Medical syringe abstract
An instrument for protecting the user of a medical syringe from
being pricked by its needle when unsheathing or resheathing the
needle. The instrument has an upper member releasably mounted atop
a disposable container. A vertical passage through the upper member
empties through a hole into the container. The passage has a coned
entry mouth enabling the user to guide the sheathed needle end of
a syringe into the passage. A cam in the upper member is pivotable
to hold the sheathed needle in the passage, so that the user may
pull on the syringe and separate its needle end from the sheath;
or later, the user may reinsert the used needle end of the syringe
into the cammed sheath and, upon twisting the syringe, separate
it from the needle to allow the separated resheathed needle to drop
into the container following release of the cammed condition; or
the user may in the latter case instead of twisting the syringe
simply release the cammed condition to allow the resheathed needle
attached to the syringe to be withdrawn from the instrument.
Medical syringe claims
What is claimed is:
1. An instrument for removing sheathed needles comprising: a container
lower member having a broad base and a coned body with a threaded
truncated open top end; and an upper member having an annular shoulder
at its bottom end defining a threaded cap threadedly engaged onto
the top end of the container member, the upper member having a neck
portion extending axially upward from the shoulder and terminating
in a head provided with a coned cavity, the coned cavity merging
at its bottom with a narrow passage extending axially down through
the neck portion and communicating with the open top end of the
container member, the neck portion having a vertically extending
slot through its side wall opening into the narrow passage, a cam
element pivotably mounted between opposed walls of the slot, the
cam element having a handle portion extending externally of the
slot and having at its opposite end a cam surface which cam surface
is movable into the narrow passage as the cam element is pivoted
by its handle in one direction and is movable out of the narrow
passage as the cam element is pivoted by its handle in an opposite
direction, the coned cavity serving as a guide to manual entry of
a sheathed end of a medical syringe down into the narrow passage,
and the cam element being adapted upon being pivoted in the one
direction to press its cam surface against the sheathed end of the
syringe to allow the syringe to be manually drawn free of its sheathed
end, and the cam element being adapted upon being pivoted by its
handle in the opposite direction to free the cam surface from the
sheathed end to allow the separated sheathed end to drop down the
narrow passage into the container below.
2. An instrument for removing sheathed needles as in claim 1 wherein
a hand guard extends radially from the surface of the head, the
guard serving as a rest for steadying the hand of the user when
entering the sheathed end of the syringe down the coned cavity and
into the narrow passage.
3. An instrument for holding a sheathed end of a medical syringe
to enable separation of the sheathed end from the syringe and for
effecting its disposal subsequent to its separation, the instrument
comprising: a disposable container 1 having a broad base and an
open threaded top end; and an upper member having a peripheral shoulder
about its bottom defining a threaded cap threadedly engaged over
the open threaded top of the container, a neck portion extending
axially upward from the shoulder and terminating in a head at its
top end, the head having a coned cavity merging at its bottom with
a vertical passage extending down through the neck portion and opening
into the container, the coned cavity serving as a guide to manual
entry of the sheathed end of a medical syringe into the vertical
passage, the neck portion having a vertical slot through a side
thereof opening into the vertical passage, and a manually operable
cam element pivotably mounted between opposed walls of the slot
adapted upon being pivoted in one direction to enter a cam end thereof
into pressed engagement with the sheathed end of a medical syringe
entered into the passage whereby the sheathed end is subject to
separation from the syringe upon manual actuation of the syringe
in a predetermined direction, and the cam element is adapted upon
being pivoted in an opposite direction to move its cam end clear
of the separated sheathed end whereby the sheathed end may drop
down the passage into the disposable container below.
4. An instrument for removing sheathed needles comprising a container
lower member having a broad base and an open threaded top end; and
an upper member having an annular shoulder at its bottom defining
a threaded cap threadedly engaged over the threaded top end of the
container, the upper member having a neck portion extending axially
upward from the shoulder and terminating in a head at its top, the
head having a coned cavity merging at its bottom with a vertical
passage extending down through the neck portion and communicating
with the open top of the container, the neck portion having a vertical
slot through a side thereof opening into the vertical passage, and
a manually operable cam element pivotably mounted between opposed
walls of the slot adapted upon being pivoted in one direction to
enter and restrict the vertical passage and adapted upon being pivoted
in an opposite direction to clear the vertical passage.
