Pre-filed retractable needle injection device
AssigneeSpecialized Health Products, Inc.
InventorsJohn M. Barker, Thor R. Halseth, Michael J. Botich, Robert L. Hall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A needle-bearing device for injecting medicinal fluid from a pre-filled vial is provided. After use, the needle is retracted into the body of the device to prevent inadvertent contact with the sharpened end of the needle. In one embodiment, the invention provides a manually actuable button that effectuates retraction of the needle after use. In another embodiment, retraction is effectuated automatically after the injection is complete.
Claims17
A needle-bearing medical device having a retractable needle with a sharpened tip for penetrating the skin of a patient for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, the device being operable in connection with a fluid container, wherein the device comprises:
- a barrel having an opening for receiving the fluid container;
- a needle retainer positioned in the barrel and holding the needle axially to project forwardly from the barrel in an initial configuration;
- a biasing element biasing the needle rearwardly;
- and
- an actuating member positioned in the barrel and operable by the user to affect automatic retraction of the sharpened tip of the needle into the barrel after use, wherein actuation of the actuating member is operable by urging the rear of the fluid container axially forwardly.
A medical device operable in connection with a fluid container, comprising:
- a housing having an opening for receiving the fluid container;
- a needle having a sharpened tip movable between a projecting in which the sharpened tip project forwardly from the housing and a retracted position in which the sharpened tip of the needle is within the housing;
- a biasing element biasing the needle toward the retracted position;
- and
- a needle retainer operable between a first position in which the needle retainer releasably retains the needle in the projecting position against the bias of the biasing element and a second position for permitting movement of the needle into the retracted position;
- wherein displacement of the fluid container toward the needle retainer operates to displace the needle retainer into the second position for permitting retraction of the sharpened tip to the retracted position.
A method for establishing fluid communication between a patient and a fluid container for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, comprising the steps of:
- providing a medical device having a housing and a needle projecting forwardly from the housing;
- biasing the needle into the housing;
- providing a releasable connection between the housing and the needle to releasably retain the needle against the bias;
- providing a fluid container having a pierceable seal;
- inserting the fluid container into the housing;
- piercing the seal to provide fluid communication between the fluid container and the needle;
- inserting the needle into the patient to transmit fluid between the patient and the fluid container;
- and
- axially advancing the fluid container so that the fluid container engages the connection between the housing and the needle to automatically retract the needle into the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.