U.S. patent application number 10/998123 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-25 for vial attachment to prevent needle sticks.
Invention is credited to Eric John Meittunen.
Application Number | 20060108319 10/998123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35516094 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060108319 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meittunen; Eric John |
May 25, 2006 |
Vial attachment to prevent needle sticks
Abstract
A clear protective disc shield that attaches to vial that
protect medical personnel hand from being injured and contamination
of the needle. The protective disc shield has a circular orifice
that effectuates attachment of the disc shield to a vial for the
dispensing of medicine or other material. The disc shield is
designed so that any contact between the needle and the upper
surface of the shield will guide the needle to the circular orifice
and further prevents the needle from slipping of the disc shield.
The disc shield further has a smooth underside and edges to prevent
scratching and other injuries to the user.
Inventors: |
Meittunen; Eric John;
(Rochester, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Warren Alexander Reiter
150 North Clark Street
Forest City
IA
50436
US
|
Family ID: |
35516094 |
Appl. No.: |
10/998123 |
Filed: |
November 24, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/386 ;
206/528; 215/DIG.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 1/2096 20130101;
A61J 1/1468 20150501; A61J 1/1425 20150501; A61J 1/201
20150501 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/386 ;
215/DIG.003; 206/528 |
International
Class: |
B65D 23/12 20060101
B65D023/12; B65D 85/42 20060101 B65D085/42 |
Claims
1. An apparatus to protect the user while withdrawing a liquid
medicament from a receptacle which is provided with a pierce-able
membrane comprising: a shield of appropriate shape and size to
protect the users hands and finger, wherein the shield has a
circular orifice that is used to attach said shield to the
receptacle.
2. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic.
3. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and is between 6 and 12 cm in diameter.
4. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and is between 6 and 12 cm in diameter and is between 1
and 5 cm in thickness.
5. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic where the circumference has an edge that extends above
the disc shield.
6. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic where the circumference has an edge that extends 2 to 6
millimeter above the disc shield and is from 1 to 3 millimeters in
width.
7. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and both sides are smooth.
8. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic where the circumference has an edge that extends above
the disc shield where both sides and the edge are smooth.
9. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and the circular orifice is between 4 to 12 millimeters
in diameter.
10. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and the circular orifice has a sloped edge that is
angled towards the center.
11. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and the circular orifice has a sloped edge that is
angled towards the center and is between 4 to 12 millimeters in
diameter.
12. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and the circular orifice that is used to attach said
shield to the receptacle has serrated teeth that extend past the
lip of the medication.
13. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and the circular orifice that is used to attach said
shield to the receptacle has serrated teeth that extend between 6
to 20 millimeters from the underside of the shield.
14. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and the circular orifice that is used to attach said
shield to the receptacle has serrated teeth that extend past the
lip of the medication wherein the serrated teeth have a hook.
15. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and the circular orifice that is used to attach said
shield to the receptacle has serrated teeth that extend past the
lip of the medication wherein the serrated teeth have a hook and
the hook is between 1 to 5 millimeters in length and width.
16. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and the circular orifice that is used to attach said
shield to the receptacle has serrated teeth that extend between 6
to 20 millimeters from the underside of the shield wherein the
serrated teeth have a hook and the hook is between 1 to 5
millimeters in length and width.
17. The apparatus in claim 1 where the shield is circular and made
of plastic and is between 6 and 12 cm in diameter and is between 1
and 5 cm in thickness; the circumference has an edge that extends 2
to 6 millimeter above the disc shield and is from 1 to 3
millimeters in width and both upper and lower sides of the shield,
as well as, the edge are smooth; the circular orifice has a sloped
edge that is angled towards the center and is between 4 to 12
millimeters in diameter; and the circular orifice that is used to
attach said shield to the receptacle has serrated teeth that extend
between 6 to 20 millimeters from the underside of the shield
wherein the serrated teeth have a hook and the hook is between 1 to
5 millimeters in length and width.
Description
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0001] Not Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND--FIELD OF INVENTION
[0003] This invention is a shield to be used with a receptacle with
a pierce-able membrane from which liquid medicine is to be
withdrawn.
