Special receptacle or package – For a tool – Body treatment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-07-10
Gehman, Bryon P. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For a tool
Body treatment
C206S365000, C206S563000, C211S085130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257408
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to medical safety equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a safety device for safely sheathing and unsheathing a needle and securely holding a needle.
A major concern for many health care providers is the risk of being exposed to infectious diseases. Of particular concern is the common but potentially life-threatening act of handling hypodermic needles. Health care providers handle hypodermic needles in a variety of settings for a variety of reasons. Included in the uses of hypodermic needles is the administration of medications and the drawing of blood and other bodily fluids. Whenever a used hypodermic needle is handled though, there exists the possibility that the health care provider handling the needle may be accidentally or inadvertently pricked by the now used needle. According to the latest figures available, it is estimated that at least 600,000 health workers accidentally prick themselves each year.
Previously, devices aimed at reducing the potential of inadvertent self-inflicted needle pricks by health care workers proposed have been unduly complicated to manufacture and use. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,964, there is disclosed a device that receives the sheath of a needle and engages the sheath by way of rotatable locking means. The device disclosed therein is complex in construction and thus not conducive for use as a disposable device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a needle sheathing safety device that securely holds the cap of a hypodermic needle, thereby reducing the user's risk of being inadvertently pricked when sheathing and unsheathing the needle.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a needle sheathing safety device that securely holds the needle of a hypodermic needle, thereby reducing the user's risk of being inadvertently pricked when sheathing and unsheathing the needle.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a needle sheathing safety device that is easily manufactured and operated.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a needle sheathing safety device that retains the needle cap and needle in a secure location for convenient and safe re-sheathing.
This invention results from the realization that an easier to use and therefore safer needle sheathing safety device is effectuated by a needle sheathing safety device having a plurality of spaced openings for grasping and securely holding a hypodermic needle and cap. This invention features a container body housing; and a plurality of spaced apart and axially aligned openings for grasping and securely holding a needle cap and needle in the body housing. In most embodiments, the body housing is configured to position the user's hands free and clear of the needle during the sheathing and unsheathing operation. Additionally, the plurality of axially aligned openings preferably has means for securely retaining the needle cap and needle in the device.
In another embodiment, the needle sheathing safety device has a multiple of plurality of axially aligned openings for accommodating the sheathing, unsheathing and retaining of multiple of needles.
In most embodiments the axially aligned openings are U-shaped to better accept the portion of the hypodermic needle disposed therein. Of course, the openings may take on other shapes as well, such as squared corners. The plurality of axially aligned openings generally comprises an opening located at an end of the body housing and a second of the plurality of openings disposed in the body housing yet in relative close proximity to the opening located in the end of the body housing. The combined configuration of the opening located in the end of the body housing and the second opening positioned next thereto operate to grasp and retain the needle and needle cap in the needle sheathing safety device of the present invention. Other openings which are also axially aligned with the end opening are most often disposed in the body housing for grasping and retaining the needle cap.
This invention is preferably constructed of lightweight, needle puncture-resistant and inexpensive materials such as hard plastics. The important feature of the materials of construction is that the materials prevent the penetration of the needle, thereby alleviating the risks of inadvertent needle pricks. The body housing is generally configured so that the user need not hold the device in the vicinity of the sheathing and unsheathing process. The invention may also be attached to a work surface, thereby obviating the risk that a health care provider prick their free hand with the hypodermic needle.
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patent: 5472433 (1995-12-01), Suzuki
Government Urges Use of Safer Needles, Associated Press Article, usatoday.com, Nov. 22, 1999.
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