Safety syringe abstract
A safety syringe and cap holding device for holding a syringe which
also allows the syringe to be capped and uncapped while minimizing
exposure of the user's hands to the hazard of needle sticks. The
cap holding device can be powered electrically or mechanically,
and can be selectively operated by a user.
Safety syringe claims
What is claimed is:
1. A safety syringe and cap holding device comprising: a syringe
having a body portion and a needle assembly interconnected with
the body portion, the needle assembly including a needle and a hub;
a cover removably attached to the hub and covering the needle; a
housing having a receptacle for receiving the cover; and means in
the housing for disengaging the cover from the hub to allow the
syringe and needle assembly to be withdrawn from the housing for
use while the cover remains in the housing.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hub comprises at least
one recess disposed annularly about the hub.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the cover comprises at least
one protrusion for engagement with the at least one recess of the
hub.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for disengaging
the cover comprises a linkage system in the housing for moving the
at least one protrusion out of engagement with the at least one
recess for disengaging the cover from the hub.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the linkage system comprises
one or more hooks for engaging one or more handles on the cover
for disengaging the at least one protrusion away from the at least
one recess to disengage the cover from the hub.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the linkage system is actuated
remotely from the housing.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for disengaging
the cover comprises one or more solenoids in the housing for moving
one or more hooks for engaging one or more handles on the cover
for disengaging the at least one protrusion from the at least one
recess to disengage the cover from the hub.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the plurality of solenoids
are actuated remotely from the housing.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means in the housing
for selectively retaining or releasing the cover from engagement
within the housing.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for selectively
retaining or releasing the cover comprises a linkage system in the
housing for engaging and disengaging a tip of the cap.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for selectively
retaining or releasing the cover comprises one or more solenoids
having one or more hooks for engaging and disengaging the cap in
the holder.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the housing comprises a weighted
base.
13. A method of using a syringe comprising: providing a needle
assembly including a hub, a needle, and a cover interconnected with
the hub and covering the needle; engaging the needle assembly with
a syringe body; inserting the needle assembly into a housing; activating
a device within the housing to permit the needle to be withdrawn
from the cover; and using the syringe.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising reinserting the
syringe body and needle into the cover in the housing and actuating
the device to remove the syringe body, needle assembly, and cover
from the holder.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of activating the device
comprises actuating a switch remote from the needle.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of activating the
device comprises depressing a foot switch.
17. The method of claim 13 further comprising retaining the cover
to remain in the housing when the syringe is being used.
Safety syringe description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority of Provisional Patent
Application Serial No. 60/452981 filed Mar. 7 2003 the entire
disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a device for holding a
dental or medical syringe for safe and convenient capping and uncapping
of the needle on the syringe.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] The use of needles and syringes in medical and dental applications
is widespread. However, the danger of needle sticks inheres in all
stages of syringe use, e.g., assembly, uncapping, injection, recapping,
disassembly, and discarding. Where deadly diseases can be transmitted
by inadvertent needle sticks, the desirability of preventing such
inadvertent needle sticks is obvious.
[0006] This problem is of particular concern with standard dental
and medical safety syringes. Because dental safety syringes are
designed to be re-loaded and re-used on the same patient to administer
additional doses of anesthetic, where necessary, there is increased
exposure of the user's hands to the needle during uncapping and
recapping. Further, there is also a risk of exposure of needle sticks
from medical syringes during un-capping, use, and re-capping, despite
the fact that medical syringes are designed for a single use.
[0007] Attempts have been made to design products that provide
a "safe" yet easy-to-use method of uncapping and recapping
a needle on a syringe. However, many of these products, while offering
some advantages, still expose the needle to the user's hands at
some point in the assembly or operation, are complicated to assemble,
cumbersome to use, or because they include disposable parts, produce
excessive medical waste.
[0008] For example, "scooping up" the cap using the needle
is a recommended method of recapping a needle. An example of a built-in
recapper based on the scooping method is the disposable SCOOPCAP
manufactured by JRM Enterprises, Inc. and designed for use on standard
dental syringes. Although the Scoop Cap is attractive because it
requires minimal assembly and produces minimal medical waste, the
needle still remains in close proximity to the user's hand during
assembly and disassembly, thus affording little protection to the
user from needle sticks during these steps.
