Needle safety device
First Claim
1. A needle guard, comprising:
- a housing defining an interior cavity; and
a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity, the transitional member comprising;
a pivoting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent an interior portion of the housing,a needle tip sensing element connected to the pivoting arm, anda transverse barrier, wherein the needle tip sensing element extends radially outward from and substantially perpendicular to a first side of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end and the transverse barrier extends radially outward from and substantially perpendicular to a second side of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end in a direction opposite from a direction in which the needle tip sensing element extends, the first side opposite the second side.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A needle guard having a housing defining an interior cavity, and a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity is disclosed. The transitional member includes a pivoting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent an interior portion of the housing. The transitional member also includes a needle tip sensing element, and a transverse barrier, such that the needle tip sensing element and the transverse barrier are oriented on opposing sides of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end. The needle guard may be adapted for transition from a restrained position when the needle tip is exterior to the interior cavity, to an activated position when the needle tip is within the interior cavity. The transitional member may also have a needle tip sensing element for contacting a needle in the restrained position, and a binding edge for engaging the needle in the activated position.
328 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A needle guard, comprising:
-
a housing defining an interior cavity; and a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity, the transitional member comprising; a pivoting arm having a first end and a second end, the first end adjacent an interior portion of the housing, a needle tip sensing element connected to the pivoting arm, and a transverse barrier, wherein the needle tip sensing element extends radially outward from and substantially perpendicular to a first side of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end and the transverse barrier extends radially outward from and substantially perpendicular to a second side of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end in a direction opposite from a direction in which the needle tip sensing element extends, the first side opposite the second side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A device, comprising:
-
a needle having a needle tip; a housing disposed about a portion of the needle, defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing; and a transitional member disposed within the interior cavity, adapted for transition from a restrained position when the needle tip is disposed exterior to the interior cavity to an activated position when the needle tip is housed within the, interior cavity, the transitional member comprising; a pivoting arm having a first end and a second end, the pivoting arm disposable at least partially adjacent an interior portion of the housing, a needle tip sensing element biased against at least a portion of the needle in the restrained position, and a transverse barrier, wherein the needle tip sensing element extends radially outward from and substantially perpendicular to a first side of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end and the transverse barrier extends radially outward from and substantially perpendicular to a second side of the pivoting arm adjacent the second end in a direction opposite from a direction in which the needle tip sensing element extends, the first side opposite the second side, wherein the transitional member is disposed entirely on one side of the longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing in the restrained position. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A device, comprising:
-
a needle having a needle tip; a housing disposed about a portion of the needle, defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing; and a transitional member adapted for transition from a restrained position to an activated position and disposed entirely on one side of the longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing in the restrained position, the transitional member comprising; a pivoting arm having a needle tip sensing element continuously biased against the needle in the restrained position, and a binding edge for engaging the needle in the activated position, wherein transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position is initiated when contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle is interrupted, and wherein the transitional member moves across the longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing in a substantially downward direction relative to the housing during transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of actuating a needle guard, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a needle guard disposed about at least a portion of a needle, the needle guard comprising; a housing defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle having a needle tip therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing, and a transitional member adapted for transition from a restrained position to an activated position and disposed entirely on one side of the longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing in the restrained position, the transitional member comprising; a pivoting arm having a needle tip sensing element continuously biased against the needle in the restrained position, and a binding edge for engaging the needle in the activated position, wherein transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position is initiated when contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle is interrupted; and transitioning the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position by interrupting contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle, wherein the transitional member moves across the longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing in a substantially downward direction relative to the housing when the transitional member is transitioned from the restrained position to the activated position. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A device, comprising:
-
a needle having a needle tip; a housing disposed about a portion of the needle, defining an interior cavity; and a transitional member adapted for transition from a restrained position to an activated position, the transitional member comprising a pivoting housing, a needle tip sensing element for contacting the needle in the restrained position, and a transverse barrier; and a spring arm disposed within the interior cavity biasing the transitional member, the spring arm comprising a binding edge for engaging the needle in the activated position, the spring arm disposed entirely on one side of the needle within the interior cavity when the transitional member is in the restrained position, wherein the spring arm and the transitional member are separate elements, and wherein transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position is initiated when contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle is interrupted, and wherein, in the restrained position, the needle extends through the needle tip sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
-
-
32. A device, comprising:
-
a needle having a needle tip; a housing disposed about a portion of the needle, defining an interior cavity structured to receive the needle therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing; and a transitional member adapted for transition from a restrained position to an activated position and disposed entirely on one side of the longitudinal axis of the interior cavity of the housing in the restrained position, the transitional member comprising; a first binding edge for restricting movement of the needle in a proximal direction in the activated position, a second binding edge for restricting movement of the needle in a distal direction in the activated position, and a needle tip sensing element, wherein transition of the transitional member from the restrained position to the activated position is initiated when contact between the needle tip sensing element and the needle is interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
-
Specification