U.S. patent number RE34,045 [Application Number 07/585,887] was granted by the patent office on 1992-08-25 for needle protective sleeve.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Health Technology Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Barton C. McFarland.
United States Patent |
RE34,045 |
McFarland |
August 25, 1992 |
Needle protective sleeve
Abstract
A protective sleeve for a hypodermic needle completely overlies
the needle when in a needle protection position and also overlies a
needle support and at least part of a syringe to which the needle
support is attached. The protective sleeve is moved from the needle
protecting position to a needle injection position solely by axial
movement of the protective sleeve. The protective sleeve is
releasably retained in either of its positions through cooperating
retaining elements on the protective sleeve and the needle support
or the syringe.
Inventors: |
McFarland; Barton C. (Paris,
KY) |
Assignee: |
Health Technology Systems, Inc.
(Lexington, KY)
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Family
ID: |
26726248 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/585,887 |
Filed: |
September 20, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
048548 |
May 11, 1987 |
04772272 |
Sep 20, 1988 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/198;
604/263 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
5/3243 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
5/32 (20060101); A61M 005/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/187,192,195,198,263,232,197 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Yasko; John D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jones, Askew & Lunsford
Claims
I claim:
1. In combination:
a hollow needle having a pointed end;
means to support said needle;
means connected to said needle support means to supply a liquid to
said needle for injection into a human or an animal when said
pointed end of said needle is inserted in a human or an animal;
a protective sleeve for disposition over the entire length of said
needle when said protective sleeve is in a first position so that
said pointed end of said needle is within said protective
sleeve;
said protective sleeve being movable solely by axial movement of
said protective sleeve between its first position and a second
position in which said pointed end of said needle extends beyond
said protective sleeve and said protective sleeve overlies said
needle support means and at least a portion of said connected
means;
said protective sleeve and one of said needle support means and
said connected means having first cooperating means to releasably
retain said protective sleeve in its first position;
said protective sleeve and said one of said needle support means
and said connected means having second cooperating means to
releasably retain said protective sleeve in its second
position;
said protective sleeve in its second position exposing
substantially the entire length of said needle including said
pointed end;
said protective sleeve is a substantially hollow cylinder having an
inner surface and its opposite ends open;
said connected means including:
a barrel having a recess to receive liquid containing means
containing a liquid for injection;
and plunger means for forcing the liquid from the liquid containing
means in said recess into said needle for injection through said
pointed end of said needle;
said needle support means including a hub connected to said barrel
and having said needle attached thereto and extending therethrough
for penetration into the liquid containing means in said
recess;
and said protective sleeve extending over said hub and at least a
portion of said barrel in each of its first and second
positions.
2. The combination according to claim 1 in which:
said first cooperating means includes at least a portion of said
hub and first means in said inner surface of said substantially
hollow cylinder of said protective sleeve to grip said portion of
said hub to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its first
position;
and said second cooperating means includes said portion of said hub
and second means in said inner surface of said substantially hollow
cylinder of said protective sleeve to grip said portion of said hub
to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its second
position.
3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said hub is
releasably connected to said barrel.
4. The combination according to claim 2 in which said protective
sleeve has a substantially tight fit with said portion of said
barrel over which said protective sleeve extends in each of its
first and second postions.
5. The combination according to claim 1 in which:
said hub is releasably connected to said barrel;
and said hub is said one of said needle support means and said
connected means.
6. The combination according to claim 1 in which said protective
sleeve has a substantially tight fit with said portion of said
barrel over which said protective sleeve extends in each of its
first and second positions.
7. The combination according to claim 1 in which said inner surface
of said substantially hollow cylinder of said protective sleeve has
a constant diameter except at its end through which said needle
extends when said protective sleeve is in its second position and
at said first and second cooperating means of said protective
sleeve.
8. The combination according to claim 2 in which said inner surface
of said substantially hollow cylinder of said protective sleeve has
a constant diameter except at its end through which said needle
extends when said protective sleeve is in its second position and
at said first and second cooperating means of said protective
sleeve.
