264 results about "Safety needles" patented technology

The invention relates to a safety needle assembly for injecting a fluid into a human body comprising a cylindrical housing with a bottom surface supporting a needle cannula and a shield telescopically movable relative to the housing. A spring located within the housing urges the shield in a distal needle covering direction and a locking member also provided inside the housing moves simultaneously with the shield during injection and automatically locks the shield in a position where the sharp end of the needle cannula is concealed thereby irreversible immobilizing the safety needle assembly.

A safety needle device and positive flush mechanism for use with a vascular access port. In one embodiment, the combination needle assembly includes a needle, a body and a base, the body being collapsible to expunge fluid therefrom as the needle is withdrawn from a vascular access port. In another embodiment, the combination needle assembly includes a needle, a housing and a reservoir, the housing squeezing the reservoir to expunge fluid therefrom as the needle is withdrawn from the port. In another embodiment, the needle assembly includes a compression plate and balloon extension, the compression plate forcing fluid out of the balloon extension as the needle is withdrawn from the port. In all embodiments, the needle assembly is configured to provide a positive flush to overcome negative pressures in the vascular access port, while also providing a locking mechanism to prevent accidental needle sticks.

A safety needle device and positive flush mechanism for use with a vascular access port. In one embodiment, the combination needle assembly includes a needle, a body and a base, the body being collapsible to expunge fluid therefrom as the needle is withdrawn from a vascular access port. In another embodiment, the combination needle assembly includes a needle, a housing and a reservoir, the housing squeezing the reservoir to expunge fluid therefrom as the needle is withdrawn from the port. In another embodiment, the needle assembly includes a compression plate and balloon extension, the compression plate forcing fluid out of the balloon extension as the needle is withdrawn from the port. In all embodiments, the needle assembly is configured to provide a positive flush to overcome negative pressures in the vascular access port, while also providing a locking mechanism to prevent accidental needle sticks.

An injector is automatic in that the needle is inserted into the injection site (e.g., a patient's skin) with user or caregiver assistance, the delivery is automatically initiated upon needle insertion, and the needle is retracted automatically after the end of delivery. Preferably the needle is not seen by the user prior to, during or after injection. Prior to and after injection, the needle is hidden in the device so as to avoid any potential injury or health risk to the user or health care provider. The injector includes a housing and a shield arranged to slide relative to the housing and a driver moving during drug delivery. The housing and shield form a cartridge enclosure. The cartridge is shielded and locked after delivery is completed. A needle-locking mechanism can be used in any number of pen-like injectors or safety needles.

A portal access device that is adapted to provide long term access to a port implanted in a patient has two major components, an infuser assembly and a safety needle insertion device. The infuser assembly has an infuser housing that can be configured into a specific shape, for example a dome. A blunt cannula is attached to and extends downwardly from the underside of the infuser housing. Also connected to the infuser housing, preferably at a side thereof, is a tubing or catheter. The safety needle inserter assembly has a base having a proximal portion that is configured to form fit over the infuser housing. At the distal portion of the base uprights are provided so that a second end of an arm, to which first end a needle or a sharp cannula is connected, may be movably and hingedly connected to the base. The sharp cannula extends from the underside of the proximal end of the arm and passes through the base by way of a bore formed at the proximal portion of the base. The bore is defined between an opening at the underside of the base and an opening at the upper surface of the base. Locking mechanisms are provided at the base uprights and the distal end of the arm so that when the arm is moved away from the base, and as the distal end of the arm pivots about the uprights, the respective locking mechanisms provided at the arm and the base would coact to lock the arm in place, to thereby maintain the tip of the needle within the bore formed in the base. To use, the safety needle inserter is placed over the infuser assembly, with the sharp cannula extending through the infuser housing and axially mating with the blunt cannula of the infuser assembly, but with the tip of the sharp cannula protruding beyond the tip of the blunt cannula. The combined needle inserter / infuser assembly is pressed down onto the skin surface of the patient so that the combination sharp / blunt cannulas penetrate the patient and puncture the self-sealing septum of a portal reservoir implanted in the patient. Once the safety needle inserter is removed from the infuser assembly, with the infuser housing septum being self-sealing, a closed fluid communication path is established between the portal reservoir and a fluid store that may be connected to the catheter of the infuser assembly. Long term access of the implanted portal reservoir is thereby achieved.

