Self retracting medical needle apparatus and methods

A method for using an apparatus which safely retracts a medical needle directly from a patient into a container after completing a medical procedure comprising the steps of:

• providing an extendable apparatus comprising a container into which the medical needle is retracted, the medical needle initially disposed for protection within apparatus and attached to a linear motion energy storage member which receives needle retraction energy when the apparatus is extended and a removable needle cover and which is activated by a trigger, the container comprising a deformable portion which communicates with a trigger which accessible through the deformable portion;
• extending the apparatus, thereby positioning the needle for use in the medical procedure, cocking the trigger and storing energy in the linear energy storage member;
• exposing the needle by removing the needle cover;
• introducing the medical needle into the patient;
• performing the medical procedure;
• accessing the deformable portion by placing a portion of a users hand thereover;
• depressing the deformable portion thereby triggering release of the linear energy storage member and thereby safely retracting the medical needle into the container.

Apparatus for transporting and using and then safely retracting a medical needle directly from a patient into a container after use, said apparatus comprising:

• the container comprising:
• one end through which the medical needle passes when retracted;
• another end which is moved apart from the medical needle to permit extension of said apparatus whereby the apparatus and the medical needle are configured for use in a medical procedure;
• at least one container based catch for an associated latch whereby said apparatus is securely affixed in the extended configuration;
• a portion of the container comprising force communicating means through which a trigger is activated in combination with a releasable latch, to cause the needle to be released for safe retraction into the container;
• a needle cover releasibly coupled to the container at the one end, the needle cover in combination with the container providing a protective barrier for contents of the cover and container prior to extending the apparatus;
• a medical needle assembly disposed for transport and storage within said cover and container, said assembly comprising:
• the medical needle comprising a sharpened point for entry into a patient and a pathway for flow of medical and physiological fluids;
• connector hub means comprising:
• a secure attachment to the medical needle;
• the releasable latch which is integrally joined to the attachment and which is affixed to the needle support catch when the apparatus is extended to secure the medical needle for use in the medical procedure;
• the trigger means for releasing the medical needle from being affixed by the needle support catch and releasable latch when acted upon via force through the communicating means of the container portion;
• and
• a connecting hub which is integral with said attachment and which affixes said assembly to a linear motion energy storage member;
• the needle support catch which is disposed in a predetermined position to thereat be engaged with the releasable latch when the apparatus is extended;
• the linear motion energy storage member comprising an elastic tube having a first end which is proximal to the connecting hub and a second end which is distal from the connecting hub, said member being attached to the connecting hub at the first end for storing medical needle retraction energy in the elastic tube as the other end of the container and needle are moved apart as the apparatus is extended, said tube also providing a lumen which acts as a pathway for medical and physiological fluids which pass through said needle.

Apparatus for transporting and using and then safely retracting a medical needle directly from a patient into a container after use, said apparatus comprising:

• the container into which the needle is retracted;
• the medical needle through which medical and physiological fluids flow;
• an elastic tube is which is directly joined to said medical needle, stretched to store energy required for retraction of the medical needle and which comprises a lumen which serves as a pathway for the medical and physiological fluids;
• at least one member which compresses the elastic tube when stretched to assure a smaller internal volume of the elastic tube lumen when the elastic tube is stretched and a larger internal volume of the elastic tube lumen when the elastic tube is unstretched.

A method for retracting a medical needle into a container for safe containment without regurgitating fluid outwardly from said needle comprising the steps of:

• providing the container into which the needle is retracted;
• providing the medical needle which is disposed outside the container for use in a medical procedure and which is retracted into said container at the end of the procedure;
• providing an elastic tube which is securely affixed to the needle, stretched to provide retraction energy for the needle and which inherently comprises a lumen which provides a pathway for fluids passing through said needle, said lumen comprising a rest volume when the elastic tube is in an unstretched state;
• compressing the exterior of the elastic tube when stretched to reduce the volume of the lumen without closure of the lumen to a volume which is less than the rest volume;
• and
• retracting the needle as the elastic tube is elastically relaxed substantially to the unstretched state without compressing the exterior of the elastic tube thereby permitting the lumen of the elastic tube when relaxed to be greater than the lumen of the elastic tube when stretched, said larger volume of the relaxed tube being the result of forces inherent in the tube which assure retention of fluid within the lumen as the tube is shortened.