9. The combination according to claim 1 in which said protective
sleeve has a substantially tight fit with said hub in each of its
first and second positions.
10. In combination:
a hollow needle having a pointed end for insertion into a human or
an animal;
a hub having said needle attached thereto for support thereby and
extending therethrough so that said needle has its rear end
extending beyond said hub;
means releasably connected to said hub and having said rear end of
said needle extend thereinto to enable said needle to have liquid
flow therethrough when said pointed end of said needle is inserted
in a human or an animal;
a protective sleeve for disposition over the entire length of said
needle when said protective sleeve is in a first position so that
said pointed end of said needle is within said protective
sleeve;
said protective sleeve being movable solely by axial movement of
said protective sleeve between its first position and a second
position in which said pointed end of said needle extends beyond
said protective sleeve and said protective sleeve overlies said hub
and at least a portion of said releasably connected means;
said protective sleeve and said hub having first cooperating means
to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its first position
solely by axial movement of said protective sleeve to its first
position;
said protective sleeve and said hub having second cooperating means
to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its second position
solely by axial movement of said protective sleeve to its second
position;
said protective sleeve in its second position exposing
substantially the entire length of said needle including said
pointed end;
and said protective sleeve is a substantially hollow cylinder
having an inner surface and its opposite ends open.
11. The combination according to claim 10 in which:
said releasably connected means includes:
a barrel having a recess to receive liquid containing means
containing a liquid for injection;
and plunger means for forcing the liquid from the liquid containing
means in said recess into said needle for injection through said
pointed end of said needle;
said hub is releasably connected to said barrel;
said rear end of said needle penetrates into the liquid containing
means in said recess in said barrel;
and said protective sleeve extends over said hub and at least a
portion of said barrel in each of its first and second
positions.
12. The combination according to claim 11 in which:
said first cooperating means includes at least a portion of said
hub and first means in said inner surface of said substantially
hollow cylinder of said protective sleeve to grip said portion of
said hub to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its first
position;
and said second cooperating means includes said portion of said hub
and second means in said inner surface of said substantially hollow
cylinder of said protective sleeve to grip said portion of said hub
to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its second
position.
13. The combination according to claim 12 in which said protective
sleeve has a substantially tight fit with said portion of said
barrel over which said protective sleeve extends in each of its
first and second positions.
14. The combination according to claim 12 including:
cover means for said hub and said hollow needle when said
releasably connected means is not connected to said hub and said
protective sleeve is in its first position;
and said cover means including:
a first end cover overlying a portion of said substantially hollow
cylinder of said protective sleeve including one of said opposite
ends of said substantially hollow cylinder;
and a second end cover overlying the remainder of said
substantially hollow cylinder of said protective sleeve including
the other of said opposite ends of said substantially hollow
cylinder of said protective sleeve.
15. The combination according to claim 10 in which:
said first cooperating means includes at least a portion of said
hub and first means in said inner surface of said substantially
hollow cylinder of said protective sleeve to grip said portion of
said hub to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its first
position;
and said second cooperating means includes said portion of said hub
and second means in said inner surface of said substantially hollow
cylinder of said protective sleeve to grip said portion of said hub
to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its second
position.
16. The combination according to claim 15 including:
cover means for said hub and said hollow needle when said
releasably connected means is not connected to said hub and said
protective sleeve is in its first position;
and said cover means including:
a first end cover overlying a portion of said substantially hollow
cylinder of said protective sleeve including one of said opposite
ends of said substantially hollow cylinder;
and a second end cover overlying the remainder of said
substantially hollow cylinder of said protective sleeve including
the other of said opposite ends of said substantially hollow
cylinder of said protective sleeve.
17. The combination according to claim 10 in which said inner
surface of said substantially hollow cylinder of said protective
sleeve has a constant diameter except at its end through which said
needle extends when said protective sleeve is in its second
position and at said first and second cooperating means of said
protective sleeve.
