Syringe needle abstract
A resilient shield assembly for use in engaging a protective sheath
releasably mounted on a syringe needle assembly the assembly including
a resilient annular shield joined to a resilient tubular handle
depending from one side of the annulus. The interior dimensions
of the tubular handle are selected for resilient grasping of the
sheath. In one implementation the handle may include a central ejection
element aligned to oppose the inserted sheath while in another example
both ends of the handle are open.
Syringe needle claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pad for use with a syringe cap comprising:
a first substantially rectangular layer;
a second substantially rectangular layer adhesively attached to
said first layer said second layer including a concave exterior
surface conformed to a feathered edge at the peripheries thereof;
and
a tapered opening extending through said first and second layer
and conformed to engage said syringe cap.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:
said first and second layers comprise polymer material structures,
said second layer being formed as a foam.
Syringe needle description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to syringe cap retention devices
and more particularly to shielded syringe needle holders for protecting
the user.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Today's medical care often entails the use of syringes or other
piercing devices for introducing medication into the body of a patient
or for withdrawing fluids for analysis. Accordingly, the medical
practitioner or those in the practitioner's assisting staff are
often exposed to the risk of inadvertent injury, a risk of substantial
consequence in the case of treatment of contagious diseases.
As result, techniques were devised in the past which assist in
the attachment or removal of either the syringe needle sheaths or
the whole needle assembly. One such technique is implemented in
a container assembly sold under the model number 8900 by Sage Products,
Inc., 680 Industrial Drive, Cary, Ill. 60013.
These techniques, while suitable for their intended purpose, are
part of a larger procedure and thus are not always available at
the bedside of the patient. A technique and devices which are conveniently
carried by the attending personnel are, therefore, desired and it
is one such technique that is disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the general purpose and object of the present
invention to provide a portable, shielded, syringe needle sheath
retainer useful to remove or attach a needle assembly to a syringe.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a shield protecting
the attending person from injury in the course of manipulation of
a syringe needle assembly.
Yet further objects of the invention are to provide a flexible
shielding structure for use in attachment and removal of sheathed
syringe needles.
Briefly, these and other objects are accomplished according to
one example of the present invention by providing a resilient structure
comprising an annular shield extending from the open end of a bore
communicating into the interior of an enlarged, bulbous handle.
A substantially rigid cylindrical ejection element is adhesively
fixed to the other end of the handle presenting an ejection post
towards the bore.
The bore itself is dimensionally conformed to engage at one point,
by resilient expansion, the exterior of a conventional sheath mounted
on the needle assembly of a syringe and thus allows for the removal
of the sheath or the rotary manipulation of the sheath and needle
assembly in the course of attachment or removal thereof. Once separated
from the syringe the sheathed needle cartridge may be ejected from
the bore into a collection container by applying force to the ejection
element at the opposing surface of the bulb, to press the cylindrical
ejection rod against the inserted sheath and, with the aid of the
air concurrently compressed within the bulbous handle, to eject
the cartridge.
The person attending a patient is thus protected by the annular
shield from the sharp needle end through the full sequence of needle
mounting, sheath removal and replacement and needle disposal, a
sequence heretofore entailing some risks of inadvertent injury and
consequent infection.
In an alternative example a resilient tubular segment extends from
the center of a dished, annular shield with both ends of the central
opening of the segment being conformed to receive, in stretched
deformation, the sheathde end of a syringe. This example is particularly
suited for use with flat work surfaces adjacent the patient, in
the manner of a suction cup, or as a portable shield on insertion
into the shield annulus.
In each instance substantial convenience and safety are achieved
in an inexpensive article conveniently carried by personnel attending
a patient.
Yet a further alternative of the inventive shield is effected by
a rectangular pad of two polymeric layers, the first being somewhat
rigid and the second of foam rubber construction. These layers included
a common tapered opening with the distal surface of the foam layer
being slightly dished to form a feathered contact edge at its periphery.
Thus, when laid on a flat surface the foam layer effects frictioned
contact somewhat similar to a suction cup. In this alignment the
central opening is then presented to the user for receiving the
syringe cap. When inverted, however, the taper in the opening terminating
at the feathered edge grasps the cap for retention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the inventive shield assembly
in the course of use with a conventional syringe;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is yet another sectional view illustrating the collapse
deformation of the inventive shield i-lustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is yet another perspective illustration of an alternative
embodiment of the inventive shield disclosed herein;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the use of the shield shown
in FIG. 4 in a first direction;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the use of the shield shown
in FIG. 4 in a second direction.
FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of a further alternative of
the inventive syringe shield according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a side view, in section, taken along line 8--8 of FIG.
