Surgery – Means for introducing or removing material from body for... – Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-13
2001-01-30
Yasko, John D. (Department: 3736)
Surgery
Means for introducing or removing material from body for...
Treating material introduced into or removed from body...
C604S195000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179812
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to retractable needle medical devices and, more particularly, to a mechanism for retracting a contaminated needle in order to render a needle-bearing medical device safe after use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various types of medical devices include a needle for insertion into the skin of a patient. Such needles are inserted into the skin to serve various diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. For example, a traditional injection syringe is provided with a needle for facilitating a passageway into the patient for injecting fluid into, or withdrawing fluid from, the patient. A traditional phlebotomy apparatus is provided with a needle for withdrawing fluid from a patient and transmitting the withdrawn fluid into an evacuated receptacle. A catheter stylet is provided with a needle for piercing the skin and supporting a catheter cannula on the stylet while the cannula is guided into a desired position within the patient. Each of the aforementioned needle-bearing medical devices can cause transmission of various pathogens, most notably the Human Immune Virus (HIV), due to an accidental needle stick of an uninfected person after the needle is withdrawn from the patient.
It would be desirable to provide a needle retraction mechanism for permanently and reliably retracting a used or contaminated needle into the needle-bearing medical device in order to render the medical device in a safe condition after use. It would further be desirable to provide such a mechanism in a configuration that does not interfere with the customary uses of needle-bearing medical devices, is resistant to undesired activation by forces normally encountered in the use of such medical devices, and can be easily operated without a significant change in the techniques employed by the medical professionals who use needle-bearing medical devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a needle retention mechanism for mounting a needle to a medical device such that the needle can be retracted into the medical device subsequent to use thereof to reduce the risk of infection from an inadvertent prick. The needle retention mechanism comprises a spring housing positioned in the forward end of the device having a front alignment aperture for allowing the needle to extend therethrough from within the spring housing. A spring is positioned within the spring housing for exerting a rearward bias upon the needle. The rear of the spring housing comprises a needle retainer having axially extending resilient fingers for retaining the rearward end of the needle against the bias exerted by the spring. An actuating member is positioned within the device and has an engagement surface formed thereon for operatively engaging the rear of the spring housing to flex the resilient fingers outward in order to allow the spring to propel the needle into the interior of the device. The actuating member further has a needle receiving cavity formed therein for receiving the retracted needle.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the needle retention mechanism can be adapted for retaining needles upon such medical devices as hypodermic syringes, catheter insertion devices, phlebotomy devices, and other hand-held needle-bearing instruments. In the hypodermic syringe, the actuating member provides a piston for withdrawing or injecting fluid into or from a patient. In the phlebotomy device, the actuating member is positioned within a barrel for supporting a rearward extending linking needle for piercing an evacuated fluid collection vial. In the catheter insertion device, the actuating member is fitted with a porous vent plug so that the actuating member cavity provides a blood flashback chamber for ensuring proper placement of a catheter within a patient.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention are made apparent in the following detailed description.
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Botich Michael J.
Halseth Thor R.
Dann, Dofman, Herrell and Skillman
Eland Stephen H.
MDC Investment Holdings Inc.
Yasko John D.
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