18. The combination according to claim 12 in which said inner
surface of said substantially hollow cylinder of said protective
sleeve has a constant diameter except at its end through which said
needle extends when said protective sleeve is in its second
position and at said first and second cooperating means of said
protective sleeve.
19. The combination according to claim 15 in which said inner
surface of said substantially hollow cylinder of said protective
sleeve has a constant diameter except at its end through which said
needle extends when said protective sleeve is in its second
position and at said first and second cooperating means of said
protective sleeve.
20. The combination according to claim 1 in which said inner
surface of said substantially hollow cylinder of said protective
sleeve has said first and second cooperating means of said
protective sleeve on its portion having the constant diameter.
.Iadd.
21. In combination:
a hollow needle having a pointed end for insertion into a human or
an animal;
a hub having said needle attached thereto for support thereby and
extending therethrough;
including means for connecting said needle to a source of liquid to
enable said needle to have said liquid flow therethrough when said
pointed end of said needle is inserted in a human or an animal;
a protective sleeve for disposition over the entire length of said
needle when said protective sleeve is in a first position so that
said pointed end of said needle is within said protective
sleeve;
said protective sleeve being movable solely by axial movement of
said protective sleeve between its first position and a second
position in which said pointed end of said needle extends beyond
said protective sleeve and said protective sleeve overlies said hub
and at least a portion of said means for connecting said needle to
said source of liquid;
said protective sleeve and said hub having first cooperating means
to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its first position
solely by axial movement of said protective sleeve to its first
position;
said protective sleeve and said hub having second cooperating means
to releasably retain said protective sleeve in its second position
solely by axial movement of said protective sleeve to its second
position;
said protective sleeve in its second position exposing
substantially the entire length of said needle including said
pointed end;
and said protective sleeve is a substantially hollow cylinder
having an inner surface and its opposite ends open. .Iaddend.
Description
.Iadd.This application is a reissue of Ser. No. 048,548, filed May
11, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,272. .Iaddend.
This invention relates to a needle protective sleeve and, more
particularly, to a protective sleeve for a hypodermic needle or the
like in which the protective sleeve can move solely by axial
movement between its needle projection position and its needle
injection position.
A hollow needle such as a hypodermic needle or an intravenous
needle, for example, can easily transfer an infectious disease from
a patient to a medical person making an injection with the needle
if the medical person has any accidental contact with the needle so
that the needle breaks the skin of the medical person. With the
lack of knowledge of persons having infectious diseases such as
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis, some
patients are not aware that they have the disease and other
patients may not want to tell the medical person, particularly a
dentist, of the disease. Thus, a medical person, particularly a
dentist, working within the mouth of a patient can accidentally
engage the needle point and break the skin so as to possibly be
infected from the saliva of the patient, who has the infectious
disease.
Furthermore, some patients have a fear of a needle and do not wish
to see it. The protective sleeve of the present invention enables
the medical person to keep the needle from view of the patient
until just prior to injection. With a dentist, this would permit
the protective sleeve to be inserted in the patient's mouth before
the needle is exposed.
Protective sleeves for hypodermic needles have been previously
suggested. These include U.S. Pat. No. 3,040,743 to Naess, U.S.
Pat. No. 3,314,428 to Johnson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,089 to
Francis, U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,687 to Moyer, and U.S. Pat. No.
3,640,278 to Friedman, for example.
The aforesaid Moyer patent has a protective sheath for a relatively
long hypodermic needle used for injection into a cavity of a human
being. The protective sheath also functions as a guide because of
the relatively long length of the needle.
The end of the protective sheath is positioned adjacent the area of
the cavity into which the injection is to be made. With the end of
the protective sheath held against the area of the cavity of the
patient, the syringe and attached needle must be rotated 45.degree.
to permit axial movement of the needle so that its pointed end
extends beyond the end of the protective sheath and into the
patient. Thus, this requires the end of the protective sheath to be
held by a force against the patient so that this cannot be used in
many injections where such a force cannot be exerted such as in the
mouth of a patient, for example.
