Safe blood collection system
AssigneeMBO Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsJacob B. Blecher, Miles C. O'Donnell, William McCormick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety needle and blood collection and sampling system precluding needlstick injury by contaminated needles wherein a used needle is captured immediately within its carrier upon retraction of the needle flush with the carrier. Blood sampling is effected without reverse flow through the system and without reuse or exposure of a contaminated needle. Simplified techniques of assembling the needle are also set forth to minimize cost with maximum reliability notwithstanding a minimum of components.
Claims20
A safety needle and safe blood collection system comprising:
- a needle having a distal portion terminating in a pointed end and a proximal end,
- a body having means for receiving the needle for sliding movement therein and, said body having a front surface through which the needle distal portion may be extended by sliding movement from said body and retracted into said body, and,
- movable safety means cooperatively associated with said needle and said body for permitting movement in only one direction for blocking immediately and positively reemergence of said needle distal portion through said body front surface immediately upon retraction of the point of said needle to a position flush with and overlying said body front surface, thereby retaining said needle distal portion within said body with no portion thereof extending or projecting outwardly from said body,
- said safety means having a configuration for precluding reversing movement in the opposite direction thereof to a position permitting reemergence of said needle distal portion from said body, said safety means including an imperforate blocking flange disposed in adjacent relation to said body front surface when said needle is extended therefrom, and spring means for urging said flange into adjacent overlying relation to said body front surface upon retraction of said needle into said body,
- whereby a used needle cannot have its point or adjacent distal portion reexposed for hazard and injury after initial retraction thereof into said body.
The method of fabricating a safety needle system comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated needle,
- providing a carrier for slidably receiving the needle therein, with said carrier having a U-configuration to define an elongated groove for receiving the needle and open to one side, and a front surface through which the needle extends,
- providing a spring including a front flange,
- affixing said spring to said carrier to dispose said spring flange in spring-urged pressing relation against said needle immediately adjacent said carrier front surface, and further mounting said spring to block said carrier open side, thereby to prevent needle dislodgement from said groove,
- whereby upon slidable retraction of said needle into said carrier to a position flush with said carrier front surface, said flange is spring pressed to move in front of said surface and block needle movement therepast.
The method of fabricating a safety needle system comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated needle,
- providing a carrier for slidably receiving the needle therein, with said carrier having a front surface through which the needle extends and may be retracted,
- providing a one-piece metallic spring including an imperforate front blocking flange and laterally disposed resilient legs having gripping surfaces,
- affixing the spring to said carrier for movement in only one direction by snapping the resilient legs over and against either side of the carrier to dispose said imperforate flange in spring-urged pressing relation against the needle immediately adjacent said carrier front surface with the spring under tension,
- whereby upon slidable retraction of the needle to a position flush with the carrier front surface, the imperforate flange is spring pressed to move in front of said surface and block sliding needle movement from the carrier therepast.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.