A needle protection safety package, instead of being enclosed in a pouch or other containment wrappings, has fitted thereto at respective ends thereof caps or sheaths so that both the needle and the end to which a syringe is adapted to mate remain enclosed and sterile. Such an arrangement enables easy transport of the safety needle package and provides convenience for the user at the same time. The safety package is further designed to prevent burring of the tip of the needle as the cap or sheath is removed from the needle portion of the package. The safety device of the safety package incorporates a locking mechanism which prevents contact between the needle and the housing as the housing is pivoted to envelop the needle after use.

A safety needle device for protecting a user against inadvertent needle-stick injury. This needle device includes a needle housing having a distal housing opening. An arcuate groove extends within the needle housing terminating adjacent the distal housing opening. A needle is disposed within the arcuate groove having a distal needle portion extending away from the needle housing through the distal housing opening. An elongate sheath assembly surrounds the needle within the groove. A biasing member is disposed within the needle housing and is configured to move the sheath assembly throughout the length of the arcuate groove and through the distal housing opening. The sheath assembly then completely enclose the distal needle portion.

Various methods and devices are provided for penetrating tissue. In one embodiment, a tissue-penetrating device is provided and includes a flexible hollow elongate shaft having a tissue-penetrating tip at a distal end thereof, and a plunger disposed within the tissue-penetrating tip. The plunger can be movable relative to the tissue-penetrating tip between a distal position in which the plunger is distal of the tissue-penetrating tip to prevent tissue penetration, and a proximal position in which the plunger is proximal of the tissue-penetrating tip to allow the tip to penetrate tissue. The plunger can be adapted to move from the distal position to the proximal position when the plunger is advanced into a tissue surface. The device can also include a biasing element coupled to the plunger that can be adapted to bias the plunger to the distal position. The biasing element can be coupled between a distal end of a stylet that extends through the hollow elongate shaft, and a proximal end of the plunger.

The invention relates to a safety needle assembly for injecting a fluid into a human body comprising a cylindrical housing with a bottom surface supporting a needle cannula and a shield telescopically movable relative to the housing. A spring located within the housing urges the shield in a distal needle covering direction and a locking member also provided inside the housing moves simultaneously with the shield during injection and automatically locks the shield in a position where the sharp end of the needle cannula is concealed thereby irreversible immobilizing the safety needle assembly.

A safety needle device includes a housing including a passageway with a needle cannula extending therefrom. A shielding member is movable between a first position in which a puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed therefrom and a second position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is encompassed therein. The shielding member is maintained in the first position against a biasing force which biases the shielding member toward the second position. A fluid and / or temperature activation material, such as a hydrogel or a compressed sponge, is associated with the shielding member and is adapted to deform upon contact with a fluid medium and / or a certain temperature or temperature range. Fluid flowing through the needle cannula, such as blood flow during a blood collection procedure, causes the activation material to deform, such as through expansion, thereby releasing the shielding member from the first position and allowing the drive member to bias the shielding member toward the second position.

A needle protection safety package, instead of being enclosed in a pouch or other containment wrappings, has fitted thereto at respective ends thereof caps or sheaths so that both the needle and the end to which a syringe is adapted to mate remain enclosed and sterile. Such an arrangement enables easy transport of the safety needle package and provides convenience for the user at the same time. The safety package is further designed to prevent burring of the tip of the needle as the cap or sheath is removed from the needle portion of the package. A further embodiment of the safety package incorporates a locking mechanism which prevents contact between the needle and the housing as the housing is pivoted to envelop the needle after use.