The protective sheath of the aforesaid Moyer patent does not extend
over the entire hub, which supports the needle, when the needle is
in its retracted or protected position. The protective sheath also
does not extend over any portion of the syringe when the needle is
in its injection position. Therefore, if the needle of the
aforesaid Moyer patent were shortened as would be necessary to
inject within a patient's mouth, for example, and the protective
sheath similarly shortened, the syringe would be exposed to the
patient's saliva when used for injection in the mouth of a patient,
for example.
The protective sleeve of the present invention satisfactorily
solves this problem through overlying the entire needle support
means and a portion of the syringe in both its needle protection
position and its needle injection position. Thus, the portion of
the syringe that possibly could enter the patient's mouth is
protected from saliva.
Additionally, the protective sleeve of the present invention is
mounted so that it is only necessary to axially move the protective
sleeve with respect to the syringe to move the protective sleeve
between its needle protection position and its needle injection
position. This is a much simpler motion than the combined rotary
and axial motion of the aforesaid Moyer patent and only requires
the user to pull rearwardly on the protective sleeve when the
needle is to be exposed for an injection.
Furthermore, the protective sleeve of the present invention is
positively but releasably retained in either of its positions. The
aforesaid Moyer patent merely relies upon engagement between a hub,
which supports a needle, and a shoulder of the protective sheath to
control the position of the needle rather than any retaining means
therebetween. In the aforesaid Moyer patent, the protective sheath
could fall from the syringe if the user were to hold the syringe
vertically with the needle pointed downwardly. The protective
sleeve of the present invention positively retains the protective
sleeve in either of its positions so that it cannot be accidentally
displaced. However, the protective sleeve can be easily released
from either position by a slight axial force on the rear end of the
protective sleeve.
The protective sleeve of the present invention also may be utilized
with a disposable syringe. With a disposable syringe, the
protective sleeve overlies the entire outer surface of the
disposable syringe to prevent any contamination thereof since such
syringes are not sterilized after use as are non-disposable
syringes. This prevents any other person from picking up a
disposable syringe and possibly being infected through a break in
the skin.
An object of this invention is to provide a protective sleeve for a
hypodermic needle or the like.
Another object of this invention is to provide a needle protective
sleeve for use with both disposable syringes and non-disposable
syringes.
A further object of this invention is to provide a protective
sleeve for a hollow needle injectable into a human or an animal for
supplying a liquid thereto.
Other objects of this invention will be readily perceived from the
following description, claims, and drawings.
This invention relates to the combination of a hollow needle having
a pointed end, means to support the needle, means connected to the
needle support means to supply a liquid to the needle for injection
into a human or an animal when the pointed end of the needle is
inserted in a human or an animal, and a protective sleeve for
disposition over the entire length of the needle when the
protective sleeve is in a first position so that the pointed end of
the needle is within the protective sleeve. The protective sleeve
is movable solely by axial movement of the protective sleeve
between its first position and a second position in which the
pointed end of the needle extends beyond the protective sleeve and
the protective sleeve overlies the needle support means and at
least a portion of the connected means. The protective sleeve and
one of the needle support means and the connected means have first
cooperating means to releasably retain the protective sleeve in its
first position. The protective sleeve and the one of the needle
support means and the connected means have second cooperating means
to releasably retain the protective sleeve in its second
position.
The attached drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the
invention, in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a non-disposable syringe and a
protective sleeve of the present invention to be utilized with the
syringe with the protective sleeve shown in section;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the syringe of FIG. 1 having the
needle of FIG. 1 attached thereto with the protective sleeve in its
needle protection position and the protective sleeve shown in
section;
FIG. 3 is an electrical view of the syringe and the protective
sleeve of FIG. 2 having a carpule in the syringe with the
protective sleeve disposed in its needle injection position and
shown in section;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a disposable syringe used with
another embodiment of the protective sleeve of the present
invention with the protective sleeve in its needle protection
position and shown in section;
FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the disposable syringe and the
protective sleeve of FIG. 4 with the protective sleeve in its
needle injection position and shown in section;
FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the disposable syringe and
protective sleeve of FIG. 4 as it is sold without a needle;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a needle support of the
disposable syringe; and
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a carpule
used with the syringe of FIGS. 1-3.
Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a
protective sleeve 10, which is preferably formed of a clear plastic
such as polycarbonate, for example, for protecting a hypodermic
needle 11, which is hollow. The needle 11 is supported within a hub
12 through which it extends.
The hub 12 has an interior threaded bore 14 to receive a threaded
cylindrical end 15 of a non-disposable syringe 16. Thus, the needle
11 is secured to the syringe 16 when the hub 12 is attached to the
cylindrical end 15 of the syringe 16. The cylindrical end 15 of the
syringe 16 has a bore 17 extending therethrough to enable the
needle 11 to have its rear end 18 extend into the interior of a
longitudinal recess or receptacle 19 in the syringe 16 when the hub
12 is connected to the cylindrical end 15 of the syringe 16.
The recess or receptacle 19 has a longitudinal opening 20 to enable
a carpule 21 (see FIG. 3) to be inserted into the recess 19. One
end of the carpule 21, which is a substantially cylindrical shaped
hollow element of clear plastic, is closed by a movable rubber plug
22 (see FIG. 8) and its other end has a reduced portion closed by a
rubber plug 23, which is supported by a metal cap 24 having an
opening 24', so that the rear end 18 (see FIG. 1) of the needle 11
extends through the opening 24' (see FIG. 8) in the metal cap 24
and the rubber plug 23 into the interior of the carpule 21 to
receive liquid when there is to be an injection.
The rubber plug 23 of the carpule 21 is pushed into the rear end 18
(see FIG. 1) of the needle 11 when a hook 25 (see FIG. 3) on one
end of a plunger 26 is advanced into engagement with the rubber
plug 22 (see FIG. 8) of the carpule 21. The plunger 26 (see FIG.
3), which is a rod having a handle 27 on its other end, is slidably
supported by an end 28 of the syringe 16. Withdrawal of the plunger
26 is limited by a flange 29 on the end of the plunger 26 having
the hook 25 engaging a spring 30 within the end 28 of the syringe
16.
The protective sleeve 10 (see FIG. 1) is a substantially hollow
cylinder having its inner surface 31 of a substantially constant
diameter throughout its length except for a first annular groove 32
and a second annular groove 33. The protective sleeve 10 has a
conical shaped end 34 adjacent the second annular groove 33 and
providing a relatively large passage 35 in comparison with the size
of the needle 11 through which the needle 11 can be advanced and
retracted. The relatively large passage 35 accommodates an end 35'
of the hub 12 when the protective sleeve 10 is in its needle
injection position as shown in FIG. 3.
When the protective sleeve 10 is in the position of FIG. 1, the
first annular groove 32 grips an outer surface 36 of the hub 12 so
that angled end surfaces 37 and 38 of the first annular groove 32
engage angled end surfaces 39 and 40 of the hub 12. This releasably
retains the protective sleeve 10 in the position of FIG. 1 in which
the needle 11 has its pointed end 41, which is to be inserted into
the patient, protected by the protective sleeve 10.
The protective sleeve 10 and the needle 11 can be sold as a unit in
a package having overlapping end covers 42 and 43 cooperating with
each other to encompass the protective sleeve 10 and the needle 11.
This package of the overlapping end covers 42 and 43 is shown in
FIG. 1.
When the needle 11 is to be attached to the syringe 16, the end
cover 43 is removed, and the cylindrical end 15 of the syringe 16
threaded into the bore 14 of the hub 12 as shown in FIG. 2. Next,
one of the carpules 21 (see FIG. 3) is inserted through the
longitudinal opening 20 (see FIG. 1) into the recess or receptacle
19 of the syringe 16. Then, the end cover 42 is removed from the
protective sleeve 10.
