US 5,487,734 AGranted

Self retracting catheter needle apparatus and methods

AssigneeSpecialized Health Products, Inc.

InventorsGale H. Thorne, David L. Thorne

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for both blood withdrawal and catheter insertion systems. Invention manufacture requires only a minimal number and complexity of parts such that a projected manufacturing cost is potentially low enough to permit the apparatus to be cost competitive with contemporary non-self retracting needle systems. Methods for making and assembling the disclosed embodiments is also disclosed. Energy storing retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts and may be used for both blood withdrawal and catheter needles. Triggerable release mechanisms generally comprise two parts or two segments of one part molded about a medical needle. Each release mechanism involves one part or segment which is securely affixed to the needle and one part or segment which is free to slide and rotate about the needle. The blood withdrawal embodiment effectively inhibits regurgitant flow from the needle. The catheter insertion embodiment captures blood effluent from the catheter upon retraction of the needle. One catheter embodiment comprises a compressibly closable member used to occlude blood flow after the needle is withdrawn. In all embodiments, needle retraction is a single handed operation permitting a technicians other hand to be used in wound care. Use of frangible parts permits the apparatus housing to be hermetically sealed and used as a transport container to further reduce apparatus costs.

A disposable, single-use, self-retracting catheter insertion needle assembly and housing in which the needle assembly is stored and transported, said needle assembly comprising:

the housing having a manually distortable section, providing a medically safe transport package for the needle assembly, and having an exit and reentry end for a portion of the needle assembly;
a needle cover disposed for transport within the housing and being a part of the portion;
an elongated medical needle disposed within the housing and further within the needle cover and having a sharpened end disposed toward the exit and reentry end of the housing;
a catheter disposed about the elongated needle;
a needle cover attachment hub disposed about said medical needle and separably attachable to and detachable from the needle cover, said cover attachment hub being disposed about said needle during transport and before and during blood withdrawal but separable therefrom;
said cover attachment hub further comprising a latch which, for needle insertion, is positioned to lock said needle assembly at a predetermined position relative to said exit and reentry end whereat the needle extends outward from said housing and is thereby positioned for use;
a distal part of the assembly firmly affixed to said medical needle at at least an end of the assembly distal from the sharpened end, said distal part comprising:
a separable attachment between the distal part and said cover attachment hub;
an attachment release apparatus integrally associated with said separable attachment and disposed in close communication with an internal surface in close communication with the distortable section of said housing such that the release apparatus is actuated by manual distortion of that section of said housing;
means for affixing said needle assembly to a linear motion force storage apparatus which derives return energy for needle retraction from needle extension through the needle exit and reentry end.

7 more elements

Facts

Application

08/436,976Filed 8 May 1995 · continuation in part

Priority

10 Jan 1995

Granted

30 Jan 1996

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification33 codes

A61B 5/150488
Double-ended needles, e.g. used with pre-evacuated sampling tubes: details of construction of shaft
A61B 5/15003
Source of blood: for venous or arterial blood
A61B 5/150259
Construction or design features not otherwise provided for; manufacturing or production; packages; sterilisation of piercing element, piercing…:…
A61B 5/150274
Construction or design features not otherwise provided for; manufacturing or production; packages; sterilisation of piercing element, piercing…:…

Abstract

Claims11