Safety needle apparatus and method
OwnerLouis R. DeMichele, John L. DeMichele +1inventors
InventorsLouis R. DeMichele, John L. DeMichele, Michael B. McDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a safety catheter that automatically sheaths the needle upon withdrawal of the needle from a patient. The catheter can include a plunger for drawing a vacuum to draw blood or alternatively may delete the plunger and use nearly identical components with the addition of a blocking plug. The catheter also includes a cap/re-cap device that provides additional sheathing of the needle during assembly, shipping, and use of the needle. It also includes raised indicia that serves as a trademark as well as a friction gripping surface. The catheter includes improved catheter hub mounting structure as well as strengthened ribbed areas for grasping during use of the catheter.
Claims8
An improved needle apparatus comprising in combination:
- a. a first housing having a first end;
- b. a needle secured to said first housing, extending beyond said first end, and having a point which can be injected into a patient;
- c. a second housing movably captured with respect to said first housing, said second housing having a first end and an opposite end, wherein said first housing and needle are manually movable, with respect to said second housing, between a needle exposing position at which said needle point is outside said second housing, and a needle sheathing position at which said point is withdrawn into said second housing after said needle is fully withdrawn from a patient to prevent an accidental needle stick;
- and
- d. a one-piece removable cap having a first end adapted for engaging said first housing to provide a sheath for said needle, and also having a second end adapted for engaging said second housing to provide a sheath for said needle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.