US 4,731,059 A · Combination needle shield/needle guard device positively locked onto detachable needle assemblies for an evacuated blood collection system and a hypodermic syringe

Abstract

This invention relates to a combination needle shield/needle guard device that is positively locked onto detachable needle assemblies for an evacuated blood collection system and for a hypodermic syringe. More particularly, this invention can: (1) function as a needle shield to enclose and prevent contamination of the sterile needle to be used for a medical procedure; (2) function as a needle guard which can slide on a length extension for either needle assembly, such that the needle can be uncovered or re-covered in a direction from behind the needle point, thereby providing a safety feature for the operator who can avoid direct contact with a used, blood-contaminated needle point. Avoidance of direct contact with used needle points will reduce the likelihood of contracting blood-borne infections such as AIDS, infectious hepatitis, syphilis etc. that might occur following accidental puncture with contaminated needles; (3) provide improved securing for an evacuated blood collection system between the double-ended needle assembly and the container holder, thereby preventing the double-ended needle assembly from unlocking with the container holder during the process of withdrawing blood into an evacuated container and (4) improve blood withdrawing success with the blood evacuated collection system and with a large volume syringe. This occurs by the addition of a length extension which separates the wide girth of the container holder or the wide girth of a large volume syringe barrel from close approximation to the needle used for withdrawing blood, thereby permitting more shallow or acute angle access of needle entry into a blood vessel during blood withdrawing procedures.

A first embodiment of an evacuated blood collection system with a combination needle shield/needle guard device positively locked onto a double-ended needle assembly, the invention comprising;

said evacuated blood collection system with said double-ended needle assembly comprising first needle, second needle, housing having a forward end and a rear end, said first needle extending outwardly from forward end of said housing, and said first needle adapted for insertion into a patient's blood vessel, said second needle extending outwardly from rear end of said housing, said second needle enveloped by self-recoverable elastic sheath, said second needle adapted for insertion into stopper of evacuated container;
a means within said housing of double-ended needle assembly for directing fluid flow unidirectionally from said first needle to said second needle which is engaged into said evacuated container;
threads on rear exterior of said housing of double-ended needle assembly, said threads with double lead-in threads;
container holder with internal mating threads on its forward end, said internal mating threads with double lead-in threads;
the improvements of our invention for said first embodiment of an evacuated blood collection system comprising;
said double-ended needle assembly with extended housing between said first needle extending outwardly from forward end of said extended housing and said second needle extending from rear end of said extended housing, groove system on said extended housing, said extended housing with double external protrusions strategically located on rear exterior of said extended housing;
a needle shield/needle guard device comprising a hollow cylindrical housing sealed at its proximal end with an integral pull-off tab, an internal protrusion extending internally from distal inner wall of said cylindrical housing;
a means for positive locking said needle shield/needle guard device into first extended lock position of said extended housing of double-ended needle assembly which prevents the forward clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of said needle shield/needle guard device in relation to front end of said extended housing;
a means for said needle shield/needle guard device as a needle shield to enclose said first sterile needle;
a sterile package container for said double-ended needle assembly;
a means for removal of said double-ended needle assembly with positively locked needle shield/needle guard device from said sterile package container;
a container holder with duplicate groove systems and notches located at strategic distances from each other;
a primary means for engaging and securing said double-ended needle assembly to said container holder by a simultaneous clockwise rotation of said needle shield/needle guard device and said extended housing without separate clockwise rotation of said needle shield/needle guard device in relation to said extended housing of double-ended needle assembly;
a means for alignment of longitudinal groove on said extended housing of double-ended needle assembly with one of two longitudinal grooves of said container holder;
said means for alignment of said longitudinal grooves also providing a secondary locking means for securing of said double-ended needle assembly to said container holder;
a means for aperture formation on proximal end of said cylindrical housing of said needle shield/needle guard device;
a means to provide resistance for retraction of said cylindrical housing of said needle shield/needle guard device in relation to said extended housing of double-ended needle assembly;
a means for said cylindrical housing as a needle guard after said aperture has been formed, such that said cylindrical housing can retract distally into retracted lock position on said container holder, uncovering said first needle;
a means provided to facilitate movement of said cylindrical housing from said first extended lock position to said retracted lock position;
a means for positively locking said cylindrical housing into said retracted lock position which prevents the forward, backward, and clockwise rotation of said cylindrical housing in relation to front end of said container holder;
a tertiary means for locking said double-ended needle assembly to said container holder;
a length extension of said extended housing of double-ended needle assembly providing means for shallow or acute angulation to insert said first needle into planar surface of skin and blood vessel;
a means for said cylindrical housing as a needle guard, such that said cylindrical housing can re-extend into second extended lock position on said extended housing of double-ended needle assembly, re-covering said first needle from behind needle point of said first needle;
a means provided to facilitate movement of said cylindrical housing from said retracted lock position to said second extended lock position;
a means for positive locking said cylindrical housing into said second extended lock position on said double-ended needle assembly which prevents the forward, backward, clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of said cylindrical housing in relation to said extended housing of double-ended needle assembly;
and
a means for disengaging said double-ended needle assembly from said container holder while maintaining coverage of said first needle with said cylindrical housing.

24 more elements

Combination needle shield/needle guard device positively locked onto detachable needle assemblies for an evacuated blood collection system and a hypodermic syringe

Life of this patent

Combination needle shield/needle guard device positively locked onto detachable needle assemblies for an evacuated blood collection system and a hypodermic syringe

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims45