EP0286992A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Medical device
Assignee: ICU Medical Inc
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Filing: 1988-04-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-04-08
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an improved medical device (10) of the type where a needle (40) is protected by a guard member (48) moved axially along the needle shaft to a permanently locked position. The improvement is the use of an elongated stem member (52) extending from the locking element (44) covering a substantial portion of the exterior surface of the needle shaft to provide an essentially fail-safe bond between the locking element (44) and the needle (40) and to facilitate manufacture of the device (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis L. Sitar
- 👤 Jean M. Bonaldo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:09
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/31; A61M5/32; A61M5/3202; A61M5/3205; A61M5/321; A61M5/3243; A61M5/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A disposable needle assembly, comprising: an elongated needle element (40) terminating in an open pointed tip (42) adapted to penetrate the body of a patient is characterized by a guard member (48) mounted around the shaft of the needle element (40) and manually movable axially along the needle element (40) between a first position where the guard member (48) is displaced inwardly from the open pointed tip (42) to expose the open pointed tip (42) to enable it to penetrate the body of the patient and a second position where the guard member (48) covers the open pointed tip (42) to prevent needle sticks, and by locking means (44) mounted along the needle element (40) for locking the guard member (48) in the second position upon movement of the guard member (48) from the first position to the second position, the locking means (44) having integral therewith and extending therefrom an elongated stem member (52) wherethrough a substantial portion of the needle element (40) extends, said stem member (52) being securely bonded to the shaft of the needle element (40).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A disposable needle assembly, comprising: an elongated needle element (40) terminating in an open pointed tip (42) adapted to penetrate the body of a patient is characterized by a guard member (48) mounted around the shaft of the needle element (40) and manually movable axially along the needle element (40) between a first position where the guard member (48) is displaced inwardly from the open pointed tip (42) to expose the open pointed tip (42) to enable it to penetrate the body of the patient and a second position where the guard member (48) covers the open pointed tip (42) to prevent needle sticks, and by locking means (44) mounted along the needle element (40) for locking the guard member (48) in the second position upon movement of the guard member (48) from the first position to the second position, the locking means (44) having integral therewith and extending therefrom an elongated stem member (52) wherethrough a substantial portion of the needle element (40) extends, said stem member (52) being securely bonded to the shaft of the needle element (40).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The needle assembly as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the locking means (44) and the stem member (52) cover substantially over 50% of the surface of the exterior of the needle element (40).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The needle assembly as set forth in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the guard member (48) comprises a tubular member having a collar member (62, 64) at the rearward end thereof and a restricted opening (86) at the forward end thereof towards the open pointed tip (42), the open pointed tip (42) extending through the restricted opening (86) in the forward end when the guard member (48) is in the first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The needle assembly as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the stem member (52) comprises a hub member (54) at one end thereof, remote from the locking means (44), said hub member (54) removably connecting said needle assembly to a syringe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The needle assembly as set forth in Claim 4, wherein said hub member (54) has a guard holding section (78, 80, 82) extending therefrom towards the open pointed tip (42) to securely hold the guard member (48) in position when the guard member (48) is in the first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The needle assembly as set forth in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the collar member (62, 64) of the guard member (48) comprises two lateral tear drop slits (90), substantially opposed to each other and dividing the collar member (62, 64) into two generally semicircular elements (62, 64).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The needle assembly as set forth in Claim 6, wherein the guard holding section (78, 80, 82) comprises a planar member (80) which securely fits into the lateral slits (90) of the guard member (48) when the guard member (48) is in the first position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The needle assembly as set forth in any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the locking means (44) has a receptacle in which the collar member (62, 64) of the guard member (48) snaps into upon movement of the guard member (48) into the second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
108 words
The needle assembly as set forth in Claim 8, wherein the collar member (62, 64) of the guard member (48) has an expandable orifice and wherein the locking means (44) includes a ramp section (56) forward of the receptacle (60) which fits into and forces expansion of the orifice as the guard member (48) approaches the receptacle (60) to move into the second position, the receptacle (60) having an elevated wall (58) which acts as a stop for the collar member (62, 64) of the guard member (48) to prevent axial movement of the guard member (48) after the collar member (62, 64) snaps into the receptacle (60).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
144 words
The needle assembly as set forth in any one of Claims 4 to 9, further comprising a sheath member (14) which fits over the first pointed tip (42) of the needle element (40) when the guard member (48) is in the first position to prevent exposure of the first pointed tip (42), the sheath member (14) having one end closed and an open end opposed to the closed end, the hub member (54) fitting snugly into the open end of the sheath end, so that the sheath member (14) encases the needle element (40) and the guard member (48) but may be manually removed by pulling it off the hub member (54), the sheath member (14) comprising interior splines (25) which coact with the hub member (54) to facilitate connecting the needle assembly to the syringe and disconnecting the needle assembly from the syringe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The needle assembly as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the stem member is securely bonded to the shaft of the needle element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The needle assembly as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the locking means (44) is made of a polymeric material molded and pressure-bonded about the needle element (40) without the use of adhesives.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The needle assembly as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the guard member (48) comprises a plurality of ribs molded in the exterior surface thereof, to facilitate grasping the guard member (48).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The use of a needle assembly as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 13, in a syringe for injecting a medication.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of manufacturing a disposable needle assembly including a guard member (48) mounted around the shaft of a needle element (40) and locking means (44) for permanently securing the guard member (48) in a position where the guard member (48) covers the pointed tip (42) of the needle element (40) in order to prevent needle sticks, said method comprising the steps of: securely holding in position a substantial portion of the shaft of the needle element (40) by means of pins within a mold cavity having a configuration corresponding to the locking element; injecting molten polymer into the mold cavity under high pressure; letting the molten polymer cool and shrink around the needle shaft so as to firmly bond the locking element to the needle shaft.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of manufacturing a disposable needle assembly including a guard member (48) mounted around the shaft of a needle element (40) and locking means (44) for permanently securing the guard member (48) in a position where the guard member (48) covers the pointed tip (42) of the needle element (40) in order to prevent needle sticks, said method comprising the steps of: securely holding in position a substantial portion of the shaft of the needle element (40) by means of pins within a mold cavity having a configuration corresponding to the locking element; injecting molten polymer into the mold cavity under high pressure; letting the molten polymer cool and shrink around the needle shaft so as to firmly bond the locking element to the needle shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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