Syringe needle abstract
A non-mechanical needle guard for permanently securing and incapacitating
a single used syringe and needle assembly consists of a sleeve for
receiving the needle and luer lock and the hub end of a syringe.
The sleeve contains a two part adhesive, the two elements being
separated by a penetrable membrane, with the opened end of the sleeve
being sealed by a second membrane. A stand holds a number of the
needle guards in a stable, upright position so the needle may be
inserted with a single hand, as required by OSHA. As the needle
penetrates the two membranes, the two elements of the adhesive combine,
permanently securing the needle and syringe end in the cured adhesive.
The needle guard of the present invention secures and incapacitates
the used needle and syringe in a manner meeting OSHA's disposal
safety standards.
Syringe needle claims
1. A non-mechanical needle guard kit for permanently securing and
incapacitating a single used syringe and needle assembly comprising:
at least one needle guard, each needle guard comprising: a sleeve
for receiving a hypodermic needle and luer lock and the hub and
end of a syringe attached thereto, and securing means for securing
said needle and luer lock and said hub and syringe end within said
sleeve, whereby said securing means incapacitates said syringe and
needle assembly and bonds said syringe and needle assembly to said
needle guard when said syringe and needle assembly are fully inserted
into said sleeve; and stand means for removably holding at least
one of said needle guards in a stable, upright position, thereby
allowing one handed securing and incapacitation of said syringe
and needle assembly within said needle guard.
2. A non-mechanical needle guard kit for permanently securing and
incapacitating a single used syringe and needle assembly, as defined
in claim 1 wherein each at least one needle guard further comprises
a receptor chamber adjoining an open, upper end of said disposal
sleeve, and said securing means comprises: a first, base adhesive
element of a two part adhesive disposed in said disposal sleeve
of said needle guard, an inner and an outer membrane sealingly and
punctureably sealing said needle guard, said inner and outer membranes
having a pocket formed therebetween, said pocket having a second,
activator adhesive element disposed therein and said inner membrane
separating said base adhesive element from said activator adhesive
element, whereby, when said needle and luer lock and said hub and
syringe end enter said needle guard, said outer membrane and said
inner membrane are punctured, thereby allowing said base adhesive
element and said activator adhesive element to mix and set, permanently
securing said syringe and needle assembly within said needle guard.
3. A non-mechanical needle guard kit for permanently securing and
incapacitating a single used syringe and needle assembly, as defined
in claim 2 wherein said disposal sleeve further comprises at least
one relief groove formed in the interior wall thereof, said at least
one relief groove allowing said base adhesive element to pass around
said luer lock, hub and syringe end as they pass into said disposal
sleeve, thereby ensuring a solid bond between said luer lock, hub
and syringe end with said disposal sleeve.
4. A non-mechanical needle guard kit for permanently securing and
incapacitating a single used syringe and needle assembly, as defined
in claim 4 wherein an open, upper end of said receptor terminates
in a lip, and said stand means comprises: a substantially horizontal
surface supported by at least three riser elements, said horizontal
surface further comprising at least one aperture formed therein,
each of said at least one aperture dimensioned to receive one of
said needle guards, suspending said needle guard by said lip of
said needle guard.
5. A non-mechanical needle guard kit for permanently securing and
incapacitating a single used syringe and needle assembly, as defined
in claim 3 wherein said needle guard further comprises: a second
sleeve for removably receiving the hypodermic needle and luer lock
and the hub and end of a new, unused syringe for storage before
use attached thereto, such that when said second sleeve is removed
from said new syringe, said needle guard may be placed in said stand
means such that said first sleeve is in position to receive said
needle and luer lock and said hub and syringe end for disposal.
6. A non-mechanical needle guard kit for permanently securing and
incapacitating a single used syringe and needle assembly, as defined
in claim 3 wherein said stand means comprises an upper element
having a substantially conical internal surface which tapers down
to a single aperture at its center, said upper element being supported
by at least one riser element and said conical internal surface
aiding in directing a needle into said needle guard.
Syringe needle description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a non-mechanical safety
needle guard for preventing inadvertent needle punctures or sticks
and for rendering a syringe and needle assembly useless after one
use by capping the entire needle with the needle guard by use of
a fast acting adhesive contained in the needle guard, and a supporting
stand therefor. The combination of needle guard and stand constitute
a single handed disposal system, as required by the Occupational
Safety and Health Act (OSHA).
