Syringe needle abstract
A post-injection sheath for a hypodermic syringe needle includes
an accordion-shaped resilient sheath body, which is fixedly secured
to the needle hub at its one end and is movable from a compressed
position, corresponding to a ready-to be used position of the needle,
to an expanded position, in which the sheath body covers the needle.
The sheath body supports, at its second open end, an end cover which
is adapted to pivot from a first position, in which it extends parallel
to the longitudinal axis of the sheath body, to a second position,
in which it extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sheath
body and covers the open end of the sheath body. The end cover pivots
from its first position to its second position when the sheath body
reaches its expanded position. The end cover is provided with a
hub portion having a chamber into which the needle tip projects
and in which it is deformed.
Syringe needle claims
What is claimed is:
1. A post-injection sheath for a hypodermic syringe needle having
a hub, said post-injection sheath comprising:
an accordion-shaped resilient sheath body having a first end, at
which it is fixedly secured to the needle hub, and a second open
end, said sheath body having a compressed position, which corresponds
to a ready-to be-used position of the needle, and an expanded position,
in which it covers the needle;
an end cover pivotally supported on said sheath body at said second
open end for closing said second open end in the expanded position
of said sheath body, said end cover having a first position, in
which it extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of
said sheath body, and a second position, in which it extends transverse
to the longitudinal axis of said sheath body and covers said open
end;
means for pivotally supporting said end cover at said second open
end of said sheath body;
means for automatically pivoting said end cover from the first
position thereof to the second position thereof in the expanded
position of said sheath body; and
means for retaining said sheath body in the compressed position
thereof, wherein said retaining means are adapted to be manually
disabled, and said sheath body automatically moves to the expanded
position thereof upon disabling of said retaining means.
2. A post-injection sheath as set forth in claim 1 further comprising
a lock means secured to said sheath body at said second open end,
at a location which is diametrically opposite to a location at which
said end cover is secured to said sheath body, for locking said
end cover in the second position thereof.
3. A post-injection sheath as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
end cover has a disc-like portion, a rod-like member and a substantially
rectangularly-shaped intermediate portion, extending between said
rod-like member and said disc-like portion,
wherein said intermediate portion has a window and radial hole
means opening into said window,
wherein said supporting means comprises a bracket fixedly secured
at said second open end of said sheath body, and a pin supported
by said bracket and extending through said radial hole means and
bridging said window, and
wherein said pivoting means comprises a spring supported on said
pin.
4. A post-injection sheath as set forth in claim 3 wherein said
disc-like portion has a hub portion having a chamber with a bottom
formed of a hard material and passage means connecting an inner
end surface of said hub portion with said chamber,
wherein lengths of said sheath body and said passage means and
dimensions of said chamber are so selected that, upon closing of
said second open end of said sheath body with said cover, the needle
tip is curled by the bottom of said chamber and is completely entrapped
in said chamber.
5. A post-injection sheath as set forth in claim 3 wherein said
retaining means comprises a bracket fixedly secured at said first
end of said sheath body and having a boss member formed integrally
therewith
wherein said boss member has a through-bore and a dimple formed
in said bore, and
wherein said rod-like member extends through said through-bore
and has a free end projecting beyond an end surface of said boss
member, and a boss at said free end engaging said dimple for retaining
the sheath body in the compressed position thereof, said sheath
body being movable from the compressed position thereof to the extended
position thereof upon manually pressing at said free end of said
rod-like member to disengage said boss from said dimple.
6. A post-injection sheath as set forth in claim 5 further comprising
a guide fixedly secured to said sheath body for guiding said rod-like
member during movement of said sheath body from the compressed position
thereof to the expanded position thereof,
wherein a location of said guide on said sheath body is so selected
that free end of said rod-like member clears said guide member when
said sheath body reaches the expanded position thereof, wherein
said spring pivots said end cover into the second position of said
end cover.
7. A post-injection sheath as set forth in claim 1 wherein said
end cover includes means for rendering the needle inoperable in
the second position of said end cover.
8. A post-injection sheath for a hypodermic syringe needle having
a hub and a tip, said post-injection sheath comprising:
an accordion-shaped resilient sheath body having a first end, at
which it is fixedly secured to the needle hub, and a second open
end, said sheath body having a compressed position which corresponds
to a ready-to be-used position of the needle, and an expanded position,
in which it covers the needle; and
an end cover, pivotally supported on said sheath body at said second
open end for closing said second open end in the expanded position
of said sheath body, said cover having a first position, in which
it extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said
sheath body, and a second position, in which it extends transverse
to the longitudinal axis of said sheath body and covers said open
end; and
means formed integrally with said end cover for deforming the needle
tip and attaching said end cover to said needle.
