# US 10,307,572 B2 · Needle safety device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,572 B2 - Document ID: US10307572B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/248,419 - Filed: 2016-08-26 - Published: 2017-01-12 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-09 - Assignees: Poly Medicure Limited - Applicants: Poly Medicure Limited - Inventors: Rishi Baid - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307572B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0631: {having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle} - A61M 5/3273: {freely sliding on needle shaft without connection to syringe or needle} - A61M 25/0618: {having means for protecting only the distal tip of the needle, e.g. a needle guard} - A61M 2005/325: {Means obstructing the needle passage at distal end of a needle protection sleeve} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract The invention relates to a needle safety device for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising: a base portion having a bore extending along a longitudinal center axis therethrough for receiving a needle; and two opposing jaws extending from the base portion generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion in the region of its free end, wherein the needle safety device includes a locking projection for securing the needle safety device to the medical device. The needle safety device according to the invention further provides at least one elastic element mounted to the jaws in a non-surrounding manner lateral to the center axis in a region between the base portion and the head portions, wherein at least one elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws can be spread apart against a restoring force of at least one elastic element in order to allow the needle received in the bore to extend all the way through the needle safety device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A needle safety device for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising: a base portion having a bore extending along a longitudinal center axis therethrough for receiving a needle having a needle tip and a needle shaft; two opposing jaws extending from the base portion generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion in the region of its free end, wherein a projection extends outwardly from the head portion of one of said jaws; and an elastic element constructed separate from the jaws and configured to be mounted on the projection extending outwardly from the head portion of the one of said jaws and connected to the head portion of the other of said jaws, wherein the needle safety device includes a locking projection for securing the needle safety device to the medical device, wherein the elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws are capable of being spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element that is provided in an axial direction on one side of the needle shaft, and also providing a restoring force transverse to the axial direction on another side of the needle shaft in order to hold the needle tip within the needle safety device as the needle is pulled through the needle safety device, and wherein the transverse force and/or the axial force is also provided on the jaws when the needle is not within the needle safety device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic element comprises rubber or silicone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic element comprises a tension ring or tension strip or tension spring mounted to the jaws, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the tension ring is mounted to a mounting structure provided on each of the jaws. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the mounting structure comprises a projection, a hook, and/or a mounting recess. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic element comprises an elastic ring mounted on one side of each of the jaws. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 1, wherein only one elastic element is provided on only one side of the jaws. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic element comprises an elastic ring connected to extensions extending in a transverse axial direction from a side of the jaws. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaws has an angled end section at its free end, which extends towards the other one of the jaws in a direction generally perpendicular to the axial direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising: a needle having a needle tip; and a needle safety device in accordance with claim 1, slidably arranged on the needle for protecting the needle tip, wherein the bore of the needle safety device is adapted to a principal outer profile of the needle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An intravenous catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein a locking protrusion for engaging with the needle safety device is formed on an inner or outer surface of a catheter hub of the intravenous catheter apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The intravenous catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein said locking protrusion is annular. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The intravenous catheter apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein a length of an angled end section is selected such that the angled end section is supported on the needle when the needle extends all the way through the needle safety device, thereby spreading the jaws apart far enough for a shoulder of the head portion of the jaw having the angled end section to engage with a housing of the medical device for securing the needle safety device in the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The safety device of claim 1, wherein said elastic element acts alone in providing said restoring force to the jaws during normal operation. ### Claim 15 A needle safety device for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising: a base portion having a bore extending along a longitudinal center axis therethrough for receiving a needle having a needle tip and a needle shaft; two opposing jaws extending from the base portion generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion in the region of its free end; and an elastic element constructed separate from the jaws and configured to be mounted on the jaws, wherein the needle safety device includes a locking projection for securing the needle safety device to the medical device, wherein the elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws are capable of being spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element that is provided in an axial direction on one side of the needle shaft, and also providing a restoring force transverse to the axial direction on another side of the needle shaft in order to hold the needle tip within the needle safety device as the needle is pulled through the needle safety device, and wherein the transverse force and/or the axial force is also provided on the jaws when the needle is not within the needle safety device, and wherein the elastic element comprises a coil spring mounted on an end of one of the jaws. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 15, wherein the coil spring has ends fixed to opposing surfaces of each of the jaws, respectively. ### Claim 17 A needle safety device for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising: a base portion having a bore extending along a longitudinal center axis therethrough for receiving a needle; two opposing jaws extending from the base portion generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion in the region of its free end and; an elastic element constructed separate from the jaws and configured to be connected to an end or to a projection extending from the end of one of the jaws, wherein the needle safety device includes a locking projection for securing the needle safety device to the medical device, wherein the elastic element is a separate component comprising a material different than the material comprising the jaws that is mounted and secured to an outer surface of the jaws or to a part protruding therefrom, said elastic element being arranged with the jaws in a non-surrounding manner lateral to the center axis in a region between the base portion and the head portions, wherein the elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws are capable of being spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element that is provided in an axial direction on one side of a needle shaft, and also providing a restoring force transverse to the axial direction on another side of the needle shaft in order to allow the needle received in the bore to extend all the way through the needle safety device while holding the needle tip within the needle safety device as the needle is pulled through the needle safety device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The safety device of claim 17, wherein said elastic element acts alone in providing said restoring force to the jaws during normal operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the elastic element comprises a tension ring or tension spring mounted to the jaws, respectively. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 19, wherein the tension ring or tension spring is mounted to a mounting structure provided on each of the jaws. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 20, wherein the mounting structure comprises a projection, a hook, and/or a mounting recess. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 17, wherein the elastic element comprises an elastic ring connected to extensions extending in a transverse axial direction from a side of the jaws. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The needle safety device in accordance with claim 17, wherein at least one of the jaws has an angled end section at its free end, which extends towards the other one of the jaws in a direction generally perpendicular to the axial direction. ### Claim 24 A needle safety device for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising: a base portion having a bore extending along a longitudinal center axis therethrough for receiving a needle having a needle tip and a needle shaft; an elastic element; and two opposing jaws extending from the base portion generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion in the region of its free end, wherein the needle safety device includes a locking projection for securing the needle safety device to the medical device, wherein the elastic element is connected to an end or to a projection extending from the end of one of the jaws, and further wherein the elastic element is connected to a portion underneath an end or to a projection extending from underneath an end of another one of the jaws, and still further wherein the elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws are capable of being spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element that is provided in an axial direction on one side of the needle shaft, and also providing a restoring force transverse to the axial direction on another side of the needle shaft in order to hold the needle tip within the needle safety device as the needle is pulled through the needle safety device.