604/263
[58] Field of Search 604/192. 198. 187. 263.
604/197. 110. 171. 195. 196. 233. 234. 223. Ill
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4.040.421 8/1977 Young 128/218
4.194.505 3/1980 Schnmz 604/196
4.573.976 3/1986 Sampson el al 604/26?
4.813.940 3/1989 Parry 604/198
4.816.022 3/1989 Poncy 604/198
4.820.277 4/1989 Noreili 604/192
4.826.484 5/1989 Habei 604/110
4.826.488 5/1989 Nelson 604/192
4.826.489 5/1989 Haber 604/195
4.S26.4W 5/1989 Byrne 604/198
4.826.491 5/1989 Schramm 604/198
4.838.869 6/1989 Allard 604/195
4.838.871 6/1989 Luther 604/192
4.842.587 6/1989 Poncy 604/198
4.863.435 9/1989 Sturman 604/198
4.872.552 10/1989 L'nger 206/365
4.883.469 11/1989 Glazier 604/192
4.9:5.h<;:- 4/1990 Feimer 604/192
4.923.44" 5/1990 Morgan 604/198
4.946.447 8/1990 Hardcastle 604/198
4.994.034 2/1991 Botich et al 604/198
4.994,046 2/1991 Wesson el al 604/109
5.000.740 3/1991 Ducharme el al 604/198
5.026.356 6/1991 Smith 604/198
5.030.209 7/1991 Wonderer et al 604/198
5.053.014 10/1991 Van Mengten 604/198
Assistant Examiner—Chalin Smith i
[57] ABSTRACT
A manually operated needle-shielding safety device attachable to a standard hypodermic needle and syringe medical apparatus (42). By forward directed thumb or finger stroke upon a proximally projecting pushrod (128) slidably operable within a pushrod channel (82) positioned parallel to and radially removed from the primary syringe barrel plunger (44). the elongated shield (148) is pushed from a housing (66) mounted at the base of the hypodermic needle and syringe apparatus (42), rotated longitudinally from an inverted position, and advanced to the distal end of the syringe apparatus (42) against resistance from a rubber band (64) or integral expansion spring (244). The distal portion of the shield (148) surmounts the tip of the needle (54) and the needle (54) enters the shield (148) laterally through an opening in the shield face (154). The operator then releases thumb or finger pressure upon the pushrod (128) and the enclosed forward end of the shield (148) is pulled rearward by the rubber band (64) or integral expansion spring (244) to surround and safely contain the needle (54) tip.
The device can be deployed quickly, surely, and conveniently at the user's option immediately after the injection process, with one hand, without the need to shift finger grip upon the hypodermic apparatus (42). and without interfering with the user's concentration upon other important medical tasks. The invention can be used with most currently manufactured needle and syringe devices and does not require modification of existing needle designs, needle hub designs including luer connection designs and low-dose minimum "dead space" designs, needle cementing processes and equipment, fluid chamber designs, and fluid chamber piston engines.
23 Claims, 35 Drawing Sheets
