GB2289223A

GB2289223A - Detachable needle device for a syringe

Info

Publication number: GB2289223A
Application number: GB9509489A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philippe Menasche; Eitenne Gaignebet
Original assignee: Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris APHP
Current assignee: Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Paris APHP
Priority date: 1994-05-11
Filing date: 1995-05-10
Publication date: 1995-11-15
Anticipated expiration: 2015-05-10
Also published as: GB2289223B; GB9509489D0; IT1279196B1; BE1009986A5; ES2088754A1; ES2088754B1; FR2719775A1; FR2719775B1; ITTO950366A1; ITTO950366A0

Abstract

A safety needle device to be attached to a syringe body (3), comprises a needle (10) having an injection channel, a cylindrical ring (11) and a cylindrical sleeve (2) integral with the ring, the needle being mounted on the ring, and the sleeve being displaceable in the direction of the needle around said ring between a retracted position, in which the needle may be used, and a locked extended position, in which the needle is protected, the length of the ring and the needle, is less or virtually equal to the length of the sleeve. Grooves 18, 19 in the ring engage with ribs 21 on the sleeve to guide the travel of the needle and allow the syringe to be locked in the extended position. The device allows the syringe body to be reused since it can be separated from the syringe containing the used needle. <IMAGE>

Description

SAFETY NEEDLE DEVICE FOR A SYRINGE AND SYRINGE COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE The invention relates to a safety needle device for a syringe and a syringe body adapted for attachment of such a device, the assembly comprising said device and said syringe body forming a syringe.

Some recent diseases such as AIDS or hepatitis which can be transmitted via the bloodstream oblige medical establishments to dispose of the hypodermic needles after their first use. The body of the syringe may be kept and only the needle replaced. During quick movements, the medical staff member giving the injection is exposed to the possibility of being pricked by the point of the needle.

To restrict the likelihood of such problems, the US patent No. 4 6 31 057 in the name of Dolores A. Smith discloses a syringe comprising a cylindrical sleeve integral to the syringe and displaceable around it between a retracted position, in which the needle is accessible, and an extended position, in which the needle is protected.

However, the disadvantage of this invention is that it does not allow the needle to be protected when it is being replaced.

The Patent WO 87/02254 in the name of Physionic Gesellschaft fur Medizin und SystemTechnik GmbH discloses similar syringes, in which the sleeve is integral to the body of the syringe, and has the same disadvantage. In some devices also disclosed in this patent and in French Patent No. 2 618 075 in the name of Assistance Publique, the needle is not replaceable, which poses the problem of cost, since the complete syringe must be disposed of after one use.

The British Patent No. 2 178 322 in the name of the National Research Development Corporation discloses a safety device comprising a needle on a casing and a sleeve integral to said casing and displaceable around this, said casing being pressed onto a syringe body to form a syringe.

Since the sleeve is longer than the needle for its protection but is shorter than the casing on which it is displaced, the syringe according to this invention is bulky and impractical because of its length.

One object of the invention is to provide a safety needle device for a syringe, which is disposable, of low expense and may be separated from the body of the reusable syringe, said device comprising the needle and a protective mechanism for this, while the size of the syringe comprising the syringe body and the device according to the invention is not appreciably greater than that of a conventional type of syringe.

Therefore, the invention relates to a safety needle device, for attachment to a syringe body to form a syringe, comprising a needle equipped with an injection channel, a cylindrical ring and a cylindrical sleeve, said cylindrical ring having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face, the two faces being orthogonal to the generating lines of said ring, the needle being mounted orthogonally on the first face of said ring, and the sleeve being displaceable in the direction of said needle and around said ring between a retracted position, in which the needle may be used, and an extended position, in which the needle is protected, said device being characterised in that the length of the needle of the assembly, comprising the ring and the needle mounted thereon, is less than or substantially equal to the length of the sleeve.

It is preferred if the sleeve is retained on the ring.

In a preferred embodiment: (a) the sleeve is in the form of a hollow cylinder and comprises a first end region and a second end region, said first end region having an abutment surface in a plane of section orthogonal to the direction of the generating lines of said hollow cylinder forming said sleeve, said abutment surface comprising an opening for passage of the needle, said second end region being open so that the syringe may be inserted into it and having an abutment in a peripheral area on the inside of the sleeve; (b) the ring slides in the hollow cylindrical sleeve between the retracted position, in which the first face of the ring abuts against the abutment surface, and the extended position, in which the second face of the ring abuts against the abutment.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second face of the cylindrical ring comprises a hollow cylindrical portion, the inner periphery of which is provided with a first connecting means, which cooperates with a second connecting means disposed in the first end region of the syringe body, said hollow portion being dimensioned so that a projecting portion of said first end region may be inserted therein, and connects to the injection channel of the needle.

