US 5,843,041 AGranted

Hypodermic needle guard and method to prevent needle stick injuries

OwnerLawrence W. Hake, Michael R. Flodmaninventors

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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.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A needle guard for a hypodermic syringe assembly having a syringe barrel and a hypodermic needle mounted on a needle hub that is attachable on and detachable from said syringe barrel, said needle guard comprising a separate guard assembly which is attachable to said syringe assembly and which in combination therewith maintains either a non-protective or an irreversible protective configuration with respect to said needle, said needle guard comprising:

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

2 more elements

A needle guard for a hypodermic syringe assembly including a hypodermic needle and a syringe barrel having a lead 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 nonprotective or a protective configuration for the needle, said needle guard comprising in combination:

a separate attachable fitting having an exterior portion and an interior portion, the interior portion being adapted to cooperatively mount in a fixed position on the lead portion of the barrel by frictionally, removably engaging the lead portion of the barrel;
a hollow, protective sleeve on the fitting, said sleeve having an interior surface adapted to coact with the fitting, and exterior surface, a distal end and a proximal end;
guide means for slidably connecting the interior surface of said sleeve and the exterior portion 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 retaining said sleeve in the protective, extended position covering the needle, said means for retaining being comprised of at least one member located on the exterior surface of the fitting extending from the fitting, and an outwardly extending lip extending from the member, the lip being biased radially outward to engage the sleeve, and the sleeve being adapted to engage the lip in the extended position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/771,173Filed 20 Dec 1996 · continuation
Priority: 2 Mar 1989
Granted: 1 Dec 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A61M 5/3243
Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles: being axially-extensible, e.g. protective sleeves coaxially slidable on the…
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 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
Serial52,259Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Apr 1993
Serial247,858Parent of this continuation · filed 23 May 1994
Serial630,171Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Apr 1996
US 5,314,414 AParent of this continuation
US 5,256,153 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,019,051 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,843,041 AThis patent

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