Needle Guard With Visual Confirmation of Lock

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a guard device for needles used in medical practice and, more particularly, to visually confirmable positionally lockable guard devices for single and double ended needles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A needle shield which must be removed anteriorly from a needle hub before a syringe can be used for a medical procedure is well known. Remounting such a shield requires a user to insert the point of the needle into the open end of the shield and draw the shield posteriorly over the needle until it encloses the needle. Such a removable needle shield contains several limitations, including: (1) after a liquid medicament has been drawn up in a syringe, medical personnel may occasionally delay the administration of the medicament, which delay requires retrieval and replacement of the needle shield to prevent contamination of the sterile needle and creates extra steps for busy medical personnel; (2) medical personnel often remove this needle shield by holding the needle shield between their teeth or lips. This practice has been associated with accidental self-puncture in the face or other body parts; (3) in order to recover a used needle with a previously removed needle shield, it is necessary to replace the needle shield back over the pointed end of the used needle, which replacement increases the risk to medical personnel of accidentally puncturing themselves with the pointed end of the used needle; and, (4) if the needle has been accidentally bent during a medical procedure or if the needle shield is replaced over the needle at an incorrect angle, the needle point may inadvertently pierce the side of the needle shield and puncture the fingers or hand.

In order to avoid problems attendant needle shields which must be remounted posteriorly from a location anterior of the needle point, various devices have been developed. Several of these devices include shields translatable posteriorly upon the barrel of a hypodermic syringe to expose the needle. To re-enclose the needle within the shield, anterior translation of the shield is effected. Unless the shield is locked at its anterior end of travel, inadvertent uncovering of the needle may occur. This results in a potential for exposure to needle stick or contact with body fluids upon the needle. If a lock is used it must not be unlockable during normal handling of a discarded syringe and an indication of the locked state should be visually apparent without having to test the positional security of the shield. Furthermore, such indication should be evident in an unambiguous manner under low light conditions.

A hub of a double ended needle used as part of a blood collection system includes a non-rotatably mounted axially translatable guard for receiving and covering the anterior needle prior and subsequent to use. The guard is mounted upon the hub at a first position prior to use, at a second position after posterior translation of the guard to exteriorize the anterior needle, and at a third position for locking engagement with the hub after anterior translation of the guard to re-enclose the anterior needle. The hub is perforated at a location exposed by the guard only upon placement of the guard in the third position to provide an unambiguous visually apparent cue that the guard is in the permanently locked position. In a single needle variant having a posteriorly translatable and lockable guard, a similar cue can be provided upon or within the barrel of the syringe. A removable tab at the anterior end of the guard provides an aperture through which the needle is exteriorized.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a positive and unambiguous visually apparent indication that a guard for the anterior needle of a double ended needle is in an anterior locked position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a non-detachable lockable guard for shielding a single ended needle before and after use.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an axially translatable non-rotatable guard for maintaining sterile a single ended needle prior to use and for guarding against contact by a user of the single ended needle after use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a visually perceivable indication that a non-detachable guard for a single ended needle is, after use of the needle, in a locked position to shield the needle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in the hub of a single or double ended needle with an aperture exposed only upon the positioning of a needle guard in its anterior locked position to shield the needle.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a light transmissible aperture in the hub of a single or double ended needle which accommodates transmission of light only upon placement of a guard for the anterior needle in its anterior and locked position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for indicating in an unambiguous manner the placement of a guard in a locked position to enclose a single ended needle.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for locking a needle guard in place after use of a double ended needle and for simultaneously providing a visually perceivable affirmation of the guard being locked in place.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

The present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of guards for protecting a double ended needle;

FIG. 2 illustrates exposure of the posterior end of the double ended needle;

FIG. 3 illustrates posterior translation of the anterior guard attendant the anterior needle of the double ended needle;

FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5--5, as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the anterior guard in the locked position;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 7--7, as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8a is a cross sectional view taken along lines 8a--8a, as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8b is a cross sectional view taken along lines 8b--8b, as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 9--9, as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross sectional view showing the relationship at the junction between the anterior guard, the posterior guard and the hub prior to use;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view showing the position of the anterior guard relative to the hub and ready for use; and

FIG. 12 is a partial cross sectional view showing the anterior guard in the locked position after use.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a double ended needle enclosed within an anterior guard 10 and a posterior guard 12. The junction therebetween is sealed with a band of conventional sealing tape 14. As the two guards and sealing tape are essentially impermeable, the enclosed double ended needle can be maintained sterile for a indeterminate period. The anterior guard includes a cap 16 having a tab 18 formed as part of the cap through frangible boss 20.

