# US 7,611,486 B2 · Needle retraction structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,486 B2 - Document ID: US7611486B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/525,377 - Filed: 2006-09-22 - Published: 2007-03-22 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-22 - Assignees: Tyco Healthcare Group LP - Inventors: Scott Jones; George Clark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611486B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/158: Needles {for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body} - A61B 5/15003: {for venous or arterial blood} - A61B 5/150259: {Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape} - A61B 5/150389: {Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin} - A61B 5/150503: {Single-ended needles (hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396)} - A61B 5/150587: {by friction fit} - A61B 5/150633: {Protective sleeves which are axially extensible, e.g. sleeves connected to, or integrated in, the piercing or driving device; pivotable protective sleeves} - A61B 5/150656: {semi-automatically triggered, i.e. in which the triggering of the protective sleeve requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means} - A61B 5/150717: {manually removed} - A61B 5/15074: {Needle sets comprising wings, e.g. butterfly type, for ease of handling} - A61B 5/1535: {comprising means for indicating vein or arterial entry (A61B5/1545 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/153: {Devices} specially adapted for taking samples of venous or arterial blood, e.g. with syringes - A61M 5/3257: {Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means} - A61M 25/02: Holding devices, e.g. on the body - A61M 25/0631: {having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle} - A61M 25/0637: {Butterfly or winged devices, e.g. for facilitating handling or for attachment to the skin} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A safety needle device is provided having any elongated housing and a needle assembly movable within the elongate housing. Retraction structure is provided to move the needle assembly from an extended position relative to the elongate housing to a retracted position within the elongate housing. A blocking member is provided to immobilize the retraction structure prior to use. The blocking member is insertable between the retraction structure and the associated elongate housing and/or the needle assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A safety needle device comprising: an elongate housing; a needle assembly movably mounted from an advanced position to a retracted position located within the elongate housing; a retraction spring positioned in the housing to urge the needle assembly towards the retracted position; an actuator secured to the needle assembly and movably mounted from a first position preventing movement of the needle assembly from the advanced position to the retracted position to a second position allowing movement of the needle assembly from the advanced position to the retracted position; and a blocking member removably positioned relative to the actuator to prevent movement of the actuator from the first position to the second position, wherein the actuator includes a release button which is positioned to engage a distal portion of the elongate housing when the actuator is in its first position to retain the needle assembly in the advanced position, the release button being positioned to slide within the elongate housing when the actuator is moved to its second position to permit movement of the needle assembly towards the retracted position, the blocking member being positioned between the needle assembly and the release button. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The safety needle device as recited in claim 1, wherein the blocking member is a safety sheath positioned about a needle of the needle assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The safety needle device as recited in claim 1, wherein the spring is affixed to the elongate housing to bias the needle assembly proximally within the elongate housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The safety needle device as recited in claim 1, wherein the needle assembly includes an elongate needle and a tube extending from the elongate needle. ### Claim 5 A safety needle device comprising: an elongate housing; a needle assembly movably mounted from an advanced position to a retracted position located within the elongate housing; a retraction spring positioned in the housing to urge the needle assembly towards the retracted position; a retraction mechanism operatively associated with the needle assembly to move the needle assembly from the advanced position to the retracted position within the elongate housing, the retraction mechanism including an actuator secured to the needle assembly and movably mounted from a first position preventing movement of the needle assembly from the advanced position to the retracted position to a second position allowing movement of the needle assembly from the advanced position to the retracted position; and a blocking member removably positionable on the needle assembly such that the retraction mechanism is disabled when the blocking member is positioned on the needle assembly, wherein the actuator includes a release button which is positioned to engage a distal portion of the elongate housing when the actuator is in its first position to retain the needle assembly in the advanced position, the release button being positioned to slide within the elongate housing when the actuator is moved to its second position to permit movement of the needle assembly towards the retracted position, the blocking member being positioned between the needle assembly and the release button. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The safety needle device as recited in claim 5, wherein the retraction spring is positioned between the actuator and the elongate housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The safety needle device as recited in claim 6, wherein the spring is positioned within a first chamber of the elongate member and the needle assembly is positioned in a second chamber of the elongate member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The safety needle device as recited in claim 7, wherein the first and second chambers have parallel longitudinal axes which are offset from each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The safety needle device as recited in claim 8, wherein a first end of the spring is affixed to a spring mount of the actuator and a second end of the spring is affixed to the elongate housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The safety needle device as recited in claim 5, wherein the release button is movable between a first position engageable with the elongate housing and a second position disengaged from the elongate housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The safety needle device as recited in claim 5, wherein the needle assembly includes a needle and a tube extending proximally from the needle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The safety needle device as recited in claim 11, wherein the actuator is affixed to the tube. ### Claim 13 A method of preventing inadvertent retraction of a spring biased safety needle comprising: providing a safety needle having an elongate housing including an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a needle assembly movably mounted from an advanced position to a retracted position located within the elongate housing and an actuator, wherein a release button is operatively disposed at a distal end of the actuator and a spring mount is operatively disposed at a proximal end of the actuator, each of the release button and spring mount is slidable within the upper chamber of the elongate housing, the release button movably mounted from a first position preventing movement of the needle assembly from the advanced position to the retracted position to a second position allowing movement of the needle assembly from the advanced position to the retracted position; and providing a removable blocking member on the safety needle in engagement with the release button of the actuator such that the blocking member prevents movement of the release button from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the step of providing a removable blocking member includes positioning a removable blocking member between the release button and the needle assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the needle assembly includes a tube and the step of providing a removable blocking member includes positioning a removable blocking member between the release button and the tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the needle assembly further includes a needle extending distally from the tube and, the removable blocking member includes a surety sheath, wherein the step of providing a removable blocking member includes the step of inserting the safety sheath over the needle and between the tube and the release button.