Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-12
2002-02-19
Kennedy, Sharon (Department: 3763)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C604S263000, C206S365000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06348044
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to the medical industry, and particularly relates to a method and apparatus for safe, one-handed recapping (re-sheathing) and/or subsequent un-capping (un-sheathing) of single-use hypodermic needles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The prior art is replete with devices and methods for providing storage or other protection for a cap of a needle. The prior art likewise includes methods and apparatuses for providing “single-hand” attachment and detachment of caps from their respective needles. In particular, the prior art discloses the use of a clay-like or other “sticky” materials to insert grip the caps of needles, such as shown in Stein (U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,169) and Marsh (U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,223).
Particular attention is directed towards the Stein and the Marsh references. As may be seen, each of these references disclose the use of a deformable support material contained by a receptacle. In each of the patents the receptacle can be adhesively attached to a supporting surface by use of an adhesive (as an example see 36 in the Marsh patent).
Although the prior art includes advantages, needs still exist in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes deficiencies in the prior art by providing a disposable device which can be temporarily placed on a supporting surface to allow for one-handed uncapping and recapping of single use, disposable hypodermic needles.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for safely handling single use, disposable hypodermic needles.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for uncapping said hypodermic needles.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for recapping said hypodermic needles.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles which provides improved safety features.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles which provides improved ergonomic features.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles which provides improved cost and convenience features.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4717386 (1988-01-01), Simmons
patent: 4737149 (1988-04-01), Gillilan
patent: 4859515 (1989-08-01), Pothetes
patent: 4979945 (1990-12-01), Wade et al.
patent: 4986817 (1991-01-01), Code
patent: 5078695 (1992-01-01), Farrar, Jr. et al.
patent: 5078696 (1992-01-01), Nedbaluk
patent: 5279577 (1994-01-01), Collett
patent: 5334151 (1994-08-01), Santilli
patent: 5358111 (1994-10-01), Greenberg
patent: 5399169 (1995-03-01), Stein
patent: 5469964 (1995-11-01), Bailey
patent: 5607403 (1997-03-01), Kretzschmar et al.
patent: 5769223 (1998-06-01), Marsh
patent: 6257408 (2001-07-01), Odierno
Bond Walter W.
Coletti George D. N.
Alston & Bird LLP
Kennedy Sharon
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