[0009] Another safety needle which fits standard metal syringes
is the SAFE-MATE safety needle (MedPro, Inc., Lexington, Ky.) which
has a lockable, slidable, protective sheath covering the needle.
Although the slidable sheath protects the user's hand during assembly
and disassembly of the needle to and from the syringe, and this
safety needle produces minimal medical waste, the sheath remains
attached to the syringe during use. This disadvantageously impedes
access to all areas of the mouth, limiting certain dental procedures
such as maxillary posterior injections.
[0010] A fully disposable dental syringe assembly has been developed
by DENTALOGIC by Protecs Medical Corporation, Miami, Fla. This syringe
provides adequate protection from hazard to the user during assembly
and capping because the needle is not openly exposed to the user.
However, assembly time is excessive, and, although the syringe is
designed to be used with one hand, handling the syringe with one
hand requires undue manual dexterity. Further, the syringe is not
reloadable, which is a disadvantage if another dose of medication
is required. Because the syringe is not reloadable, and is totally
disposable, excessive medical waste ensues.
[0011] Another fully disposable dental syringe assembly, Hypo Safety
Cartridge Syringe, has been developed by Dentsply MPL Technologies,
Franklin Park, Ill. Although it is pre-assembled, and provides some
protection from sticks from the needle when it is attached to the
syringe, this syringe assembly still leaves the injection end of
the needle exposed during needle uncapping and capping, and therefore
still presents a hazard of needle sticks to the user.
[0012] Thus, there remains a need for a safe and convenient method
for capping and uncapping a standard medical or dental syringe with
one hand which requires minimal assembly, has no assembly or disassembly
hazard, is reloadable, results in minimal medical waste, and preferably
minimizes hand exposure during needle capping and uncapping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention relates to a safety syringe and cap
holding device comprising a hub for supporting a needle; a cap (or
cover) interconnected with the hub, the cover having one or more
protrusions for engaging one or more recesses on the hub; a housing
having a receptacle for receiving the cap; means in the housing
for disengaging the one or more protrusions on the cap from the
one or more recesses on the hub to allow the needle to be withdrawn
from the cap; and means in the housing for allowing the cap to be
withdrawn from the housing. Electronic control of the cap holding
device can be provided, wherein the protrusions of the cap can be
engaged and disengaged by one or more solenoids or other similar
devices.
[0014] A method of using a syringe is provided, the method comprising
providing a needle assembly including a hub, a needle, and a cover
interconnected with the hub and covering the needle; engaging the
needle assembly with a syringe body; inserting the needle assembly
into a cover holding device; activating the cover holding device
to permit the needle to be withdrawn from the cover; using the syringe;
reinserting the syringe body and needle into the cover in the cover
holding device; and actuating the cover holding device to remove
the syringe body, needle assembly, and cover from the cover holding
device. The step of activating the cap holding device to permit
the syringe and needle to be withdrawn from the cap comprises actuating
a switch remote from the needle and the cap holding device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other important objects and features of the invention will
be apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention
taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of the components of a safety
syringe and cap of the present invention.
[0017] FIG.2 is a side view of the safety syringe shown in FIG.
1 in assembled form.
[0018] FIG.3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the safety
syringe shown in FIG. 2 inserted and locked into a cap holding device
of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the safety
syringe and cap holding device shown in FIG. 3 with the cap unlocked
from the syringe.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4 with the
syringe withdrawn from the cap holding device.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the safety
syringe in the cap holding device with the safety syringe and cap
being unlocked.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 6 with the
safety syringe and cap withdrawn from the housing.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a view showing an alternate embodiment of the
cap holding device of the present invention, wherein electronic
control is provided.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present invention relates to a safety syringe and cap
holding device. The invention comprises a hub for supporting a needle,
a cap (or cover) interconnected with the hub and having one or more
protrusions for engaging one or more recesses on the hub, a housing
having a receptacle for receiving the cap, means in the housing
for disengaging the one or more protrusions on the cap from the
one or more recesses on the hub to allow the needle to be withdrawn
from the cap, and means in the housing for allowing the cap to be
withdrawn from the housing. Electronic control of the cap holding
device can be provided, wherein the protrusions of the cap can be
engaged and disengaged by one or more solenoids or other similar
devices. The safety syringe can be used in any environment where
protection from needle sticks is desired, such as in dental and
medical environments.
[0025] A safety syringe and cap according to the present invention
is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The syringe, generally indicated at 10
includes a cylindrical hollow body 20 a plunger assembly 30 and
a needle assembly 40. A cap 50 is configured to cover the needle
assembly 40.
[0026] A hollow central chamber 22 in the body 20 of the syringe
10 is partially open for receiving a drug cartridge 24 therein.
The plunger assembly 30 is moveable through the body 20 and the
cartridge 24 to force the contents of the cartridge 24 out through
the needle assembly 40. Finger rests 26 extend out from the upper
end of the body 20 for allowing a user's fingers to grasp the body
20 while the plunger 30 is actuated by the user's thumb inserted
into loop 32. The lower end of the syringe body 20 includes a threaded
shaft 28 for engagement with the needle assembly 40.
[0027] Needle assembly 40 comprises a hub 42 interconnected with
a needle 44. The needle has a cartridge end 46 and an injection
end 48. The hub 42 has threads for threadable engagement to the
threaded shaft 28 of syringe body 20. The hub includes one or more
recesses 43 which may be annular, about an exterior surface. After
drug cartridge 24 is inserted into central chamber 22 of the syringe,
the needle assembly 40 is attached to the syringe body. The hub
42 is threadably engaged to syringe body 20 causing the cartridge
end 46 of needle 44 to pierce the septum of, and extend into, drug
cartridge 24.
[0028] The cap 50 is positioned over needle assembly 40. The cap
50 is generally cylindrical, being defined by one or more annular
walls 52. It is closed at the bottom 54 but is open at the top.
The cap 50 is configured to extend about injection end 48 of needle
44 about hub 42 and past the cartridge end 46 of needle 44. The
cap 50 can be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, as
is generally known in the industry. By covering the injection end
48 and the cartridge end 46 of needle 44 the cap 50 protects against
inadvertent needle sticks.
[0029] The cap 50 is retained on needle assembly 40 by attachment
to hub 42. The cap 50 has one or more internally facing protrusions
56 for engaging the one or more recesses 43 on hub 42. The recess
43 in the hub 42 could be one or more discrete recesses or an annular
recess into which one or more corresponding protrusions 56 on the
inner wall of the cap 50 can extend. In order to engage and disengage
the cap 50 with hub 42 as will be hereinafter described, it is
desirable to permit the protrusions 56 to be movable out of engagement
with the one or more recesses 43. One way to provide for such movement
is to cut away the wall of the cap 50 about the protrusions 56 so
that a tab supporting the protrusion 56 remains, the tab being movable
with respect to the remainder of the cap wall.
[0030] Cap 50 further includes one or more handles 58 on the exterior
wall of cap 50 corresponding to the protrusions 56. The handles
58 are used for moving the protrusions 56 into and out of engagement
with the one or more recesses 43 of hub 42. Where the protrusions
56 are positioned on tabs, the handles 58 would be positioned on
the exterior surfaces of the tabs. Extending from the bottom 54
of cap 50 is end post 60 having a recess 62 the purpose of which
will be hereinafter described.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows a portion of the syringe 10 having the cap
50 attached thereto, inserted into a cap holding device 70. The
cap holding device 70 comprises a housing 72 having a receptacle
74 for receiving the syringe 10 and cap 50 therein. A stop projection
76 is located at the bottom of the receptacle 74. Hooks 80 for engaging
cap handles 58 are provided in the receptacle 74. The receptacle
74 and the cap 50 have complimentary geometries to align the cap
handles 58 and the hooks 80 when the syringe 10 and cap 50 is inserted
into the receptacle 74.