According to an embodiment corresponding to a reversed arrangement, the second face of the cylindrical ring comprises a projecting cylindrical portion provided with a hollow area, the outer periphery of said projecting portion having a first connecting means, which cooperates with a second connecting means disposed in the first end region of the syringe body, said projecting portion being dimensioned so that it may be inserted into a hollow portion of said first end region and said hollow area connecting to the injection channel of the needle.

An advantageous feature of the invention is that the hollow cylindrical sleeve comprises at least one rib along one of its generating lines, and the cylindrical ring comprises at least one first groove along one of its generating lines, said rib complementing said first groove in which it slides so as to provide guidance for the sleeve between the retracted position and the extended position.

Another advantageous feature of the invention is that at least one rib of the sleeve comprises a first end in the first end region of the sleeve and a second end in the second end region of the sleeve, and the cylindrical ring comprises at least one second groove along one of its generating lines, said second groove being disposed along a portion of the length of said ring between the first face and a solid end in the direction of the second face, said rib complementing said second groove in which said rib slides until its second end abuts against the solid end of said second groove in order to lock the sleeve in the extended position.

The invention also relates to a syringe of the type comprising a syringe body, a syringe plunger and such a safety device for the syringe, in which the sleeve slides on the ring around the syringe body.

According to one embodiment, the body of the syringe comprises a projecting cylindrical portion provided with a hollow area, the external periphery of said projecting portion comprising a second connecting means, which cooperates with the first connecting means of the inner periphery of the hollow cylindrical portion of the cylindrical ring, said projecting portion being inserted in and connected to said hollow portion, said hollow area connecting on the one hand to the cavity of the syringe body and on the other hand to the injection channel of the needle.

According to an embodiment corresponding to a reversed arrangement, the body of the syringe comprises a hollow cylindrical portion, the inner periphery of which is provided with a second connecting means, which cooperates with the first connecting means of the outer periphery of the projecting cylindrical portion of the cylindrical ring, said projecting portion being inserted in and connected to said hollow portion which connects on the one hand to the cavity of the syringe body and on the other hand to the injection channel of the needle.

It is advantageous if the hollow cylindrical portion is provided with a hollow cylindrical tube section in its centre parallel to its generating lines, which is inserted with slight play in the hollow area of the projecting portion when the latter is connected to the hollow portion, so that said tube forms a channel for passage of the product from the cavity of the syringe body to the injection channel of the needle.

Other features and advantages will be seen from the following description of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

FIGURES 1A to 1D are different views of the ring and the needle mounted on said ring according to the invention; FIGURES 2A to 2E are different views of the syringe body and the plunger according to the invention; FIGURE 3A is a section along line A-A of the syringe, in which the sleeve is locked in the extended position; FIGURE 3B is a section along line B-B of the syringe, in which the sleeve is in the retracted position.

The safety needle device for a syringe and the syringe comprising such a device in accordance with the invention (such as that illustrated by way of example in FIGURES 1 to 3) is specifically designed for use in quick handling conditions in an area where there is risk of infection from diseases transmitted via the bloodstream.

In response to such objectives, the device 1 according to the invention comprises a ring 11 and a needle 10 shown in FIGURES 1A to 1D. In the remainder of the description, the needle is directed in a longitudinal direction. The given lengths are the distances in this direction. The generating lines of all the cylindrical parts are parallel to this direction, which is also a main axis A of the syringe.

The ring 11, which is generally made of plastic, is moulded onto the injection needle 10. It is cylindrical with a main axis A and comprises a first face 12 and a second face 13, which are orthogonal to axis A and face in opposite directions. The needle 10 extends orthogonally from the first face 12.

The second face comprises a cylindrical projecting portion 14 with a main axis A and with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the ring 11. Said projecting portion 14 has a cylindrical hollow area 15 with a main axis A which connects to the injection channel of the needle 10 via an orifice at the base of said hollow area in a plane parallel to the second face 13. The outer periphery 15 of said projecting portion 14 comprises a means 16 for connection to the syringe body 3.

In FIGURES 2A to 2E, the syringe body 3 and the plunger 4 are similar to those in conventional syringes.

The plunger 4 is identical. The syringe body 3 is cylindrical with a main axis A and has a first end region 32, a second end region 33 arranged opposite the first on the axis A and a cavity 31 defined by a cylinder between the said two end regions to receive the product to be injected.

The second end region 33 has an opening for insertion of the plunger 4 and operating lugs 37 disposed in a plane orthogonal to the axis A radially from the cylinder. The thumb of the practitioner's hand presses on the plunger and the index and middle finger of the same hand hold the syringe body 3 by applying pressure on these lugs 37 in the opposite direction to that of the thumb.

The first end region 32 differs from that of a conventional syringe body: it is adapted to the assembly of the ring 11. For this purpose, it comprises a hollow cylindrical region 34 with axis A with a diameter adapted for insertion of the projecting portion 14 of the ring 11 with slight play. On its inner periphery 35, said hollow portion 34 comprises a second connecting means 36, which cooperates with the first connecting means 16 disposed on the outer periphery 15 of the projecting portion 14 of the ring 11.

The first 16 and second connecting means 36 form an assembly by screw connection. In the embodiment of the syringe body 3 shown in FIGURE 2D, the second connecting means 36 is a thread arrangement of the internal periphery 35 of the hollow portion 34. In the embodiment of the ring 11 shown in FIGURES 1A to 1D, the first connecting means is formed by two thin tongues 16 disposed radially on a diameter in the opening plane of the hollow area 17 of the projecting portion 14 of the ring 11.

Many variations of these parts of the connecting means are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, such as engagement of complementary thread arrangements, pins or tongues in a threaded arrangement, bayonets in grooves of various shapes to form the locking positions. The reversal of parts, in particular the projecting portion 14 and the hollow portion 34, between the ring 11 and the syringe body 3 remains within the scope of the invention.

In order to eliminate the risks of leakage of the product to be injected, the hollow portion 34 of the syringe body advantageously comprises a cylindrical tube section 30 with main axis A to form a barrier. This tube 30 has a smaller diameter than that of the hollow portion 34 which contains it. It connects to the cavity 31 to form the outlet channel thereof. Its diameter is adapted for insertion with slight play, i.e. during pressing, into the hollow area 17 of the projecting portion 14 of the ring 11.

After connection by the means described above, one end of said tube 30 is arranged to face the orifice of the injection channel of the needle 10 at the base of said hollow area 17. The tube 30 forms a channel in the cavity 31 of the syringe body to the injection channel of the needle 10.

In FIGURES 3A and 3B, the safety needle device 1 for a syringe comprises a sleeve 2 composed of a hollow cylindrical body with a main axis A, its inside diameter adapted for sliding movement around the ring 11 and the syringe body 3 connected thereto between a position referred to as retracted and a position referred to as extended. The inside diameter of the cylindrical sleeve 2 is thus essentially the outside diameter of the ring 11 and is larger than the diameter of the syringe body 3. This cylindrical sleeve 2 comprises a first end region 28 and a second end region 29 opposed to one another on axis A.

Like the syringe body 3, the sleeve has an opening in a plane orthogonal to the axis A of the second end region 29 so that the syringe body 3 may be inserted into it for connection to the ring 11 which slides in said sleeve 2.

Two operating lugs 27 are disposed radially on the same diameter in a plane parallel to the opening plane.

The first end region 28 is partially closed off by an abutment surface 24 orthogonal to the axis A. This abutment surface 24 has an opening 26 for passage of the needle 10.

In the retracted position shown in FIGURE 3B, the needle 10 passes through the opening 26 and the first face 12 of the ring 11 abuts against the abutment surface 24 of the sleeve 2. In the extended position shown in FIGURE 3A, the sleeve 2 contains the ring 11 and the needle 10.

Therefore, the sleeve 2 is longer than the length of the assembly comprising the ring 11 and the needle 10.

The sleeve 2 is retained on the ring 11 via an abutment rib 25 disposed on the inner periphery thereof in a plane orthogonal to the axis A. In the extended position, the second face 13 of the ring 11 abuts against this rib 25.

The sleeve 2 also has two guide ribs 21 disposed longitudinally along the generating lines at opposite ends of a diameter of the sleeve 2. These ribs extend between a first end 22 in the first end region 28 of the sleeve 2, and specifically against the abutment surface 24, and a second end 23 in a second end region 29 of the sleeve, between the abutment surface 24 and the abutment rib 25.

In FIGURE 1A, the ring 11 has two first grooves 18 disposed longitudinally along the generating lines at opposite ends of diameter B-B of said ring 11. The rib 21 of the sleeve 2 complements said first groove 18 in which it slides and thus provides guidance for said sleeve 2 between the retracted position and the extended position.

The ring 11 also has two grooves 19 disposed longitudinally along the generating lines at opposite ends of a diameter A-A of said ring 11. These two grooves 19 are not disposed over the whole length of the ring 11, but on a restricted portion amounting to approximately a half thereof from the first face 12 of the ring 11 to a solid end of the groove in the direction of the second face 13.

