U.S. patent application number 09/789166 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-31 for apparatus for safely removing a needle from a subcutaneous septum.
Invention is credited to Green, Christopher H..
Application Number | 20020013603 09/789166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26890382 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020013603 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Green, Christopher H. |
January 31, 2002 |
Apparatus for safely removing a needle from a subcutaneous
septum
Abstract
An apparatus for safely removing a needle from a subcutaneous
septum, comprising a pair of blades, each having corresponding
first and second ends, pivotally jointed together at their first
ends whereby the blades are pivotal between a closed position in
which the blades are substantially overlapped and an open position
in which the second ends of the blades are spaced apart; and a
concave groove in an edge of each blade at the second ends thereof
positioned such that each groove is directly opposite the other in
a mirrored relationship when the blades are in the open
position.
Inventors: |
Green, Christopher H.;
(Hallandale, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Clifford W. Browning
Woodard, Emhardt, Naughton, Moriarty & McNett
Bank One Center/Tower
111 Monument Circle, Suite 3700
Indianapolis
IN
46204
US
|
Family ID: |
26890382 |
Appl. No.: |
09/789166 |
Filed: |
February 19, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60194762 |
Mar 31, 2000 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 5/158 20130101;
A61M 39/0208 20130101; A61M 2209/04 20130101; A61M 2005/1583
20130101; A61B 2090/0801 20160201; A61B 17/06161 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/205 |
International
Class: |
A61B 017/28 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An apparatus for safely removing a needle from a subcutaneous
septum, comprising: a pair of blades, each having corresponding
first and second ends, pivotally jointed together at their first
ends whereby the blades are pivotal between a closed position in
which the blades are substantially overlapped and an open position
in which the second ends of the blades are spaced apart; and a
concave groove in an edge of each blade at the second ends thereof
positioned such that each groove is directly opposite the other in
a mirrored relationship when the blades are in the open
position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a needle shield
casing at the second end of one of the blades.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to devices used with
implantable vascular access ports having a subcutaneous septum, and
more particularly, to a novel apparatus for safely removing a
needle from such subcutaneous septum without the risk of accidental
needle/hand contact.
[0002] Care givers time after time come in contact with an
implantable vascular access device 10, also referred to as a port,
or portal (FIG. 1). In the center of the portal 10 is a
self-sealing silicone septum 12. This device is surgically
implanted under the skin and below the collarbone, as illustrated
in FIG. 1. To access the portal, a Huber needle 14, or the like, is
placed through a patient's skin with enough pressure to penetrate
the silicone septum 12.
[0003] Problems start when care givers are removing the needle 14
from the septum 12 of portal 10. Extreme caution is needed because
one must typically place the fingers of one hand firmly over the
portal 10, which is located under the skin, to apply a counter
pressure to the portal 10 as a needle is being removed from the
portal 10 with the care giver's other hand. Just the right amount
of counter pressure is needed on the portal 10 to permit safe
removal of the needle 14, but this procedure places the care
giver's fingers within millimeters of the needle 14. The principal
fear is that when pulling the needle 14 out of this portal 10 with
one hand, the counter pressure applied with the other hand causes a
"bounce back" phenomenon when the needle is dislodged and
withdrawn, making a contaminated needle stick of the care giver's
hand or the patient possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The solution to this problem is to use as a safety device
the apparatus of the present invention, which allows a care giver's
fingers that apply counter pressure to the subcutaneous portal 10
to be kept at a safe distance from the contaminated needle being
withdrawn. The solution is illustrated and demonstrated in FIGS.
1-5. By placing sterile wood or plastic extension pieces 16, 18
upon the patient's chest wall over the portal 10, the same amount
of counter pressure applied by a care giver's fingers is now
transferred to the portal 10 by the sterile extension pieces 16,
18, also referred to as blades, thus keeping the care giver's
fingers out of harms way. FIGS. 1 and 2 show in detail the
relationship between the apparatus 8 of the present invention and a
subcutaneous portal 10 within a patient's body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top view of the apparatus for safely removing a
needle from a subcutaneous septum of the present invention shown in
an open position and in place over a subcutaneous septum.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a top view of apparatus of FIG. 1 shown in a
closed position in place over a subcutaneous septum.
[0007] FIG. 3 is left side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a
storage position.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 3.
[0009] FIG. 5 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 in an open
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] To implement the apparatus 8 of the present invention, the
two extension pieces 16, 18, also referred to as blades, shown in
FIGS. 3-5 may be made of wood, plastic or any material shown to
have similar properties and that may be sterilized. The blades 16,
18 of the preferred embodiment to date are approximately 15 cm in
length, 2 mm in height and 2 cm in width.
[0011] Approximately 2.6 cm from the distal tip of each blade 16,
18 (FIGS. 3-5) is a concave groove 20, 22 approximately 1.5 cm in
length and 3 mm at its center point in the preferred embodiment to
date (FIG. 5). Concave grooves 20, 22 are constructed bilaterally
on each blade 16, 18, as best illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0012] Bound to blade 20 by an epoxy or other stable mechanism, or
if blade 20 is made of plastic, injection molded as one piece with
blade 20, is a needle shield casing 24, which in the preferred
embodiment to date is approximately 5.8 cm in length, 1.3 cm in
width and approximately 4 mm in height at its open distal tip 26,
decreasing in height so as to close to approximately zero at the
5.8 cm mark. This casing 24 will be filled with a Styrofoam
filling, or a material that resembles such a substance, that will
enable casing 24 to tightly grip and thus retain a needle entering
the casing 24.
[0013] To construct the present invention, place both blades 16, 18
on top of each other (FIG. 4). Puncture through the two blades 16,
18 with a circular metal divot 28, or alternatively, place an
elastic band over both blades 16, 18 approximately 4.2 cm up the
blades 16, 18. Spread open blades 16, 18 to resemble an "X" shape
(FIG. 5). Place the end of the blades 16, 18 with the concave
grooves 20, 22 at the left and right side of the subcutaneous
septum 12 (FIG. 1). Then close the blades 16, 18 so that they
gently touch a needle 14 to be removed from the septum 12 (FIG. 2).
A care giver would then place a thumb upon the circular metal divot
28, or alternatively the elastic band. Applying firm pressure to
the divot 28 with one hand, the care giver would use the other hand
to remove needle 14. The care giver would immediately place the
needle 14 into the open end 26 of the needle shield casing 24. This
will then allow for a safe transfer of the needle 14, with the
apparatus 8, to a Sharps container, thereby eliminating the threat
of an accidental needle re-puncture of the care giver, or
patient.
* * * * *