[0032] Hooks 80 are components of a linkage system provided within
the housing 72 of cap holding device 70. The linkage system can
be actuated to move the hooks 80 away from the cap 50 to pull the
protrusions 56 to disengage the protrusions 56 from the hub 42 to
disengage the cap 50 from the syringe 10. The hooks 80 extend from
pivots 82. Arms 84 extend out from pivots 82. Arms 84 are interconnected
with vertical rods 86 which are attached at lower ends to levers
88 which sit on fulcrums 90. Pistons 92 which can be actuated by
a foot pedal 94 that moves the levers 88 about fulcrums 90 to move
vertical rods 86 in a downward direction, pulling down arms 84 and
pivoting the hooks 80 radially outward to pull the handles 58 and
corresponding protrusions 56 on cap 50 radially to disengage the
cap 50 from the syringe 10. The vertical rods 86 are naturally biased,
such as by springs 87 in an upward direction so that when the foot
pedal 94 is released, the rods 86 move back up and the hooks 80
return the handles 58 and therefore the protrusions 56 to a locking
position.
[0033] Hooks 80 can merely be rods which engage the handles 58.
The handle 58 could be in the form of a ring or the like, having
an aperture through which hooks 80 can extend. Alternatively, the
hooks could be Y-shaped and the handles could comprise a post received
by the Y-shaped hook. A cap or enlargement on the end of the post
would allow a Y-shaped hook to bear thereagainst to allow the hook
to pull the post.
[0034] FIGS. 4 and 5 show how the needle 44 on the syringe 10 is
unsheathed and re-sheathed. First, a cartridge 24 is loaded into
a syringe 10 and the capped needle assembly 40 is attached to syringe
body 20. Then the capped syringe 10 is inserted into the receptacle
74 of cap holding device 70. In order to remove the syringe 10 from
the holder 70 without the cap (so that the syringe can be used)
the foot pedal 94 is actuated, as shown by arrow A, to activate
pistons 92 to move them in an upward direction as shown by arrow
B. Movement of pistons 92 upward moves levers 88 about fulcrums
90 to pull vertical rods 86 down in the direction of arrows C, against
the bias of springs 87. The downward movement of rods 86 pull arms
84 about pivots 82 to move hooks 80 out in the direction indicated
by arrows D. Such movement pulls handles 58 to unseat protrusions
56 from the one or more recesses 43 in hub 42. The syringe 10 can
then be withdrawn from the housing 72 by moving it in the direction
of arrow E, while the cap 50 remains in the housing. The foot pedal
94 can then be released, and the linkage system returns to a locking
position.
[0035] After the syringe is used, e.g., after injection of the
drug into the patient, the syringe is re-inserted into the cap 50
in the housing. The protrusions 56 on the cap engage the one or
more recesses 43 on the hub 42. The hub 42 may have a sloped edge
leading to the protrusions 56 to cam them back into the one or more
recesses 43. In this manner, the syringe can be unsheathed, used,
and then re-sheathed in a safe and convenient manner minimizing
exposure of a user's hands to the needle.
[0036] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the mechanism for engaging and disengaging
the cap 50 in the cap holding device 70. When the syringe 10 is
inserted into the cap holding device 70 end post 60 of cap 50 rests
on stop projection 76. Engagement levers 100 engage recess 62 at
first ends, pass over engagement fulcrums 102 and are interconnected
with actuating rods 104 at second ends. Springs 106 bias engagement
levers to a horizontal position. Actuating rods 104 are interconnected
with release buttons 108 on housing 72 of cap holding device 70.
[0037] In order to release the cap 50 from the cap holding device
70 one or more release buttons 108 are actuated in the direction
as shown by arrow F, to move actuating rods 104 downward in the
direction of arrow G to pivot engagement levers 100 about fulcrums
102 and against the bias of springs 106 to urge the cap 50 and the
syringe 10 upward in the direction of arrow H, and out of the cap
holding device in the direction of arrow I while disengaging the
engagement levers 100 from the recess 62 of post 60.