9. A post-injection sheath as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:
means for pivotally supporting said end cover at said open end
of said sheath body;
means for automatically pivoting said end cover from the first
position thereof to the second position thereof in the expanded
position of said sheath body; and
manually actuatable means for retaining said sheath body in the
compressed position thereof.
10. A post-injection sheath, as set forth in claim 9 wherein said
end cover has a disc-like portion for covering said open end of
said sheath body, and said deforming means comprises a hub portion
formed integrally with said disc-like portion and having a chamber
with a bottom formed of a hard material, and passage means connecting
an inner end surface of said hub portion with said chamber.
11. A post-injection sheath, as set forth in claim 10 wherein
said end cover further includes a rod-like member and a substantially
rectangularly-shaped intermediate portion, extending between said
rod-like member and said disc-like portion:
wherein said intermediate portion has a window and radial hole
means opening into said window;
wherein said supporting means comprises a bracket, fixedly secured
at said second open end of said sheath body, and a pin supported
by said bracket and extending through said radial hole means and
bridging said window; and
wherein said pivoting means comprises a spring supported on said
pin.
12. A hypodermic syringe assembly comprising:
a hypodermic syringe;
a needle attachable to said syringe and having a hub and tip; and
a post-injection sheath attachable to said needle hub, wherein
said post-injection sheath comprises:
an accordion-shaped, resilient sheath body having a first end,
at which it is fixedly secured to the needle hub, and a second open
end, said sheath body having a compressed position which corresponds
to a ready-to be-used position of the needle, and an expanded position,
in which it covers the needle;
an end cover pivotally supported on said sheath body at said second
open end for closing said second open end in the expanded position
of said sheath body, said end cover having a first position, in
which it extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of
said sheath body, and a second position, in which it extends transverse
to the longitudinal axis of said sheath body and covers said open
end;
means for pivotally supporting said end cover at said second open
end of said sheath body;
means for automatically pivoting said end cover from the first
position thereof to the second position thereof in the expanded
position of said sheath body; and
means for retaining said sheath body in the compressed position
thereof, wherein said retaining means are adapted to be manually
disabled and said sheath body automatically moves to the expanded
position thereof upon disabling of said retaining means.
13. A hypodermic syringe assembly as set forth in claim 12 further
comprising lock means secured to said sheath body at said second
open end at a location, which is diametrically opposite to a location
at which said end cover is secured to said sheath body, for locking
said end cover in the second position thereof.
14. A hypodermic syringe assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein
said end cover has a disc-like portion, a rod-like member and a
substantially rectangularly-shaped intermediate portion, extending
between said rod-like member and said disc-like portion;
wherein said intermediate portion has a window and radial hole
means opening into said window;
wherein said supporting means comprises a bracket fixedly secured
at said second open end of said sheath body and a pin supported
by said bracket and extending through said radial hole means and
bridging said window; and
wherein said pivoting means comprises a spring supported on said
pin.
15. A hypodermic syringe assembly, as set forth in claim 14 wherein
said disc-like portion has a hub portion having a chamber with a
bottom formed of a hard material and passage means connecting an
inner end surface of said hub portion with said chamber;
wherein lengths of said sheath body and said passage means and
dimensions of said chamber are so selected that, upon closing of
said second open end of said sheath body with said cover, the needle
tip is curled by the bottom of said chamber and is completely entrapped
in said chamber.
16. A hypodermic syringe assembly, comprising:
a hypodermic syringe;
a needle attachable to said syringe and having a hub and a tip;
and
a post-injection sheath attachable to said needle hub, wherein
said-post-injection sheath, comprises:
an accordion-shaped resilient sheath body having a first end, at
which it is fixedly secured to the needle hub, and a second open
end, said sheath body having a compressed position, which corresponds
to a ready-to be-used position of the needle, and an expanded position,
in which it covers the needle;
an end cover pivotally supported on said sheath body at said second
open end for closing said second open end in the expanded position
of said sheath body, said end cover having a first position, in
which it extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of
said sheath body, and a second position, in which it extends transverse
to the longitudinal axis of said sheath body and covers said open
end; and
means formed integrally with said end cover for deforming the needle
tip and attaching said end cover to said needle.
17. A hypodermic syringe assembly as set forth in claim 16 further
comprising:
means for pivotally supporting said end cover at said second open
end of said sheath body;
means for automatically pivoting said end cover from the first
position thereof to the second position thereof in the expanded
position of said sheath body; and
means for retaining said sheath body in the compressed position
thereof, wherein said retaining means are adapted to be manually
disabled and said sheath body automatically moves to the expanded
position thereof upon disabling of said retaining means.
