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US5066281A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Disposable syringe apparatus with retractable needle, locking device and cap device

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-03-26
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Granted: 1991-11-19
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Expires: 2010-03-26
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Abstract

Abstract A disposable syringe apparatus with retractable body entering conduit which reduces the frequency of accidental needle strikes to health care workers and prevents health-threatening reuse of the syringe by drug abusers. The device includes a cylinder having an open proximal end, a closed distal end, and a body entering conduit projecting through the distal end. A piston assembly is included having a member at its distal end for engaging the aperture at the proximal end of the body entering conduit following expulsion of fluid materials. The piston is then withdrawn proximally through the cylinder relocating the body entering conduit fully within the interior of the cylinder. The body entering conduit and piston are locked in place by a member for a tapering cam on the exterior of the piston and retainers on the interior of the cylinder. The distal end of cylinder is then frictionally engaged in the syringe cap as it awaits on a plane surface thereby rendering the body entering conduit permanently irretrievable and the cylinder aperture safely locked closed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Deborah G. C. Stevenson-Michener

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 09:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/31; A61M5/32; A61M5/3205; A61M5/321; A61M5/322; A61M5/50; A61M2005/3103; A61M2005/3104; A61M5/315; A61M5/31501

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 296 words
A syringe apparatus which comprises: a) a substantially cylindrical hollow barrel portion herein described as cylinder having a substantially closed distal end and an open proximal end and having flange shoulder portions extending outwardly form the cylinder surface at the proximal end as a gripping means; b) a body entering conduit at least partially contained within said hollow cylinder portion and at times partially extruding therefrom; c) a means for the frictional sealing at the distal end of the cylinder so that the distal end remains closed after retraction of the body entering conduit; d) a piston assembly movable reciprocally and axially through said cylinder; e) means for detachably connecting the proximal end of the body entering conduit to said piston assembly distal end so that when said conduit and said assembly are connected said piston moves in unison with said body entering conduit; f) means for detachably connecting the distal end of the piston assembly to said proximal end of the body entering conduit so that when said conduit and said assembly are connected said conduit moves in unison with said piston; g) means for anchoring said detachable piston connecting means at said piston assembly distal end; h) means for locking the piston assembly and the attached body entering conduit within the cylinder following retraction of the body entering conduit within the cylinder by reciprocal and axial movement thereof, said means comprising a tapering spiral ribbed cam on the piston; i) said means for locking the piston assembly and the detachably connected body entering conduit within the cylinder following retraction of the body entering conduit within the cylinder further comprising ribbed retainers on the interior of the cylinder allowing for only one way, one time use of the syringe apparatus when engaged with said cam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 296 words
A syringe apparatus which comprises: a) a substantially cylindrical hollow barrel portion herein described as cylinder having a substantially closed distal end and an open proximal end and having flange shoulder portions extending outwardly form the cylinder surface at the proximal end as a gripping means; b) a body entering conduit at least partially contained within said hollow cylinder portion and at times partially extruding therefrom; c) a means for the frictional sealing at the distal end of the cylinder so that the distal end remains closed after retraction of the body entering conduit; d) a piston assembly movable reciprocally and axially through said cylinder; e) means for detachably connecting the proximal end of the body entering conduit to said piston assembly distal end so that when said conduit and said assembly are connected said piston moves in unison with said body entering conduit; f) means for detachably connecting the distal end of the piston assembly to said proximal end of the body entering conduit so that when said conduit and said assembly are connected said conduit moves in unison with said piston; g) means for anchoring said detachable piston connecting means at said piston assembly distal end; h) means for locking the piston assembly and the attached body entering conduit within the cylinder following retraction of the body entering conduit within the cylinder by reciprocal and axial movement thereof, said means comprising a tapering spiral ribbed cam on the piston; i) said means for locking the piston assembly and the detachably connected body entering conduit within the cylinder following retraction of the body entering conduit within the cylinder further comprising ribbed retainers on the interior of the cylinder allowing for only one way, one time use of the syringe apparatus when engaged with said cam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 114 words