Anterior guard 10 and posterior guard 12 are predominately oval or oblong in cross section to minimize rolling upon a surface and to prevent rotation of the guards relative to the longitudinal axis of the enclosed needle. Anterior guard 10 may include opposed flats 24 to assist in gripping the guard along with segmented grooves 26 to assist a user in gripping and manipulating the guard. Similarly, posterior guard 12 may include opposed flats 28 and grooves (not shown).

To expose the double ended needle for use, tab 18 is gripped and twisted, or otherwise manipulated with respect to anterior guard 10 to sever boss 20 from the end of cap 16 and form aperture 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. This aperture permits exteriorization of anterior needle 40 from within anterior guard 10 upon posterior axial translation of the anterior guard. Thereafter, sealing tape 14 is removed. Posterior guard 12 is translated posteriorly to expose hub 30 and the posterior needle enclosed within sheath 32, as shown in FIG. 2. The posterior end of the hub includes a posterior needle and sheath 32 insertable within a blood collection tube holder and a threaded section 34 which is engageable with the threads attendant the holder. In this manner, hub 30 is attached to the holder. (Since the attachment is well known, it is not shown for sake of clarity of illustration.)

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate certain details attendant cap 16. The anterior end of anterior guard 10 may include a ramp 42 defining, in part, an annular depression 44. A lip 46, extending inwardly from skirt 48 drops into and is retained within depression 44 upon attachment of the cap to secure the cap to the anterior guard. To assist in mounting of the cap upon the anterior guard, a ramp may be formed in conjunction with lip 46. The junction between cap 16 and anterior guard 10 may be a force fit to establish a seal therebetween; in addition, ultrasonic techniques or an adhesive may be employed to develop the point of attachment and seal. By employing a cap 16 to seal the anterior end of anterior guard 10, initial assembly of the anterior guard upon the double ended needle may be from the posterior end of the needle. Such assembly is preferred in that it permits construction of the anterior guard with a physical impediment to anteriorly oriented disengagement from the hub. To prevent inadvertent disengagement of the cap from the anterior guard, the cap may be formed to have a cross sectional area less than that of the adjacent part of the anterior guard. Thus, snagging of the cap at the junction is not likely to occur, which snagging might urge disengagement.

Referring jointly to FIGS. 4 through 10, certain details attendant the structural and operational relationships between anterior guard 10, posterior guard 12 and hub 30 will be described. Boss 20 in combination with cap 16 define a cavity 56 which produces a frangible skirt 58 of the boss. This skirt is ruptured upon application of a force to tab 18 relative to anterior guard 10; moreover, cavity 56, to the extent it is associated with cap 16, will define aperture 38 in order to ensure that such aperture is functionally dimensioned to permit exteriorizing anterior needle 40. Tab 18 may have formed therein opposed depressions 52, 54 to reduce the mass thereof for manufacturing purposes and to provide a more sure grip of the tab by user.

Hub 30 is generally oval in cross section in conformance with the cross sections of anterior guard 10 and posterior guard 12. It includes an anterior oval shaped flange 60. This flange serves a number of important functions. The interior dimension of anterior guard 10 preferably tapers posteriorly; this requires the initial assembly of the anterior guard to be from the posterior end of the hub. As the anterior guard is moved from the retracted to the extended position (moved anteriorly), the fit between flange 60 and interior surface 61 of the anterior guard becomes more and more tight. The tight fit between the flange and the anterior guard serves as support for the anterior guard to reduce any tendency of the anterior guard to wobble when in the extended position whether prior or subsequent to use of anterior needle 40. Furthermore, the flange will tend to guide the anterior guard during posterior translation to ensure exteriorization of the needle through aperture 38. To permit the flange to conform with the reduced taper of the anterior guard resulting in compression of the flange, a plurality of slots 62 may be formed therein, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Hub 30 includes a piston 64 oval in cross section and conforming, generally, with the interior cross section of anterior guard 10. Because of the taper of the anterior guard, extension of the anterior guard will result in a tendency of the anterior guard to compress piston 64. Such compression establishes a tight fit therebetween and prevents the likelihood of separation between the hub and the anterior guard. Accordingly, piston 64 provides the function of a robust support for the anterior guard. The combination of support provided by flange 60 and piston 64 to the anterior guard helps assure against wobble of the anterior guard when the latter is in the extended position, against misalignment of the anterior needle with aperture 38, against disengagement between the anterior guard and the hub and against disruption of the locking apparatus when the anterior guard is in the third position.