7; and
FIG. 9 is a view like that shown in FIG. 8 illustrating the use
of the inventive shield in its inverted alignment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGS. 1-3 a conventional syringe assembly S typically
includes a syringe housing H containing a piston assembly P for
expelling or drawing fluid through an end opening N. The exterior
surface of housing H, adjacent opening N, includes threaded deformations,
or similar attachment provisions, for engaging a needle assembly
A.
In conventional practice a sheath or cover C is conformed to surround
the needle assembly in releasable engagement therewith, the sheath
C including exterior surface elements E for manipulation. These
structural features effect manipulative convenience in the course
of mounting and removal of the needle assembly onto the end of housing
H. Accordingly, selective attachment of the needle is rendered possible
which may be mated to other devices like an intravenous feed device
D.
In each instance the manipulative sequence of removing and reinstalling
the sheath C onto the needle assembly A presents some risk to the
person performing the task. The consequent risks of infection are
therefore large and the reduction of these risks is desired.
In accordance with the present invention, a manipulative device
generally designated by the numeral 10 is provided with a central
bore 11 communicating into the interior cavity 12 of a bulbous handle
15. The exposed opening of bore 11 emerges as the annulus in an
enlarged circular shield or disk 21 extending from the perphery
of handle 15 such that upon grasping of the handle the hand of the
user U is shielded. In this arrangement bore 11 is formed with an
inwardly reducing taper from a countersunk opening 22. This taper
is selected to be slightly greater than the taper of the exterior
surfaces of the sheath C. Thus, by forming the foregoing structure
from an elastic, resilient material deformation of the bore surfaces
will occur at one point of the exterior of sheath C.
In this manner resilient engagement is assured between the bore
surfaces and the surfaces of the sheath, allowing manipulation of
the sheath for engagement or disengagement with the needle assembly
A or to attach or remove the sheathed needle from the syringe housing
H. This retention is conveniently released by a release element
25 fixed across the other end of cavity 12 and provided with a post
26 directed towards the bore 11 by the simple application of external
manual pressure against the base thereof. Once the sheath is thus
disengaged from this resilient engagement further external pressure
to the handle 15 will result in the expulsion of air from the cavity
to expel the sheath with the needle assembly into any disposal receptacle.
The foregoing assembly may be made of any one of many resilient
polymer structures like vinylon or polyurethane which typically
exhibit substantially larger resistance to piercing than that of
human physiology. A trained attendant will thus find convenient
protection, protection particularly sought when dealing with highly
infectious patients.
In an alternative implementation, shown in FIGS. 4 5 and 6 a
device generally designated at 50 comprises a concave, dishlike
annular shield 51 including at the center thereof a tubular projection
52. This tubular projection includes an interior bore 53 extending
therethrough defined by two opposed tapered segments 54 and 55 joining
at a reduced bore section 56. Once again, each taper of segments
54 and 55 is selected to be greater than the exterior taper of the
sheath C with a resulting resilient grasping thereof in the course
of use.
In this implementation the tapered bore segment 55 communicates
into the dished annulus of the shield 51 and segment 54 extends
into the free end of the projection 52. By selecting the axial length
of segment 54 to be substantially less than the length of segment
55 a configuration is achieved wherein the end of sheath C will
extend out of the end of the projection when inserted through the
shield annulus and will not extend into the shield if inserted from
the other side. The user can select the manipulative functions available
either using the device 50 as a shield or as a suction cup against
any flat surface F.
Accordingly, an inexpensive, convenient mechanism is provided which
may be used in complement with the presently available needle cartridges
and which may be discarded without substantial economic consequence.
In accordance with a further implementation, shown in FIGS. 7-9
a syringe shield in the form of a rectangular pad is generally shown
at 110. As shown, pad 110 comprises an upper polymeric layer 111
contiguously adhered to a lower polymeric layer 112 which is of
a foamed construction. The upper layer 111 forms a rigid structure,
of some mass, being cast or formed to sufficient thickness for handling.
A central opening 114 extends on a decreasing taper through layers
111 and 112 and is conformed to engage the peripheral surfaces of
the tip of the cap C. To render such insertion convenient opening
114 is faired at the exterior surface of layer 111.
The exterior surface 115 of the foam layer 112 is conversely dished
to define feathered edges 116 and 117 at its peripheries. Edge 117
at the periphery of opening 114 is somewhat smaller than the tip
section of the cap C and will thus grasp the cap by expansion when
inserted from the opposite direction (as per FIG. 9). Thus the pad
provided either a support for the cap or a grasping engagement depending
on the direction of its use.
Obviously, many modifications and changes may be made to the foregoing
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore
intended that the scope of the invention be determined solely on
the claims appended hereto. |