors are single-piece protectors that include an open distal end for receiving a needle hub (with needle mounted thereon). A retaining member locks the hub when the needle hub is fully retracted. A viewing slot in one of the walls of the needle protector is provided.

Claims

1. A blood collection needle protector for use with a needle assembly that includes a piercing end, a hub and a blood collection tube attached to the hub comprising:

a unitary body including first and second open ends;

a plurality of side walls extending between the said first and second open ends, said side walls defining an interior chamber, wherein said first open end is adapted to receive the hub of a needle assembly;

wherein at least one of said side walls includes a retaining member adapted for contacting said hub of said needle assembly; and

wherein one of said side walls defines a slot for viewing said interior chamber.

2. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein said second open end comprises a multiple profile window adapted to slidably receive and secure the blood collection tubing.

3. The needle protector of claim 2 wherein said side wall includes a retaining member defining a slot for viewing said interior chamber.

4. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein one of said side walls further comprises first and second guiding ledges extending inwardly therefrom.

5. The needle protector of claim 4 wherein the first and second guiding ledges inwardly extend from said side wall including said retaining member.

6. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein one of said side walls further includes and defines an axial groove.

7. The needle protector of claim 6 wherein said side wall opposite said side wall, including said retaining member, defines said groove.

8. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein said retaining member comprises a detent depending from one of said side walls.

9. The needle protector of claim 1 wherein said body further comprises an outwardly extending radial flange at said open distal end.

10. The needle protector of claim 1 further comprising a cap associated with said open distal end.

11. A blood collection needle protector assembly comprising a needle assembly, including a piercing end attached to a hub and a length of tubing attached to the opposite end of said hub, said hub further comprising a rib extending outwardly therefrom;

a body including first and second open ends; and

a plurality of side walls extending between said first and second open ends, wherein said first end is adapted to receive the hub of said needle assembly, wherein one of said side walls further includes a retaining member adapted for contacting said hub of said needle assembly and another of said side walls further includes and defines a groove extending axially from said first open distal end to said proximal end.