Hub 30 includes a plurality of longitudinally oriented ridges 66, 68, 70, 72, 74 and 76, as particularly shown in FIG. 8b. These ridges are formed to reduce the mass of the hub and to facilitate certain manufacturing functions. Primarily, the ridges provide six axially oriented surface areas for supporting anterior guard 10 upon axial translation of the anterior guard with respect to hub 30. The posterior end of anterior guard 10 includes a radially inwardly extending ridge 80, which ridge, in cooperation with hub 30, supports the posterior end of the anterior guard. In the first position of anterior guard 10, the position prior to use, ridge 80 is located adjacent a ramp 82 extending radially from each of axial ridges 68, 70, 74, 76. These ramps discourage posterior translation of the anterior guard by interfering with ridge 80. However, the height of the ramps, in combination with the flexibility of the posterior end of the anterior guard, permits translation of the anterior guard posteriorly therepast upon application of a modest force to the anterior guard. Upon such translation, the anterior guard is retracted to expose anterior needle 40. The posterior end of hub 30 includes a ramp 84 extending radially outwardly from each of ridges 68, 70, 74, 76 and a lip 86 disposed upon each of the same axial ridges posteriorly displaced from ramps 84 by a space approximately equivalent to the width of annular ridge 80. Upon retraction of the anterior guard, ridge 80 is forced past ramps 84 into abutting relationship with lips 86. The effect of ramps 84 is that of discouraging annular ridge 80 from anterior movement therepast; they will cause anterior guard 10 to be selectively retained adjacent lips 86 in a second position corresponding to retraction of the anterior guard with anterior needle exposed ready for use.

Upon axial translation of the anterior guard from the second position, annular ridge 80 will accommodate translation past ramps 84 and ramps 82. Upon further anterior translation of anterior guard 10, side 88 of annular ridge 80 will abut sloping surface 90 of piston 64. Simultaneously, annular ridge 80 will become inwardly displaced within grooves 92 formed in each of axial ridges 66-76. Sides 94 of grooves 92 are generally radially oriented to discourage posteriorly oriented movement of annular ridge 80 therepast. As discussed above, anterior guard 10 tapers posteriorly. Accordingly, extension of the anterior guard anteriorly will produce an increasingly tighter fit between the anterior guard and each of flange 60 and piston 64. This tight fit, and the friction resulting therefrom, in combination with the mechanical impediment presented by side 94 of slots 92 against annular ridge 80 will serve the function of locking the anterior guard in the third or extended position. To assist a user in translating the anterior guard, diametrically opposed grooves 26, with the corresponding ridges formed thereby, provide a sure ripping surface. Furthermore, flats 24, which may be roughened, provide a further gripping surface for a user.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, posterior guard 12 may be secured to anterior guard 10 in an overlapping relationship. To assist in retaining the posterior guard secured in place, a shallow groove 100 may be formed in the posterior end of the anterior guard for receiving a similarly shallow radially inwardly oriented mound 102. The junction therebetween is covered or wrapped with tape 14.

Referring to FIG. 11, anterior guard 10 is shown in the second or retracted position with respect to hub 30. In this position, annular ridge 80 is disposed in slots 96 formed in ridges 68, 70, 74, 76. Anterior needle 40 has been exteriorized through aperture 38 of cap 16. Although a collection tube holder would normally be threadedly engaged with threaded section 34, it is not shown for purposes of clarity and illustration of the relationship between the anterior guard and the hub.