[0004] Medical personnel give hundreds of shots daily. In order to
give these shots medical personnel must stick a needle into a vial
equipped with pierce-able membrane in order to draw the medicine
into the syringe. Frequently, the medical personnel will
inadvertently stick themselves with the sharp needle resulting in
injury to themselves and contamination of the needle or the
medicine. The protective shield in this invention covers the
medical personnel hand in order to both prevent injuries to the
person and contamination of the needle or the medicine.
[0005] The shield is a circular or other appropriate shape device
that clasps to the top of the medication vial. Shield is an
appropriate size and shape to completely cover medical personnel's
hand to prevent injuries to the person and contamination of the
needle or the medicine. An orifice is in the center of the shield
that allows the needle to safely pierce the membrane and allow the
transfer of the medicine with out harm to medical personnel and
without any contamination. The shield has a smooth sloped edge
surface that is angled to help guide the needle into the above said
orifice to more efficiently effectuate the transfer of the
medicine. The shield has a raised edge on the top portion to
prevent the needle from slipping off the shield to prevent
injuries. The shield has a smooth surface on the bottom portion to
prevent scratching medical personnel.
BACKGROUND--DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
[0006] Injuries from sharp implements such as syringe needles are
particularly dangerous to health and medical personnel who run the
risk of exposure to disease. Avoidance of contracting communicable
diseases such as Hepatitis-B and AIDS are of special concern to
medical personnel. These diseases can be communicated to medical
personnel as a result of an accidental injury when handling a
contaminated needle.
[0007] Two types of devices have emerged to help medical personnel
avoid inadvertently sticking themselves with sharp needle resulting
in injury to themselves and contamination of the needle or the
medicine. The first-type of protective device is a hand guard
similar to those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,406 to Fowler
(2004). The second-type of protective devices are complicated
syringe holders similar to those described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,464,105 to Rolle (2002).
[0008] Fowler Patent is a hand guard that attaches directly to
medical personnel's hand. Fowler Patent while protecting medical
personnel from inadvertently sticking themselves with the sharp
needle resulting in injury to themselves and contamination of the
needle or the medicine is bulking and reduce freedom of movement of
the medical personnel. In addition to bulkiness and restriction of
movement of the device it must be fitted to medical personnel's
hand. The device further takes time away from medical personnel to
put and take off the device.
[0009] Rolle Patent describes a holder that attaches directly to a
receptacle. Rolle Patent holder is complicated consisting of two
separate housing. The first housing is used to attach the
receptacle while the second housing has two channels to allow for
the withdrawal of material from the receptacle. The second housing
is very complicated and despite the teaching of Rolle Patent is
unnecessary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention is designed to provide a compromise
between the simple hand guard, Fowler Patent, and vial holder,
Rolle Patent. This invention is easy to produce, simple to use by
medical personnel, not time consuming to put on, and still protect
medical personnel from inadvertently sticking themselves with the
sharp needles that result in injury to themselves and contamination
of the needle. Additionally, the current invention offers increase
in sterility that may occur between the vial and the syringe during
the medication transfer process, particularly when medical
personnel deem it necessary to refill the syringe. The device is
also non-complicated for the user and features significant
reduction in set-up time and efficiency of use over the current
technology. The safety of the medical personnel is primary means
for the invention and offers a marked reduction in the prevention
of sharps injuries for staff by reducing the potential for
exposures when utilizing a multi-dose vial in comparison with Rolle
Patent. The current device accomplishes the above task without the
need for a locking hub syringe system like shown in Rolle Patent. A
locking hub syringe system requires the user to fill a syringe via
a vial with an attaching locking needle hub, recap the needle, then
remove the locking needle hub, and finally reattach the syringe to
the Rolle device for a refill. The current invention allows for
direct insertion into the vial and for reinsertion if a refill of
the syringe is needed, therefore reducing the steps by half and
reducing the opportunity for contaminated sharps injuries that is
possible during each of those steps. In the present invention, a
shield made from plastic or other appropriate material is
described.
[0011] More particularly, the shield is a clear device, for an
increased view of the medication vial, that is of appropriate size
and shape to extend over the majority of the user's hand and
fingers and is thick enough to provide adequate protection to the
user. The shield has a raised edge about its outer circumference
that prevents the needle from slipping off the shield and injuring
the user. The shield has a smooth and flat surface that directs the
needle to the center orifice and thus into the pierce-able membrane
opening of the medicine vial.
