Protection device for sharp objects

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a protective device to prevent accidental contact with the sharp surface of an object and more particularly to a protective device having a locking mechanism to prevent reuse of a needle.

[0003] While the accidental needle sticks have always plagued healthcare practitioners, the advent of AIDS and various other potentially lethal blood borne pathogens has increased the consequences of such needle sticks. Various attempts have been made to minimize such risks. For instance, devices have been introduced to shield the healthcare practitioner from making contact with a potentially contaminated needle, but have met with limited effectiveness.

[0004] A needle protection device (or shield) must meet certain criteria to be effective. First, it must provide protection to the healthcare practitioner—in other words provide an effective barrier to prevent accidental contact with the needle. Second, it must be simple to use so that the healthcare practitioner can effectively perform his or her job while at the same time availing themselves of the protection afforded by the protection device. Third, it must be cost effective so that hospitals will not incur undue costs. Fourth, it must provide protection on a timely basis to shield all healthcare workers from the device.

[0005] In addition to the criteria listed, a protective device should also prevent exposure of the needle once disposed, be intuitive to use and accommodate a variety of needle sizes.

[0006] Past designs for needle protection devices included various forms of pivoting shrouds or shields that surround the needle. These designs can be divided into two broad categories based upon the locking mechanism. The first category utilizes a reversible locking mechanism. This design allows the healthcare practitioner to repeatedly use the shrouding mechanism. Thus, a healthcare practitioner can engage the lock after filling the hypodermic syringe and remove the shroud just prior to injection. But this type of locking mechanism does not allow for permanent locking of the shroud about the needle, preventing reuse. The second category of needle protection devices utilizes a single use locking mechanism. This design prevents the healthcare practitioner from repeatedly using the shrouding mechanism. So a healthcare practitioner can engage the lock only after final use of the needle, just prior to disposal.

[0007] Neither of the two broad categories provide for both a temporary locking mechanism and a permanent locking mechanism. Thus, neither of the two designs allow for temporary locking of the shroud about the needle for intermediate protection and permanent locking of the shroud about the needle for final protection and disposal.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a needle shield that prevents accidental needle contact by the healthcare provider.

[0009] It is a further object of the invention to provide a needle shield that does not interfere with the normal operation of the syringe.

[0010] It is an additional object of the invention to provide a needle shield that pivots away from the needle to allow use application of the needle.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a needle shield that may be used with pre-existing needles and not require redesign of the pre-existing needle.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide a needle shield with a temporary locking mechanism to prevent exposure of the needle.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a needle shield with a permanent locking mechanism to prevent reuse.

[0014] It is an additional object of the invention to provide a needle shield having a locking mechanism that engages under the control of the healthcare practitioner.

[0015] It is a further object of the invention to provide a needle shield that is cost effective to produce.

[0016] Other objects will be obvious and will appear hereinafter. The invention comprises an article of manufacture as exemplified in the following summary and detailed description.

[0017] The protection device of the present invention is an assembly which is integrally molded with a needle assembly or separately fabricated and later mated to a needle via the needle hub. The protection device includes a collar which is either compression fitted to or integrally molded with the needle hub. Attached to the hub is a hinge that ultimately allows the shield portion of the assembly to pivot away from the needle. The hinge is mated to a channel portion, which is itself mated to a transition portion connected to the shield. The channel portion is sized so as to frictionally engage the needle shaft, thereby creating a temporary locking mechanism to hold the shield next to the needle. Disposed upon the channel portion is a permanent locking mechanism. The permanent locking mechanism locks the shield in the protective position, permanently shielding the needle.

[0018] The present invention further includes variations on this design. The temporary locking mechanism may be placed in the shield assembly or disposed in the transition piece. In addition, the permanent locking mechanism may be placed in any location, including the shield, and may further comprise a one-way lock. The hinge may be formed as a single or multiple piece design.

[0019] The above mentioned objectives of the present invention will become more apparent and the invention itself better understood with reference to the following description of the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0020] The foregoing discussion will be understood more readily from the following detailed description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art shield;

[0022] FIG. 2(a) is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the closed and locked position;

[0023] FIG. 2(b) is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the closed and unlocked position;

[0024] FIG. 2(c) is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the closed and unlocked position;

[0025] FIG. 3(a) is a side perspective view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the open and unlocked position with the needle cover pivoted away from the needle;

[0026] FIG. 3(b) is a side view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the open and unlocked position with the needle cover pivoted away from the needle;

[0027] FIG. 4(a) is a side view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the closed and unlocked position;

[0028] FIG. 4(b) is an end view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the closed and unlocked position;

[0029] FIG. 4(c) is an end view through the section A—A of FIG. 4(a) of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the closed and unlocked position;

[0030] FIG. 4(d) is a side view of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the closed and locked position; and

[0031] FIG. 4(e) is an end view through the section B—B of FIG. 4(d) of an embodiment of the invention illustrating the shield in the closed and locked position.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, a prior art needle conventional needle shield assembly mounted on a needle is illustrated. The shield assembly 1 comprises a base or collar 14 attached to a shield 16. Shield 16 is hollow cylinder disposed around the needle shaft 12. The base or collar 14 is dimensioned so as to friction fit over hub 10 in manner so as to not interfere with luer tabs 11. Removal of the shield assembly entails uncoupling base or collar 14 from hub 10 and sliding the shield 16 up and over needle 12. Conversely, replacement of the shield assembly 1 entails sliding the needle 12 into cylinder 16 and friction fitting base 14 to hub 10.