5. An instrument for removing sheathed needles as in claim 4 wherein
the container has a coned body with a truncated open top end.
Medical syringe description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to an instrument for protecting the
user of a medical syringe from the hazards of needle pricking and
possible contamination often occurring when he is unsheathing, resheathing,
and disposing of the syringe needle.
A medical syringe is used for injecting liquids into or withdrawing
them from the body. Often during its use the user is accidentally
pricked by its needle. He may then be subjected to infection, especially
when the syringe has been applied to a person having a communicable
disease. One does not always know whether the person is diseased
until after the liquid has been examined. Owing to the facts that
such dangerous infectious diseases as hepatitis and AIDS are transmitted
by blood and other body fluids, the consequences of accidental pricking
of the user by the needle can be devastating. Such accidental pricking
usually occurs when the user is unsheathing, resheathing or disposing
of the needle of the syringe.
The conventional medical syringe has a tubular body provided at
its bottom with a tip, known as a luer tip. The conventional needle
has a plastic hub at its rear which has a connection with the tip
requiring the application of a twisting force to effect a separation
of the one from the other. Before being put to use the needle is
protectively covered by a tubular sheath. The sheath has a splined
engagement with the hub of the needle and may be removed by pulling
it away from the hub. And the sheath with the needle attached may
be separated from the syringe by manually twisting the syringe relative
to the needle. Although unwise and not recommended, occasionally
after use the needle is resheathed as a protective measure for its
disposal. It is during these actions of the userin unsheathing,
resheathing, and disposing of the needle that accidental pricking
of the user occurs.
Accordingly, a general object of this invention is to provide an
instrument which can be employed by the user of a syringe to enable
him to protectively unsheath, resheath and dispose of the needle
of a syringe without danger of his being pricked by the needle.
A more particular object of the invention is to provide an instrument
in which the sheathed end of a syringe may be inserted and clamped
in place so as to enable the user to apply a pulling force on the
syringe to effect unsheathing of the needle from the sheath, or
to apply a twisting force to the syringe to effect a separation
of the needle with the sheath attached from the syringe; and which
instrument includes a container at its bottom into which the sheath
and needle when removed will drop for disposal upon a releasing
of the clamped condition of the sheath.
A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive
instrument of simple construction which is practical and efficient
for the foregoing purposes.
The invention further lies in the particular structure and arrangement
of its components as well as in their mode of association with one
another to effect the objects and advantages intended herein.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is an instrument having an upper member with a vertical
passage through it opening into a lower disposable container member.
The container has a screw connection with the upper member to allow
removal of the one from the other. The passage is designed with
a coned mouth enabling a guided entry of the sheathed needle end
of a syringe into the passage. A manipulative cam in the passage
is operable to hold the entered sheathed needle in place to permit
the sheath or the sheath together with the needle to be separated
from the syringe. The syringe is of conventional make. The needle
has a hub removably engaged by a twist connection with the syringe;
and the sheath is removably splined to the hub. Accordingly, when
the sheath is held in the passage of the instrument by the cam,
a manual pulling action applied to the syringe will separate the
sheath from the needle; and, when the syringe is manually twisted
relative to the cammed sheath, the sheath together with the needle
on which it is mounted will be separated from the syringe. When
the cammed condition is manually released, the separated items will
drop through the passage of the instrument into the disposable container
below. When the container is filled to a guide line marked upon
it, it should be unscrewed from the upper member and discarded with
its contents. Except for a small entry hole for receiving the separated
items, the container is otherwise closed as a safeguard against
spilling of its contents. Further, the container is of a material
through which a view may be had of its contents; and it is formed
of an unbreakable material to avoid breakage of the container and
spilling of its contents in the event it is dropped.