A packing sleeve for use with a safety needle that automatically covers a tip of a needle following removal of the needle from a patient includes a generally hollow body having a longitudinal axis and a distal end and an open proximal end. The body surrounds at least a portion of the safety needle and has at least one track having an activation leg and a releasing leg. The at least one track is in sliding engagement with at least one member of the safety needle such that the motion of a portion of the safety needle relative to the body is dictated by a path the at least one member follows along the respective at least one track. The safety needle is in an initial position when the at least one member is proximate a first end of the activation leg and in an intermediate position when the at least one member is proximate a second end of the activation leg. The releasing leg extends from the second end of the activation leg and allows the at least one member to be slid toward and then removed from the proximal end of the body.

A safety needle and blood collection and sampling system precluding needlstick injury by contaminated needles wherein a used needle is captured immediately within its carrier upon retraction of the needle flush with the carrier. Blood sampling is effected without reverse flow through the system and without reuse or exposure of a contaminated needle. Simplified means of assembling the needle are also set forth to minimize cost with maximum reliability notwithstanding withstanding a minimum of components.

A catheter and introducer needle assembly having a needle with a proximal and distal end attached to a needle hub and a bent area therebetween. The device further includes a tubular catheter having proximal and distal ends in which the introducer needle can be coaxially received within the catheter. The device has a hollow catheter hub having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the catheter and is in fluid communication therewith. The assembly includes a needle tip protector having a proximal end and a distal end disposed within the catheter hub. The distal end of the protector covers the needle tip when the needle is removed from the catheter. The protector has a proximal opening at its proximal end wherein the bent area is angled away from the proximal opening such that when the needle is removed from the catheter the protector remains attached to the needle.

A catheter insertion needle assembly (100) including a generally elongated body (110), a slider assembly (120), and a needle housing (126) with a needle (130). The elongated body has a proximal end (114) and a distal end (112), a needle guard (140) disposed at the distal end of the body in a needle guard plane, a first or distal locking member (150), and a second or proximal locking member (118). The slider assembly (120) includes a slider (122) that is slidably disposed on the body (110) Needle (130) has a distal tip (134) and a cannulating portion (132) extending therethrough. A first locking tab (121) is releasably engageable with the first locking member (150) and a second locking portion is lockably engageable with the second locking member (118). The first locking tab (121) is releasable from the first locking member to allow the slider (122) to slide between a distal position relative to the body (110) wherein the tip (134) extends distally of the needle guard (140), and a proximal position relative to the body wherein the tip (134) is disposed within the needle guard plane. When the slider (122) is disposed at the proximal position, the second locking portion engages the second locking member (118) to preclude the slider (122) from sliding distally relative to the body (110).

A portal access device that is adapted to provide long term access to a port implanted in a patient has two major components, an infuser assembly and a safety needle insertion device. The infuser assembly has an infuser housing that can be configured into a specific shape, for example a dome. A blunt cannula is attached to and extends downwardly from the underside of the infuser housing. Also connected to the infuser housing, preferably at a side thereof, is a tubing or catheter. The safety needle inserter assembly has a base having a proximal portion that is configured to form fit over the infuser housing. At the distal portion of the base uprights are provided so that a second end of an arm, to which first end a needle or a sharp cannula is connected, may be movably and hingedly connected to the base. The sharp cannula extends from the underside of the proximal end of the arm and passes through the base by way of a bore formed at the proximal portion of the base. The bore is defined between an opening at the underside of the base and an opening at the upper surface of the base. Locking mechanisms are provided at the base uprights and the distal end of the arm so that when the arm is moved away from the base, and as the distal end of the arm pivots about the uprights, the respective locking mechanisms provided at the arm and the base would coact to lock the arm in place, to thereby maintain the tip of the needle within the bore formed in the base. To use, the safety needle inserter is placed over the infuser assembly, with the sharp cannula extending through the infuser housing and axially mating with the blunt cannula of the infuser assembly, but with the tip of the sharp cannula protruding beyond the tip of the blunt cannula. The combined needle inserter / infuser assembly is pressed down onto the skin surface of the patient so that the combination sharp / blunt cannulas penetrate the patient and puncture the self-sealing septum of a portal reservoir implanted in the patient. Once the safety needle inserter is removed from the infuser assembly, with the infuser housing septum being self-sealing, a closed fluid communication path is established between the portal reservoir and a fluid store that may be connected to the catheter of the infuser assembly. Long term access of the implanted portal reservoir is thereby achieved.

