Medical syringe abstract
A medical syringe holder is described which comprises a base for
holding a hollow syringe needle holder in an inclined position and
having an annular elastic collar for engaging and retaining the
needle cover when the syringe is withdrawn from the device.
Medical syringe claims
What is claimed:
1. A device for holding a medical syringe which comprises: a base
adapted to receive and hold a syringe needle holder means comprising
a hollow, enclosed receptacle, which is disposed in an inclined
position relative to said base with its lower end resting therein;
an elongated hollow tube being disposed within said receptacle with
an illuminated annular elastic collar means at one end proximate
the upper end of said inclined receptacle for engaging the cover
surrounding a medical syringe needle when said needle and cover
are inserted into said elongated tube and for retaining said cover
when the syringe needle is withdrawn therefrom.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said collar means frictionally
engages and retains said needle cover.
Medical syringe description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a holder for a medical syringe
needle. More particularly, the present invention is directed to
a device for facilitating the transportation and use of one or more
syringes which contain medication to be administered by injection
to individuals. The device of the invention also permits the rapid
labeling and identification of medication in dosages in the syringes
and allows the health care personnel to administer the medication
and safely dispose of the used syringe using only a single hand
for the entire operation thereby minimizing the likelihood of accidental
needle punctures and freeing up the health care worker's other hand
for other operations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Increasing concern with regard to the administering of proper medications
and dosages in medical treatment facilities as well as an increasing
awareness of the hazards from communicable diseases which can be
transmitted from accidental syringe needle punctures has made it
increasingly important to provide a technology for efficiently and
safely holding and transporting syringes which have been charged
with the appropriate medication. It is equally important that the
charged syringes be readily and easily available to the health care
worker who is administering the injection so that they can be removed
rapidly with a single hand and subsequently disposed of safely after
the medication has been administered.
While various devices have been proposed in the prior art for holding
syringes, these devices have for the most part had as their objective
only the sheathing of the needle on the syringe and have not been
designed to provide a system for safe and easy transport of the
syringe which has previously been charged with the appropriate dosage
of medication.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
U.S. Pat. No. 4742910 to Staebler describes a needle sheath holder
which is adapted to be held in the hand of a medical technologist
during sheathing and unsheathing of needles.
U.S. Pat. No. 4332323 to Reenstierna describes a device for the
destruction of a hypodermic syringe needle which permits the needle
attached a hypodermic syringe to be bent or broken so that it is
no longer usable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4559042 to Votel describes an elongated tubular
enclosure or receptacle for use with disposable syringe needles.
U.S. Pat. No. 3226007 to Thies et al. describes a disposable
carton which is used for temporary storing and disposal of medical
devices including syringes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the device of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cutaway section illustrating the hollow enclosed receptacle
of the invention with the cylindrical needle holding unit disposed
therein.
FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of the annular elastic collar which
fits in the end of the elongated syringe needle holder and which
retains the needle cover when the syringe needle is withdrawn from
the unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a device is described for holding
and transporting a medical hypodermic syringe which comprises a
base for receiving and holding a syringe needle and a holder which
is essentially a hollow enclosed receptacle. Disposed within the
syringe needle holder is an elongated hollow tube with an annular
elastic collar at one end to engage the cover sleeve which surrounds
and protects medical syringe needles. The syringe needle holder
and the elongated receptacle tube rests at an inclined position
in a base so that the upper end of the receptacle and the tube to
which the annular elastic collar is attached project upward to receive
the jacketed syringe needle. When the syringe needle is withdrawn
from the elongated hollow tube, the elastic collar retains the jacket
so that the needle is ready for use and does not require further
manipulation. To facilitate use of the device of the invention in
low light environments, the elastic collar which engages the jacket
surrounding the syringe needle is conveniently provided with a reflective
or phosphorescent material so that it is visible. Although the device
of the present invention has been described as a unitary system,
it can be formed in a series of interlocking or otherwise attached
units to provide a series of syringe needle holders which can conveniently
be transported from one location to another with syringes already
charged with predetermined dosage of medication. Once the syringe
has been used and the medication expended, the entire syringe and
needle can be quickly and easily reinserted into the unit for disposal
later on.
The present invention will however be more completely understood
by having specific reference to the drawings which illustrate a
preferred embodiment thereof. Directing attention to FIG. 1 which
shows a perspective view of the device of the present invention,
the unit consists of a generally rectangular base 1 having a concave
section 3 which accommodates the hollow enclosed syringe needle
holder 2 such that the lower end of the syringe needle holder 6
is actually disposed within the recess 3. The base 1 is further
provided with an upwardly extending projection or foot 8 upon which
the underside of the syringe needle holder rests to provide an inclined
orientation. The upper end 7 of the syringe needle holder is provided
with an annular elastic collar 5 which in fact is at the mouth or
opening of the elongated hollow tube disposed within the needle
holding receptacle.
Directing attention to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the elastic
collar 5 is illustrated showing the centrally disposed aperture
for receiving and retaining the jacket surrounding the syringe needle.
An additional annular ring 9 is provided of luminescent material
to assist in identifying the aperture and surrounding collar in
low light situations. This ring can for example be made of a luminescent
or phosphorescent material or a highly reflective material which
facilitates illumination when lighting is poor such as in rooms
employed to read x-rays.
Directing attention to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the syringe needle
holder 2 is depicted in a cutaway drawing as showing the hollow
elongated tube 11 disposed therein. Conveniently, a base member
16 is provided at the bottom of the needle holder for supporting
the hollow tube 11. The remote end of the tube 11 is fitted with
a structure 14 that attaches to the support 16. Although not shown
in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the end 13 of the hollow tube 11 is adapted
to receive the elastic collar which engages and retains the jacket
which is conventionally used to protect and envelope the needle
of syringes. As shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, this annular collar
which fits within the tube 11 is provided with a constricted neck
10 which forms a small orifice into which the syringe needle and
its surrounding jacket can be inserted. Upon withdrawal of the syringe
needle, the jacket is however retained by the constricted neck 10
so that the needle jacket actually remains within the orifice. Once
the syringe has been used, the needle can be returned conveniently
to the jacket retained in the orifice 10 with only the need for
the use of one hand.
Although not illustrated in the drawings, it is convenient to provide
the base 1 of the device of the invention with a friction material
such as felt which facilitates engagement on the surface on which
the device is placed and avoids movement of the device when the
needle is being withdrawn or replaced. It will further be appreciated
that the device of the present invention can easily be fabricated
of a number of materials such as plastic or metal. Preferably however,
the unit is made of lightweight plastic with a felt or rubber bottom
to prevent slipping. The weight of a typical single unit is therefore
about four ounces so that the device can easily be carried about
with the precharged syringes ready for use. The invention therefore
has considerable utility both in the transport of syringes which
have been prepared for use with medication and to prevent needle
sticks which can transmit contagious diseases. With the syringe
needle and needle cover attached, personnel remove only the cover
by inserting the needle and the cover into the holder and pulling
the syringe and needle cut, leaving only the needle cover inside
the holder thereby making it almost impossible for personnel to
come in contact with the bare needle. |