[0012] This center orifice of the disc shield is used to attach the
medication vial to the shield via a clasp with serrated teeth on
the underside of the shield. The center orifice also enables access
to the pierce-able membrane of the medication vial and this opening
is of sufficient size and has a sloped edge to help align the
pierce-able membrane of the medication vial.
[0013] These and other advantages and novel features of the present
invention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof,
will be more fully understood from the following descriptions and
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Drawing Figures
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the preferred shied design
of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a blown-up of the top view of the
preferred shield without the center orifice of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates a blown-up view of the center orifice of
the preferred shield of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] FIG. 1 shows the major advantage of this invention a clear
shield that allows the user to see through the shield to
effectively and safely withdraw medicine or other liquid from a
vial. The device shown in FIG. 2 is a circular disc shield 1 with a
diameter between 6 to 12 centimeters so as to extend over the
majority hand and fingers of the user. The circular disc shield 1
has thickness between 1 to 5 millimeters to ensure that the needle
does not penetrate through the device and into the user's hand or
fingers. The circular disc shield 1 is smooth and flat which allows
a missed directed needle that contacts the shield to be directed
into the center orifice and thus into the pierce-able opening of
the medication vial 12. In addition, the circular disc shield 1 has
a raised edge (sharps lip) 5 that runs the circumference of the
disc. The raised edge 5 extends 2 to 6 millimeters from the surface
of the disc and is between 1 to 3 millimeters in width. The raised
edge 5 inhibits the needle from slipping off from the shield and
thus making contact with the hand that is holding the medication
and shield. The outer rim 6 of the disc shield 1 is smooth in order
to prevent scratching users.
[0018] FIG. 3. shows the center of the disc shield which is the
opening, orifice, or port 3 that enables access to the pierce-able
membrane of the medication vial 12. The orifice 3 is between 4 to
12 millimeters in diameter and aligns with the pierce-able membrane
of the medication vial 12. The disc shield 1 attaches to the
medication vial 12 via this center orifice 3 from the underside of
the disc shield 1. About the circumference of the center orifice is
a sloped edge 4. The slope edge 4 is angled toward the center of
the orifice to assist in the directing or guiding the needle of the
medication transfer device to the center orifice 3 and then through
the pierce-able membrane 13. The sloped edges 4 of circular orifice
3 are tapered to guide the needle into the medication opening as
described above. The underside of the disc shield 7 is smooth,
flat, and leads to a circular clasp 8 that attaches to the
underside of the disc shield 7 and is aligned with the center
orifice 3. The medication vial attachment clasp 8 extends between 6
to 20 millimeters from the undersides of the disc shield 7 and
provides the means to attach the medication vial 12 to the shield
1. The clasp 8 has serrated teeth 9 that briefly extend past the
lip of the medication vial 12 and fit taught with the edge of the
medication vial 12 outer edge. The insides of the serrated teeth 9
consist of hooks 10 that form the clasp mechanism needed for a
secure attachment of the medication vial 12. The width of the hook
10 is between 1 to 5 millimeters while the depth on the inside of
the hook 10 is also between 1 to 5 millimeters in length. The
serrated teeth 9 are made of a material that allows calculated
expansion yet a firm fit to the medication vial 12. The serrated
teeth 9 fit along the parameter of the medication vial 12 with
slotted tips that are such a length as to extend past the base of
the vial neck 11 and that hook 10 are placed about the
circumference of the medication vial top (neck) 11. The interior of
the clasp 8 allows the medication vial neck 11 to slide in place on
the top of the medication vial 12 and allows access to the
pierce-able membrane 13. Additionally the friction fit allows for
such a connection that the medication vial 12 may be used as a
handle for the user to grasp and position the vial 12 with the disc
shield 1.
[0019] In the preferred embodiment a clear plastic material is used
however other material maybe used with out departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention. In view of the above
detailed description of the present invention and associated
drawings, other modifications and variations will now become
apparent to those skilled in the art. It should be apparent that
such other modifications and variations may be effected without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *