Hinged shield assemblies and related methods
AssigneeB. Braun Melsungen AG
InventorsJanko Bubenik, Heckmann Harald, Harms Volker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the shield assemblies include a shield that is pivotably secured to a needle hub. A ball-and-socket hinge secures the shield and the hub to one another. The assembly includes a reversible shield lock to hold the shield in the needle-protected position.
Claims9
A hinged shield assembly configured to shield a needle to prevent needlesticks, the assembly comprising:
- a needle hub including a first hinge part, the needle extending from the needle hub;
- and
- a shield including a second hinge part that engages the first hinge part to pivotably secure the shield to the hub, the shield further including a plurality of side walls configured to partially surround the needle when the shield assembly is in a protected position;
- wherein one of the first and second hinge parts defines a first ball and a second ball and the other of the first and second hinge parts defines a first socket and a second socket, the first and second sockets receiving the first and second balls in pivotable engagement.
A method of making a hinged shield assembly configured to shield a needle to prevent needlesticks, the assembly including a needle hub and a shield, the shield further including a plurality of side walls configured to partially surround the needle when the shield assembly is in a protected position, the method comprising:
- forming the needle hub with a first hinge part and extending the needle from the needle hub;
- forming the shield with a second hinge part;
- and
- engaging the first hinge part and the second hinge part with one another to pivotably secure the shield to the hub;
- wherein one of the first and second hinge parts defines a first ball and a second ball and the other of the first and second hinge parts defines a first socket and a second socket, the first and second sockets receiving the first and second balls in pivotable engagement.
A method of using a hinged shield assembly to shield a needle to prevent needlesticks, the assembly including a needle hub and a shield, the shield further including a plurality of side walls, the method comprising:
- pivoting the shield with respect to the hub about a hinge that pivotably secures the shield to the hub;
- continuing to pivot the shield with respect to the hub until the side walls partially surround the needle in a protected position;
- and
- locking the shield with respect to the hub or with respect to the needle in the protected position;
- wherein pivoting the shield with respect to the hub about the hinge comprises pivoting a first ball within a first socket and pivoting a second ball within a second socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.