The needle 11 may now be positioned close to the area of the
patient in which the pointed end 41 of the needle 11 is to be
inserted. Then, the protective sleeve 10 is moved solely by an
axial pull on the rear of the protective sleeve 10 from the
position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3 in which the needle 11
fully extends beyond the conical shaped end 34 of the protective
sleeve 10. The protective sleeve 10 is moved through releasing the
hub 12 from the first annular groove 32 by pulling axially in a
rearward direction (to the right in FIG. 2) on the protective
sleeve 10. The angled end surface 37 of the first annular groove 32
in the inner surface 31 of the protective sleeve 10 easily slides
up the angled end surface 39 of the hub 12 as the protective sleeve
10 is moved to the right in FIG. 2. With the protective sleeve 10
being moved to the right, a flat surface 44 of the conical shaped
end 34 of the protective sleeve 10 abuts a flat surface 45 of the
hub 12. At this time, the hub 12 is disposed within the second
annular groove 33, as shown in FIG. 3, to releasably retain the hub
12 in its needle injection position.
Then, by the user pushing on the plunger 26 towards the end 28 of
the syringe 16 (to the left in FIG. 3) to advance the rubber plug
22 within the carpule 21, the liquid in the carpule 21 is passed
through the needle 11 to the patient in which the pointed end 41 of
the needle 11 has been inserted. When the injection of the liquid
is completed and the pointed end 41 of the needle 11 withdrawn from
the patient, the protective sleeve 10 is pushed by the user to the
left in FIG. 3 to return the protective sleeve 10 to the position
of FIG. 2. The second annular groove 33 in the inner surface 31 of
the protective sleeve 10 has an angled end surface 46 cooperating
with the angled end surface 40 of the hub 12 to enable the
protective sleeve 10 to be released from its releasable retention
by the hub 12.
Thus, the protective sleeve 10 overlies the hub 12 in either its
needle protection position or its needle injection position. The
protective sleeve 10 also overlies a portion of the syringe 16 in
its needle protection position as shown in FIG. 2 and a
substantially greater portion of the syringe 16 in its needle
injection position as shown in FIG. 3.
When the medical person is finished using the needle 11 for a
specific patient, the carpule 21 is withdrawn from engagement with
the rear end 18 (see FIG. 1) of the needle 11 by the hook 25 being
engaged with the rubber plug 22 (see FIG. 8) of the carpule 21. The
carpule 21 may be pushed from the recess 19 (see FIG. 1) through
the user pushing a finger through an opening 47 in the syringe 16
diametrically opposite to the longitudinal opening 20.
Then, it is necessary to disconnect the hub 12 from the cylindrical
end 15 of the syringe 16. First, the protective sleeve 10 should be
in its needle protection position of FIG. 2. If desired, the end
cover 42 (see FIG. 1) also can be placed thereover. After
disconnecting the hub 12 from the cylindrical end 15 of the syringe
16, the end cover 43 may be replaced over the end cover 42 to form
a complete package again for disposal purposes, if desired. The end
cover 43 prevents the user from engaging the rear end 18 of the
needle 11 although it cannot be contaminated.
Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a protective sleeve 50 for use
with a hollow needle 51 releasably attached to a disposable syringe
52. The disposable syringe 52 includes a hollow barrel 53, which is
formed of a clear plastic such as polycarbonate, for example,
storing a liquid to be injected into a patient through the needle
51.
A plunger 54, which has a rubber plug 54' at its end for sliding
sealing engagement with the hollow barrel 53, is slidably disposed
within the hollow barrel 53 to close the open end of the hollow
barrel 53 and retain the liquid therein. The plunger 54 extends
beyond an end flange 55 of the hollow barrel 53. The plunger 54 has
a flange 56 on its end to limit the maximum advancement of the
plunger 54 within the barrel 53 by the flange 56 engaging the end
flange 55 on the barrel 53.
