US6440104B1 — Safety shield assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 121 words

A safety shield assembly comprising: a shield; means for connecting said shield to a fluid handling device that contains a piercing element; means for pivoting said shield with respect to said piercing element; means for securely covering and/or containing said piercing element within said shield; and means for securely locking said shield in a final non-retractable closed position over said piercing element; wherein said means for connecting said shield to a fluid handling device is a collar; said means for pivoting said shield is the cooperation of hook arm on said collar and a hanger bar on said shield; said means for security locking said shield in a final non-retractable position are cooperating barb dents on said shield and said collar.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 121 words

A safety shield assembly comprising: a shield; means for connecting said shield to a fluid handling device that contains a piercing element; means for pivoting said shield with respect to said piercing element; means for securely covering and/or containing said piercing element within said shield; and means for securely locking said shield in a final non-retractable closed position over said piercing element; wherein said means for connecting said shield to a fluid handling device is a collar; said means for pivoting said shield is the cooperation of hook arm on said collar and a hanger bar on said shield; said means for security locking said shield in a final non-retractable position are cooperating barb dents on said shield and said collar.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 81 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said shield comprises a rearward end, a forward end, a slot or longitudinal opening for housing said piercing element in said forward end, means for securing said piercing element in said slot, means for guiding said piercing element into said slot, means for connecting said shield and said fluid handling device, means for guiding the user's fingers to move said shield into various positions and means for retaining said shield over said piercing element.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 48 words

The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said means for guiding the user's fingers to move said shield into various positions is a top finger guide area comprising a first ramp that extends slightly on an upwardly slope from said rearward end of said shield to a shoulder.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The assembly of claim 3 , wherein said means for guiding said piercing element towards said slot is a second ramp which slopes downwardly from said shoulder.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 4 , wherein said second ramp further comprises an interior surface for urging said piercing element toward the center of the slot.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The assembly of claim 5 , wherein said second ramp further comprises exterior surfaces that are slightly inclined and extend radially from said second ramp.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 3 , wherein said first ramp comprises touch bumps.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 76 words

The assembly of claim 2 , wherein said means for securing said piercing element in said slot is an arm, whereby said arm comprises a forward end and a rearward end and said rearward end is attached to said slot, whereby said arm is deflectable by said piercing element when said piercing element enters said slot and once said piercing element passes the forward end of said arm, said arm moves back to its undeflected position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising tactile and visual means on said shield for providing the user with a guide for pivoting said shield.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The assembly of claim 9 , further comprising means for minimizing exposure to residual fluid on a used piercing element in said shield.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The assembly of claim 10 , where by said means for minimizing exposure to residual fluid on a used needle is a gel material in said shield.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising means for minimizing exposure by the user to residual fluid on said needle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 25 words

The assembly of claim 12 , wherein said means for minimizing exposure by the user to residual fluid or said needle is a polymer material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 13 , where said polymer material is a gel.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said shield is movably connected to said collar which is connected to said fluid handling device.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said shield is connected to said collar by an interference fit between said hanger bar and said hook arm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 52 words

The assembly of claim 16 , wherein said collar comprises a forward annular skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a rearward annular skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a means for pivoting said shield and a means for retaining said shield in a final non-retractable position.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising tactile and visual means for deterring the user from contacting said piercing element.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising tactile and visual means for easily orienting said piercing element with a patient.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 159 words

A needle shield assembly and needle assembly comprising: a needle assembly comprising a hub and a needle connected to said hub comprising a non-patient end and an intravenous end comprising a bevel end; and a needle shield assembly connected to said needle assembly comprising a collar and a shield, whereby said collar is connected to said hub of said needle assembly and said shield is movably connected to said collar whereby said shield may be pivoted with respect to said collar and easily moved into several positions with respect to said needle; said shield and connected to said collar by a hanger bar located on said shield and a hook arm located on said collar whereby said hanger bar engages with said hook arm so that said shield may be pivoted with respect to said collar said shield is easily moved in a final non-retractable position whereby the cooperating barb dents on said shield and said collar are engaged.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 159 words

A needle shield assembly and needle assembly comprising: a needle assembly comprising a hub and a needle connected to said hub comprising a non-patient end and an intravenous end comprising a bevel end; and a needle shield assembly connected to said needle assembly comprising a collar and a shield, whereby said collar is connected to said hub of said needle assembly and said shield is movably connected to said collar whereby said shield may be pivoted with respect to said collar and easily moved into several positions with respect to said needle; said shield and connected to said collar by a hanger bar located on said shield and a hook arm located on said collar whereby said hanger bar engages with said hook arm so that said shield may be pivoted with respect to said collar said shield is easily moved in a final non-retractable position whereby the cooperating barb dents on said shield and said collar are engaged.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 91 words

The assembly of claim 20 , wherein said shield comprises a rearward end, a forward end, a slot or longitudinal opening for housing said intravenous end of said needle in said forward end, means for securing said intravenous end of said needle in said slot, means for guiding said intravenous end of said needle into said slot, means for connecting said shield and said collar, means for guiding the user's fingers to move said shield into various positions and means for retaining said shield over said intravenous end of said needle.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