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In light of widespread abuse of syringes and needles by
drug addicts and the spread of AIDS associated with the use of or
accidental puncture by contaminated needles, the prior inventions
proposed syringe and needle assemblies with various safety features.
To prevent reuse of discarded disposable syringe and needle assemblies
and for preventing inadvertent needle punctures, many types of safety
devices have been proposed.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4270536 to Lemelson, discloses a needle
breaking device. Specifically, after using the syringe and needle
assembly, a plunger portion of the syringe is taken completely out
of the syringe. The head of the plunger has a hole for holding the
needle in place during breakage. However, this method or device
is not safe, in that the fluid contained within the needle, which
may be contaminated, becomes exposed to the person handling the
syringe when the plunger is completely pulled out. Moreover, during
the breaking process, the needle of the syringe may shatter, generating
fragments which can stick the user and expose the user to potentially
bio-hazardous material.
[0006] A second embodiment of the Lemelson patent discloses a sheath
for encapsulating the needle by taking the plunger off the syringe
and placing it over the needle. Again, because the plunger has to
be taken off the syringe, contaminated fluid in the needle can expose
the user. Furthermore, this device does not disable the syringe,
as the plunger can be placed back into the syringe.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4248246 to Ikeda discloses a cap for enclosing
a needle portion of a sampling blood collector. The cap contains
a seal material which is placed over the tip of the needle after
it is used. However, Ikeda does not offer sufficient protection
against subsequent accidents, because the cap can easily be pulled
off.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 7735311 to Lowe, et al., is substantially
similar to Ikeda, except that the Lowe patent relates to a syringe.
A cap is used in the identical manner as the Ikeda patent to seal
the needle and to prevent an inadvertent needle puncture.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4710170 to Haber, et al., discloses a syringe
assembly for preventing an accidental needle puncture and for rendering
the syringe inoperable. Specifically, the entire needle assembly
can be pulled into the syringe body. The plunger is then pushed
directly into the needle portion until the needle completely embeds
into the plunger. While this device completely disables the syringe
and prevents an accidental needle puncture, once disabled, the shortcoming
of this patent is that it cannot be used in conventional syringe
and needle assemblies. On the other hand, the present invention
is related to a protective sheath which can be used on any conventional
assembly by simply capping the needle with the sheath, as opposed
to the elaborate steps required by Haber. Also, the steps required
in the Haber patent to disable the syringe may, in some instances
be to complicated for ordinary individuals to follow.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4270536 to Chen, discloses a syringe cap
for disabling the syringe after one use. Specifically, a plug at
the tip of the cap is slidable along the inner surface of the cap.
By pushing in the plug, the needle will engage the tip portion of
the needle to puncture the plug. The pulling the plunger causes
adhesive contained within the plug to flow into the needle, thereby
disabling the needle when the adhesive sets. The Chen patent has
two drawbacks. First, the plug is easily pushed into the needle.
Even a slight, inadvertent, push can cause the plug to engage the
needle. The Chen patent provides no adequate measures for preventing
the plug from being engaged accidentally. Second, the entire cap,
along with the plug, can be pulled off, thereby exposing the needle
for a possible needle injury. Further, the Chen patent does not
provide any means for disabling the syringe portion.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4801295 to Spenser, discloses a sleeve
which slides along the outer body syringe surface. When the sleeve
is fully extended, the needle is shielded, thereby avoiding an accidental
needle puncture. While the sleeve is designed to be permanently
locked in the extended safety position, the safety sleeve can be
broken with force or can be severed from the syringe, thereby exposing
the entire needle. Because the syringe and the needle are not disabled,
the syringe and needle can be reused.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4872552 to Unger, discloses a safety cap
which is hinged to a syringe and needle assembly. When using the
assembly, the cap is pivoted away from the needle portion. After
using the assembly, the cap is placed back on the needle portion.
The cap also includes a block slidably engaged therewith to enable
the tip portion of the needle to penetrate the block, thus shielding
the needle to prevent an accidental needle puncture. However, the
shortcoming of the Unger invention is that the assembly is not disabled.
Anyone can remove the cap from the assembly and reuse the assembly.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5026345 to Teringo, discloses a non-mechanical
locking incapacitation syringe safety needle guard for preventing
reuse of a syringe and needle assembly and for preventing an accidental
needle puncture. The needle guard has a hollow chamber filled with
a liquid adhesive. When the needle portion, luer lock and neck of
the syringe are placed in the chamber, the adhesive locks the needle
guard permanently to the syringe, thereby disabling the needle portion.
Furthermore, the adhesive is drawn into the syringe chamber to lock
the plunger of the syringe to the syringe, thereby immobilizing
the plunger, rendering the syringe and needle completely useless.
The present invention utilizes a two part adhesive, which cures
more quickly and solidly than the single part adhesive of Teringo,
as well as providing relief grooves to allow the adhesive to flow
more freely around the luer lock and hub of the syringe. Furthermore,
with the improved bonding of the syringe to the needle guard by
the two part adhesive of the present invention, in contrast to Teringo,
the present invention does not need to fill the syringe with adhesive,
as did the original.
[0014] Typically, used syringes and needles are first collected
in mass quantities in a secure container, such as a Sharps container.
Once collected, they are destroyed or disposed of by one of several
methods. For instance, needle choppers, autoclaves and incineration
have been used to destroy or dispose of used syringes and needles.
However, these methods are not entirely satisfactory, in that the
syringes and needle assemblies are not rendered useless immediately
after their use. This provides an opportunity for individuals to
pilfer syringes and needles during the collection process. By providing
a needle guard in the present invention to permanently and immediately
render the syringe and needle useless, even if the discarded and
disabled syringes and needles are pilfered during collection, they
cannot be reused.
[0015] With the exception of Teringo, the prior inventions do not
provide a non-mechanical device for immediately rendering the syringe
and needle completely inoperative by using adhesive in the needle
guard. Rather, they require a safety device to be part of the original
needle assembly package and are either of a mechanical locking nature
or require force to break the needle portion of the syringe. None
of the prior inventions encompasses the entire range of safety and
permanence of the present invention which renders all functional
parts of the syringe completely inoperative in a single handed process,
as required by OSHA.
[0016] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly
or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as
claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention provides a non-mechanical needle guard
which is quite similar to conventional shipping guards, with the
exception that the guard of the present invention contains a fast
curing, dual part adhesive for encapsulating the used needle and
syringe hub. Additionally, a supporting stand holds the needle guard
in a steady position, allowing single handed use of the guard, as
required by OSHA. A penetrable membrane (typically foil) within
the needle guard separates the activator element and the base element
of the adhesive to prevent premature mixing and hardening of the
adhesive within the needle guard. A second membrane seals the top
of the guard.
[0018] After use, a needle is inserted into the needle guard, penetrating
both the outer and inner membrane as it passes into the guard. Puncturing
the inner membrane allows the activator and base elements of the
adhesive to mix and harden almost instantaneously, permanently encapsulating
the needle, luer lock and syringe hub within the needle guard. Utilization
of the stand to hold the needle guard stationary allows the procedure
to be completed with only one hand, as required by OSHA.
[0019] In a secondary embodiment, the disposal needle guard of
the present invention may be formed as an integral part of the shipping
needle guard. In this embodiment, the guard has two chambers, the
shipping guard, which is placed over the needle at the time of manufacture
and the adhesive filled disposal guard, into which the needle is
inserted after use.
[0020] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide a needle guard for a syringe and needle assembly to prevent
an inadvertent needle puncture and for rendering the assembly completely
inoperable immediately after use.
[0021] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a needle
guard which renders a syringe and needle assembly inoperable virtually
instantaneously.
[0022] It is another object of the invention to provide a needle
guard, which does not require sterilization, for use with any conventional,
disposable syringe and needle assembly.
[0023] Still another object of the invention is to provide a needle
guard which, when used with an accompanying support stand allows
single handed uses, as required by OSHA.
[0024] An additional object of the invention is to provide a needle
guard and support stand which are easy and effective to use.
[0025] It is again an object of the invention to provide a needle
guard and support stand which are economical to use.
[0026] Still another object of the invention is to provide a needle
guard which eliminates the necessity to store functioning needle
and syringe assemblies prior to disabling.
[0027] It is a further object of the invention to provide a needle
guard, supplied with a syringe and needle assembly, where the needle
guard serves two functions, one to serve as a conventional needle
guard, and another to serve as a syringe and needle assembly immobilizer.
[0028] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements
and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described
which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing
its intended purposes.
[0029] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages
of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the
same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a syringe and needle
assembly with the needle guard of a first embodiment of the present
invention in place.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the needle guard of
FIG. 1.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the needle guard of FIG. 1.
[0034] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the needle guard stand of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the stand of FIG. 4
with the needle guard and syringe and needle assembly of FIG. 1
inserted therein.
[0036] FIG. 6 is a cut away side elevational view of a second embodiment
of the needle guard stand with the needle guard and syringe and
needle assembly of FIG. 1 inserted therein.
[0037] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the needle guard block
of a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the needle guard block of FIG.
7.
[0039] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the needle guard block of FIG.
7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] At FIG. 1 a typical syringe and needle assembly 100 is
depicted as disposed of in a needle guard 10 of the present invention.
The needle and syringe assembly 100 typically consists of a syringe
body 102 a plunger 104 with a rubber plunger head 106 and a hub
108. The needle 110 has a luer lock 112 at its upper head which
joins the needle 110 to the syringe hub 108. The connection between
the hub 108 and luer lock 112 is typically a removable connection,
although, in today's disposable needles, they are rarely separated,
except possibly in the disposal process.
[0041] FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a first embodiment of the needle guard
10 which has a hollow needle sheath 12 the hollow interior being
closed at a first, lower end of the needle guard 10 and opened at
a second, upper end. The needle sheath 12 is generally tapered from
a greater diameter at the upper end to a lesser diameter at the
lower end. This tapered design facilitates receiving the needle
110 of the syringe and needle assembly 100 while using a minimal
amount of adhesive, but it would be evident to one of ordinary skill
in the art that a straight design would work with equal effectiveness.
From the upper end of needle sheath 12 the needle guard 10 is expanded
in diameter, typically tapering outwardly from the upper end of
needle sheath 12 to form a hollow luer lock/hub sheath 14. From
the upper end of the luer lock/hub sheath 14 the needle guard 10
further expands to a funnel or bowl shaped receptor 16 which tends
to guide the needle 110 luer lock 112 and hub 108 into the interior
of the needle guard 10. Relief grooves 18 are formed in the interior
walls of the luer lock/hub sheath 14 to allow passage of adhesive,
as will be detailed hereinbelow. A lip 20 may surround the perimeter
of receptor 16 as will be detailed hereinbelow.
[0042] The hollow interior of the needle sheath 12 and luer lock/hub
sheath 14 is filled with a first, base element 30 of a two part,
fast curing adhesive. One type of adhesive which could be used in
the present invention is cyanoacrylate. The needle guard 10 is sealed
at its open end by an inner membrane 22 and a outer membrane 24.
Between the inner membrane 22 and outer membrane 24 is a pocket
filled with a second, activator adhesive element 32 such as amine,
with the first membrane 22 keeping the base element 30 and the activator
element 32 separate until such time as the needle guard is used.
Both the inner membrane 22 and outer membrane 24 are typically of
a metal foil, although other suitable membranes, such as a plastic,
rubber or a laminate, which does not react with either the base
adhesive element 30 or activator adhesive element 32 could be used
with equal effectiveness without departing from the spirit of the
present invention.
[0043] Preferably, the needle guard 10 is formed of a polypropylene,
but it would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that
other materials could be used with equal effectiveness without departing
from the spirit of the present invention.
[0044] It would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art,
that while cyanoacrylate and amine are cited, other base adhesive
an activator elements could be used with equal effectiveness, without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0045] A needle guard stand 50 having a top surface 52 and at least
three riser elements 54 is depicted at FIGS. 4 and 5. The top surface
52 may generally be of any shape, although a substantially rectangular
surface 52 is depicted. The surface 52 has at least one, and generally
a plurality of apertures 56 formed therethrough, each aperture 56
being capable of holding one needle guard 10. The riser elements
54 are of sufficient height for the needle guards 10 to be suspended
by their lips 20 through the apertures 56 from the surface 52.
It would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art that the
at least three riser elements 54 could be individual legs or a continuous
peripheral wall extending downwardly from surface 52. For use with
a second embodiment of the needle guard 10b described hereinbelow,
the apertures 56 would be substantially rectangular.
[0046] It would be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art
that a single central riser element 54 could be utilized in the
above cited embodiment, but stability of the needle guard stand
50 would be compromised by so doing.
[0047] In use, a needle guard 10 is dropped into one of a plurality
of the apertures 56 formed in the surface 52 of the needle guard
stand 50. The needle guard 10 should be intact, filled with the
base adhesive element 12 and activator adhesive element 32 separated
by the inner membrane 22 and sealed by the outer membrane 24. After
using the syringe and needle assembly 100 the syringe body 102
is held in one hand while the needle 110 is inserted into the needle
guard 10 the needle puncturing the outer membrane 24 passing through
the activator adhesive element 32 and then puncturing the inner
membrane 22. As the inner membrane 22 is punctured, the needle 110
continues through the interior of the luer lock/hub sleeve 14 and
into the needle sleeve 12 while the activator adhesive element
32 coats the surfaces of the needle 110 luer lock 112 and syringe
end 108 es they pass through the activator adhesive element 32.
Contact of the activator adhesive element 32 with the base adhesive
element 30 causes almost instantaneous curing of the adhesive 30/32.
Relief grooves 18 formed in the interior walls of the luer lock/hub
sleeve 14 allows the base adhesive element 30 to escape to the receptor
16 area as the luer lock 112 enters the leur lock/hub sleeve 14
allowing the mixture of the base adhesive element 30 and activator
adhesive element 32. With the syringe and needle assembly 100 fully
inserted into the needle guard 10 the luer lock 112 and hub 108
are encased in cured adhesive 30/32 within the needle sleeve and
the end of the syringe body 102 within the receptor 16.
[0048] The above-cited needle guard 10 and needle guard stand 50
along with the procedure for use meet all of the OSHA requirements
for safe disposal of used syringes and needles.
[0049] A second embodiment of an individual needle guard stand
50a is disclosed at FIG. 6. Intended primarily for home use, the
individual needle guard stand 50a is essentially a double cone,
with the two cones joined at their vertexes. A riser cone 54a raises
an aperture 56a formed at the juncture of the riser cone 54a and
an upper cone 52a to a height sufficient that a needle guard 10
can be suspended from the juncture into the interior of the riser
cone 54a. The upper cone 52a, which would typically have a height
less than that of the riser cone 54a, aids in directing the needle
110 of a syringe and needle assembly 100 into the top of the needle
guard 10. This configuration gives a steady base and aiming guide
for safe, one-handed disposal for those who might have trouble using
the needle guard 10 and needle guard stand 50. It would be evident
to one of ordinary skill in the art that, while a double cone is
disclosed, the lower portion of the needle guard stand 50a could
be configured in a variety of shapes without departing from the
spirit of the present invention.
[0050] A second embodiment of the needle guard of the present invention
is depicted at FIGS. 7 thru 10 as needle guard block 60. As the
functional elements of the needle guards 10 and 10b are substantially
identical, the description of interior elements and method of use
will not be repeated, but rather, only the exterior housing of the
second embodiment will be described.
[0051] The needle guard 10b is formed within a substantially rectilinear
needle guard block 60 which houses both a shipping needle guard
10a, internally similar to standard needle guards covering new needles,
and a disposal needle guard 10b, shipping needle guard 10a and disposal
needle guard 10b being formed from the opposite ends of the needle
guard block 60. A lip 62 surrounds a first end of the needle guard
block 60 the first end being that from which the disposal needle
guard 10b is formed. When a syringe and needle assembly 100 is assembled,
the needle guard block 60 is placed over the needle 110 such that
the needle 110 luer lock 112 and syringe hub 108 are all firmly
housed within the shipping needle guard 10a. When the syringe and
needle assembly 100 are to be used, the syringe and needle assembly
100 is withdrawn from the shipping needle guard 10a and the needle
guard block 60 is dropped into a needle guard stand 50 being suspended
from the top surface 52 of the needle guard stand 50 by lip 62.
After the syringe and needle assembly 100 has been used, it may
be inserted into the disposal needle guard 10b, as described hereinabove.
[0052] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any
and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. |