# US 10,441,715 B2 · Devices and methods for protecting a user from a sharp tip of a medical needle

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- Number: US 10,441,715 B2
- Document ID: US10441715B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/718,470
- Filed: 2017-09-28
- Published: 2018-01-18
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2008-06-02
- Assignees: EMED Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: EMED Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Paul Lambert
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441715B2

## CPC

- A61M 5/158: Needles {for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body}
- A61M 5/162: Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube
- A61M 5/1626: {Needle protectors therefor (in combination with syringes A61M5/3202; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001)}
- A61M 5/32: Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub (infusion needles A61M5/158); Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body; Devices for protection of needles
- A61M 5/321: {Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles}
- 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)}
- A61M 5/3257: {Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means}
- A61M 25/0618: {having means for protecting only the distal tip of the needle, e.g. a needle guard}
- A61M 25/0637: {Butterfly or winged devices, e.g. for facilitating handling or for attachment to the skin}
- A61M 5/3216: {Caps placed transversally onto the needle, e.g. pivotally attached to the needle base}
- A61M 5/3275: {being connected to the needle hub or syringe by radially deflectable members, e.g. longitudinal slats, cords or bands}
- A61M 2005/1581: {Right-angle needle-type devices}
- A61M 2005/3217: {Means to impede repositioning of protection cap from needle covering to needle uncovering position, e.g. catch mechanisms}
- A61M 2005/325: {Means obstructing the needle passage at distal end of a needle protection sleeve}
- A61M 2005/3256: {having folding ring sections}
- 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

There are disclosed devices and methods for protecting a user from a sharp tip of a medical needle. In an embodiment, a device includes a central body portion, a medical needle having a sharp tip, a pair of wings in attachment to the central body portion, and a hook-and-loop fastening system disposed on at least one of the wings, and configured to selectively attach the wings together with the medical needle positioned between the wings so as to protect a user from the sharp tip of the medical needle. In another embodiment, a method includes withdrawing a sharp tip of a medical needle from a patient, closing a pair of wings with the medical needle positioned between the wings, and fastening the wings together with the medical needle positioned between the wings so as to protect a user from the sharp tip of the medical needle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for protecting a user from a sharp tip of a winged medical needle, the device comprising:
a central body portion;
a winged medical needle located in the central body portion; the winged medical needle having a first end in fluid connection with a delivery tube, and a second end distal from the central body portion including the sharp tip; wherein the winged medical needle is substantially perpendicular to the delivery tube,
a pair of wings, each wing of the pair of wings having an inner region and an outer region, the inner region of each wing in attachment to the central body portion, the outer region of each wing extending away from the central body portion, and the pair of wings being selectively positionable from an open position to a closed position, where the pair of wings in the open position are spaced apart from each other to expose the winged medical needle to allow placement of the winged medical needle into a treatment site and delivery of a medicinal fluid;
and wherein the pair of wings in the closed position cover the winged medical needle to protect against accidental needle stick injury from the winged medical needle;
a mechanical fastener disposed on at least one wing of the pair of wings, the mechanical fastener configured to selectively attach the pair of wings together in the closed position with the winged medical needle positioned therebetween to protect against accidental needle stick injury from the sharp tip of the winged medical needle;
the mechanical fastener including a lip extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of at least one wing of the pair of wings, and a mating portion along a perimeter of at least one other wing of the pair of wings, and wherein the mating portion and the lip are configured to align the at least one wing relative to the at least one other wing in the closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein each wing, of the pair of wings, is capable of extending generally planarly away from the central body portion; the pair of wings disposed in opposition to one another with the winged medical needle positioned therebetween.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the pair of wings are capable of serving as a handle by folding back each wing of the pair of wings such that at least a portion of one wing of the pair of wings is in contact with at least a portion of the other wing of the pair of wings.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a handle extending from the central body portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the handle extends away from the central body portion in opposition to the medical needle and in a direction from the second end to the first end of the medical needle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pair of wings have a circular shape.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pair of wings include rigid material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pair of wings include semi-rigid material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pair of wings have a rectangular shape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of wings forms a groove therein with a size for housing the medical needle after the pair of wings are attached to one another.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a handle extending from the central body portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the groove is formed in a single one of the pair of wings.