In FIG. 12, anterior guard 10 is shown in the third or extended position with respect to hub 30. In this position, the anterior needle is fully enclosed within the anterior guard, as shown in FIG. 6. In the extended or third position, annular ridge 80 is lockingly disposed in grooves 92 attendant hub 30, as described above. Both piston 64 and flange 60 have been slightly compressed due to the posterior tapering of the inner surface of the anterior guard. This compression, with the resulting tight fit between piston 64 and the interior surface of the anterior guard will stabilize the anterior guard with respect to the hub. It may also be noted that in the third or extended position of the anterior guard, it is stabilized by three annularly located and axially displaced points of support: flange 60, piston 64 and grooves 92. Such multipoint support will maintain the anterior guard stably located with regard to hub 30 and wobble thereof is essentially precluded and the likelihood of disengagement therebetween is substantially reduced.

The use of a hub having a plurality of axially aligned ridges for supporting the anterior guard results in several advantages. First, manufacturing considerations attendant shrinkage, cooling and accuracy of the part formed are enhanced. Second, unnecessary weight, without jeopardizing structural stability, is eliminated. Third, less material is used which will reduce manufacturing costs. Fourth, control of and support for translation of a guard therealong is more readily definable and controllable than that of a hub of solid mass. Thus, a hub having a plurality of longitudinal ridges represents an advance in the state of the art.

After use of the double ended needle for blood collection purposes, anterior guard 10 is axially translated anteriorly to the third position discussed above for the purpose of enclosing and sheathing needle 40 to prevent accidental needle stick. In the third position, ridge 80 extending radially inwardly and lodged within groove 92 of hub 30 is locked against posterior translation by side 94. Were ridge 80 not positioned within groove 92, posterior axial translation of anterior guard 10 might come about as a result of normal handling during the procedures attendant termination of the blood collection procedure and disposal of the double ended needle assembly. It is therefore of great importance to the safety of medical personnel that some positive indication be provided to confirm that the anterior guard is in the third position. Referring particularly to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 8a and 12, structure for providing confirmation of the anterior guard being in the third position will be described.

At a point just posteriorly of anterior guard 10 when ridge 80 is disposed within grooves 92, hub 30 includes a pair of passageways 110, 112 extending therethrough. Such passageways, being exposed only upon locating anterior guard 10 in the third position, permit viewing of ambient light through the passageways. These two sources of light provide an unambiguous indication which is not dependent upon recognition of symbology upon a surface of the hub or similar non lighted type indicia. In practice, it has been found that even under low light conditions, the light radiating through passageways 110 and 112 is very visually apparent. As a result of the combination of ramps and grooves attendant hub 30 with which ridge 80 of the anterior guard cooperates, it is essentially impossible for the posterior end of the anterior guard to be in a position wherein passageways 110, 112 are not either fully uncovered or covered. That is, the anterior guard must be in its third position in order for any light to be visible through passageways 110, 112. Thus, the passageways provide an unambiguous visual indication of whether the anterior guard is or is not locked.

In the embodiment of hub 30 illustrated, passageway 110 is formed during manufacture of the hub by a pin or other means extending through the cavity wherein the hub is to be formed in transverse alignment with web 120. Passageway 112 is similarly formed by a pin or other means superimposed in a transverse alignment with web 122. The resulting passageways are particularly illustrated in FIG. 8a upon comparison with the cross section of the hub illustrated in FIG. 8b.

It may be noted that when anterior guard 10 is in the first position, ridge 80, as described above, is disposed posteriorly of a lateral plane wherein passageways 110, 112 lie. Accordingly, the posterior end of the anterior guard shields the passageways and they will not be visible to medical personnel using the present invention. Similarly, when the anterior guard is in the second position, the anterior part of the anterior guard will encircle and shield passageways 110, 112 from view.

In summary, passageways 110, 112 serving in the manner of a light source, provide an unambiguous indication that the anterior guard is in the third position and therefore locked in place to retain and enclose needle 40 therein. Because passageways 110, 112 function as a light source, they provide unambiguous visually perceivable indicia, even under low light ambient conditions, which conditions would be inadequate to positively recognize some other indicia that might be formed upon or associated with a surface of the hub.

While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrative embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, elements, materials, and components, used in the practice of the invention which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirement without departing from those principles.