The rib 21 of the sleeve 2 complements said second groove 19 in which it slides until the second end 23 of said rib 21 comes into abutment against the solid end of the groove 19. In this position of abutment of the rib 21, the sleeve 2 is locked in the extended position.

In order to improve the locking arrangement by means of a catch effect, the rib 21 is provided according to the invention with a widened zone which cooperates with a narrowed zone of the second groove 19 when the second end 23 of said rib 21 abuts against the solid end of said second groove 19. The same catch effect could be achieved by reversing the narrowed and widened zones on the rib 21 and the second groove 19.

The first groove 18 and the second groove 19 are arranged alternately on the periphery of the ring 11 and are formed from pairs of adjacent grooves, one pair comprising a first groove 18 and a second groove 19, the two pairs being identically spaced from one another. Each of these pairs of grooves is disposed along an arc A-B of the periphery of the ring 11 defined by axes A-A and B-B.

On this arc A-A, between the first 18 and the second groove 19, the length of the ring 11 is advantageously reduced, e.g. by a quarter. This proportion must be sufficiently less than the length of the second groove 19 so that said groove 19 does not merge with the cavity thus formed on arc A-B. The distance between the abutment rib 25 and the second end 23 of the guide rib 21 is less than the distance of the first face 12 from the second face 13 of the ring 11, but is greater than the length of the outer periphery of the ring on arc A-B, so that the rotation of the ring 11 when the sleeve is extended is restricted to an angular sector between a first position, in which each guide rib 21 is aligned to a first groove 18 of a pair, and a second position, in which said guide rib 21 is aligned to the second groove 19 of the same pair. This restricted rotation of the ring 11 in the sleeve 2 allows the syringe body 3 to be connected on the ring 11 because the rotation of the syringe body 3 will not carry along the ring 11 infinitely. The grooves 18, 19 of one pair are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the direction of rotation for connection pulls the ring 11 into first position in relation to the sleeve 2, in which the guide ribs 21 can slide in the first grooves 18 to retracted the sleeve 2 and use the needle 10, and so that the direction of rotation for disconnection pulls the ring 11 into the second position in relation to the sleeve 2, in which the guide ribs 21 can slide in the second grooves 19 to lock the sleeve 2 in the extended position and protect the needle 10.

Numerous modifications and improvements, e.g. to the cavities shown in the FIGURES, may be achieved without departing from the scope of the invention, which discloses a safety needle device for a syringe, which is disposable, of low expense and may be separated from the body of the reusable syringe, said device comprising the needle and a protective mechanism for this, while the size of the syringe comprising the syringe body and the device according to the invention is not appreciably greater than that of a conventional type of syringe.

Claims

1. Safety needle device for a syringe, comprising a needle equipped with an injection channel, a cylindrical ring and a cylindrical sleeve integral to said ring, said cylindrical ring having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face, the two faces being orthogonal to the generating lines of said ring, the needle being mounted orthogonally on the first face of said ring, and the sleeve being displaceable in the direction of said needle around said ring between a retracted position, in which the needle may be used, and an extended position, in which the needle is protected, wherein the length in the direction of the needle of the assembly, comprising the ring and the needle mounted thereon, is less than or virtually equal to the length of the sleeve, characterised in that (a) the hollow cylindrical sleeve comprises at least one rib along one of its generating lines, and the cylindrical ring comprises at least first groove along one of its generating lines, said rib complementing said first groove in which it slides so as to provide guidance for the sleeve b etween the retracted position and the extended position, and (b) the cylindrical ring comprises at least one second groove along one of its generating lines, said second groove being disposed along a portion of the length of said ring between the first face and a solid end in the direction of the second face, said rib complementing said second groove in which said rib slides until its second end abuts against the solid end of said second groove in order to lock the sleeve in the extended position.

2. Safety needle device for a syringe according to Claim 1, further characterised in that (a) the sleeve is in the form of a hollow cylinder and comprises a first end region and a second end region, said first end region having an abutment surface in a plane of section orthogonal to the direction of the generating lines of said hollow cylinder forming said sleeve, said abutment surface comprising an opening for passage of the needle, said second end region being open so that the syringe body may be inserted into it and having an abutment in a peripheral area on the inside of the sleeve; (b) the ring slides in the hollow cylindrical sleeve between the retracted position, in which the first face of the ring abuts against the abutment surface, and the extended position, in which the second face of the ring abuts against the abutment.

