US 5,314,414 AGranted

Hypodermic needle guard and method to prevent needle stick injuries

AssigneeNeedlepoint Guard, Inc.

InventorsLawrence W. Hake, Michael R. Flodman

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Abstract

A needle guard and a method to prevent needle stick injuries are disclosed, for use with a hypodermic syringe or other instrument with a sharp point. The needle guard, comprises a protective sleeve with a fitting, that may be used with or added to a syringe and needle assembly. The interior of the fitting contains an annular core adapted to permanently engage the fitting on the syringe barrel. Radial arms extending from the core align and cooperate with the slidable sleeve. Prior to and during use of the needle, the sleeve remains in a retracted position covering the barrel of the syringe. After the needle has been used, the sleeve is pushed forward into its locked extended position, so that the end of the sleeve extends beyond the tip of the needle. The tip of the needle is thereby shielded, preventing accidental sticks.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A needle guard for a hypodermic syringe assembly, the assembly being of the type ineluding a hypodermic needle and a syringe barrel having a needle hub portion adjacent the hypodermic needle, the needle guard comprising a separate assembly which is attachable to the syringe assembly and which in combination therewith maintains cither a non-protective or an irreversible protective configuration for the needle, said necdie guard comprising in combination:

a separate, attachable fitting having a generally annular core and a plurality of radially extending elastic arms ending in a tang extending from the annular core, the interior portion of the core having deformable engagement means adapted to cooperatively mount the fitting in a fixed position on the needle hub portion of the syringe, the deformable engagement means including means to penetrate the surface of the needle hub portion of the syringe;
a hollow protective sleeve on the fitting, said sleeve having an interior surface adapted to slidably coact with the fitting, an exterior surface, a distal end and a proximal end;
guide means for slidably connecting the interior surface of said sleeve and the radially extending arms of said fitting, said sleeve thereby being movable on the fitting axially in the direction of the length of the needle between a non-protective retracted position exposing the needle and a protective, extended position covering the needle;
and
means for irreversibly locking said sleeve only in the protective, extended position relative to said fitting, whereby axial and rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the fitting is prevented, and the sleeve in the protective, extended position protrudes beyond the tip of the needle such that the sleeve defines a guard which irreversibly prevents further access to the needle once the sleeve has been moved to the extended position.

2 more elements

A needle guard for a hypodermic syringe assembly, the assembly being of the type ineluding a hypodermic needle and a syringe barrel having a needle hub portion adjacent the hypodermic needle, the needle guard comprising a separate assembly which is attachable to the syringe assembly and which in combination therewith maintains either a non-protective or an irreversible protective configuration for the needle, said needle guard comprising in combination:

a separate, attachable fitting having a generally annular core, a throughbore for mounting on the needle hub, and a plurality of radially extending elastic arms ending in a tang extending from the annular core, the fitting having deformable and frictional engagement means adapted to cooperatively mount the fitting in a fixed position on the needle hub portion of the syringe, the deformable engagement means ineluding means to penetrate the surface of the needle hub portion of the syringe;
a hollow protective sleeve on the fitting, said sleeve having an interior surface adapted to slidably coact with the fitting, an exterior surface, a distal end and a proximal end;
guide means for slidably connecting the interior surface of said sleeve and the radially extending arms of said fitting, said sleeve thereby being movable on the fitting axially in the direction of the length of the needle between a non-protective retracted position exposing the needle and a protective, extended position covering the needle;
and
means for irreversibly locking said sleeve only in the protective, extended position relative to said fitting, whereby axial and rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the fitting is prevented, and the sleeve in the protective, extended position protrudes beyond the tip of the needle such that the sleeve defines a guard which irreversibly prevents further access to the needle once the sleeve has been moved to the extended position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/052,259Filed 23 Apr 1993 · continuation in part
Priority: 2 Mar 1989
Granted: 24 May 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A61M 5/3271
Being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the syringe barrel: with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle…
A61M 5/3243
Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles: being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the…
A61M 2005/3253
Constructional features thereof, e.g. to improve manipulation or functioning: disconnecting the needle hub from the syringe barrel during removal…
A61M
Devices for delivering substances into the body

Family

Serial317,733Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Mar 1989
Serial704,359Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 May 1991
US 5,256,153 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,019,051 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,314,414 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.