US 6,443,929 B1Granted

Needle tip guard for hypodermic needles

AssigneeInjectimed, Inc.

InventorsThomas C. Kuracina, Randall E. Ohnemus, Craig W. Smith, Richard Cohen

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A needle tip protective device. In one embodiment the needle tip protective device includes a needle guard that is slidably mounted on a hypodermic needle having a needle tip located at the distal end of the needle. The needle guard contains a movable needle trap that is biased against or toward the hypodermic needle. The needle trap advances over the tip of the needle, entrapping the needle tip as the needle guard is urged forward near the sharpened distal end of the hypodermic needle. A tether, or other limiting means, limits the forward movement of the needle guard along the needle. In one embodiment, the needle guard is manually urged forward along the shaft of the needle by the user. In yet another embodiment, a spring, or other biasing means, is used to move the needle guard along the shaft of the needle.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A needle protective device comprising:

a) a needle guard slidably mounted on a needle having a proximal end and sharpened distal end, said needle having at least one change in profile formed upon the length thereof, said guard having a proximal end and a distal end, said guard containing a moveable needle trap that is transitional between a first retracted configuration wherein said trap is oriented against said needle and a second operative configuration wherein said needle trap traps said sharpened distal end of said needle;
and
b) a limiting apparatus formed upon said needle guard and engageable with said change in profile formed upon said needle for limiting the distance said needle guard slidably travels upon said needle, said limiting apparatus being operative to engage with said change in profile substantially simultaneously with when said needle trap transitions from said first retracted configuration to said second operative configuration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/144,398Filed 31 Aug 1998 · continuation
Priority: 27 Feb 1996
Granted: 3 Sep 2002
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification32 codes

A61B 5/15003
Source of blood: for venous or arterial blood
A61B 5/150389
Design of piercing elements: hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
A61B 5/150488
Double-ended needles, e.g. used with pre-evacuated sampling tubes: details of construction of shaft
A61B 5/150496
Double-ended needles, e.g. used with pre-evacuated sampling tubes: details of construction of hub, i.e. element used to attach the double-ended…

Family

Application60/012,343Us provisional application · filed 27 Feb 1996
Application60/025,273Us provisional application · filed 12 Sep 1996
Application60/031,399Us provisional application · filed 19 Nov 1996
Application08/807,328Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Feb 1997
US 5,879,337 AParent of this continuation
US 6,443,929 B1This patent

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