Needle protector, needle assembly and fluid processing set including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11083841-B2
Application number	US-43064909-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2009
Priority date	Aug 9, 2002
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

Needle protector assemblies including needle assemblies and needle protectors for housing used blood collection needles are disclosed. The needle protectors are single-piece protectors that include an open distal end for receiving a needle hub (with a needle mounted thereon). A retaining member locks the needle hub when the needle hub is substantially retracted. A stop engages the needle hub in a fully retracted position such that a needle post is completely contained within an interior chamber of the needle protectors. A viewing slot in the needle protectors is provided.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A disposable biological fluid processing set comprising:
one or more containers;
a needle assembly comprising a piercing end and a hub having a distal end and a proximal end;
a plastic tubing communicating with the needle assembly and providing a flow path from the needle assembly to the one or more containers; and
a needle protector associated with the plastic tubing, the needle protector comprising:
a body including proximal and distal open ends;
the body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an interior chamber;
wherein the distal open end is sized and shaped to receive the hub;
wherein the proximal open end comprises an end wall defining a dual-profile window consisting of a first window portion and a second window portion adjacent to said first window portion, wherein said second window portion is defined at least, in part, by a rounded profile and is smaller than said first window portion and is sized and shaped to allow said plastic tubing to be press-fit into said smaller second window portion and wherein said dual-profile window is entirely surrounded by said end wall; and
a stop within said interior chamber and extending axially from an inner surface of said proximal end of said body toward said distal end of said body for contacting said proximal end of said hub and thereby preventing movement of said hub in a direction of said proximal end of said body.

2. The biological fluid processing set of claim 1 wherein the body of the needle protector comprises a wall including a flexible retaining member adapted for contacting the hub of the needle assembly, the flexible retaining member spaced from the distal end of said body such that when the hub is in a fully retracted position the piercing end is completely contained within the interior chamber.

3. The biological fluid processing set of claim 1 wherein the distal end of said body of the needle protector is outwardly flared.

4. The biological fluid processing set of claim 1 wherein the body of the needle protector defines a slot for viewing the interior chamber.

5. The biological fluid processing set of claim 1 wherein the needle protector comprises the body which is a unitary single piece of a plastic material that allows for viewing of the interior chamber.

6. The biological fluid processing set of claim 1 wherein the first window portion is sized to allow for free movement of the tubing therethrough.

7. A needle and needle protector assembly comprising:
a needle assembly including a piercing member terminating in a piercing distal tip and having a needle hub and a needle post wherein a portion of said needle post extends proximally beyond said needle hub, a plastic tubing attached to the needle post;
a needle protector for receiving said needle assembly in a retracted position, the needle protector comprising:
a body including proximal and distal ends, wherein said proximal and distal ends are open;
the body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining an interior chamber:
wherein the distal open end is sized and shaped to receive the needle hub;
wherein the proximal open end comprises an end wall, the end wall defining a window sized such that the needle hub cannot pass through the proximal open end, wherein said window is entirely surrounded by said end wall and consists of a first portion and a second portion, wherein said first and second portions are adjacent to each other and wherein the first portion is larger than the second portion;
a stop within the interior chamber adjacent to and extending from said end wall, wherein said stop is sized and positioned to contain said needle post portion that extends proximally from and beyond said needle hub within said interior chamber when said needle hub is in a fully retracted position; and
a flexible retaining member spaced from said stop and extending from the inner surface of the body, the retaining member adapted for contacting the needle hub and spaced from the distal end such that when the needle hub is in the fully retracted position the piercing distal tip is completely contained within the interior chamber.

8. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the interior chamber is defined by one or more curved internal body surfaces.

9. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , wherein said needle hub has concave finger-gripping surfaces.

10. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , wherein the stop comprises a rib extending from the inner surface of the body.

11. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , wherein the distal end of said body is flared.

12. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , wherein the distal end is ribbed.

13. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the body is flat.

14. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the body defines a slot.

15. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , comprising the body which is a unitary single piece.

16. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 15 , wherein the unitary single piece body is comprised of a plastic material that allows for viewing of the interior chamber.

17. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a needle cover completely enclosing the piercing distal tip.

18. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 17 , wherein the needle cover is frangibly attached to the needle hub.

19. The needle and needle protector assembly of claim 7 wherein said window is a dual-profile window consisting of the first portion having a profile sized and shaped to slidably receive the tubing and a the second portion having a profile sized and shaped to allow said plastic tubing to he press-fit into said second portion of said window and at least temporarily retain said tubing.

Assignees

• Mathias Jean Marie
• Lynn Daniel
• West Rich
• Mui Tat
• Jones Mark
• Fenwal Inc

Inventors

• Mathias Jean-Marie
• Lynn Daniel
• West Rich
• Mui Tat
• Jones Mark

Classifications

• A61M25/0631

  having means for fully covering the needle after its withdrawal, e.g. needle being withdrawn inside the handle or a cover being advanced over the needle · CPC title

• A61B5/150717

  manually removed · CPC title

• A61B5/150824

  by visual feedback · CPC title

• A61B5/150809

  by audible feedback · CPC title

• A61B50/3001

  for sharps · CPC title