A safety needle device for protecting a user against a needle-stick injury. This needle device includes a needle housing having a distal housing opening. A needle is disposed within the needle housing and has a distal needle portion which extends away therefrom through the distal housing opening. An elongate sheath assembly surrounds the needle within the needle housing. A trigger member retains the sheath assembly within the needle housing against a force urging the sheath assembly towards the distal housing opening. The trigger member is sized and configured to release the sheath assembly from retention to allow the sheath assembly to transition towards and out of the distal housing opening via the force. This causes the sheath assembly to enclose the distal needle portion and protect the user against the needle stick injury.

A disposable safety needle assembly and safety enclosure means for internally shielding a used or contaminated needle is disclosed. The needle assembly has a needle cannula which is disposed and slidably within a safety enclosure. The safety enclosure includes an internally disposed flexible safety member situated substantially longitudinally within said flexible safety member, having a face portion transversely having a safety feature and being disposed to the needle and cooperatively sliding thereon. Retraction of the needle within the safety enclosure to a point wherein the sharp tip of the needle is beyond the needle protection section of the flexible member causes the protection section to travel transversely to the direction of motion of the needle and the safety feature receiving the sharp tip of the needle and preventing it from exiting the enclosure, thereby maintaining the needle safely after use.

A retractable safety needle assembly is provided. The needle assembly includes a tubular outer body, a retraction assembly contained with the outer body and a biasing element for applying a retraction force therebetween. The retraction assembly includes a cannula having an intravenous puncture tip and a non-patient puncture tip at opposing ends. In a first position, the intravenous puncture tip extends from a first end of the tubular outer body. The retraction assembly is adapted for movement within the tubular outer body from the first position to a second position in which the intravenous puncture tip and the non-patient puncture tip are contained entirely within the tubular outer body and are offset from a general axis defining the outer body.

A needle cannula apparatus is provided which includes a needle hub that is mountable to an instrument and has a cantilevered portion extending therefrom. The cantilevered portion has a button member and a hub stop disposed at a distal end thereof. The needle hub defines at least one tab slot having a tab slot end. A shield is movably disposed about the needle hub and defines a shield slot configured for relative slidable movement of the button member therein. The shield slot includes a proximal enlarged slot section configured to engage the hub stop such that proximal movement of the shield is prevented. The shield further includes at least one tab stop that is configured for movement within the at least one tab slot of the needle hub and engagement with the tab slot end such that distal movement of the shield is prevented. The needle cannula hub may include at least one hub slot and the shield includes at least one shield rail. The at least one shield rail sidably engages the at least one hub slot facilitating axial movement of the shield relative to the needle hub. The shield slot may further define a transport enlarged slot section disposed between a distal portion of the shield slot and the proximal enlarged slot section. A method for transport and use of the needle cannula apparatus is disclosed.

A retractable safety needle apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a needle holder with opposite proximal and distal ends. A needle assembly is mounted in the needle holder for movement from a first position where a distal cannula projects distally beyond the needle holder and a second position where the distal cannula is entirely within the needle holder. A spring is provided for propelling the needle assembly proximally and into the second position. The needle assembly includes a deflectable actuator for releasably holding the needle assembly in the first position and against the biasing forces of the spring. Portions of the needle holder adjacent the distal end are tapered to facilitate alignment of the needle assembly and to provide visual cues for proper orientation and gripping locations.

A method and apparatus are provided for using a medical device (10) comprised of a medical apparatus (20) and a needle assembly (30). The needle assembly includes a needle (70) having a sharpened tip. Preferably, the medical apparatus (20) is a standard apparatus, such as a syringe or phlebotomy device. The medical apparatus (20) includes a connector (24), such as a Luer connector. The needle assembly (30) is configured so that it can be attached to the medical apparatus (20) and the sharpened tip of the needle (70) is automatically shielded after use to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle.