[0038] In summary, the cap holding device of the present invention
includes a cap 50 engagable with hub 42 which carries a needle 44
to cover both the cartridge end 46 and injection end 48 of the needle
44. The cover includes internal protrusions 56 which engage one
or more recesses 43 on hub 42. The needle assembly 40 can then be
attached to the syringe body 20. The cap 50 extends beyond the cartridge
end 46 of needle 44 to prevent inadvertent needle sticks during
assembly of the syringe 10. Thereafter, the syringe 10 with needle
assembly 40 and cap 50 is inserted into the cap holding device 70.
In order to remove the needle from the cap, a foot pedal or other
actuating device is utilized. Importantly, the foot pedal or actuating
device is remote from needle 44 and allows one to remove the needle
from the cap without the need to position ones hands in proximity
to the needle, thereby minimizing inadvertent sticks. After use,
the syringe can be inserted back into the cap that has been retained
in the cap holding device. Again, one does not need to position
ones hands proximate the needle during this process, thereby minimizing
the risk of inadvertent needle sticks.
[0039] When one is finished using the syringe, the syringe and
cap can be removed from the cap holding device by actuating another
button or other actuating device. Because the cap covers the needle,
inadvertent needle sticks are prevented. Thereafter, the needle
assembly 40 can be disconnected from the syringe 10 and discarded.
Because the cap covers the cartridge end and injection end of the
needle during this process, inadvertent needle sticks are prevented.
[0040] It may be desirable for the configuration of the cap to
be keyed to the receptacle in the cap holding device to provide
for alignment of the cap in the cap holding device so that the hooks
engage the handles. Additionally, it should be noted that the construction
of the hooks, handles and the attachment of the cap to the hub could
be varied as desired. For example, the cap could have opposing internally
facing protrusions that engage a recess in a hub and rather than
providing handles on the cap, the cap could be pinched to deform
the shape of the cap sufficiently to allow the protrusions to disengage
from the hub. Other manners of constructing the hub, cap and housing
are considered to be within the scope of the invention. The housing
may be weighted by use of a heavy or weighted material, such as
a metal, such as lead or the like. The weighted material can be
used in the construction of the housing or can be placed into the
housing for anchoring and stabilizing the device.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a view showing an alternate embodiment of the
cap holding device 70 of the present invention, wherein electronic
control is provided. A pair of solenoids 206 are positioned perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis of the syringe 10 and include hooked engagement
members 208 for engagement with the handles 58 of the cap 50. The
hooked engagement members 208 are interconnected with the solenoids
206 and move laterally in the direction indicated by arrows J.
When a user depresses the foot switch 202 electrical current is
sent from the power source 200 to solenoids 206 via connections
204. The current causes an electromotive force to be generated by
the solenoids 206 which, in turn, pull the engagement hooks 208
toward the solenoids 206. This causes the protrusions 56 of the
cap 50 to move away from the syringe, allowing same to be removed
from the cap 50 while the cap 50 is retained in the holding device
70. The solenoids 206 could be of any type or manufacture that provides
sufficient force to pull the handles 58 and urge the protrusions
56 away from the syringe 10. After the syringe has been removed
from the cap, the foot switch 202 is opened, causing current to
cease flowing to the solenoids 206 and engagement members 208 to
return to their original positions. The power source 200 could be
any alternating (AC) or direct current (DC) power source. Any other
electronic means for operating the cap holding device 70 such as
a motor-driven mechanism, is considered within the scope of the
present invention.
[0042] The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 could also include a mechanism
for engaging and disengaging the cap 50 with the holding device
70 such as the mechanism discussed earlier with reference to FIGS.
6-7. It should be noted that this mechanism could also be modified
to be operated electrically, wherein one or more solenoids are provided
for engaging and disengaging the end post 60 of the cap 50. Such
an arrangement would work in conjunction with the electronic control
mechanism of FIG. 8 to provide an entirely electrically operated
device.
[0043] Having thus described the invention in detail, it is to
be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to
limit the spirit and scope thereof. What is desired to be protected
by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
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