18. A hypodermic syringe assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein
said end cover has a disc-like portion for covering said open end
of said sheath body and said deforming means comprises a hub portion
formed integrally with said disc-like portion and having a chamber
with a bottom formed of a hard material and passage means connecting
an inner end surface of said hub portion with said chamber; and
wherein lengths of said sheath body and said passage means and
dimensions of said chamber are so selected that, upon closing of
said second open end of said sheath body, with said cover, the needle
tip is curled by the bottom of said chamber and is completely entrapped
in said chamber.
19. A post-injection sheath for a hypodermic syringe needle having
a hub, said post-injection sheath comprising:
an accordion-shaped resilient sheath body having a first end, at
which it is fixedly secured to the needle hub, and a second open
end, said sheath body having a compressed position, which corresponds
to a ready-to be-used position of the needle, and an expanded position,
in which it covers the needle;
an end cover supported on said sheath body at said second open
end for closing said second open end in the expanded position of
said sheath body, said end cover having a first position, in which
it does not obstruct use of the needle, and a second position, in
which it extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of said sheath
body and covers said open end;
means for supporting said end cover at said second open end of
said sheath body in the first position of said end cover;
means for retaining said sheath body in the compressed position
thereof, wherein said retaining means are adapted to be manually
disabled, and said sheath body automatically moves to the expanded
position thereof upon disabling of said retaining means; and
means for moving said end cover from the first position thereof
to the second position thereof when said sheath body reaches the
expanded position thereof.
20. A hypodermic syringe assembly, comprising:
a hypodermic syringe;
a needle attachable to said syringe and having a hub and a tip;
and
a post-injection sheath attachable to said needle hub, wherein
said post-injection sheath comprises:
an accordion-shaped resilient sheath body having a first end, at
which it is fixedly secured to the needle hub, and a second open
end, said sheath body having a compressed position, which corresponds
to a ready-to be-used position of the needle, and an expanded position,
in which it covers the needle;
an end cover supported on said sheath body at said second open
end for closing said second open end in the expanded position of
said sheath body, said end cover having a first position, in which
it does not obstruct use of the needle, and a second position, in
which it extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of said sheath
body and covers said open end;
means for supporting said end cover at said second open end of
said sheath body in the first position of said end cover;
means for retaining said sheath body in the compressed position
thereof, wherein said retaining means are adapted to be manually
disabled, and said sheath body automatically moves to the expanded
position thereof upon disabling of said retaining means; and
means for moving said end cover from the first position thereof
to the second position thereof when said sheath body reaches the
expanded position thereof.
Syringe needle description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a post-injection needle sheath
for a hypodermic syringe needle and more, particularly to a post-injection
needle sheath for a hypodermic syringe needle which is easily and
conveniently actuated, is self-sealing and simultaneously renders
the syringe needle inoperable.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For many years, health care workers, including doctors, nurses,
physicians, laboratory personnel and housekeeping personnel of hospitals,
doctor's offices and the like were prone to injuries from accidental
sticking of the needle into the worker's skin, especially after
removal of a needle from a body of a patient and during subsequent
disposal of the needle. Such injuries pose grave dangers, particularly
if the patient has been exposed to hepatitis and other communicable
diseases which can be transmitted by body fluids. The health hazards
associated with such injuries became even greater in view of the
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Numerous attempts, including needle protectors, have therefore
been made to sheath a syringe needle after its use and to provide
for its safe disposal. Needle protectors are generally well known
and abound. One such needle protector is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5015242. This patent discloses a needle sheath made of a resilient
material and having an accordion or bellows shape. The sheath is
attached at one of its end to the needle hub. In the "use"
position, the needle sheath is compressed and held in its compressed
position by an L-shaped bendable retaining element which is also
secured to the needle hub. Upon withdrawal of the needle from the
body of a patent, the retaining element is bent away, and the sheath
expands covering the needle. This construction of a sheath however
has numerous drawbacks. It is highly desirable that the protector
be actuated with the same hand that holds the syringe, when the
needle is withdrawn from the body of a patient, as the other hand
is generally used to apply alcohol or other disinfectant to a patient's
body. However, it would be difficult to bend away the retaining
member with a finger of the same hand used to apply the injection.
The finger would have to be inserted between the retaining member
and the sheath adjacent to the short leg of the L-shaped retaining
member and then, a substantial force must be applied by the finger
to bend the retaining member away. Further, even after the sheath
covers the needle, nothing prevents the sheath from accidental compression
and thus exposure of the needle.
