Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Patent
1994-07-05
1996-07-23
Yasko, John D.
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
604263, 128919, A61M 500
Patent
active
055385087
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is a 371 of PCT/GB93/01615, filed Jul. 30, 1993.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a protective device for a needle of a syringe, catheter or similar medical appliance for human or animal use.
Various protective devices of this kind are known for an elongate needle of the aforementioned kind having a base at one end and a point at an opposing end, which devices include a blocking surface end means which extends from the base and which supports the blocking surface, the blocking surface having a hole and being movable at least towards the base to allow the needle to extend through the hole. However these have generally suffered from the disadvantages of being relatively expensive in a field where low cost is of the greatest priority due to the large volume required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel inexpensive and effective protective device of the kind described.
The invention provides a needle protective device which includes a tubular member which is made from a resilient flexible material and which has a first end which is engageable with a hub of a needle, a second end, an end cap which is attached to the second end and which is made from a relatively hard material, the end cap having a blocking surface in which is formed a hole through which a point of the needle can pass, and a generally tubular section between the first end and the second end, having disposed about its circumference a plurality of axial cut outs in the wall of the tubular member extending over a greater portion of its length.
There may be more there are preferably two axial cut outs which are more preferably diametrically opposed to each other.
The cut outs may be in the form of slots but in a preferred embodiment are in the form of slits.
According to a further preferred feature of the invention the slits terminate at either end in round holes. These holes are advantageous in that they prevent the slits from tearing.
While not essential it is preferred that at least one gripping means is provided on the exterior of the tubular member. The provision of the gripping means enables the tubular member to be gripped for stretching over the needle hub and the end cap during assembly.
The gripping means may take various forms. In one form, the gripping means consists of a flange on the tubular member at or adjacent each end. In another form the gripping means includes a plurality of formations disposed about the circumference of the tubular member. These formations may be in the form of lugs or alternatively in the form of ribs extending over at least a substantial portion of the length of the tubular member.
When the gripping means is in rib form it serves a further purpose of stiffening the tubular member.
In addition the tubular member may have protruding laterally therefrom at or adjacent each and a registration tab. This tab is used to locate and orientate the end cap in the vibrating bowls used to feed the end caps during an automated process for assembling them onto the tubular members.
The end cap may include a chamber which is open at one end which is attached to the said second end of the tubular member, the blocking surface being located at an opposing end of the chamber, with a passage being formed inside the chamber leading to the opening.
The end cap may internally also be provided with one or more formations adapted to guide the needle point to the mouth of the passage when the needle is displaced sideways within the end cap.
The tubular member may be made from a transparent material but could alternatively be made from an opaque coloured material.
The end cap is preferably made from a transparent material so that at least the point of the needle is visible.
The tubular member is preferably made from silicone rubber. It has been found that the tubular member can be made in a normal rubber injection moulding process using medical grade liquid silicone rubber. The silicone rubber preferably has a Shore hardness of approximately 30-80
REFERENCES:
patent: 2674246 (1954-04-01), Bower
patent: 4725267 (1988-02-01), Vaillancourt
patent: 4955866 (1990-09-01), Corey
patent: 4978344 (1990-12-01), Dombrowski et al.
patent: 4998922 (1991-03-01), Kuracina et al.
patent: 5015240 (1991-05-01), Soproni et al.
patent: 5098401 (1992-03-01), DeLange
patent: 5250031 (1993-10-01), Kaplan et al.
patent: 5256152 (1993-10-01), Marks
patent: 5295972 (1994-03-01), Mischenko
patent: 5304148 (1994-04-01), Lannoye et al.
LandOfFree
Needle protective device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Needle protective device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Needle protective device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-709716