A retractable safety needle assembly is provided. The needle assembly includes a tubular outer body, a retraction assembly contained with the outer body and a biasing element for applying a retraction force therebetween. The retraction assembly includes a cannula having an intravenous puncture tip and a non-patient puncture tip at opposing ends. In a first position, the intravenous puncture tip extends from a first end of the tubular outer body. The retraction assembly is adapted for movement within the tubular outer body from the first position to a second position in which the intravenous puncture tip and the non-patient puncture tip are contained entirely within the tubular outer body and are offset from a general axis defining the outer body.

A single-use needle cover configured to obscure, protect, or hide at least a portion of a needle from view before, during, and / or after an injection and / or aspiration procedure is disclosed. In some embodiments, the cover includes a housing at least partially containing the needle and configured to couple to a syringe, wherein the housing includes an axis and a guide member. In some embodiments, a sleeve has a plurality of tracks configured to slidingly receive the guide member, wherein the sleeve is configured to retract, extend, and rotate with respect to the housing. In some embodiments, after the sleeve has been retracted and extended one time, a first locking member inhibits further retraction of the sleeve and a second locking member inhibits rotation of the sleeve.

A packing sleeve for use with a safety needle that automatically covers a tip of a needle following removal of the needle from a patient includes a generally hollow body having a longitudinal axis and a distal end and an open proximal end. The body surrounds at least a portion of the safety needle and has at least one track having an activation leg and a releasing leg. The at least one track is in sliding engagement with at least one member of the safety needle such that the motion of a portion of the safety needle relative to the body is dictated by a path the at least one member follows along the respective at least one track. The safety needle is in an initial position when the at least one member is proximate a first end of the activation leg and in an intermediate position when the at least one member is proximate a second end of the activation leg. The releasing leg extends from the second end of the activation leg and allows the at least one member to be slid toward and then removed from the proximal end of the body.

A vascular access device ultrasound guidance system which provides a novel ultrasound imaging head interface for vessel access. The system comprises a fitted basket / VAD guide for attachment to a hand held ultrasound transducer. The VAD guide, being integrally molded to the fitted basket, comprises a releasible guide assembly for a VAD needle guide. In addition, the needle guide assembly comprises means for anchoring the VAD to a patient's skin following successful insertion. A magnetic needle guide system is disclosed. A fluid sampling device which integrates needle guidance and, safety needle capture in a single guide head is also disclosed.

A needle point protective device for hypodermic and intravenous needles, catheter introducers, and similar devices protects users from injury and infection. The needle point protective device includes a needle point guard that is slidably mounted within the needle handle. In use, the needle point guard is integral with a cannula guide that is engaged with the needle cannula with enough force to cause the needle cannula to be subject to spring tension when the needle point is retracted proximal to the needle point guard, the needle point springs downward and behind the needle point guard. In one embodiment, the needle point guard is held in position manually as the needle is retracted. In another embodiment, the needle point guard is held in place automatically as the needle is retracted.

To ensure that there is no misconnection between a needle, such as for example a spinal or epidural needle, and the appropriate medication, the needle hub the needle is formed, by molding or extrusion, to have a given configuration. An adapter is placed between the needle and a conventional fluid store, or medical line. The end of the adapter that connects to the needle assembly is formed to have a configuration that is complementary to that of the hub of the needle assembly, so that the adapter and the needle hub may be readily mated to each other. The other end of the adapter is formed to have another configuration, for example a conventional luer, that is readily connectable to a conventional fluid store, such as a syringe that has a conventional luer. The adapter is formed by inter-fitting two elements to effect an integral locking mechanism to prevent the uncoupling of the fluid store and the adapter, once they are securely coupled. By thus configuring the hub of the needle to have a given configuration that is matable only to the end of an adapter that has a complementary configuration, and further providing an adapter that prevents the removal of the fluid store connected thereto, the potential for mis-connecting the needle to a fluid store that contains a different medicament is greatly reduced, if not totally eliminated.