3. Safety needle device for a syringe according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second face of the cylindrical ring comprises a hollow cylindrical portion, the inner periphery of which is provided with a first connecting means, for cooperating with a second connecting means disposed in a first end region of a syringe body, said hollow portion being dimensioned so that a projecting portion of said first end region may be inserted therein to connect the injection channel of the needle.

4. Safety needle device for a syringe according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second face of the cylindrical ring comprises a projecting cylindrical portion provided with a hollow area, the outer periphery of said projecting portion having a first connecting means, for cooperating with a second connecting means disposed in a first end region of a syringe body, said projecting portion being dimensioned so that it may be inserted into a hollow portion of said first end region, and said hollow area connecting to the injection channel of the needle.

5. Safety needle device for a syringe according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that at least one of the first and the second connecting means comprises a threaded portion, the other means cooperating with this threaded portion to form the connection.

6. Safety needle device for a syringe according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that at least one of the first and the second connecting means comprises at least one bayonet, the other means cooperating with this at least one bayonet to form the connection.

7. Safety needle device for a syringe according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that at least one rib of the sleeve comprises a first end in the first end region of the sleeve and a second end in the second end region of the sleeve.

8. Safety needle device for a syringe according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that at least one rib, the second end of which comes into abutment against the solid end of a second groove, comprises a respective widened or narrowed area close to said second end and engaging in the manner of a catch into a respective narrowed or widened area of said second groove disposed close to its solid end.

9. Safety needle device for a syringe according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that in the second end region, the hollow cylindrical sleeve has at least one operating lug diverging in a radial direction from the external surface of said sleeve.

10. A syringe of the type comprising a syringe body, a syringe plunger and a safety device for a syringe according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the sleeve slides on the ring and extends around the syringe body.

11. A syringe according to Claim 10, characterised in that the body of the syringe comprises a projecting cylindrical portion provided with a hollow area, the external periphery of said projecting portion comprising a second connecting means, which cooperates with the first connecting means of the inner periphery of the hollow cylindrical portion of the cylindrical ring, said projecting portion being inserted in and connected to said hollow portion, said hollow area connecting on the one hand to the cavity of the syringe body and on the other hand to the injection channel of the needle.

12. A syringe according to Claim 11, characterised in that the body of the syringe comprises a hollow cylindrical portion, the inner periphery of which is provided with a second connecting means, which cooperates with the first connecting means of the outer periphery of the projecting cylindrical portion of the cylindrical ring, said projecting portion being inserted in and connected to said hollow portion which connects on the one hand to the cavity of the syringe body and on the other hand to the injection channel of the needle.

13. A syringe according to any one of Claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the hollow cylindrical portion is provided with a hollow cylindrical tube section in its centre parallel to its generating lines, which is inserted with slight play in the hollow area of the projecting portion when the latter is connected to the hollow portion, so that said tube forms a channel for passage of the project from the cavity of the syringe body to the injection channel of the needle.

14. A syringe according to any one of Claims 10 to 13, characterised in that (a) the ring comprises as many first grooves as second grooves, said first grooves and second grooves being arranged alternately on the periphery of the ring, an adjacent first groove and second groove forming a pair of grooves; (b) the length of the ring between the first and second groove of one pair over a radial distance greater than or equal to the thickness of the rib of the sleeve is less than or equal to the distance between the abutment rib and the second end of the guide rib, so that said rib is always aligned between the two grooves; (c) disconnection of the device and the body of the syringe is achieved by rotating one in relation to the other; (d) the first groove and the second groove of one pair are arranged so that when the sleeve is in the extended position, the rotation for disconnection of the device and the syringe body causes the second end of the guide rib to shift towards a position aligned to the second groove for locking the protective mechanism, and the rotation for connection of the device and the syringe body causes the second end of the guide rib to shift towards a position aligned to the first groove for unlocking the protective mechanism.

15. Safety needle device, for a syringe, comprising a needle equipped with an injection channel, a cylindrical ring and a cylindrical sleeve slidable on said ring, said cylindrical ring having a first face and a second face oppositely directed to the first face, the two faces being orthogonal to the generating lines of said ring, the needle being mounted orthogonally to project from the first face of said ring, and the sleeve being displaceable in the longitudinal direction of said needle around said ring between a retracted position, in which the needle may be used, and an extended position, in which the needle is protected, the length of the assembly comprising the ring and the needle mounted thereon, is less or virtually equal to the length of the sleeve.

16. A hypodermic syringe or safety needle device substantially as hereinbefore referred to with reference to FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 3 or FIGURES 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A hypodermic syringe or safety needle device comprising any novel part or combination of parts disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings, or any novel functional arrangement of any such parts.