Safety cover for syringe needles

Abstract

A syringe needle safety cover includes a pair of jaw members pivotally mounted in diametric sides of a syringe barrel to move between a closed position, wherein the jaws are longitudinally abutting, and an open position. A groove in each jaw cooperates to form a tubular aperture between the jaws into which the needle is encased. In one embodiment, the jaws are attached to a barrel of a syringe. In a second embodiment, the jaws are attached to an adapter which fits between a conventional syringe and a conventional needle. In a third embodiment, the jaws are attached to the base of a needle, and may be connected to any conventional syringe. The jaws are provided with locking clips which lock the jaws together around the needle. Another embodiment of the invention provides a fluid-tight safety cover by the insertion of a split gasket-type seal, one portion of the gasket being attached to each jaw. The gasket material is compressible, such that it will surround a portion of the needle and seal fluids into the tubular aperture. A mechanical actuator may be provided for any one of the embodiments of the invention, and includes a pair of lever arms which are connected at one end to each jaw and at the other end to an actuator bar. The actuator bar is thumb-actuated, and moves along the syringe barrel, causing the jaws to open, or close, depending upon the direction of movement of the actuator bar.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.