JP6374509B2 - A medical device that combines a sliding front attachment and a retractable needle - Google Patents

Description

<Description of related applications>
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of US Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 737,263 filed on December 14, 2012 and US Provisional Patent Application No. 61/83723, filed on June 19, 2013. . This application is also a continuation-in-part of US Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 13 / 714,819, filed December 14, 2012.

<Field of Invention>
The present invention is a medical device having a front attachment that includes a retractable needle. One aspect of the present invention preferably relates to a front attachment that is clipped and slidably engaged with a connector housing, wherein the connector housing includes at least a integrally formed or formed needle retraction cavity and associated medical device. A main body part or a barrel part is provided with a space in the lateral direction. Related medical instruments can include, for example, syringes, IV catheter insertion devices, infusion sets, fluid collection devices, or other medical devices in which retractable needles can be used.

  Another aspect of the invention relates to a rear-biased retractable needle and a front attachment having a needle retraction mechanism, where the needle passes through the connector housing whenever fluid passes through the needle. Although collinear in the longitudinal direction of the fluid flow path to the instrument, it is not collinear with the needle retraction chamber until needle retraction begins.

  Another aspect of the invention preferably relates to a connector housing comprising a needle retraction chamber open at one end, having a needle retraction cavity, wherein the cavity has a longitudinal axis in use and prior to needle retraction. , At a position that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the needle or the center line of the needle but offset laterally.

  Another aspect of the invention relates to a connector housing that is preferably engaged and slidable with respect to the front attachment in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the retractable needle seated on the front attachment. Said sliding is preferably initiated by applying opposing forces on at least the front attachment and the connector housing. One of the forces in the opposite direction is, for example, a resistance force.

  Another aspect of the invention relates to a medical device, wherein the retractable needle holder and needle are seated in the front attachment before use, biased to a safe position after use, and the needle tip is exposed. Without it, the front attachment cannot be reused. When the needle and needle holder are in the “safe position”, the needle holder and a portion of the needle are preferably deployed in a retraction cavity within the needle retraction chamber. The needle retraction chamber is not coaxial with the needle as fluid passes through the needle during use of the medical device.

<Description of related technologies>
Conventional syringes including a generally cylindrical barrel, a needle projecting forward from the barrel, and a plunger disposed within the barrel and slidable through an opening at the rear of the barrel are well known. Some conventional syringes are provided with a slip or lock luer connector at the front of the barrel, to which a cooperating and interchangeable needle or needle hub can be attached, needles of different gauges or sizes There is something that can be used. Such syringe luer tips are generally exposed to bacterial or viral contamination when inadvertently touching a person or object during use. An exception is the syringe disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,343,094, which can be used with a replaceable needle and has a protective guard structure that extends forward through the luer tip so that it is contaminated by contact. The possibility of is reduced.

  Recently, a variety of syringes and other medical devices with fixed or replaceable needles to control the spread of blood-borne pathogens and contamination due to contact with exposed needles, body fluids or other contaminated objects or surfaces The use of other “safe” elements is being considered. Such a device may include a retractable needle as shown in US Pat. No. 7,351,224, but the term “safe” covers or does not touch the tip of a needle that cannot be retracted after use. In order to be applied to products with movable guards, shields or covers that must be operated by hand. Using a movable guard, shield or needle has no effect if the needle is not first removed from the patient or other device when fluid is infused or withdrawn. There are also reports that the use of products with movable guards, shields or covers as a “safety” element increases the number of accidental needle sticks and should be distinguished from products with retractable needles, In particular, it should be distinguished from a product having a needle that can be retracted while still inserted into a patient or other device. Examples of devices incorporating “safe” elements that are not retractable needles are described in US Pat. Nos. 5,370,628 and 8,500,690. U.S. Pat. No. 8,500,560 discloses that the disclosed safety shield cannot completely surround the needle cannula until it is completely removed from the patient, and the user can automatically seal the shield whenever the packaging cover is removed. There is a problem that is triggered when the finger tab is intentionally or unintentionally released.

  In known medical devices having retractable needles and needle retraction mechanisms, in use, the needle retraction cavity is typically deployed collinear with the longitudinal axis of the needle. In such devices, the cylindrical interior of the barrel and / or plunger handle may serve as a needle retraction cavity. An example of such a device is disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,351,224.

  In other medical devices, the needle retraction cavity is made as an integral part of the body including the barrel and needle retraction cavity, each longitudinal axis being substantially parallel and spaced apart from the other longitudinal axis during use. There is. However, in these devices, the needle and needle retraction cavity remain aligned both in use and during needle retraction, creating a cross fluid path between the barrel and the rear end of the needle. An example of such a device in which the needle is not biased backward is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,941,883. An example of such a device in which the needle is biased backward is disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,468,250.