The assembly of claim 21 , further comprising means for guiding said intravenous end of said needle to said slot.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 30 words

The assembly of claim 22 , wherein said means for guiding said intravenous end of said needle towards said slot is a second ramp which slopes downwardly from said shoulder.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly of claim 23 , wherein said second ramp further comprises an interior surface for urging said intravenous end of said needle toward the center of the slot.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

The assembly of claim 24 , wherein said second ramp further comprises exterior surfaces that are slightly inclined and extend radially from said second ramp.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 48 words

The assembly of claim 21 , wherein said means for guiding the user's fingers to move said shield into various positions is a top finger guide area comprising a first ramp that extends slightly on an upwardly slope from said rearward end of said shield to a shoulder.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 26 , wherein said first ramp comprises touch bumps.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 88 words

The assembly of claim 21 , wherein said means for securing said intravenous end of said needle in said slot is an arm, whereby said arm comprises a forward end and a rearward end and said rearward end is attached to said slot, whereby said arm is deflectable by said intravenous end of said needle when said intravenous end of said needle enters said slot and once said intravenous end of said needle passes the forward end of said arm, said arm moves back to its undeflected position.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 20 , further comprising tactile and visual means on said shield for providing the user with a guide for pivoting said shield.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

The assembly of claim 20 , wherein said shield is movable into three positions, an open position, an intermediate position and a final non-retractable position covering said intravenous end of said needle.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

The assembly of claim 20 , wherein said collar and said shield are connected to be in alignment with to said bevel up surface of said intravenous needle.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 167 words

A safety assembly comprising: a needle assembly comprising a hub, a needle connected to said hub comprising a non-patient end and an intravenous end comprising a bevel end; a needle shield assembly movably connected to said needle assembly comprising a collar and a shield whereby said collar is connected to said hub of said needle assembly and said shield is connected to said collar whereby said shield may be pivoted with respect to said collar and easily moved into several positions with respect to said needle; a needle holder having a distal end for receiving said non-patient end of said needle assembly; wherein said shield is connected to said collar by an interference fit between a hanger bar on said shield and hook arm on said collar; said collar comprises a forward annular skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a rearward annular skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a means for securely locking said shield in a final non-retractable position.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 167 words

A safety assembly comprising: a needle assembly comprising a hub, a needle connected to said hub comprising a non-patient end and an intravenous end comprising a bevel end; a needle shield assembly movably connected to said needle assembly comprising a collar and a shield whereby said collar is connected to said hub of said needle assembly and said shield is connected to said collar whereby said shield may be pivoted with respect to said collar and easily moved into several positions with respect to said needle; a needle holder having a distal end for receiving said non-patient end of said needle assembly; wherein said shield is connected to said collar by an interference fit between a hanger bar on said shield and hook arm on said collar; said collar comprises a forward annular skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, a rearward annular skirt having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a means for securely locking said shield in a final non-retractable position.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 118 words

The assembly of claim 32 , wherein said shield comprises a rearward end, a forward end, a slot or longitudinal opening for housing said intravenous end of said needle in said forward end, means for securing said intravenous end of said needle in said slot, means for guiding said intravenous end of said needle into said slot, means for connecting said shield and said collar, means for guiding the user's fingers to move said shield into various positions and means for securely locking said shield over said intravenous end of said needle in a final non-retractable position said means for securely locking said shield in a final non-retractable position are cooperating barbdents on said shield and said collar.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 48 words

The assembly of claim 33 , wherein said means for guiding the user's fingers to move said shield into various positions is a top finger guide area comprising a first ramp that extends slightly on an upwardly slope from said rearward end of said shield to a shoulder.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 20 words

The assembly of claim 34 , further comprising means for guiding said intravenous end of said needle towards said slot.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 30 words

The assembly of claim 35 , wherein said means for guiding said intravenous end of said needle towards said slot is a second ramp which slopes downwardly from said shoulder.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly of claim 36 , wherein said second ramp further comprises an interior surface for urging said intravenous end of said needle toward the center of the slot.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 25 words

The assembly of claim 37 , wherein said second ramp further comprises exterior surfaces that are slightly inclined and extend radially from said second ramp.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assemlby of claim 34 , wherein said first ramp comprises touch bumps.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 85 words

The assembly of claim 3 , wherein said means for securing said intravenous end of said needle in said slot is an arm in said slot having a forward end and a rearward end that is attached to said slot, whereby said arm is deflectable by said intravenous end of said needle when said intravenous end of said needle enters said slot and once said intravenous end of said needle passes the forward end of said arm, said arm moves back to its undeflected position.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 32 , further comprising tactile and visual means on said shield for providing the user with a guide for pivoting said shield.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 32 words

The assembly of claim 32 , wherein said shield is movable into three positions, an open position, an intermediate position and a final non-retractable position covering said intravenous end of said needle.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 27 words

The assembly of claim 32 , wherein said collar and said shield are connected to be in alignment with said bevel up surface of said intravenous needle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-08-26	2006-02-25	2006-08-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-08-26	2010-02-25	2010-08-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-08-26	2014-02-25	2014-08-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Safety shield assembly

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