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US 2003/0149403 A1Published application
Combination safety needle assembly medical apparatus
AssigneeMDC Investment Holdings, Inc.
InventorsJohn Barker, Michael J. Botich, Thor R. Halseth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for using a medical device (10) comprised of a medical apparatus (20) and a needle assembly (30). The needle assembly includes a needle (70) having a sharpened tip. Preferably, the medical apparatus (20) is a standard apparatus, such as a syringe or phlebotomy device. The medical apparatus (20) includes a connector (24), such as a Luer connector. The needle assembly (30) is configured so that it can be attached to the medical apparatus (20) and the sharpened tip of the needle (70) is automatically shielded after use to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle.
Claims21
A medical device, comprising:
- a syringe, comprising:
- a barrel;
- a plunger slidably displaceable within the barrel;
- a needle assembly, comprising:
- a housing adapted to receive the syringe;
- a needle operable between an extended position in which the needle projects forwardly from the housing and a retracted position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is enclosed within the housing;
- a biasing element biasing the needle toward the retracted position;
- a needle retainer releasably retaining the needle in the extended position against the bias of the biasing element;
- wherein upon forward displacement of the syringe relative to the needle retainer, the needle is released for retraction so that the biasing element retracts the needle into the housing.
6 more elements
A medical device, comprising:
- a barrel;
- a needle assembly connected with the barrel having a needle operable between an extended position in which the needle is exposed for use and a retracted position in which the needle is shielded to prevent inadvertent contact with the sharpened tip of the needle;
- a biasing element biasing the needle toward the retracted position;
- and
- a needle retainer releasably retaining the needle in the extended position against the bias of the biasing element;
- wherein after use of the device, the needle retainer releases the needle and the needle is displaced into the retracted position under the biasing force of the biasing element.
3 more elements
A safety medical device, comprising:
- a medical apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a first connector attached to the housing;
- a shielded needle assembly, comprising:
- a needle having a sharpened tip;
- a shield surrounding at least a portion of the housing, operable between a retracted position in which the sharpened tip of the needle projects forwardly from the shield and an extended position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is enclosed within the shield;
- a second connector cooperable with the first connector to attach the needle to the housing;
- a biasing element biasing the shield forwardly relative to the housing toward the extended position;
- a retainer releasably retaining the shield in the retracted position against the bias of the biasing element;
- and
- means for releasing the shield from the retainer in response to advancing the housing forwardly relative to the shield, wherein upon releasing the shield, the biasing element displaces the shield into the extended position.
9 more elements
A method for assembling and using a safety medical device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a sterile needle assembly, comprising a needle having a sharpened tip, a shield and a first connector;
- providing a sterile medical apparatus, comprising a housing and a second connector;
- sealing the sterile needle assembly and the sterile medical apparatus within one or more containers to prevent contamination of the needle assembly and medical apparatus from becoming contaminated;
- removing the needle assembly and medical apparatus from the one or more containers;
- connecting the first connector to the second connector to attach the needle assembly to the medical apparatus;
- performing a medical procedure with the combined medical apparatus and needle assembly;
- retaining the shield against advancing over the sharpened tip of the needle during the step of performing a medical procedure;
- automatically releasing the shield and displacing the shield to enclose the sharpened tip of the needle in response to axial displacement of the housing relative to the shield.
5 more elements
A method for assembling and using a safety medical device, comprising the steps of:
- providing a sterile needle assembly, comprising a needle having a sharpened tip, a shield and a first connector;
- providing a sterile medical apparatus, comprising a barrel for receiving medicine, a plunger slidable within the barrel, and a second connector;
- sealing the sterile needle assembly and the sterile medical apparatus within one or more containers to prevent the needle assembly and medical apparatus from becoming contaminated;
- removing the needle assembly and medical apparatus from the one or more containers;
- connecting the first connector to the second connector to attach the needle assembly to the medical apparatus;
- injecting medicine from the barrel and through the attached needle assembly by displacing the plunger forwardly within the barrel;
- retaining the shield against advancing over the sharpened tip of the needle during the step of injecting medicine;
- automatically releasing the shield and displacing the shield to enclose the sharpened tip of the needle in response to axial displacement of the plunger.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.