  Some medical devices having retractable needles have an actuator to which a retraction force is manually applied, and after use, the needle is slid back into the needle retraction cavity by the actuator. There is something to be pulled in. Other devices include allowing the needle to be automatically retracted into the needle retraction cavity after use, or manually applying a separate force to initiate needle retraction. The manual force required to initiate needle retraction is provided, for example, by applying it longitudinally through all or part of the plunger, whether the plug or retainer member is repositioned and the interference element is cut or broken Or a hole is drilled. Such devices are described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,503,010 and US Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0287881. In some cases, the initial manual force is applied by rotating the trigger element into angular relationship with the longitudinal axis of the needle, such as backwards as shown in US 2010/0317999. Elements that interfere with entrainment of the energized element are repositioned. The initial force may be applied by moving an actuator deployed in a housing with a needle retraction mechanism laterally, as disclosed, for example, in US Patent Publication No. 2009/0306601. . Also, the initial force may be applied by pushing the lever bar in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the needle and pulling the trigger pin, and is biased backward by a spring disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 4,973,316. The slidable piston assembly is released. Several medical devices are known that have a needle retraction mechanism that allows a needle to be retracted directly from a patient, as disclosed, for example, in US Pat. No. 7,351,224, although many other devices are It is not possible.

  Another known medical device is disclosed in European Patent Application EP 0479303A1, which is a front attachment for a luer tip syringe, which is a connector to which the luer tip of the syringe is connected. A needle retraction cavity having a longitudinal axis parallel and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the section. However, in this device, the needle is always coaxial with the retracting cavity, and the fluid path is deployed so that the fluid intersects between the syringe and the needle. Also, even if the syringe that can be used is characterized as “conventional” in the disclosure, the plunger portion of the syringe adds a push rod that extends forward from the plunger seal that cooperates with the front attachment. Is particularly adapted to. Needle retraction within the device is initiated manually with the aid of a tensioned rubber band connected to the distal end of the retraction cavity.

  The safety benefits of medical devices with retractable needles have recently been widely recognized, but in terms of safety for patients, patient families and caregivers, lock or slip luer connectors There is still a need for an economical and reliable medical device that can be used with medical devices such as known syringes or IV catheter introducers having What is required is that the associated medical device (eg, syringe) can be used without any special fittings or modifications, has few parts, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and can be selectively attached. A device with a needle retraction mechanism that can be retracted with a desired size, can be actuated with one hand, and can retract the needle directly from the patient without applying force during needle retraction.

<Summary of the invention>
The invention disclosed in this specification is a medical device that includes a front attachment and a connector housing. The front attachment and the connector housing are preferably selectively attachable or maintained slidable from each other at a narrow distance by one or more structural elements connected to one or both of them. . In one embodiment of the invention, the front attachment is preferably clipped and slidably engaged with the connector housing, and a stop member is provided to prevent over-movement or disengagement. The connector housing preferably includes at least a portion of an associated medical instrument in which a retractable needle is used as an integral part of the medical device. This related medical instrument includes, for example, a syringe, an IV catheter insertion device, an infusion set, or a fluid collection device. The connector housing preferably further includes a needle retraction chamber and a needle retraction cavity having a longitudinal axis common to both, the longitudinal axis being in use of the medical device and prior to needle retraction, the length of the needle. A direction axis is an offset position that is not collinear.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the front attachment includes a body portion, a needle retraction assembly seated on the body portion, and a needle protruding forward. The needle retraction assembly preferably includes a needle holder and a biasing member that biases the needle holder rearward with respect to the body portion. The forward projecting needle is preferably supported by a needle holder seated inside the body portion of the front attachment. A satisfactory biasing member is a compression coil spring that retains its compressed state when the body is attached to the connector housing, but other similarly effective biasing members can be used.

  The connector housing preferably further comprises a needle retraction chamber that communicates with a rearwardly extending needle retraction cavity and has at least one forward-facing open end that is unobstructed. If desired, a small vent may be provided at or near the rear end of the needle retraction cavity. The connector housing is preferably integrally molded with at least a portion of the associated medical device, but is generally secured to the needle retraction chamber of the connector housing using other substantially rigid attachment means such as adhesive, plastic welding. It is also possible to join with a part of related medical instruments such as a syringe barrel so that the positional relationship is satisfied. Regardless of whether the connector housing is integrally molded with the associated medical device, attached to at least a portion of the associated medical device, or made as an integral part of at least a portion of the associated medical device, Preferably, it forms a substantially linear fluid flow path between the associated instrument and the needle holder (no need for a cross-over channel or the like) so that it intersects between the fluid chamber and the retractable needle. Compared to the non-linear flow path that can occur in devices with channels, the pressure required to move fluid from one to the other is reduced.

  A fluid seal is preferably provided between the front attachment and the connector portion of the connector housing and seated in a recess formed on the coaxial line with the connector portion of the connector housing that is coaxial with the needle prior to retraction. In one embodiment of the invention, the fluid seal is annular and movable, is maintained in alignment with the connector portion of the connector housing, is repositioned when needle retraction begins, and the rear and face of the body portion of the front attachment Contact. The annular fluid seal preferably surrounds the fluid flow path between the connector housing and the front attachment prior to needle retraction, so that the body portion and connector housing of the body and connector housing before needle retraction, during needle retraction, and after needle retraction. Limit fluid leakage between opposing surfaces. The needle retraction cavity inside the needle retraction chamber of the connector housing is initially offset from the longitudinal axis of the needle, but moves laterally during needle retraction and is approximately collinear with the needle axis. Is preferred. To prevent the needle retraction mechanism from operating during packaging, shipping and handling before use, and preferably to prevent the needle tip from becoming dull, bent or damaged before use A type needle cap is provided.

  Needle retraction is preferably initiated by stabilizing the medical device with respect to the patient, and then applying the pressure, preferably with one hand, until the retraction cavity is approximately coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the needle. The cavity and connector housing move with respect to the front attachment. As shown in one embodiment, a textured contact surface is optionally provided so that opposing forces can be readily applied to at least one of the front attachment and the connector housing. Manual pressure is in a direction that is substantially parallel to the sliding interface between the front attachment and the connector housing, and is opposed along an axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis that passes laterally through the needle and needle retraction chamber. Preferably it is added to. As used herein, the term “sliding interface” refers to an interface that is capable of relative sliding movement between opposing surfaces of the front attachment and the connector housing. However, it should be understood that the opposing force applied to initiate the needle retraction of the medical device is a resistive force. Although not shown in the accompanying drawings, after reading this disclosure it will be appreciated that a similarly effective but more complex device may be used in place of the manual force used to initiate needle retraction. It will be. For example, by incorporating other biasing means, such as a spring-driven or similar mechanism, into the medical device of the invention, the needle retraction cavity can be repositioned so that it is substantially coaxial with the needle and the device is used Later needle retraction can be facilitated. When using such biasing means, a release or trigger element is required to release the bias, which initiates relative sliding movement between the front attachment and the connector housing. Those of ordinary skill in the art who have read this disclosure will be apparent.

  When the opening in the retracting cavity and the head part of the needle holder are sufficiently aligned and the needle holder is received in the needle retracting cavity, the biasing member such as a compression coil spring provided in the main body part is moved to the needle holder. Since the tip of the needle is cut back at the same time, the tip of the needle is cut backward, so that the tip of the needle does not protrude forward from the main body of the front attachment. After use, the needle retraction chamber slides laterally with respect to the needle, and thereafter the annular fluid seal reduces the risk of fluid leakage from the medical device due to fluid flow from the associated medical instrument.

  The medical device of the present invention has many advantages and advantages over conventional devices. One such advantage is that needle retraction is performed independently of aspiration. For example, fluid can be withdrawn from the knee, but the needle can still be withdrawn without fully depressing the plunger handle. Another advantage of the medical device of the present invention is that the needle can be withdrawn directly from the patient without first being manually retracted, and is exposed to and contaminated by bodily fluids containing infectious pathogens. There is no danger. Needle retraction can be initiated after a portion of the dose has been injected. With the medical device of the present invention, the risk of needle wobble in the patient's body is reduced by initiating retraction by applying pressure to a site near the base of the device. So the doctor will have more control.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the medical device of the present invention may be provided with a needle cap or needle cover that removably engages the body portion. Also, the needle cap or needle cover can lock the connector housing in place and the needle retraction mechanism cannot be operated unless the needle cap or needle cover is first removed. If desired, the medical device itself of the present invention can be used as a prefilled syringe cover, closure or cap. The front attachment of the present invention, for example when made with a syringe barrel, can be used to prepare doses of expensive and corrosive drugs and, after use, capping to avoid disposal or damage Is done. When the needle cap or needle cover is in place, the medical device of the present invention can be placed in or clipped into or over the pocket, especially when configured as described below. Can be conveniently carried around.

  If desired, the medical device of the present invention can be secured to an associated medical instrument, molded integrally with a medical device, or manufactured or assembled as at least a portion of a medical device. As an example, the connector housing and syringe barrel can be integrally molded from a moldable medical grade polymer resin. As another example, the syringe barrel may be attached or connected in a substantially fixed manner to the connector portion of the connector housing, before needle retraction after use, before the connector housing moves relative to the front attachment. Located substantially coaxial with the assembly and needle. In this embodiment, the longitudinal axis through the needle retraction chamber and needle retraction cavity is generally parallel and central, and preferably is laterally spaced from each other, even when the needle retraction chamber and syringe barrel are integrally molded. In order not to form an open space between the two, they are arranged side by side, and a part of the needle retraction chamber and a part of the syringe barrel share a wall. Several advantages are achieved by using this embodiment. A combination of plungers and plunger seals can be packaged and sold, and these combinations can create a variable volume fluid chamber inside the device that is collinear with the needle, By applying positive or negative pressure, the device can be used for either injecting or collecting fluid into the needle.

  The front attachment of the present invention can also be used without special modifications on needles and syringes of different gauges and sizes. If desired, the associated medical instrument used with the medical device of the present invention or the medical device itself can be provided with an anticoagulant plug such as heparin used for blood gas. The structure and operation of the present invention is achieved by providing a generally straight fluid flow path and providing a needle retraction chamber and a connected retraction cavity at a position laterally offset from the fluid flow path during fluid injection or recovery. Simplified. Since the medical device of the present invention can reduce the number of parts, it is easy to mold and the cost is reduced.

  The medical device of the present invention also includes a safety mechanism that is not commonly used in many conventional devices. For example, the device of the present invention allows the spring and needle to straddle the needle retraction cavity and body after the needle has been retracted, so that it cannot be re-activated and reused in a “locked shut” state. It is in. The fluid flow path is interrupted by the co-operation of the needle retraction cavity with lateral sliding and associated repositioning with respect to the fluid flow path of the connector housing and the presence of a fluid seal between the body portion and the connector housing. After use, backflow from the associated medical device is prevented. The medical device of the present invention can be removed from the associated medical instrument after the needle has been retracted and can be disposed of with other needle covers. If the associated medical device is reusable, it can be processed for autoclaving, disinfection or reuse independently of the needled part.

  Other advantages of the medical device of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, as will the above advantages, upon reading the disclosure relating to the accompanying drawings.

The apparatus of the present invention will be further described and described with reference to the following drawings.
1 is a right front perspective view of one embodiment of a medical device of the present invention with a needle cover attached. FIG. It is a left front perspective view of the medical device of FIG. It is a figure which shows the state by which the needle cover was removed about the medical device shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the state before a needle cover is removed about the medical device shown by FIG. 2, and a needle is withdrawn. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the front perspective view of the medical device shown in FIG. 1 (exploded view along the longitudinal axis of the retractable needle assembly of the front attachment and connector portion of the connector housing). FIG. 3 is a front view of the medical device of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a front view of the medical device of FIGS. 2 and 3 and shows a state where a needle cover is removed. FIG. 8 is a rear view of the medical device shown in FIG. 7. It is a top view of the medical device of FIG. It is a right view of the medical device of FIG. It is a cross-sectional top view which follows the 11-11 line | wire of FIG. 10 about the medical device before use, and has shown the conventional lock type | mold luer syringe attached to the connector housing of the medical device of this invention with the phantom line. It is a top view of the medical device of FIG. 11, and a syringe, Comprising: The syringe is again shown with the virtual line. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional plan view of the medical device shown in FIG. 11, showing a state where the needle cover is removed and the syringe plunger is pulled into the suction position. FIG. 13 is a plan view of the medical device shown in FIG. 12 with the needle cover removed and the syringe plunger retracted to the aspiration position. FIG. 14 is a plan view of the medical device shown in FIG. 13 with the syringe plunger fully pushed down to the post-injection position and the needle fully retracted. FIG. 4 is a right front perspective view of the medical device of the present invention, showing the needle fully retracted after removal from the syringe. It is a right view of the medical device of FIG. FIG. 18 is a plan view taken along line 18-18 of the medical device of FIG. FIG. 17 is a rear view of the medical device of FIG. 16. It is a left rear perspective view of the main-body part of a front attachment. It is a right rear perspective view of a main part of a front attachment. It is a cross-sectional side view which follows the 22-22 line | wire of FIG. FIG. 5 is a left front perspective view of the medical device shown in FIG. 4, showing a state after the needle cover is removed and the needle is retracted. FIG. 6 is a right front perspective view of another embodiment of the medical device of the present invention, in which the related medical instrument is a syringe whose body is integrally molded as part of the connector housing, and is removable as described in the previous embodiments The needle cover is not shown. FIG. 25 is a right front perspective view of the medical device shown in FIG. 24, showing the state where the plunger handle of the associated medical instrument is fully pushed in and the needle is retracted. FIG. 25 is a right side view of the medical device shown in FIG. 24, showing a needle cover. FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional plan view of the medical device shown in FIG. 26. FIG. 27 is an exploded front view of the medical device shown in FIG. 26. FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along line 29-29 in FIG. 31 and shows a state after the needle has been retracted. FIG. 27 is a front view of the medical device of FIG. 26. FIG. 27 is a front view of the medical device of FIG. 26, showing a state after the needle cover is removed and the needle is retracted. FIG. 31 is a rear view of the medical device of FIG. 30. FIG. 32 is a rear view of the medical device of FIG. 31, showing a state after the needle cover is removed and the needle is retracted. FIG. 8 is a right front perspective view of another embodiment of the medical device of the present invention, wherein the syringe barrel is molded with the connector housing of the present invention, the removable needle cover is in place over the retractable needle, and the plunger Shows a state of being inserted into the opening at the rear of the syringe barrel. FIG. 35 is a view showing a state where the needle cover is removed and the retractable needle protrudes forward from the front attachment and is in a use position with respect to the medical device of FIG. FIG. 35 shows the medical device of FIG. 34 with the plunger handle almost completely pushed into the syringe barrel and the needle retraction chamber and needle retraction cavity moved laterally with respect to the needle attachment and the retracted needle. FIG. 35 is an exploded right perspective view of the medical device of FIG. 34. FIG. 35 is a right side view of the medical device of FIG. 34. FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional plan view of the medical device of FIG. 38. FIG. 40 is a plan view of the medical device of FIG. 39 with the needle cover removed. FIG. 41 is a plan view of the medical device of FIG. 40, wherein the plunger is pushed almost completely into the syringe barrel, the connector housing is repositioned laterally with respect to the front attachment, and the needle retraction chamber and needle retraction cavity are in the needle retraction assembly. And a state of being aligned with the retracted needle. FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional plan view of the medical device of FIG. 41. FIG. 38 is a rear view of the front attachment of the medical device of FIG. 37. FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44-44 of FIG. 43, in order to more clearly illustrate the elastic polymer clip used to slidably engage the front attachment to the base portion of the connector housing; The figure is simplified and shown with parts omitted.

<Description of desirable embodiment>
1, 2 and 10, the medical device (30) comprises a connector housing (32), a front attachment (34) and a lockable needle cover (36). 3, 4 and 9 show a state in which the lock-type needle cover (36) has been removed, and the surface of the tip portion that has been cut obliquely faces upward. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, the connector housing (32) of the medical device (30) preferably further comprises a closed end (44) facing rearward and an opening (46) facing forward, The opening (46) facing the side borders the needle retraction cavity (58). The opening (46) is preferably elongate or oval and the lateral dimension is greater than the inner diameter of the elongate cylindrical portion of the needle retraction chamber (42). As shown in FIGS. 5-8, the opening (46) is preferably within the inner diameter of the needle retraction chamber (42) along the tapered inner wall (102) (the back (103) is visible in FIG. 8). Transition. The tapered inner wall (102) facilitates the insertion and removal of the locking arm (98) of the lockable needle cover (36), and the needle retraction cavity of the needle holder (72) and retraction spring (80) when the needle is retracted. Make it easier to enter (58). This will be described in more detail later. If desired, the closed end (44) may be provided with a small hole (e.g., for venting purposes), but the needle retraction spring (80), needle holder (72) or needle (38) may have a needle retraction chamber ( 42) It must not be large enough to leave the rear.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the connector housing (32) preferably further comprises a connector (48) used to attach the medical device (30) to an associated medical instrument (eg, syringe (104)). This will be described with respect to the medical device (30) shown in FIGS. The connector (48) has a substantially cylindrical side wall with a fluid flow path (54) on the inside, the fluid path comprising an opening facing the front (52) and an opening end facing the rear (50). Have In the vicinity of the rear end (50), two diametrical radial locking luer tabs (56) project radially and are used to attach the connector (48) to the associated medical device. The forward facing opening (52) preferably further includes an annular concave seating surface that receives the fluid seal (68). The fluid seal (68) preferably has a central fluid flow path coaxial with the fluid flow path (54) through the connector (48). Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6-10, the texture structure is designed so that a manual force (indicated by arrow (35) in FIG. 4) is likely to act on the connector housing (32) when initiating needle retraction. A digital contact surface (100) is preferably provided in the needle retraction cavity (42), if desired.

  In FIG. 5, the front attachment (34) of the medical device (30) further comprises a base (82) and a needle support (84) protruding forward. The needle support (84) preferably has a plurality of spaced apart tapered ribs (88) so that it can be removably frictionally engaged with the inside of the collar (97) of the lockable needle cover (36). . Those skilled in the art will be able to read this disclosure and provide other similar effective means for releasably securing the lockable needle cover (36) to the needle support (84). . 5, 20-22, the base portion (82) and the needle support (84) preferably have a stepped bore (86). With further reference to FIGS. 20-21, the base portion (82) has a rear facing surface (87) open into the stepped bore (86). The surface preferably has an annular recess in which the large-diameter head portion (76) (see FIG. 5) of the needle holder (72) is accommodated and seated. The needle retraction mechanism (FIG. 5) including the spring (80) and the needle holder (72) is inserted into the front attachment (34) prior to attaching the front attachment (34) to the connector housing (32). If desired, an outwardly facing textured contact surface (90) may be provided at the end of the base (82) for use in applying the force indicated by arrow (45) in FIG. It is preferable to provide in. This will be described in detail later. The force applied to the front attachment (34) is a resistive force, and the main component is preferably in a direction opposite to the force applied in the direction indicated by arrow (35) with respect to the connector housing (34). .

With reference to FIGS. 1-23, and more specifically FIGS. 5-8 and 19-23, when the medical device (30) is assembled, the forward end of the coil spring (80) is preferably in the bore (86). Inserted and seated, the elongated cylindrical shaft portion (74) of the needle holder (72) is preferably inserted into the coil spring (80) and acts downwardly to press the spring, so that the needle holder (72) A large diameter head portion (76) can be seated inside the bore (86). As a result, the spring (80) is compressed, and a backward biasing force acts on the lower surface of the head portion (76). The needle holder (72) has a bore (78) extending in the longitudinal direction. When the needle (38) is disposed inside the bore, the needle holder (72) is in a position where it is fluidly connected to the needle (38).
In one embodiment of the present invention, a shallow recess is formed at the rear facing end of the head portion (76) of the needle holder (72) (not visible in FIG. 5), the recess being formed by the medical device (30). When assembled, it removably engages the forward facing end of the fluid seal (68). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the forwardly extending end of the needle holder (72) is preferably known to those skilled in the art by protruding slightly beyond the forward tip of the needle support (84). After installing the needle retraction mechanism and attaching the front attachment (34) to the connector housing (32) by any suitable method, the needle (38) can be easily attached to the needle holder (72). The needle (38) can be attached to the needle holder (72) either before or after the needle holder (72) is installed inside the front attachment (34), but after the needle retracting mechanism is installed. Is desirable.

After inserting the fluid seal (68) into the annular recess within the opening (52) facing forward of the connector housing (32) (see, eg, FIG. 5), and then inside the front attachment (34) In a state where the needle holder (72) is held against the rearward biasing force by the compression spring, the surface (87) facing the rear of the base part (82) of the front attachment (34) has a connector housing ( 32) is arranged opposite the front face 61 (see FIG. 5). Since the opposing rails (64) and (66) (see FIGS. 5, 8, and 19 to 23) of the connector housing engage with the opposing rails (91) and (93) of the base portion (82), the front of the connector housing (32) The facing surface (80) is preferably configured to slidably engage the rear portion (87) of the base portion (82). The rails (64) (66) and rails (91) (93) are preferably snap-fit so that they can be slidably engaged, a parallel arrangement in which the connector housing (32) and the front attachment (34) face each other When the bore (86) is opposed to the opening (52) and is held in a state, it is slidably engaged, and when a force is simultaneously applied to the front part of the front attachment (34) and the back part of the connector housing (32), Squeezed. Since the front attachment (34) is attached to the connector housing (32), the fluid seal (68) is squeezed into butt contact with the rear facing end of the head portion (76) of the needle holder (72). The annular fluid seal (68) is provided before the retraction of the connector housing (32) with respect to the front attachment (34) prior to needle retraction and during use of the medical device (30) and associated medical instruments. ) And the front attachment (34).

  Referring to FIGS. 5, 17, and 20, it is preferred that stop members (62) and (63) are provided, which stop members. In butt contact with the opposing upper and lower shoulders (the lower shoulder (65) is visible in FIG. 20) of the rear surface (87) adjacent to the base (82) of the front attachment (34). By engaging and limiting the lateral sliding range of the connector housing (32) relative to the front attachment (34), accidental separation is prevented. When the medical device (30) is assembled as described above, the head portion (76) of the needle holder (72) (FIG. 5) is moved into the recess (86) (FIGS. 19-20) in the front attachment (34). Seated inside, preferably through a bore (54) in the connector (48), a bore (70) in the fluid seal (68), a bore (78) in the needle holder (72) and a needle (38) A fluid path is formed.

  1-3, 5-6 and 11, the lockable needle cover (36) preferably includes a generally cylindrical side wall (92) which includes a closed end (94), an open end ( 96) and a plurality of longitudinally extending external reinforcing ribs to provide the necessary rigidity to prevent damage to the needle (38) prior to use. The locking arm (98) preferably protrudes rearward from the collar (97) of the locking needle cover (36) and is inserted into the opening (46) of the connector housing (32), so that the locking needle cover Relative sliding movement between the connector housing (32) and the front attachment (34) is restricted before (36) is removed from the needle support (84). It will be understood that it is within the scope of the present invention to provide other similar locking structures and that such locking structures need not be part of the needle cover. FIG. 6 shows the medical device (30) with the lockable needle cover (36) viewed from the front, and FIG. 7 shows the medical device (30) without the lockable needle cover (36) in front. The state seen from the part is shown.

  Referring to FIGS. 11-15, the associated medical instrument is shown in phantom with the medical device (30) of the present invention. The associated medical device is a conventional syringe (104), which includes a cylindrical barrel (106) whose front surface is a locking luer connector and a plunger seal that slidably engages the inner wall of the barrel. And a plunger (108). The plunger (108) cooperates with the barrel (106) to define a variable volume fluid chamber (110) within the syringe from which fluid can flow through the fluid pathway in the medical device (30) described above. Supplied to the needle (38). 11 and 12, the medical device (30) and syringe (104) are fully assembled and the needle cover (36) is shown in place on the needle (38). The illustrated position of the plunger (108) with respect to the barrel (106) can be referred to as the "pre-injection" position, e.g., a conventional needleless syringe can be packaged and shipped before use. It is a position that can be done.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 again show the medical device after assembly of FIGS. 11 and 12, with the needle cover removed and the plunger (108) in a position where fluid is aspirated into the fluid chamber (110). Has been drawn. Such aspiration is performed, for example, by drawing fluid from a vial or other fluid source into a syringe, or by extracting a fluid sample from the patient (after expelling air from the fluid chamber (110)). be able to. For prefill, the syringe (104) is filled to the desired level and packaged for shipment with or without the medical device (30).

  13 and 15, after use of the medical device after assembly is complete, needle retraction preferably repositions the connector housing (32) with respect to the front attachment (34) in the medical device (30). The needle retraction chamber (42) is arranged coaxially with the needle (38). For example, pressure is applied manually to the selectively provided contact surface (100) of the connector housing (32) with the barrel (106) and the front attachment (34) stabilized. And / or by applying a resistive pressure to the selectively provided contact surface (90) of the front attachment (34) (in the direction indicated by the arrow (35) in FIG. 4) ( (Direction shown by arrow 45 in FIG. 4). If the needle (38) is not inserted into the patient during needle retraction, the front attachment (34) and connector housing (32) may be contact surfaces (90) (100) or front attachment (34) and connector housing (32 ) Can be repositioned together by manually applying pressure in the opposite direction to the other parts. By applying pressure as described above, the fluid seal (68) and the connector housing (32) are moved from the first position (FIG. 13) where the syringe (108) is collinear with the needle (38). The needle retraction cavity of 32) moves to a second position (FIG. 15) that is collinear with the needle (38). When this rearrangement is performed, the needle holder (72) and the needle (37) are opened by the biasing force toward the rear of the spring (80) when aligned on the same line for complete retraction. You can enter 46). Similarly, if desired, the medical device (30) can be constructed by biasing the connector housing (32) with respect to the front attachment (34) and against a release element that is configured to allow collaborative work. When the trigger force is applied, the needle can be retracted by the biasing force of the rearrangement.

