Needle device having safety indication features

Claim 2

A safety needle device comprising: a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position, said safety indicator means including at least one alphanumeric character; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position and not when said needle guard is in an unlocked extended position, said obscurement means shaped to form at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 3

The safety needle device of claim 1 wherein said needle cannula is removably attached to said barrel.

Claim 4

The safety needle device of claim 1 wherein said needle cannula includes a proximal sharp end extending into said chamber.

Claim 5

The safety needle device of claim 1 wherein said barrel is a syringe barrel having a stopper slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside said barrel, said stopper capable of moving fluid from said chamber through said lumen upon its movement toward said distal end, said stopper capable of facilitating the drawing of fluid into said chamber through said lumen upon its movement away from said distal end.

Claim 6

A safety needle device comprising: a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position including a collar mounted on said distal end of said barrel and interlocking means on said collar and said needle guard for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position and not when said needle guard is in an unlocked extended position, said obscurement means shaped to form at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 7

A safety needle device comprising: a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position including a collar mounted on said distal end of said barrel and interlocking means on said collar and said needle guard for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position and not when said needle guard is in an unlocked extended position, said obscurement means shaped to form at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 8

The safety needle device of claim 5 wherein said needle cannula is removably attached to said barrel.

Claim 9

The safety needle device of claim 5 wherein said needle cannula includes a proximal sharp end extending into said chamber.

Claim 10

The safety needle device of claim 5 wherein said barrel is a syringe barrel having a stopper slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside said barrel, said stopper capable of moving fluid from said chamber through said lumen upon its movement toward said distal end, said stopper capable of facilitating the drawing of fluid into said chamber through said lumen upon its movement away from said distal end.

Claim 11

A safety needle device comprising: a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position including a collar mounted on said distal end of said barrel and interlocking means on said collar and said needle guard for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in the locked extended position and not when said needle guard is in an unlocked extended position, to form at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 12

A safety needle device comprising: a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position including a collar mounted on said distal end of said barrel and interlocking means on said collar and said needle guard for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in the locked extended position and not when said needle guard is in an unlocked extended position, to form at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 13

The safety needle device of claim 9 wherein said needle cannula is removably attached to said barrel.

Claim 14

The safety needle device of claim 9 wherein said needle cannula includes a proximal sharp end extending into said chamber.

Claim 15

The safety needle device of claim 9 wherein said barrel is a syringe barrel having a stopper slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside said barrel, said stopper capable of moving fluid from said chamber through said lumen upon its movement toward said distal end, said stopper capable of facilitating the drawing of fluid into said chamber through said lumen upon its movement away from said distal end.

Claim 16

A safety needle device comprising: a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a stopper slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside said barrel, said stopper capable of moving fluid from said chamber through said lumen upon its movement toward said distal end, said stopper capable of facilitating the drawing of fluid into said chamber through said lumen upon its movement away from said distal end; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position, said means for locking including a collar mounted on said distal end of said barrel and interlocking means on said collar and said needle guard for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position and not when said needle guard is in an unlocked extended position, said obscurement means including at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 17

A safety needle device comprising: a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a stopper slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside said barrel, said stopper capable of moving fluid from said chamber through said lumen upon its movement toward said distal end, said stopper capable of facilitating the drawing of fluid into said chamber through said lumen upon its movement away from said distal end; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position, said means for locking including a collar mounted on said distal end of said barrel and interlocking means on said collar and said needle guard for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position and not when said needle guard is in an unlocked extended position, said obscurement means including at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 18

The safety device of claim 13 wherein said safety indicator means includes at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 19

A safety needle device comprising: a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position, said safety indicator means including at least one alphanumeric character; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position, said obscurement means shaped to form at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 20

A safety needle device comprising: a barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position, said safety indicator means including at least one alphanumeric character; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position, said obscurement means shaped to form at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 21

A safety needle device comprising: a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a stopper slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside said barrel, said stopper capable of moving fluid from said chamber through said lumen upon its movement toward said distal end, said stopper capable of facilitating the drawing of fluid into said chamber through said lumen upon its movement away from said distal end; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position, said means for locking including a collar mounted on said distal end of said barrel and interlocking means on said collar and said needle guard for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position, said safety indicator means including at least one alphanumeric character; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position, said obscurement means including at least one alphanumeric character.

Claim 22

A safety needle device comprising: a syringe barrel having an inside surface defining a chamber, an open proximal end, a distal end having a needle cannula attached thereto, said needle cannula having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said chamber, said needle cannula projecting distally outwardly from said distal end of said barrel and terminating in a distal tip; a stopper slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement inside said barrel, said stopper capable of moving fluid from said chamber through said lumen upon its movement toward said distal end, said stopper capable of facilitating the drawing of fluid into said chamber through said lumen upon its movement away from said distal end; a needle guard mounted on said barrel for movement relative to said barrel from a retracted position in which said needle guard does not materially obstruct access to said distal tip of said needle cannula and an extended position in which said needle guard obstructs access to said distal tip; means for locking said needle guard in said extended position, said means for locking including a collar mounted on said distal end of said barrel and interlocking means on said collar and said needle guard for locking said needle guard in said extended position; safety indicator means on said distal end of said barrel for visually indicating that said needle guard is not locked in said extended position, said safety indicator means including at least one alphanumeric character; and obscurement means on said needle guard for changing the appearance of said safety indicator means when said needle guard is in said locked extended position, said obscurement means including at least one alphanumeric character.