The syringe apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a cap for said syringe, said cap comprising: a) a hollow cylindrical portion having a flared, open distal end and a closed proximal end for mounting said device on a plane surface; b) means at the distal end of said cap for frictionally connecting with the most proximal end of the syringe piston assembly prior to use of the syringe; c) means around the circumference of the distal end of the cap for frictionally connecting with the distal end of the syringe; d) said cap distal end frictionally connecting means comprising a plurality of locking tabs around the interior circumference of the cylindrical cap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 68 words
The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said body entering conduit comprises a means for an aperture at its proximal end; a. said means detachably connecting with the distal end of the piston so that the body entering conduit moves in unison with said piston reciprocally through said syringe cylinder toward the proximal end of the cylinder such that the conduit extends completely within the interior of the cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 77 words
The apparatus in, claim 1 wherein said piston comprises a hooking means and an attached anchoring device for anchoring said hooking means at the distal end of said piston; a. said hooking means detachably connecting with the proximal end of the body entering conduit so that the conduit moves in unison with said piston reciprocally through said cylinder toward the proximal end of the cylinder such that the conduit extends completely within the interior of the cylinder.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 311 words
A method of retracting a body entering conduit of a syringe following injection and capping said syringe comprising the following steps: a. providing a syringe cap apparatus having a substantially cylindrical hollow portion with means to attach to and detach from the proximal end of the syringe piston; b. detaching said cap; c. placing said cap on a plane surface awaiting receipt of the cylinder; d. providing a syringe apparatus having a substantially cylindrical hollow barrel portion open at the proximal end and substantially closed at the distal end; e. providing a body entering conduit protruding through a sealing device at the distal end of the cylinder and movable to a retracted position within the cylinder: f. providing a piston portion insertable into the hollow of said cylinder portion and movable within said cylinder; g. providing a means for engaging the body entering conduit to the distal end of the piston; h. inserting said piston portion into said cylinder; i. preparing said body entering conduit and piston for injecting fluid to be administered; j. inserting said body entering conduit into the fluid to be administered; k. retracting said piston thus drawing fluid into the area between said body entering conduit and said piston within the cylinder; l. inserting the conduit into patient; m. plunging piston into a position adjacent to body entering conduit thus forcing said fluid into said patient; n. withdrawing body entering conduit from patient; o. engaging devices connecting proximal end of body entering conduit to distal end of piston; p. retracting said conduit until entire body entering conduit is within interior syringe cylinder; q. engaging means comprising a tapering spiral ribbed cam on said piston and ribbed retainers on interior cylinder wall as a means for locking the body entering conduit and piston within the cylinder; r. engaging distal end of cylinder to syringe cap by frictional pressure.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 311 words
A method of retracting a body entering conduit of a syringe following injection and capping said syringe comprising the following steps: a. providing a syringe cap apparatus having a substantially cylindrical hollow portion with means to attach to and detach from the proximal end of the syringe piston; b. detaching said cap; c. placing said cap on a plane surface awaiting receipt of the cylinder; d. providing a syringe apparatus having a substantially cylindrical hollow barrel portion open at the proximal end and substantially closed at the distal end; e. providing a body entering conduit protruding through a sealing device at the distal end of the cylinder and movable to a retracted position within the cylinder: f. providing a piston portion insertable into the hollow of said cylinder portion and movable within said cylinder; g. providing a means for engaging the body entering conduit to the distal end of the piston; h. inserting said piston portion into said cylinder; i. preparing said body entering conduit and piston for injecting fluid to be administered; j. inserting said body entering conduit into the fluid to be administered; k. retracting said piston thus drawing fluid into the area between said body entering conduit and said piston within the cylinder; l. inserting the conduit into patient; m. plunging piston into a position adjacent to body entering conduit thus forcing said fluid into said patient; n. withdrawing body entering conduit from patient; o. engaging devices connecting proximal end of body entering conduit to distal end of piston; p. retracting said conduit until entire body entering conduit is within interior syringe cylinder; q. engaging means comprising a tapering spiral ribbed cam on said piston and ribbed retainers on interior cylinder wall as a means for locking the body entering conduit and piston within the cylinder; r. engaging distal end of cylinder to syringe cap by frictional pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method in claim 5 further comprising the step of disposing of said apparatus following the retraction of said body entering conduit into said cylinder and capping of said cylinder.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-11-18 1995-05-20 1995-11-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-11-18 1999-05-20 1999-11-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-11-18 2003-05-20 2003-11-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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