The foregoing structure of the invention, its features and advantages
will become increasingly apparent as this specification unfolds
in greater detail and as it is read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawing wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It
is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for
purposes of illustration and description, and it is not to be construed
as defining the limits of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the accompanying drawing:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an instrument embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and shows in broken
line the camming element in its camming position; and
FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale showing a conventional medical
syringe with needle and sheath attached, the hub of the needle being
shown partly in section, the sheath being shown partly in section
and the sheathed end of the syringe being shown inserted in the
upper member of the instrument in cammed condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawing and in such concise manner as to enable persons having ordinary
skill in the art to make and use the same.
The instrument embodying the invention, as illustrated in the drawing,
includes a lower member or container 1 atop which is mounted an
upper member 2. The upper member is structured to enable the user
to remove the sheath 3 and needle 4 from a conventional medical
syringe 5 and causing both to drop into the container below without
the user at anytime manually contacting either the sheath or the
needle.
The container has a coned body 6 which is truncated at its top
and has a broad base 7. The coned body and broad base provide substantial
stability to the instrument, whereby it is difficult for the instrument
to be accidentally tipped over. A transversely extending cover or
wall 8 with the exception of a small center hole 9 in the wall,
closes the top end of the container, whereby the contents of the
container are virtually sealed in and blocked against escape. The
container has a short annular neck 11 at its top, which is threaded
about its periphery, as at 12 for screw engagement with a cap 13
defined by a complementary base end of the upper member 2.
The upper member has a head portion 14 provided with a coned entry
mouth or cavity 15 which opens at its bottom into a narrow vertical
cylindrical passage 16. The latter passage extends down through
a neck section 17 of the upper member and opens through the cap
13 at the base of the upper member. The open bottom end of passage
16 registers with a hole 9 that opens into the container 1 below.
A slot 18 opens through the side wall of the neck section into the
passage 16; and pivoted between the walls of the slot on a pin 19
is a cam element 21 having an externally projecting handle 22. When
the handle is manually actuated clockwise, (broken line in FIG.
2), a cam end surface of the cam element is carried into the passage
16; and when the handle is actuated counter-clockwise, the cam end
surface is carried clear of the passage. The passage is of a diameter
sufficient to receive with slight clearance the sheathed needles
of conventional diameters.
In making use of the instrument, when the sheath is to be removed
from the needle, the sheathed end of the syringe will be guided
down the coned cavity 15 into the passage 16. The cam element 21
will then be pivoted clockwise into cammed contact with the sheath
to hold it fast, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The user will then pull
outwardly on the syringe to draw the needle out of the sheath. He
may then use the syringe to inject the needle into a patient.
After the needle has been used and it is desired to discard it,
the user, while holding the syringe, will then guide the unsheathed
needle down the coned cavity and into the sheath that is still being
held fast in the passage 16 by the cam element. Next, the user will
manually twist the syringe relative to the sheathed needle to effect
separation of the needle from the syringe. And finally, as the user
pivotally releases the cam element from the sheathed needle, the
needle and sheath as a unit will drop out of the passage and through
the hole 9 into the container below. If, instead, the user merely
chooses to resheath the needle and remove the syringe with the needle
attached from the passage 16 he will after inserting the needle
into the sheath release the cam. He may then withdraw the syringe
and the sheathed needle as a unit from the passage.
The container is formed of material, which may be translucent or
transparent, so as to enable the user to visually note when it is
filled for disposal. A colored mark 20 on the container serves to
indicate to the user the point at which the container is to be considered
filled. When the container is filled, it may be manually unscrewed
from the upper member and discarded. The material of which the container
is formed is of an unbreakable nature, such as plastic, so that
if the instrument is accidentally dropped, the container will not
break open and spill its contents.
A hand guard 24 mounted to the upper member overhangs the cam handle.
It serves as a further protective measure to guard against contact
of the user's hand with the needle of the syringe when he is entering
the needle end of the syringe into the upper member.
While an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described
in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is
not limited thereto. Various changes in form, design or arrangement
may be made in its components without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. It is our intent, therefore, to claim
the invention not only as shown and described, but also in all such
forms and modifications or equivalents thereof as might be construed
to be within the spirit of the invention when considered in the
light of the specification, the drawing and the appended claims. |