[0033] FIGS. 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as utilized in conjunction with a pre-existing needle. The shield assembly 2 of the present invention is comprised of a barrel 20 that permanently holds the assembly 2 to the needle hub 10. The barrel 20 and the hub 10 may be frictionally fit to one another or molded into a single unit. Above the barrel 20 is the locking mechanism which connects to the barrel 20 via hinge 25. The locking mechanism includes temporary lock formed by a channel portion 26 sized to frictionally fit the needle 12. A slit 23 in channel portion 26 allows passage of the needle 12 when channel portion 26 is pivoted about the hinge 25. A permanent lock, disposed on opposite sides of slit 23, is formed by a pivoting latch 27 and a catch 28.

[0034] Above the channel portion is a transition piece 24 which allows for a transition between the channel portion 26 and shield 22. Shield 22 is sized and shaped to enclose the needle 12 so as to prevent accidental contact. As illustrated, the shield 22 is a cylindrical portion extending beyond the tip of the needle 12 and substantially surrounding the needle 12.

[0035] FIG. 2(a) illustrates the shield assembly 2 in the closed and locked position with the shield 22 enclosing the needle 12 and the locking mechanism 27 and 28 locked. As illustrated, the needle 12 is disposed in the channel 26 and enclosed by the latch 27 engaged to the catch 28. FIG. 2(b) illustrates the shield assembly 2 in the closed and unlocked position with the locking mechanism now in the unlocked position. FIG. 2(c) is a cutaway with the shield 22 removed, illustrating the shield assembly 2 in the closed and unlocked position.

[0036] The shield assembly 2 is designed to pivot away from the needle 12 via a hinge 25. FIG. 3(a) illustrates the pivoting action of the shield assembly into the open and unlocked position. In this position, the needle 12 is exposed for use. FIG. 3(b) is a side view of the assembly in the open position. Again, in this position the needle is unobstructed.

[0037] In order to cover the needle, the shield 22 is pivoted into the closed position via hinge 25. FIG. 4(a) is a side view illustrating the assembly in the closed and unlocked position. In this position, the needle 12 is temporarily secured in channel portion 26. Friction between the needle 12 and the channel portion 26 prevents the shield 22 from accidentally pivoting into the open position. The shield 22 is not permanently locked, but rather temporarily locked in this configuration. By overcoming the friction between the needle 12 and the channel portion 26, the healthcare provider can once again pivot the assembly into the open position, exposing the needle. Thus, the present invention allows the shield assembly to cover the needle multiple times, such as prior to filling, after filling but prior to injection, and after injection but prior to disposal.

[0038] Once the healthcare provider has determined that the procedure is complete and that the needle should be disposed, the shield assembly is permanently locked in the closed position. With reference to FIGS. 2(b), 4(a), and 4(b) the needle 12 is first captured into the channel assembly 26. Next, the locking mechanism is engaged by swinging the pivoting latch 27 to the catch 28 which form the permanent lock. FIGS. 2(a), 4(d) and 4(e) illustrate how latch 27 engages and locks into catch 28. It is preferred that the lock formed by the latch 27 and the catch 28 be of a one-way design so that, once engaged, the latch 27 cannot be separated from the catch 28. Thus, the preferred design for the lock assembly prevents unlocking once the permanent lock is engaged. Once the shield assembly is in the locked closed position, the needle may be disposed.

[0039] Variations on the design are envisioned. For instance, in the preferred design, the hinge 25 is formed as a single piece “living hinge,” but a two piece hinge is also contemplated. The preferred design for the temporary lock is the channel 26 which frictionally engages the needle 12, but alternative designs utilizing temporary locks disposed in shield 22 are also contemplated. In addition, the permanent lock in the preferred embodiment utilizes a latch 27 and a catch 28 disposed on opposite sides of the channel 26, but may also be composed of various permanent locks disposed in the shield 22 and may also utilize various shapes for the latch 27 and the catch 28.

[0040] The shield assembly of the preferred embodiment can be constructed from a thermoplastic material via an injection molding process. The shroud may be integrally molded with the needle hub or may be molded separately and press fit to needle hub. The preferred material would be of the polyolefin family, which includes polyethylene and polypropylene, because of the embodiments “living hinge.” One of ordinary skill in the art would understand to select the final choice of material based upon such factors such as construction method, material compatibility, cost, etc.

[0041] It should be understood that other embodiments could be created with variations in shape and size. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference only to present preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims.