JP2023105260A - Needle assembly and needle device equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a needle assembly which can reduce the size of a protector.SOLUTION: A needle assembly includes a needle having a needle tip, a needle hub, and a protector. The protector is provided on the needle hub in a manner to be relatively displaced between a non-protection position where the needle is exposed and a protection position where the needle is covered to protect the needle tip, and has: a protector body where an opening is formed to be long in accordance with the needle and which covers the needle tip by inserting the needle from the opening by relatively displacing the protector from the non-protection position to the protection position; and a nail-like part which is provided on the protector body, is bent by the needle in relatively displacing the protector from the non-protection position to the protection position to allow the needle to advance to the inside of the protector body, and elastically returns to lock the needle when the needle enters the inside of the protector body for preventing the needle from being separated from the inside of the protector body. The nail-like part protrudes obliquely from the protector body and extends in a width direction of the opening to cross the opening and in a longitudinal direction of the opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a needle assembly configured to protect a needle tip after use, and a needle device including the same.

BACKGROUND ART Needle assemblies are used for infusion and blood collection, and as an example of needle assemblies, a safety needle assembly as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, is known. In the safety needle assembly of Patent Document 1, a collar is attached to a hub to which a cannula is fixed, and a sheath is rotatably attached to the collar. The sheath can be rotated toward the cannula, and by rotating, the cannula enters the groove in the sheath to protect the needle tip of the cannula. Further, the sheath is provided with a locking projection so as to block a part of the groove, and the cannula is adapted to be inserted into the groove by bending the locking projection. On the other hand, the locking projection is adapted to lock the cannula once it enters the groove and prevent the cannula from returning outwardly from the groove.

WO2016/002389

In the safety needle assembly of Patent Document 1, as described above, it is necessary to bend the locking projection when inserting the cannula into the groove. The locking projection utilizes the principle of leverage when bending. That is, the easiness of bending is adjusted by adjusting the distance from the fulcrum of the locking projection (base end of the locking projection) to the force point (contact position between the locking projection and the cannula). Therefore, a certain amount of distance is required between the fulcrum and the point of force in order to facilitate bending. In this case, the locking projection becomes long, and the width of the groove needs to be widened. As a result, the outer dimensions of the sheath are increased. This large sheath profile adds bulk to the safety needle assembly during disposal. Therefore, in the needle assembly, it is required to reduce the external dimensions of the protector corresponding to the sheath.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a needle assembly and a needle device including the needle assembly, which can reduce the size of the protector.

The needle assembly of the present invention comprises a long needle having a sharp tip, a needle hub provided at the proximal end of the needle, and an unprotected needle exposing the needle. a protector provided on the needle hub so as to be relatively displaceable between a position and a protective position covering the needle and protecting the needle tip, wherein the protector is elongated to fit the needle. a protector body for covering the needle tip by inserting the needle through the opening by relatively displacing the protector from the unprotected position to the protected position; and to the protective position, the needle is bent by the needle to allow the needle to advance into the protector body, and when the needle enters the protector body, the needle is elastically restored to engage the needle. a pawl-shaped portion provided on the protector main body so as to stop and prevent the needle from being removed from the protector main body, the pawl-shaped portion crossing the opening and extending toward the opening; It projects obliquely from the protector body so as to extend in the width direction and in the longitudinal direction of the opening.

According to the present invention, the part where the needle hits the pawl can be shifted in one or the other longitudinal direction. As a result, compared to a claw-shaped portion that does not extend in the longitudinal direction, the distance from the starting point of bending (for example, the proximal end of the claw-shaped portion) to the contact point between the claw-shaped portion and the needle can be reduced. This can be ensured without increasing the length of the shaped portion in the width direction. Therefore, the width of the opening can be narrowed, and the size of the protector body can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the size of the protector can be reduced.

1 is a side front view of the needle device of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a needle assembly provided in the needle device of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the needle assembly of FIG. 2 taken along cutting line III-III; FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the needle assembly of FIG. 2 taken along cutting line IV-IV; Fig. 2 shows the needle device of Fig. 1 in use when the needle device is in use; Fig. 2 shows the needle device of Fig. 1 in the middle of moving the needle tip to the protective position; Figure 2 shows the needle device of Figure 1 in a protected state in which the needle tip is protected;

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the needle assembly 1 of embodiment which concerns on this invention, and the needle device 2 provided with the same are demonstrated with reference to drawings. Hereinafter, the distal side of the needle assembly 1 and the needle device 2 will be referred to as the distal side with respect to the user (that is, the operator) using the needle device 2, and the proximal side of the needle assembly 1 and the needle device 2 will be referred to as the proximal side. called the proximal side. It should be noted that the concept of direction used in the following description is used for convenience of explanation, and does not limit the orientation of the configuration of the invention to that direction. Moreover, the needle assembly 1 and the needle device 2 described below are merely one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and additions, deletions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[Needle device]
The needle device 2 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is mainly used when administering an infusion solution (for example, a drug solution and a nutrient) to a patient or collecting blood or the like from the patient. The needle device 2 is formed along a predetermined axis L1 and extends in a needle axial direction along the axis L1. The needle device 2 is a so-called needle assembly with a syringe, and includes a syringe 3 and a needle assembly 1 as shown in FIG.

A syringe 3 , which is an example of a liquid transfer device, is a device for storing an infusion solution, blood, etc., and has a cylinder 11 and a plunger 12 . The cylinder 11 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and extends in the direction of the needle axis. The cylinder 11 has an entry/exit portion 13 (see FIG. 3) on its distal side, the entry/exit portion 13 having a smaller diameter than the rest of the cylinder 11 . In addition, the entrance/exit portion 13 is formed in a substantially truncated cone shape, and its outer peripheral portion is formed in a tapered shape that tapers toward the distal side. The inlet/outlet part 13 configured in this way has an opening on the distal side, and the inside of the syringe 3 is connected to the outside through this opening. Also, the infusion solution in the cylinder 11 can be poured out through the opening, and blood or the like can be injected into the cylinder 11 through the opening. The cylinder 11 also has an opening on its proximal side, and a plunger 12 is inserted into the cylinder 11 through this opening. The plunger 12 has a gasket (not shown) on the outer peripheral surface of its distal portion, and this gasket is fitted to the cylinder 11 so as to be slidable in the needle axial direction. The plunger 12 has its proximal end protruding from the cylinder 11 so that the user can push and pull by grasping the proximal end.

In the syringe 3 configured in this manner, the infusion solution in the cylinder 11 can be delivered from the opening of the inlet/outlet portion 13 by pushing the plunger 12 to the distal side, and the infusion solution can be delivered from the inlet/outlet portion 13 by pulling the plunger 12 . Blood or the like can be drawn into 11 . Furthermore, the syringe 3 is configured so that the needle assembly 1 can be attached, and the infusion solution pushed out from the inlet/outlet part 13 through the needle assembly 1 can be administered into the patient's blood vessel, or through the needle assembly 1. It is designed to collect the patient's blood. Below, the configuration of the syringe 3 will be described in detail in order to attach the needle assembly 1 to the syringe 3 .

The cylinder 11 of the syringe 3 has an attachment portion 14 around the entry/exit portion 13 on its proximal side. The mounting portion 14 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is formed in a tapered portion 11a between the entrance/exit portion 13 of the cylinder 11 and the remaining portion. The mounting portion 14 surrounds the proximal portion of the entrance/exit portion 13 from the radially outer side to the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, and is spaced apart from the entrance/exit portion 13 . The entrance/exit portion 13 is formed longer than the attachment portion 14 , and its distal end protrudes distally from the attachment portion 14 . Further, a female thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting portion 14, and the needle assembly 1 is screwed thereon.

<Needle assembly>
The needle assembly 1 includes a needle 21 and a protector 22, and is used to pierce the patient's skin, blood vessel, or the like with the needle 21 to administer an infusion or collect blood or the like through the needle 21. used for In addition, the needle assembly 1 protects the needle 21 by covering the needle 21 with the protector 22 after use, so that the user, patient, waste disposal person, etc. may be stuck or touched by the needle to which blood or the like adheres. can be suppressed. The needle assembly 1 having such functions includes the needle 21 and the protector 22 as well as the needle hub 23 as described above.

[Needle hub and needle]
The needle hub 23 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a generally cylindrical member made of synthetic resin. The needle hub 23 has a large diameter portion 25 on the proximal side and a small diameter portion 26 on the proximal side. The large-diameter portion 25 is formed to have a larger diameter than the small-diameter portion 26 so that the entry/exit portion 13 of the cylinder 11 can be fitted therein. The large-diameter portion 25 is configured to be insertable into the mounting portion 14, and a pair of projecting pieces 25a, 25a are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 25 at its proximal end. The protruding pieces 25a are arranged on the outer peripheral surface at regular intervals (that is, at intervals of about 180 degrees) in the circumferential direction, and protrude radially outward. This projecting piece 25a can be screwed into a female thread on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting portion 14 in a state where the entrance/exit portion 13 is inserted into the large diameter portion 25. 25 is attached to the distal end of syringe 3 . A small-diameter portion 26 is integrally provided at a distal portion of the large-diameter portion 25 .

The small-diameter portion 26 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and four ribs 26a are integrally formed on its outer peripheral surface. The four ribs 26a are plate-shaped portions that protrude in the radial direction and extend in the direction of the needle axis, and are arranged at equal intervals (that is, intervals of about 90 degrees) in the circumferential direction. The small-diameter portion 26 has an inner hole 23b that communicates with the inside of the large-diameter portion 25, and the needle 21 is fitted and fixed in the inner hole 23b.

The needle 21 is a substantially cylindrical hollow needle made of, for example, a metal material or hard synthetic resin, and extends straight from the needle hub 23 along the axis L1. The needle 21 has its distal portion inserted into the needle hub 23 and fixed to the needle hub 23 with an adhesive or the like, and the remaining portion protrudes from the needle hub 23 in one axial direction of the needle. Further, the needle 21 has a sharp needle tip 21a at its proximal end, and the needle tip 21a is sharp enough to puncture the patient's skin and blood vessels. Further, the needle hub 23 is provided with a protector 22 to protect the needle tip 21a after being punctured and pulled out, that is, after use.

[Protector]
The protector 22 is configured to be relatively displaceable with respect to the needle 21, and is relatively displaced toward the needle 21 to cover the needle 21 with the protector 22 so that the tip 21a of the needle 21 is protected. It's becoming The protector 22 having such functions has a protector main body 31, a pair of guide ribs 33L and 33R, and claw-like portions 34. As shown in FIG. The protector main body 31 is a member longer than the needle 21, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal direction, as shown in FIG. That is, the protector main body 31 has a pair of side walls 31l and 31r, a back surface portion 31c, and a ceiling portion 31d. The pair of side walls 31l and 31r are formed longer than the needle 21, and are arranged so as to face each other on both sides in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Further, between the pair of side walls 31l and 31r, a rear portion 31c is provided so as to block one side in the depth direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the width direction, that is, the back side, and the entire one side in the longitudinal direction is A ceiling portion 31d is provided so as to block it.

The protector main body 31 configured in this way is open on the other side in the depth direction, i.e., in the two directions of the front side and the other side in the longitudinal direction. The opening 31 e is formed to match the shape of the needle 21 and the needle hub 23 . It should be noted that the opening 31 e does not have to match the shape of the needle 21 and the needle hub 23 perfectly, and the width of the opening 31 e may be larger than the diameter of the needle 21 and the needle hub 23 . Also, the opening on the other longitudinal side is formed so that the needle hub 23 can be placed therein. That is, the protector main body 31 can insert the needle 21 and the needle hub 23 into the protector main body 31 from the opening 31e by relatively displacing the protector 22, and when inserted into the protector main body 31, the needle 21 and the needle hub 23 are located on the other side in the longitudinal direction. A needle hub 23 is arranged in the opening. A hinge portion 24 is bridged between the protector main body 31 and the needle hub 23 so that the protector 22 can be relatively displaced with respect to the needle 21 .

Hinge portion 24 is formed in a plate shape and is provided integrally with large diameter portion 25 of needle hub 23 so as to protrude radially outward. Further, the tip of the hinge portion 24 is provided at the other longitudinal end portion of the back portion 31c. Thus, the hinge portion 24 is provided so as to span the large diameter portion 25 of the needle hub 23 and the protector main body 31 . Further, the hinge portion 24 can be folded back at its intermediate portion 24a and can be opened up to a predetermined angle α (for example, 120 degrees or more). As a result, the protector body 31 can be rotated about the rotation axis L2 extending in the width direction of the protector body 31 around the vicinity of the intermediate portion 24a. By being rotatable in this way, the protector main body 31 (that is, the protector 22) is relatively displaced toward the needle 21 from the use position (see FIG. 5) where the hinge portion 24 is open, and the hinge It is possible to reach up to the protected position (see FIG. 7) in which the part 24 is closed. The use position, which is an example of the non-protection position, is the position where the protector body 31 is arranged to expose the needle tip 21a during the puncture operation. is directed to the other side in the needle axial direction, and the protector body 31 is kept away from the needle 21 . The protection position is a position where the protector body 31 is arranged to protect the needle tip 21a after the puncture operation. Therefore, the protector body 31 exposes the needle tip 21a during the puncturing operation, and covers the needle 21 to protect the needle tip 21a after the puncturing operation is completed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the protector main body 31 configured in this way is configured so that not only the needle tip 21a but also the needle hub 23 can be accommodated therein. That is, the protector main body 31 is formed so as to match the shapes of the needle 21 and the needle hub 23 as described above, and the portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction (that is, the needle tip accommodating portion 31f) is closer to the other side in the longitudinal direction than the portion on the one side in the longitudinal direction. (that is, the hub accommodating portion 31g) is formed wider. Needle tip housing portion 31f and hub housing portion 3
1g, a guide portion 31h is formed, and the width of the guide portion 31h narrows in one longitudinal direction. Guide ribs 33L and 33R are provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of side walls 31l and 31r of the guide portion 31h thus formed.

The pair of guide ribs 33L, 33R are provided on the pair of side walls 31l, 31r, respectively, and are provided so as to protrude radially inward from the respective side walls 31l, 31r. The pair of guide ribs 33L and 33R extend obliquely in one direction in the depth direction and one direction in the longitudinal direction with a certain distance x in the width direction from each other, and an insertion groove 35 is formed therebetween. there is The insertion groove 35 obliquely extends in one of the depth directions and one of the axial directions, and extends along the center line of the protector body 31 when viewed from the front. The needle tip housing portion 31f also extends along this center line, and the insertion groove 35 and the inside of the needle tip housing portion 31f are directly connected. As a result, when the protector body 31 is rotated to the protection position, the needle 21 is housed in the insertion groove 35 and the needle tip housing portion 31f. Further, the pair of guide ribs 33L, 33R form guide surfaces 33l, 33r on the other side in the depth direction, that is, on the front side. The guide surfaces 33l and 33r are formed in a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the front, and the edges on the other side in the longitudinal direction are inclined toward the one side in the longitudinal direction as they move inward in the width direction. As a result, the space between the other end portions in the longitudinal direction of the pair of guide ribs 33L, 33R can be widened, and the distal end portion of the needle hub 23 can be accommodated therebetween. Therefore, the length of the protector body 31 can be made shorter than that of the prior art. In addition, the guide surfaces 33l and 33r are inclined toward one side in the depth direction, that is, toward the depth side as they advance inward in the width direction. Therefore, the needle 21 is guided toward the insertion groove 35 by pressing the needle 21 against the guide surfaces 33l and 33r. One of the pair of guide ribs 33L and 33R configured in this manner, one guide rib 33R in the present embodiment, is provided with a claw-like portion 34. As shown in FIG.

The claw-shaped portion 34 is a strip-shaped plate and is provided integrally with one of the guide ribs 33R. More specifically, the claw-shaped portion 34 protrudes from one guide rib 33R toward the other guide rib 33L (that is, toward the inside in the width direction) so as to extend the guide surface 33r of the one guide rib 33R. there is Thereby, the claw-shaped portion 34 is arranged so as to cross the insertion groove 35 in the width direction when viewed from the front. Therefore, the claw-shaped portion 34 is arranged on the trajectory of the needle 21 when the needle 21 is accommodated by relatively rotating the protector body 31 , and the needle 21 contacts the claw-shaped portion 34 . In addition, the claw-shaped portion 34 is like a cantilever with its tip as a free end. It is designed to flex to As a result, the insertion groove 35 closed by the claw-shaped portion 34 is opened, and the needle 21 can be inserted into the insertion groove 35 . That is, the needle 21 is permitted to advance to the protective position within the protector body 31 .

Further, the claw-shaped portion 34 is inclined so as to extend inward as it advances inward in the width direction. As a result, compared to the case where the claw-shaped portion 34 is not inclined toward the rear side, the amount by which the claw-shaped portion 34 is bent toward the rear side can be reduced, and the needle 21 is inserted into the insertion groove 35 by the surface 34a on the front side of the claw-shaped portion 34. can guide you to Further, the claw-shaped portion 34 is inclined so as to extend to one side in the longitudinal direction as it advances inward in the width direction. As a result, the contact point where the claw-shaped portion 34 contacts the needle 21 can be shifted to one side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the proximal end of the claw-shaped portion 34 . As a result, compared to the case where the claw-shaped portion 34 does not extend in the longitudinal direction, the straight line distance L connecting the base end of the claw-shaped portion 34 and the abutting portion is set to It can be secured without increasing the length. This is because the force required to bend the claw-shaped portion 34 is basically determined according to the distance between the fulcrum (base end of the claw-shaped portion 34) and the force point (contact point), that is, the linear distance L. . By shifting to one side in the longitudinal direction, the same linear distance L can be ensured even if the length of the claw-shaped portion 34 in the width direction is reduced accordingly. As a result, the portion of the opening 31e into which the needle 21 is inserted and the width of the insertion groove 35 can be narrowed, and the size of the protector body 31 can be reduced. If the length of the claw-shaped portion 34 in the width direction is not changed, the load when bending the claw-shaped portion 34 can be reduced, and the operability of putting the protector body 31 over the needle 21 is improved. do. Therefore, it becomes easier to move the protector main body to the protecting position.

In addition, the claw-shaped portion 34 is inclined so as to extend to one side in the longitudinal direction as it advances inward in the width direction, thereby providing the following functions. That is, the needle 21 also has flexibility, and is bent forward when pressed against the claw-shaped portion 34 . The amount of bending of the needle 21 changes according to the load acting thereon and the position where the load is applied. On the other hand, by placing the abutment point on the proximal side of the needle 21, the load absorbed by bending becomes smaller, and the load is transmitted to the claw-shaped portion 34 more efficiently than when the abutting point is on the distal side. be able to. Therefore, even if the pressing load acting on the needle 21 is the same, by making the contact point on the proximal side of the needle 21, the claw-shaped portion 34 is bent more than when it is on the distal side. be able to. That is, by making the contact point on the proximal side of the needle 21, the claw-like portion 34 can be deflected with a smaller pressing load than when it is on the distal side.

In the needle assembly 1, when the claw-shaped portion 34 is pushed open, the claw-shaped portion 34 first comes into contact with the needle 21 on the base end side, and as the needle 21 is pushed in, the abutting portion shifts to the distal side. . Therefore, the most load is required to deflect immediately after contact. In the needle 21 as well, the claw-shaped portion 34 is first brought into contact with the proximal side of the needle 21, and by pushing the needle 21 in, the contact portion moves to the distal side. A load can be efficiently transmitted from the needle 21 to the claw-shaped portion 34 immediately after the contact. That is, since the claw-shaped portion 34 is inclined so as to extend to one side in the longitudinal direction as it progresses inward in the width direction, the contact point immediately after contact can be shifted to the proximal side of the needle 21, A load can be efficiently transmitted from the needle 21 to the claw-shaped portion 34 immediately after the contact. As a result, the claw-shaped portion 34 can be bent and pushed open with a smaller force.

Moreover, the claw-shaped portion 34 is formed in a plate shape and has an elastic restoring force. That is, the claw-shaped portion 34 returns to its original position (that is, the initial position) when the needle 21 enters the back side of the claw-shaped portion 34 after being pushed open (that is, the protector main body 31 moves to the protection position). It returns and is arranged so as to cross the insertion groove 35 again. As a result, the needle 21 in the insertion groove 35 is locked by the pawl-shaped portion 34, and is prevented from being removed from the opening 31e of the protector body 31. As shown in FIG. In this manner, the needle 21 is covered with the protector body 31 and held in the protector body 31 in a state in which the needle tip 21a is protected. The protector main body 31 also covers the needle 21 with a rear surface portion 31c that covers the needle 21 from the rear side, and the rear surface portion 31c is formed with a non-slip portion 36 as shown in FIG.

The non-slip portion 36 is formed on the rear surface 31i on the outer side of the rear surface portion 31c of the protector body 31, so that the user's thumb and forefinger can be placed thereon. More specifically, the non-slip portion 36 is formed on the rear surface 31i, the hub housing portion 31g and the guide portion 31h. The anti-slip portion 36 has a plurality of ridge portions 36a, and has six ridge portions 36a in this embodiment. Note that the number of ridge portions 36a is not limited to six, and may be five or less, or may be seven or more. The six ridge portions 36a protrude in the depth direction from the rear surface, extend in the width direction, and are arranged at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction. The non-slip portion 36 configured in this manner is caught by the plurality of protrusions 36 a when the user's thumb or forefinger or the like is placed thereon, and the user's thumb or forefinger or the like is placed against the protector body 31 . so that it does not move. As a result, the user's thumb or forefinger can be placed on the non-slip portion 36 of the protector main body 31 and the protector main body 31 can be pushed toward the needle 21 by the placed finger. As described above, the rear surface 31i has a portion on which the non-slip portion 36 is formed on the other longitudinal side and a portion on which the non-slip portion 36 is not formed on one longitudinal side. Various objects (stands, trays, etc.) are pressed against this portion on one side in the longitudinal direction. In the protector main body 31, one side of the back surface 31i in the longitudinal direction, specifically, the entire needle tip accommodating portion 31f of the back surface 31i is formed smoothly. Therefore, since the area that can be pressed against an object can be made wider than that of the prior art, various objects can be easily pressed against that portion. Therefore, the operability of covering the needle 21 with the protector body 31 can be improved, and the protector body 31 can be easily moved to the protection position. In addition, since the whole portion of the needle tip accommodating portion 31f of the back surface 31i is formed smoothly, a wide range of portions against which various objects are pressed is ensured, making it easy to press against them. Furthermore, the portion on one side in the longitudinal direction of the back surface portion 31c is chamfered, curved and connected to the ceiling portion 31d. can. In the protector main body 31 configured in this way, the back surface portion 31c is formed substantially flat, and the thickness in the depth direction can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the protector 22 from interfering with the puncturing operation during puncturing.

Further, flared portions 31m and 31n, which are ends on the other longitudinal side of the pair of side walls 31l and 31r, are inclined away from each other toward the other longitudinal side as shown in FIG. It's becoming Engagement holes 31j and 31k are formed in the flared portions 31m and 31n, respectively. are doing. Further, a pair of engaging pieces 25b and 25c are formed in the large diameter portion 25 of the needle hub 23 so as to correspond to the pair of engaging holes 31j and 31k. More specifically, the pair of engaging pieces 25b and 25c are provided in the large diameter portion 25 at the same position as the hinge portion 24 in the needle axis direction, and the other protrudes from the large-diameter portion 25 . The pair of engaging pieces 25b, 25c arranged in this manner are adapted to abut against the flared portions 31m, 31n when the protector body 31 is rotated. Rotation is restricted by 31m and 31n (see FIG. 6). On the other hand, the pair of flared portions 31m and 31n are formed to bend outward in the width direction with respect to the remaining portions of the pair of side walls 31l and 31r. Therefore, when the pair of engaging pieces 25b and 25c are pressed against the pair of flared portions 31m and 31n so as to further rotate the protector body 31, the pair of flared portions 31m and 31n are pushed outward. Then, the pair of engaging pieces 25b and 25c are inserted between them, so that the protector body 31 can be further rotated. When the protector main body 31 is rotated and moved to the protection position, the engagement pieces 25b and 25c are fitted into the corresponding engagement holes 31j and 31k. Thereby, the protector main body 31 is held at the protection position.

<Protection of needle tip by needle assembly>
The needle assembly 1 configured in this way constitutes the needle device 2 together with the syringe 3 by attaching the needle hub 23 to the syringe 3, and administers the infusion solution in the syringe 3 to the patient through the needle 21, or Blood can be collected from the syringe 3 and stored in the syringe 3 . When administering an infusion or collecting blood, the protector main body 31 is folded back away from the needle (that is, toward the syringe 3) and relatively rotated to the use position, and the protector 22 is used for puncturing. Do not interfere with work (see, for example, Figure 5). Then, the user holds the cylinder 11 with one hand and presses the protector body 31 against the cylinder 11 with one of the fingers (for example, the thumb or index finger) of the holding hand, so that the protector body 31 is held by the needle 21 . Don't turn in that direction. The needle device 2 is punctured into a patient's blood vessel or the like after being put into such a state of use. After puncturing, the plunger 12 is pushed to administer an infusion or the plunger 12 is pulled to collect blood, depending on the purpose. When the administration of the infusion or the collection of blood is completed, the needle tip 21a is pulled out from the blood vessel or the like.

When the user pulls out the needle 21, the protector body 31 rotates toward the needle 21 to protect the needle tip 21a. Specifically, the user pushes the non-slip portion 36 with a finger or presses the back surface 31i against an object to rotate the protector main body 31 . When the protector main body 31 at the use position is rotated toward the needle 21, the flared portions 31m and 31n of the protector main body 31 eventually come into contact with the engaging pieces 25b and 25c, and the rotation of the protector main body 31 is restricted ( See Figure 6). When the protector main body 31 is pushed to keep rotating it further, the pair of flared portions 31m and 31n are spread outward in the width direction by the engaging pieces 25b and 25c so as to talk to each other. 25c enters between the pair of flared portions 31m and 31n. Then, the restriction on rotation of the protector main body 31 is released, and the protector main body 31 can be further rotated.

When the protector main body 31 is further rotated, the needle 21 eventually comes into contact with one of the guide surfaces 33l and 33r (for example, one guide surface 33r). When the protector body 31 is further rotated, the needle 21 advances to the inner side of the protector body 31 while being guided toward the insertion groove 35 by the guide surface 33r, and eventually contacts the claw-shaped portion 34. As shown in FIG. Also, when the needle 21 abuts against the other guide surface 33l, the needle 21 advances toward the inner side of the protector main body 31 while being guided toward the insertion groove 35 by the guide surface 33l. It abuts on the portion 34 . Also, the needle 21 may directly reach the insertion groove 35 without contacting any of the guide surfaces 33l and 33r.

When the protector main body 31 is further pushed from the state where the needle 21 is in contact with the claw-shaped portion 34, the claw-shaped portion 34 is pushed by the needle 21 and bent backward. As a result, the insertion groove 35 is gradually opened, and eventually the insertion groove 35 is opened to the extent that the needle 21 can pass through. Furthermore, by pushing the protector main body 31 to the protection position, the needle 21 passes through the side of the claw-shaped portion 34 and enters the deep side of the insertion groove 35 , and the needle 21 is housed in the insertion groove 35 . As a result, the needle 21 is covered with the protector main body 31 and the needle tip 21 a of the needle 21 is protected by the protector main body 31 . Although the claw-shaped portion 34 of the present embodiment is spaced from the guide rib 33 at the initial position, the tip of the claw-shaped portion 34 may be in contact with the guide rib 33 .

On the other hand, when the needle 21 is accommodated in the insertion groove 35, the claw-shaped portion 34 is elastically restored to its initial position, and the insertion groove 35 is closed by the claw-shaped portion 34 again. As a result, the needle 21 in the insertion groove 35 is locked by the pawl-shaped portion 34, and is prevented from being removed from the opening 31e of the protector body 31. As shown in FIG. That is, the needle 21 is covered with the protector body 31 and held in the protector body 31 with the needle tip 21a protected. Further, by rotating the protector body 31 to the protection position, the engagement pieces 25b and 25c corresponding to the pair of engagement holes 31j and 31k of the protector body 31 are engaged (see FIG. 7). As a result, the protector main body 31 is held at the protection position, and it is possible to visually determine that the practitioner is at the protection position.

The needle tip 21a is protected by the protector main body 31 in this way, and the needle device 2 is discarded in a state in which the protector main body 31 is held at the protective position. As a result, the contaminated needle tip 21a can be discarded in an exposed state, and the needle tip 21a can be prevented from sticking into a user, a patient, a waste disposal person, or the like and being infected with bacteria, viruses, or the like. .

In the needle assembly 1 constructed in this manner, when the protector main body 31 is rotated, the flared portions 31m and 31n first come into contact with the engaging pieces 25b and 25c, and the protector main body 31 is further pushed in, thereby causing the protector main body 31 to move. It may be possible to move it to a protective position. Therefore, unless the practitioner moves the protector body 31 to the protection position with the intention of protecting the needle tip 21a, the protector body 31 will not easily move to the protection position. Therefore, the needle tip 21a can be protected more reliably according to the practitioner's intention.

Further, in the needle assembly 1, when the protector main body 31 is pushed while the flared portions 31m, 31n are in contact with the engaging pieces 25b, 25c, the flared portions 31m, 31n are spread by the engaging pieces 25b, 25c. bend like By further pushing the protector body 31, the engagement pieces 25b, 25c are soon inserted between the flared portions 31m, 31n, and accordingly the protector body 31 can be rotated to the protection position. Therefore, when rotating the protector main body 31 to the protection position, the practitioner can feel that the flared portions 31m and 31n get over the engaging pieces 25b and 25c. Therefore, the practitioner can feel that the needle tip 21a is housed in the protector main body 31, and the needle tip 21a is protected more reliably. After that, by engaging the engaging pieces 25b and 25c corresponding to the pair of engaging holes 31j and 31k respectively, it is not only visually confirmed that the protector main body 31 is held in the protecting position as described above, It can also be felt by sounds and responses. As a result, the needle tip 21a is protected more reliably.

Although the flared portions 31m and 31n are formed in a shape that is flexible and spreads outward (that is, flared shape), it is not necessary to have such a shape. For example, even if the end of the pair of side walls 31l and 31r on the other side in the longitudinal direction is straight, if the ends are flexible, the engagement pieces 25b and 25c move the other side in the longitudinal direction of the pair of side walls 31l and 31r. The side ends are pushed apart and can be moved over the engaging pieces 25b and 25c to the protective position. As a result, the protection of the needlepoint 21a is ensured in the same manner as the flared portions 31m and 31n. Further, the shape of the end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction of the pair of side walls 31l and 31r is not limited to the above-described flared shape, and may be a blade shape or a skirt shape, and is spread by the engaging pieces 25b and 25c. Any shape is acceptable.

[Other embodiments]
The needle assembly 1 of this embodiment constitutes the needle device 2 by attaching the syringe 3, but it does not necessarily have to have such a structure. For example, a tube holder may be attached instead of the syringe 3 . The tube holder is configured to be able to attach a tube capable of containing an infusion solution, blood, etc., and includes, for example, a blood collection tube holder. Also, the syringe 3 and the tube holder do not necessarily have to be separate from the needle hub 23, and may be integrally configured.

Further, in the needle assembly 1 of the present embodiment, the protector main body 31 is provided on the needle hub 23 via the plate-like hinge portion 24, but this configuration is not necessarily required. For example, a rotatable ring is mounted on the needle hub 23 so as to be rotatable about the axis L1, and the protector main body 31 is attached to the rotatable ring so as to be rotatable about the axis of rotation L2. As a result, the protector main body 31 can be rotated toward the needle 21 and can also be rotated around the axis L1. Moreover, the protector main body 31 does not necessarily have to be formed integrally with the needle hub 23 as described above, and may be formed separately from the needle hub 23 . In this case, the protector 22 is used by attaching it to the rotating ring described above after use. In addition, the protector main body 31, the needle hub 23, and the needle 21 need not necessarily have the shapes described above. For example, the needle 21 may be a bent needle with a curved distal portion, and the shape of the protector body 31 may be changed accordingly.

Furthermore, in the needle assembly 1 of the present embodiment, the claw-shaped portion 34 is inclined so as to extend to the inner side and one longitudinal side as it advances inward in the width direction, but such a shape is not necessarily required. . For example, the claw-shaped portion 34 may be inclined so as to extend to the inner side and the other longitudinal side as it advances inward in the width direction. This also allows the claw-shaped portion 34 to extend in the three-dimensional direction, and the linear distance L can be increased compared to the case of extending in the two-dimensional direction. As a result, the claw-shaped portion 34 can be bent with a smaller load. Moreover, the claw-shaped portion 34 does not necessarily have to extend to the back side, and may extend so as to be inclined only in the width direction and the longitudinal direction.

1 Needle Assembly 2 Needle Device 3 Syringe (Liquid Transfer Tool)
21 Needle 21a Needle tip 22 Protector 23 Needle hub 24 Hinge part 31c Back part 31e Opening 31f Needle tip accommodating part 31g Hub accommodating part 31h Guide part 31i Back 33L, 33R Guide rib (guide)
33l, 33r guide surface 34 claw-shaped portion

Claims (6)

a long needle having a sharp tip at the tip;
a needle hub at the proximal end of the needle;
a protector provided on the needle hub so as to be relatively displaceable between a non-protecting position where the needle is exposed and a protected position where the needle is covered and the needle tip is protected;
The protector is
A protector that has an elongated opening corresponding to the needle, and that covers the tip of the needle by inserting the needle through the opening by relatively displacing the protector from the non-protecting position to the protecting position. the main body;
When the protector is relatively displaced from the unprotected position to the protected position, the needle is bent by the needle to allow the needle to advance into the protector body, and is elastic when the needle enters the protector body. a claw-like portion provided on the protector main body so as to return to engage the needle and prevent the needle from being detached from the protector main body;
The needle assembly, wherein the claw-shaped portion extends in the width direction of the opening across the opening and projects obliquely from the protector body so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the opening. 2. The needle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the claw-shaped portion also extends in the depth direction of the protector, which is a direction perpendicular to the width direction and the longitudinal direction of the opening. 3. The needle assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the claw extends in one longitudinal direction from the proximal end of the needle toward the needle tip in the protected position. a hinge portion that rotatably attaches the protector body to the needle hub;
the hinge portion is configured to relatively displace the protector from the non-protecting position to the protecting position by rotating the protector body;
The protector body is formed in a U shape by cutting along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction so as to have a back portion on the opposite side of the opening, and a needle tip that accommodates the needle tip entering through the opening. Having a housing portion on the tip side,
4. The needle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said back portion is formed smoothly in a region corresponding to said needle tip housing portion. The protector main body has a needle tip accommodating portion that can accommodate the needle tip entering through the opening, and a needle hub that is wider in the width direction than the needle tip accommodating portion and can accommodate the needle hub entering through the opening. and a guide portion disposed between the needle tip accommodation portion and the hub accommodation portion for guiding the needle to guide the needle tip into the needle tip accommodation portion,
The guide portion has a pair of guides projecting inward in the width direction from inner surfaces on both sides thereof in the width direction,
the pair of guides are inclined toward the interior of the needle accommodating portion as they advance inward in the width direction;
5. The pair of guides according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tip portion of the needle hub enters between the pair of guides when the protector is relatively displaced to the protecting position. A needle assembly as described in . a needle assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
a liquid transfer element configured to contain a liquid and attached to the needle hub such that the liquid transfer element is in communication with the needle.

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