The protective sleeve 50 is substantially a hollow cylinder having
its inner surface 57 on a substantially constant diameter
throughout its length. The protective sleeve 50 has a rear end 58,
which has serrations on its outer surface, with a larger outer
diameter than the hollow cylinder. The rear end 58 has an annular
projection 59 extending inwardly for cooperation with either an
annular groove 60 or an annular groove 61 in an outer surface 62 of
the hollow barrel 53.
When the annular projection 59 is disposed in the annular groove 60
as shown in FIG. 4, the protective sleeve 50 is in its needle
protection position. The needle 51 has its pointed end 63
substantially spaced from a reduced end 64 of the protective sleeve
50.
The needle 51 is attached to the disposable syringe 52 through a
rear flange 65 of a collar 66, which has the needle 51 fixed
therein, being positioned within a curved track 67 (see FIG. 7) in
an inner surface 68 of a reduced hollow cylindrical portion 69 at
one end of the hollow barrel 53 (see FIG. 4) of the disposable
syringe 52 and then rotated relative thereto. This locks the needle
51 to the hollow barrel 53 of the disposable syringe 52 for
support.
Since the needle 51 is purchased separately from the disposable
syringe 52, a protective needle cover 70 (shown in phantom) fits
over the needle 51. The cover 70 has a tight fit with the outer
surface of the collar 66 to which the needle 51 is fixed. The
protective sleeve 50 also has a cap 71 mounted on the reduced end
64 and retained thereon through an annular pointed projection 72 on
the cap 71 extending into an annular V-shaped groove 73 (see FIG.
5) in the reduced end 64 of the protective sleeve 50.
When the needle 51 is to have the pointed end 63 inserted into the
patient, the cap 71 (see FIG. 4) and the needle cover 70 are
removed. Then, the protective sleeve 50 is moved solely in an axial
direction with the annular projection 59 being pulled out of the
annular groove 60 so that the protective sleeve 50 is moved from
the position of FIG. 4 to the position of FIG. 5 in which the
needle 51 is completely exposed so that the protective sleeve 50 is
in its needle injection position. The protective sleeve 50 is
releasably retained in this position by the annular projection 59
being disposed in the annular groove 61 in the outer surface 62 of
the hollow barrel 53 of the disposable syringe 52.
When the protective sleeve 50 is in its needle protection position
of FIG. 4, it overlies a portion of the outer hollow barrel 53 of
the disposable syringe 52. When the protective sleeve 50 is in its
needle injection position of FIG. 5, the protective sleeve 50
completely overlies the hollow barrel 53 of the disposable syringe
52.
After use of the needle 51 is completed in which the rubber plug
54' of the plunger 54 is advanced towards the portion 69 of the
hollow barrel 52 to supply liquid therefrom, the protective sleeve
50 is moved axially from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of
FIG. 4 in which the needle 51 has the pointed end 63 within the
protective sleeve 50. Then, if desired, the cap 71 can be mounted
on the reduced end 64 of the protective sleeve 50 although such is
not necessary because of the pointed end 63 of the needle 51 being
spaced from the reduced end 64 of the protective sleeve 50. Then,
the disposable syringe 52 and the protective sleeve 50 are
discarded.
If desired, the protective sleeve 50 may have a pair of
diametrically disposed finger grips (shown in phantom at 74 in FIG.
4) formed integral therewith. Each of the grips 74 would extend for
about 10.degree. around the circumference of the protective sleeve
50.
While the protective sleeve of this invention has been shown and
described as being used with a hypodermic needle supported by a
syringe, the protective sleeve also could be used with a hollow
needle for intravenous injection, for example.
An advantage of this invention is that it prevents contamination of
a hypodermic needle or the like injected into a human or an animal.
Another advantage of this invention is that it enables a medical
person to prevent a patient from seeing the needle by not exposing
the needle until it is disposed adjacent the area of the patient in
which it is to be inserted. A further advantage of this invention
is that it provides sterile protection to the portion of the
syringe that would enter a patient's mouth and be contaminated
without the protective sleeve.
For purposes of exemplification, preferred embodiments of the
invention have been shown and described according to the best
present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that
changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of
the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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