Needle guard with visual confirmation of lock

Claim 2

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a hub to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a first position relative to the hub to maintain enclosed the needle within said guard prior to use of the needle; (b) means for posteriorly relocating said guard in a second position relative to the hub to exteriorize the needle from within said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (c) means for locking said guard in a third position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the hub to re-enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle; and (d) means for providing a light transmissive passageway visually perceivable and unambiguously indicative of said guard being in the third position.

Claim 3

The guard as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guard includes radially inwardly extending means for supporting said guard upon the hub and means disposed in the hub for releasably capturing said supporting means when said guard is in each of the first and second positions.

Claim 4

The guard as set forth in claim 2 including means disposed in the hub for lockingly capturing said supporting means when said guard is in the third position.

Claim 5

The guard as set forth in claim 1 wherein said providing means is disposed in said hub.

Claim 6

The guard as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guard includes a posterior end for covering said passageway when said guard is located relative to the hub at any position other than in the third position.

Claim 7

The guard as set forth in claim 5 including a pair of passageways extending through the hub for accommodating transmission of light therethrough.

Claim 8

The guard as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guard includes a posterior end for covering said passageway when said guard is located relative to said hub at any position other than in the third position.

Claim 9

The guard as set forth in claim 7 including a pair of passageways extending through said hub for accommodating transmission of light therethrough.

Claim 10

The guard as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hub includes a plurality of longitudinally oriented ridges for guiding said guard along the hub upon relocating and repositioning said guard.

Claim 11

The guard as set forth in claim 9 wherein said locking means includes a radially inwardly extending ridge formed as part of said guard and a groove formed in at least some of said longitudinally oriented ridges for receiving said ridge of said guard.

Claim 12

The guard as set forth in claim 1 including two of said passageways, one of said passageways being located in each longitudinal half of the hub.

Claim 13

The guard as set forth in claim 11 wherein the hub includes a top longitudinal ridge, a bottom longitudinal ridge, a first pair of opposed longitudinal ridges connected to said top ridge by a first web and a second pair of opposed longitudinal ridges connected to said bottom ridge by a second web and wherein each of said passageways is disposed in one of said top and bottom webs.

Claim 14

The guard as set forth in claim 12 wherein the hub includes a longitudinal axis and wherein said pair of passageways are parallel with one another and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the hub.

Claim 15

The guard as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guard includes a cap disposed at the anterior end of said guard for enclosing the anterior end of said guard prior to use of the needle, said cap including a frangibly attached tab for developing an aperture in said cap through which the needle may be exteriorized.

Claim 16

The guard as set forth in claim 14 wherein said tab includes a frangible boss for developing the aperture.

Claim 17

The guard as set forth in claim 14 wherein said cap is of lesser cross section than said anterior guard to minimize a likelihood of snagging said cap.

Claim 18

The guard as set forth in claim 1 wherein the needle is a double ended needle having an anterior needle and a posterior needle extending from opposed ends of the hub, said anterior guard being associated with the anterior needle and including a posterior guard for enclosing the posterior needle before and after use of the double ended needle.

Claim 19

The guard as set forth in claim 17 including means for releasably attaching said posterior guard to said anterior guard in overlapping relationship.

Claim 20

The guard as set forth in claim 18 including means for sealing the junction between said anterior guard and said posterior guard.

Claim 21

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a hub to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a first position relative to the hub to maintain enclosed the needle within said guard prior to use of the needle; (b) means for posteriorly relocating said guard in a second position relative to the hub to exteriorize the needle from within said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (c) radially inwardly extending means for supporting said guard upon the hub and means disposed in said hub for releasably capturing said supporting means when said guard is in each of the first and second positions; (d) means for locking said guard in a third position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the hub to re-enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle, said locking means including means disposed in said hub for lockingly capturing said supporting means when said guard is in the third position; and (e) means for providing at a location posterior of said guard a visually perceivable unambiguous indication of said guard being in the third position, said providing means including at least one passageway extending through said hub for transmitting light therethrough.

