Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A needle assembly comprising: an elongate needle having a pointed distal end, a proximal end, a passageway therethrough and defining an axis; a hub having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outside surface with an outside diameter, said hub outside surface including a circumferential groove having an outside diameter less than said hub outside surface diameter and a raised annulus having an outside diameter greater than said hub outside surface diameter located proximally to said groove, said hub having an axial opening therethrough for receiving said needle so that said distal end of said needle projects outwardly therefrom, said hub further including means for releasably mounting said hub on a fluid handling device; a shield having an open end, a closed end, a sidewall having a slot from said open end toward said closed end, said shield having a first position wherein said needle is exposed for use and a second position wherein said shield substantially obstructs access to said needle; and said shield having a mounting for holding said shield onto said hub, said mounting axially rotatable about said hub and including a hinge attached to said open end of said shield opposite said slot, said slot being sufficient to provide clearance for said needle thereby allowing said shield to pivot on said hinge from said first position displaced from said axis at which said needle is exposed to said second position at which said shield obstructs access to said needle, said open end of said shield further including at least one lug for engaging said annulus on said hub when said shield is in said second position so that said shield is locked in said second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A needle assembly comprising: an elongate needle having a pointed distal end, a proximal end, a passageway therethrough and defining an axis; a hub having a proximal end, a distal end, and an outside surface with an outside diameter, said hub outside surface including a circumferential groove having an outside diameter less than said hub outside surface diameter and a raised annulus having an outside diameter greater than said hub outside surface diameter located proximally to said groove, said hub having an axial opening therethrough for receiving said needle so that said distal end of said needle projects outwardly therefrom, said hub further including means for releasably mounting said hub on a fluid handling device; a shield having an open end, a closed end, a sidewall having a slot from said open end toward said closed end, said shield having a first position wherein said needle is exposed for use and a second position wherein said shield substantially obstructs access to said needle; and said shield having a mounting for holding said shield onto said hub, said mounting axially rotatable about said hub and including a hinge attached to said open end of said shield opposite said slot, said slot being sufficient to provide clearance for said needle thereby allowing said shield to pivot on said hinge from said first position displaced from said axis at which said needle is exposed to said second position at which said shield obstructs access to said needle, said open end of said shield further including at least one lug for engaging said annulus on said hub when said shield is in said second position so that said shield is locked in said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said shield has two lugs for engaging said annulus on said hub when said shield is in said second position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
348 words
A needle assembly comprising: a needle having a longitudinal axis, a length, a pointed distal end, a proximal end a passageway therethrough defining an axis; a hub having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, an outside surface having an outside diameter, said hub having an axial opening therethrough for receiving said needle so that said distal end of said needle projects outwardly therefrom, said hub further including a circumferential groove in said hub outside surface having an outside diameter less than said outside surface outside diameter, said hub further including a raised annulus having an outside diameter greater than said hub outside diameter located proximally to said groove, said hub further including means for releasably mounting said hub on a fluid handling device; a shield having an open end, a closed end, a sidewall having a longitudinal slot extending a length from said open end toward said closed end, said shield having a first position wherein said needle is exposed for use and a second position wherein said shield substantially obstructs unintentional access to said needle; and said shield having a mounting for holding said shield onto said hub including a first portion having an opening therethrough for placement on said hub at said groove, said opening including at least one inward projection sized to fit within said groove on said hub for holding said mounting on said hub, said mounting being axially rotatable about said hub, said first portion having a hinge attached to said open end of said shield diametrically opposite said slot, said length of said slot being sufficient to provide a clearance for said length of said needle thereby allowing said shield to pivot displaced from said axis on said hinge from said first position at which said needle is exposed to said second position at which said shield obstructs access to said needle, said open end of said shield further including at least one lug for engaging said annulus on said hub when said shield is in said second position so that said shield is locked in said second position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
348 words
A needle assembly comprising: a needle having a longitudinal axis, a length, a pointed distal end, a proximal end a passageway therethrough defining an axis; a hub having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a distal end, an outside surface having an outside diameter, said hub having an axial opening therethrough for receiving said needle so that said distal end of said needle projects outwardly therefrom, said hub further including a circumferential groove in said hub outside surface having an outside diameter less than said outside surface outside diameter, said hub further including a raised annulus having an outside diameter greater than said hub outside diameter located proximally to said groove, said hub further including means for releasably mounting said hub on a fluid handling device; a shield having an open end, a closed end, a sidewall having a longitudinal slot extending a length from said open end toward said closed end, said shield having a first position wherein said needle is exposed for use and a second position wherein said shield substantially obstructs unintentional access to said needle; and said shield having a mounting for holding said shield onto said hub including a first portion having an opening therethrough for placement on said hub at said groove, said opening including at least one inward projection sized to fit within said groove on said hub for holding said mounting on said hub, said mounting being axially rotatable about said hub, said first portion having a hinge attached to said open end of said shield diametrically opposite said slot, said length of said slot being sufficient to provide a clearance for said length of said needle thereby allowing said shield to pivot displaced from said axis on said hinge from said first position at which said needle is exposed to said second position at which said shield obstructs access to said needle, said open end of said shield further including at least one lug for engaging said annulus on said hub when said shield is in said second position so that said shield is locked in said second position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The assembly of claim 3 wherein said means on said shield for engaging said hub when said shield is in said second position comprises two lugs for engaging for engaging said annulus on said hub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The assembly of claim 3 wherein said means for releasably said hub on said fluid handling device comprise a proximal female luer fitting.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The assembly of claim 3 wherein said proximal end of said needle projects proximally outwardly from said hub and includes a point, and said means for releasably mounting said hub on said fluid handling device comprises a proximal external thread on said hub.