US5114404A — Multifunctional retractable needle type general p…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 101 words

A syringe of the type having a retracted needle movable within a syringe housing and therein protected and shielded prior to syringe use including, in combination: a. means for maintaining said needle in a completely retracted position within said housing prior to use, and b. plunger means mechanically coupled between one end of said syringe where it is exposed to pressing by a finger or thumb at one end of said needle for driving said needle to an extended and exposed position when said syringe is ready for use, whereby said syringe may be operated with one hand of a user.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 101 words

A syringe of the type having a retracted needle movable within a syringe housing and therein protected and shielded prior to syringe use including, in combination: a. means for maintaining said needle in a completely retracted position within said housing prior to use, and b. plunger means mechanically coupled between one end of said syringe where it is exposed to pressing by a finger or thumb at one end of said needle for driving said needle to an extended and exposed position when said syringe is ready for use, whereby said syringe may be operated with one hand of a user.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus defined in claim 1 which further includes means for retracting said needle to an inoperative position within said syringe housing once an injection has been given.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus defined in claim 1 which further includes means for totally disabling said syringe once an injection is given by removing all pressure creating and sustaining means therein.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus defined in claim 2 which further includes means for simultaneously disabling said syringe during said needle retraction by removing all pressure creating and sustaining means therein.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

The apparatus defined in claim 4 which further includes hand control means operative in response to the single handed control of a syringe operator during the needle extension, retraction, and disabling thereof with a single hand motion, thereby leaving the other hand of a syringe operator free for performing other functions and remote from danger of being inadvertently struck with a needle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein said hand control means includes a plunger rod operative to rotate and drive a rachet gear during its back and forth motion, whereby said rachet gear is operative during controlled rotation to control other position control and release mechanisms within said syringe housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 76 words

The apparatus defined in claim 6 which includes a ratchet sleeve and ratchet barrel mechanically coupled to said driving means for producing controlled rotational motion within a housing of said syringe and thereby maintaining said needle in an extended rigid position while said syringe is in use, and thereafter providing retracting motion to said needle to render said needle inaccessible within said syringe housing and removing all pressure therefrom after an initial use of said syringe.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus defined in claim 7 which further includes a release mechanism operatively coupled between said needle and said ratchet sleeve and ratchet barrel for rotating to a predetermined release position adjacent to said ratchet sleeve and releasing said needle into said syringe housing after the initial use of said syringe.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus defined in claim 8 which further includes interlock means mechanically coupled between said release mechanism and said needle for locking said needle into a fixed rigid position while in use.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 59 words

A syringe which may be totally disabled after an initial use so that it cannot be retrofitted which comprises means within a syringe housing and mechanically coupled to a needle holder therein for retracting said needle holder and needle attached thereto into said housing after an initial syringe use while simultaneously removing all pressure sustaining means within said housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 59 words

A syringe which may be totally disabled after an initial use so that it cannot be retrofitted which comprises means within a syringe housing and mechanically coupled to a needle holder therein for retracting said needle holder and needle attached thereto into said housing after an initial syringe use while simultaneously removing all pressure sustaining means within said housing.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

The syringe defined in claim 10 which further includes: a. means for maintaining said needle in a completely retracted position within said housing prior to use, and b. means for driving said needle to an extended and exposed position when said syringe is ready for use.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

The syringe defined in claim 11 which further includes hand control means operative in response to the single handed control of a syringe operator during the needle extension, retraction, and disabling thereof with a single hand motion, thereby leaving the other hand of a syringe operator free for performing other functions and out of danger of being contaminated by said needle.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 50 words

The syringe defined in claim 12 wherein said hand control means includes a plunger rod operative to rotate and drive a rachet gear during its back and forth motion, whereby said rachet gear is operative during controlled rotation to control other position control and release mechanisms within said syringe housing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 76 words

The syringe defined in claim 13 which includes a ratchet sleeve and ratchet barrel mechanically coupled to said driving means for producing controlled rotational motion within a housing of said syringe and thereby maintaining said needle in an extended rigid position while said syringe is in use, and thereafter providing retracting motion to said needle to render said needle inaccessible within said syringe housing and removing all pressure therefrom after an initial use of said syringe.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 51 words

The syringe defined in claim 14 which further includes a release mechanism operatively coupled between said needle and said ratchet sleeve and ratchet barrel for rotating to a predetermined release position adjacent to said ratchet sleeve and releasing said needle into said syringe housing after the initial use of said syringe.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

The syringe defined in claim 15 which further includes interlock means mechanically coupled between said release mechanism and said needle for locking said needle into a fixed rigid position while in use.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 57 words

A non-retrofittable syringe including ratchet rotation means within a syringe housing and mechanically coupled between a plunger rod and a needle holder and operative to initially drive said needle to a non-shielded position in preparation for an injection and thereafter operative to retract said needle into said syringe housing to a totally inoperative and disabled position therein.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 57 words