Claim 22

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a hub to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a first position relative to the hub to maintain enclosed the needle within said guard prior to use of the needle; (b) means for posteriorly relocating said guard in a second position relative to the hub to exteriorize the needle from within said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (c) radially inwardly extending means for supporting said guard upon the hub and means disposed in said hub for releasably capturing said supporting means when said guard is in each of the first and second positions; (d) means for locking said guard in a third position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the hub to re-enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle, said locking means including means disposed in said hub for lockingly capturing said supporting means when said guard is in the third position; and (e) means for providing at a location posterior of said guard a visually perceivable unambiguous indication of said guard being in the third position, said providing means including at least one passageway extending through said hub for transmitting light therethrough.

Claim 23

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a hub to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a first position relative to the hub to maintain enclosed the needle within said guard prior to use of the needle; (b) means for posteriorly relocating said guard in a second position relative to the hub to exteriorize the needle from within said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (c) means for locking said guard in a third position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the hub to re-enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle; and (d) means for providing at a location posterior of said guard a visually perceivable unambiguous indication of said guard being in the third position, said providing means including at least one passageway extending through said hub for accommodating transmission of light therethrough.

Claim 24

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a hub to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a first position relative to the hub to maintain enclosed the needle within said guard prior to use of the needle; (b) means for posteriorly relocating said guard in a second position relative to the hub to exteriorize the needle from within said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (c) means for locking said guard in a third position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the hub to re-enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle; and (d) means for providing at a location posterior of said guard a visually perceivable unambiguous indication of said guard being in the third position, said providing means including at least one passageway extending through said hub for accommodating transmission of light therethrough.

Claim 25

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a hub to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a first position relative to the hub to maintain enclosed the needle within said guard prior to use of the needle; (b) means for posteriorly relocating said guard in a second position relative to the hub to exteriorize the needle from within said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (c) means for locking said guard in a third position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the hub to re-enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle, said locking means including a radially inwardly extending ridge formed as part of said guard and a groove formed in at least some of said longitudinally oriented ridges for receiving said ridge of said guard; (d) a plurality of longitudinally oriented ridges for guiding said guard along the hub upon relocating and repositioning said guard; and (e) means for providing at a location posterior of said guard a visually perceivable unambiguous indication of said guard being in the third position, said providing means including at least one light transmissive passageway extending through the hub posteriorly of any of said grooves.

Claim 26

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a hub to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a first position relative to the hub to maintain enclosed the needle within said guard prior to use of the needle; (b) means for posteriorly relocating said guard in a second position relative to the hub to exteriorize the needle from within said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (c) means for locking said guard in a third position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the hub to re-enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle, said locking means including a radially inwardly extending ridge formed as part of said guard and a groove formed in at least some of said longitudinally oriented ridges for receiving said ridge of said guard; (d) a plurality of longitudinally oriented ridges for guiding said guard along the hub upon relocating and repositioning said guard; and (e) means for providing at a location posterior of said guard a visually perceivable unambiguous indication of said guard being in the third position, said providing means including at least one light transmissive passageway extending through the hub posteriorly of any of said grooves.

Claim 29

The method as set forth in claim 23 wherein the hub supports a double ended needle extending anteriorly and posteriorly of the hub and wherein said steps of relocating and locking are associated with the guard for the anterior needle, said method including the step of attaching a posterior guard relative to the hub to enclose the posterior needle.

Claim 30

The method as set forth in claim 24 wherein said step of attaching includes the step of securing sealing tape about the junction of the anterior guard and the posterior guard.

Claim 35

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a needle supporting element to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a position of use relative to the needle supporting element and with the needle exteriorized of said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (b) means for locking said guard in a locked position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the needle supporting element to enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle; and (c) light transmissive means for providing a visually perceivable unambiguous indication of said guard being in the locked position.