Another type of a post-injection needle sheath is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4804371. U.S. Pat. No. 4804371 likewise discloses
an accordion - or bellows-shaped needle sheath retained in a compressed
position during use of the needle. The sheath expands to cover the
needle after the needle is withdrawn. This sheath, as the sheath
of U.S. Pat. No. 5015242 can also be accidentally compressed,
exposing the needle.
Yet another post-injection sheath is disclosed in German Offenlegungsschrift
DE 38 08 688. The German document discloses a protective cover for
a syringe needle, including a resilient sheath attached at one of
its ends to the needle hub, with an end cup-shaped member secured
to the other end of the sheath. This member has an opening through
which the needle extends with the opening being defined by a central
tubular portion formed integrally with the end surface of the cup-shaped
member. During needle use, the cup-shaped member compresses the
sheath and is secured (clamped) to the needle hub. Upon withdrawal
of the needle from a stick in the body of a patient, the sheath
expands covering the needle. At that point, eccentric or side forces
acting on the cup-shaped member displace it relative to the needle
axis so that the needle end is located in the space between the
circumferential surface of the cup-shaped member and its central
tubular portion. To this end, the central tubular portion is formed
with an eccentricity relative to the needle axis. However, because
the eccentricity is very small (0.2-0.5 mm), the needle would not
extend into the guide passage, especially if the production tolerances
are taken into account.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Accordingly, a main objective of the present invention is to provide
a post-injection needle sheath which reliably protects healthcare
personnel from a needle stick injury.
Another object of the present invention to provide a post-injection
sheath for a hypodermic syringe needle and which is reliable and
easy to operate.
A further object of the invention to provide a post-injection needle
sheath which can be activated with the same hand that holds the
syringe, without affecting handling of the syringe.
These and other objects of the present invention, which will become
apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a post-injection
needle sheath including an accordion-shaped body, secured at its
one end to the needle hub and movable from a compressed position
in which the needle can be used, to an extended position in which
it completely sheathes the needle. The needle sheath, according
to the invention, further includes a substantially plate-shaped
end cover pivotally supported at its one end on the sheath body
end opposite to the end, at which the body is attached to the needle
hub. In the compressed position of the sheath body, the end cover
extends substantially parallel to the body axis. The sheath includes
means, preferably spring means, for pivoting the end cover from
its position, in which it extends parallel to the needle axis, to
a position in which it extends transverse to the needle axis when
the sheath body reaches its extended position. The sheath body has,
at its other end, at a location which is diametrically opposite
to the location where the end cover is secured to the sheath body,
a double ball lock secured to the sheath body for receiving the
end of the end cover which is opposite to the end of which the cover
is secured to the sheath body. The end cover has, substantially
in the middle portion thereof, a hub portion having an inner chamber
into which a guide passageway, extending from the inner end surface
of the hub portion, opens. When the end cover moves to its transverse
position, the end of the needle extends through the passageway into
the inner chambers, which is designed in such a manner that the
tip of the needle is snared therein so that the end cover is additionally
locked to the needle.
The sheath body is retained, in its compressed position, by a retainer
arrangement- The sheath actuating mechanism includes a rod which
is adapted to be displaced by a thumb and which, upon being acted
upon by the thumb, disables the retainer arrangement, so that the
compressed sheath body is able to expand either due to its own resiliency
or by a spring. The rod displacement also provides for pivoting
of the end cover from its position, in which it extends, parallel
to the needle axis, to its transverse position.
The above-discussed sheath, as it follows from the foregoing description,
can be easily and conveniently actuated. The sheath not only completely
encases the needle, but also disables the needle end, so that there's
no danger of a needle stick injury to the personnel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the present invention will become more
apparent and the invention itself will be best understood from the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when
read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of hypodermic syringe needle with
a standard cover and a post-injection sheath according to the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of a needle for
use with a hypodermic syringe and provided with a post-injection
sheath according to the present invention in a shipped position;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but
with the needle in a sheathed position;
FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrow "A" in FIG.
3;
FIG. 5 is a view along arrow "B" in FIG. 3; and
FIG. 6 is a view showing the bracket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, a needle assembly 2 designated for use
with a conventional hypodermic syringe 1 has a hub 4 adapted to
be mounted on an end of the conventional hypodermic syringe, and
a needle 6 secured to the hub 4. The needle 2 in a non-used condition,
is provided with a conventional standard shield 8 which is removed
prior to the use of the needle 2 and with a post-injection sheath
10 which is secured to the hub 4 of the needle 2. The sheath 10
comprises an accordion-shaped body 12 which is made of a resilient
material, so that the body is able to expand after having been compressed.