A non-retrofittable syringe including ratchet rotation means within a syringe housing and mechanically coupled between a plunger rod and a needle holder and operative to initially drive said needle to a non-shielded position in preparation for an injection and thereafter operative to retract said needle into said syringe housing to a totally inoperative and disabled position therein.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 79 words

The syringe defined in claim 17 which includes a ratchet sleeve and ratchet barrel mechanically coupled between said plunger rod and needle holder for producing controlled rotational motion within a housing of said syringe and thereby maintaining said needle in an extended rigid position while said syringe is in use, and thereafter providing retracting motion to said needle to render said needle inaccessible within said syringe housing and removing all pressure therefrom after an initial use of said syringe.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 51 words

The syringe defined in claim 18 which further includes a release mechanism operatively coupled between said needle and said ratchet sleeve and ratchet barrel for rotating to a predetermined release position adjacent to said ratchet sleeve and releasing said needle into said syringe housing after the initial use of said syringe.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The syringe defined in claim 19 which further includes interlock means mechanically coupled between said release mechanism and said needle for locking said needle into a fixed rigid position while in use.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 92 words

A retractable needle type syringe including a plunger rod mechanically coupled through a syringe housing to a needle, including: means mechanically coupled between said plunger rod and said needle and rotationally responsive to an inwardly press of said plunger rod into said housing for retracting said needle to an inoperative position within said housing, whereby a slight thumb or finger motion acting against an end of said plunger rod is operative to disable said syringe, thereby leaving the other hand of said user available for other functions and out of harm's way.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 92 words

A retractable needle type syringe including a plunger rod mechanically coupled through a syringe housing to a needle, including: means mechanically coupled between said plunger rod and said needle and rotationally responsive to an inwardly press of said plunger rod into said housing for retracting said needle to an inoperative position within said housing, whereby a slight thumb or finger motion acting against an end of said plunger rod is operative to disable said syringe, thereby leaving the other hand of said user available for other functions and out of harm's way.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 90 words

The syringe defined in claim 21 wherein said mechanically coupled means further includes: a. means for extending said needle from the end of said syringe housing when ready for use, b. means for retracting said plunger rod to limited but extended position when thumb or finger pressure is removed from said plunger rod, and c. means coupled to said plunger rod and responsive to the thumb or finger press against the end of said plunger rod for releasing pressure on said needle and retracting said needle back into said housing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 29 words

The syringe defined in claim 22 wherein said releasing and retracting means in paragraph (c) includes an inner ratchet sleeve means working rotationally against and outer ratchet barrel means.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 49 words

A method for operating a syringe which includes the steps of: a. pressing a plunger rod forward to extend a needle therefrom, and b. pressing said plunger rod forward after an injection has been given to retract said needle in a housing of said syringe to disable said syringe.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 49 words

A method for operating a syringe which includes the steps of: a. pressing a plunger rod forward to extend a needle therefrom, and b. pressing said plunger rod forward after an injection has been given to retract said needle in a housing of said syringe to disable said syringe.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method defined in claim 24 which further includes: a. providing ratchet rotational control of mechanical components operatively arranged between said plunger rod and said needle, and b. maintaining said needle in a retracted and shielded position within said syringe housing prior to syringe use.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for minimizing human exposure to the needle of a syringe and for totally disabling said syringe from further use after a single injection which comprises the steps of: a. pressing a syringe plunger to move a needle thereof from a shielded position into an extended and exposed position, b. retracting said plunger to fill said syringe with a fluid, c. pressing said plunger forward to give an injection and maintain said needle in an extended and rigid position, d. pressing said plunger to retract said needle into said syringe housing and into an inoperative position and condition, while also simultaneously e. removing all pressure sustaining means from said syringe and preventing any fluid from being drawn therein or ejected therefrom.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 122 words

A method for minimizing human exposure to the needle of a syringe and for totally disabling said syringe from further use after a single injection which comprises the steps of: a. pressing a syringe plunger to move a needle thereof from a shielded position into an extended and exposed position, b. retracting said plunger to fill said syringe with a fluid, c. pressing said plunger forward to give an injection and maintain said needle in an extended and rigid position, d. pressing said plunger to retract said needle into said syringe housing and into an inoperative position and condition, while also simultaneously e. removing all pressure sustaining means from said syringe and preventing any fluid from being drawn therein or ejected therefrom.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method defined in claim 26 which includes providing ratchet rotation of components to thereby provide needle thrust motion to insure rigid placement of said needle when said needle is in use and thereafter utilizing the same general ratchet rotational motion to release said needle back into the housing of said syringe and disable same from any further use.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-05-19	1995-11-18	1996-05-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-05-19	1999-11-18	2000-05-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-05-19	2003-11-18	2004-05-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multifunctional retractable needle type general purpose disabling syringe having enhanced safety features and related method of operation

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