Claim 36

A guard having a visually confirmable locked position for enclosing a needle extending from a needle supporting element to prevent uncovering of the needle and inadvertent needle stick after use of the needle, said guard comprising in combination: (a) means for locating said guard in a position of use relative to the needle supporting element and with the needle exteriorized of said guard in preparation for use of the needle; (b) means for locking said guard in a locked position upon anteriorly repositioning said guard relative to the needle supporting element to enclose the needle within said guard after use of the needle; and (c) light transmissive means for providing a visually perceivable unambiguous indication of said guard being in the locked position.

Claim 37

The guard as set forth in claim 28 wherein said guard includes radially inwardly extending means for supporting said guard upon the needle supporting element and means disposed in the needle supporting element for releasably capturing said supporting means when said guard is in the position of use.

Claim 38

The guard as set forth in claim 29 including means disposed in the needle supporting element for lockingly capturing said supporting means when said guard is in the locked position.

Claim 39

The guard as set forth in claim 28 wherein said light transmissive means includes at least one passageway extending through the needle supporting element for transmitting light through the needle supporting element.

Claim 40

The guard as set forth in claim 31 wherein said guard includes a posterior end for covering said passageway when said guard is located relative to the needle supporting element at any position other than in the locked position.

Claim 41

The guard as set forth in claim 31 including a pair of passageways extending through the needle supporting element for accommodating transmission of light therethrough.

Claim 42

The guard as set forth in claim 1 wherein the needle supporting element includes a plurality of longitudinally oriented ridges for guiding said guard along the needle supporting element upon repositioning said guard.

Claim 43

The guard as set forth in claim 34 wherein said locking means includes a radially inwardly extending ridge formed as part of said guard and a groove formed in at least some of said longitudinally oriented ridges for receiving said ridge of said guard.

Claim 44

The guard as set forth in claim 35 wherein said light transmissive means includes at least one light transmissive passageway extending through the needle supporting element posteriorly of any of said grooves.

Claim 45

The guard as set forth in claim 36 including two of said passageways, one of said passageways being located in each lateral half of the needle supporting element.

Claim 46

The guard as set forth in claim 37 wherein the needle supporting element includes a top longitudinal ridge, a bottom longitudinal ridge, a first pair of opposed longitudinal ridges connected to said top ridge by a first web and a second pair of opposed longitudinal ridges connected to said bottom ridge by a second web and wherein each of said passageways is disposed in one of said top and bottom webs.

Claim 47

The guard as set forth in claim 28 wherein said guard includes a cap disposed at the anterior and of said guard for enclosing the anterior end of said guard prior to use of the needle, said cap including a frangibly attached tab for developing an aperture in said cap through which the needle may be exteriorized.

Claim 48

The guard as set forth in claim 28 wherein the needle is a double ended needle having an anterior needle and a posterior needle extending from opposed ends of the needle supporting element, said guard comprising an anterior guard associated with the anterior needle and including a posterior guard for enclosing the posterior needle before and after use of the double ended needle.

Claim 49

The guard as set forth in claim 40 including means for releasably attaching said posterior guard to said anterior guard in overlapping relationship.

Claim 50

The guard as set forth in claim 41 including means for sealing the junction between said anterior guard and said posterior guard.

Claim 53

The method as set forth in claim 43 wherein the needle supporting element supports a double ended needle extending anteriorly and posteriorly of the needle supporting element and wherein said steps of locating and locking are associated with the guard for the anterior needle, said method including the step of attaching a posterior guard relative to the needle supporting element to enclose the posterior needle.

Claim 54

The guard as set forth in claim 44 wherein the needle supporting element includes at least one transversely oriented light transmissive passageway, said step of providing including the step of accommodating visually perceivable transmission of light through the passageway in the needle supporting element only when the guard is in the locked position.

Claim 55

The guard as set forth in claim 44 wherein the needle supporting element includes a pair of transversely oriented light transmissive passageways and including the step of shielding the pair of passageways in the needle supporting element with the guard to prevent visually perceivable transmission of light through the pair of passageways whenever the guard is in other than the locked position.