The body 12 is formed, at its rear end, integrally with a frusto-conical
ring member 14 with which the sheath 10 is secured to the hub 4
of the needle 2 e.g., by gluing or other appropriate means. At
its front end, the body 12 is formed integrally with a cylindrical
ring 16. An annular bracket 18 having a boss 20 on its end surface,
is supported on the ring 14 of the sheath body. The bracket 18 can
be made integral with the ring 14 or be mounted thereon by gluing
or other appropriate means. The boss 20 has a through-opening 22
in which a dimple 24 is formed. Another bracket 26 is fixedly mounted
on the front cylindrical ring 16.
The boss 20 of the annular bracket 18 and the bracket 26 support
together, in the needle ready-to-be-used position, a one-piece cover
28. The cover 28 is formed of disc-like portion 30 a rod-like member
32 and a substantially rectangular-shaped intermediate portion
34 extending between the rod member 32 and the disc-like portion
30. The intermediate portion 34 has a window 36 into which opposite
radial holes 38 open. A pin 40 which is secured in the bracket
26 extends through the holes 38. The pin 40 is designed for supporting
a helical spring 42 that biases the cover 28 to a position transverse
to the longitudinal axis of the sheath 10. Of course, other types
of syringes, e.g., a leaf spring, can also be used. The spring 42
has one leg 44 acting on the outer surface of the disc-like portion
30 with the other leg 46 being supported by the bracket 26.
The rod-like men%her 32 has, at an end thereof, remote from the
portion 30 a boss 48 which, in the use position, engages the dimple
24 thus retaining the sheath body 12 in its compressed position.
The end of the rod-like member 32 slightly projects beyond the rear
end surface of the boss 20 in this position. During shipment, the
sheath assembly may be additionally retained in the compressed position
of the sheath body, e.g., by a retaining ring (not shown).
The disc-like portion 30 has a central hub portion 50 having a
chamber 52 which is closed from the outer side of the hub portion
50 with a cover member 54 formed of a hard material, e.g., steel
or hard plastic material. At its inner side, the hub portion 50
is provided with a frusto-conical passage 56 connected with the
chamber 52 by a cylindrical passage 58.
A guide member 60 is provided on the sheath body 12 for supporting
the rod-like member 32 of the cover 28. The location of the guide
member 60 is so selected that the rear end of the rod-like member
32 clears the guide member 60 in the extended end position of the
sheath body 10 so that in that position, the cover 28 pivots to
its closing position, in which it closes the open end of the sheath
body 12. Intermediate guide member(s) may be provided, if desired,
between the boss 20 and the guide member 60. The length of the sheath
body 12 the size of the hub portion 50 and location of the cavity
52 are selected so that in the expanded end position of the sheath
body 12 the tip of the needle 6 hits the cover member 54 curls
and is retained in the chamber 52. As shown in FIG. 3 this eliminates
any possibility of a stick injury to the personnel who handles the
needle. Locating the needle tip in chamber 52 also insures further
retaining of the cover 28 on the open end of the sheath body 12.
The sheath body 12 has, at a diametrical end thereof opposite of
bracket 26 a lock member 62 for receiving a projection 64 formed
at the diametrical end of the portion 30 which is opposite to the
rod-like member 32. The lock member 62 may be formed, e.g., as a
spring double ball lock in the form of a resilient body at the end
of the sheath body 12.
While function of the post-injection sheath according to the invention
should be clear from the foregoing description, its function nevertheless
will now be described for completeness of the disclosure.
Upon withdrawal of the needle from a needle stick in a body of
a patient, the nurse or the physician can immediately push, preferably
by the thumb of the hand that holds the syringe, the end of the
rod-like men, her 32 to displace the boss 48 at the end of the rod-like
member 32 from the dimple 24 in the boss 20. As soon as the boss
48 clears the dimple 24 the sheath body 12 expands by its innate
resiliency and will cover the needle 6. At the end position of the
sheath body 12 the end of the rod-like member 32 will clear the
guide member 60 as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3 and the spring
42 will cause pivoting of the cover 28 to its closed position, with
the cover 28 being locked in this position by engagement of the
projection 64 in the lock member 62. Simultaneously with locking
of the cover 28 in its closed position, the needle tip will be curled
and snared in the chamber 62.
As it follows from the foregoing description, the present invention
provides a post-injection sheath that perfectly sheathes a used
needle, and thus prevents the personnel that handles the used needle
from any stick injury.
While the present invention has been shown and described with reference
to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, various
modification thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art
and, therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited
to the disclosed embodiment or to the details thereof and departures
may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims. |