  The assembled medical device of FIGS. 13 and 14 is shown again in FIG. 15 and after injection, the plunger (108) is fully pushed down into the barrel (106) and the connector housing (32). 14 is repositioned with respect to the front attachment (34) from the position shown in FIG. 14, and the needle holder (72), spring (80) and needle (38) are all retracted to a safe position in the medical device (30). No part of the needle protrudes forward from the front attachment (34). After retraction, the extended spring and retracted needle form a bridge connection between the front attachment (34) and the connector housing (32), and the front attachment (34) is from the connector housing (32). The dropout is prevented and the medical device (30) is set to the state before it is retracted. Further, the connector housing (32) is prevented from moving in the reverse direction with respect to the front attachment (34). If there is a reverse movement, the fluid path in the medical device (30) must be readjusted.

  16-18, the syringe (104) is removed from the medical device (30) by unscrewing the locking luer connector and the medical device (30) is ready for safe disposal. In FIG. 18, the fluid seal (68) is in a state of being in butt contact with the back surface of the base portion (82) of the front attachment (34) around the bore (70) after the needle is retracted.

  The connector housing (32), front attachment (34) and needle cover (36) of the medical device (30) are all preferably made from any moldable polymeric material approved for medical and sterilization purposes. The fluid seal (68) is preferably made from a resilient polymer material, which material has a composition sufficient to contain fluid in the fluid path between the connector housing (32) and the front attachment (34). It has a durometer hardness and does not deteriorate before and during use. Since the seal (68) and needle retraction chamber (42) are repositioned laterally prior to needle retraction, this material can also be disengaged from the needle holder (72) and the connector housing (32 ) And the front attachment (34) have a slidable composition and durometer hardness. The needle (38) is preferably made from stainless steel, other metals or alloys, ceramics or other materials approved for such use. Compression springs are made from metals commonly known in the art and are readily available commercially.

  Other embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to FIGS. 24-33 of the accompanying drawings. With reference to FIGS. 24 and 25, a medical device (200) is disclosed in which an associated medical instrument (in this example, a syringe (222)) is deployed as an integral part of a connector housing. The medical device (200) preferably comprises a front attachment (204) and a connector housing (202), which are selectively attached to each other and are attached to at least one sliding interface by one or more attachment members. A sliding relationship is maintained at a narrow interval along the line. This can limit the lateral sliding movement between the front attachment (204) and the connector housing (202) as already described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. In FIG. 24, the needle cover (described with respect to FIGS. 26-28) is removed and the needle (210) appears.

  The front attachment (204) preferably further includes a body portion (206), a forwardly extending nose portion (208), a retractable needle (210), and a textured contact surface. The connector housing (202) further includes a base portion (216), a needle retraction chamber (218), and a syringe barrel (222). In FIG. 24, a first position is shown with the needle cover (described with respect to FIGS. 26-28) removed, in which the barrel (222) is coaxial with the needle support and the needle retraction chamber. Since (218) is offset laterally, the needle retraction cavity (220) with the opening facing forward is unobstructed forward. In FIG. 25, the connector housing (202) has moved to a second position laterally with respect to the front attachment (204). In the second position, the needle retraction chamber (218) is substantially collinear with the needle support, and the needle (210) (not visible in the drawing) is a needle support (208) inside the needle retraction chamber (218). And is retracted into the needle retraction cavity 220 (FIG. 24).

  In this embodiment of the invention, the associated medical device, such as, for example, the syringe barrel (222) (or other medical device described earlier in this disclosure) is rigidly connected to and is part of the connector housing. In parts made of moldable medical grade material, this generally rigid connection can be made by any suitable method. This method is not limited, for example, by a single or integrally molded connector housing (202) that includes a base (216), a needle retraction chamber (218), and a syringe barrel (222) as a single unit. Can be performed using laser welding or adhesives, or other techniques known to be equally effective. When the medical device (200) is configured in this manner, the needle retraction cavity (220) can be used even when the needle retraction chamber (218) and the barrel (222) share a wall (shown better in FIG. 27). It is believed that there is a lateral spacing from the barrel (222). In addition, the medical device of the present invention connected with medical instruments can be made so that the needle retraction chamber and the related medical instruments do not have a common wall. Referring again to FIGS. 24 and 25, the laterally projecting barrel flanges (224) (226) can also be integrally molded together as part of the barrel (222) or made separately and known. It can also be attached to the barrel by this method. Plunger (228) is slidably disposed within barrel (222), and a typical position for barrel (222) is shown in FIG. This position can be shipped and stored before use. As shown, the plunger (228) includes a handle (230), an end cap (232), and a plunger seal (238) (shown in FIGS. 27-29). In FIG. 25, the plunger handle (230) is pushed more fully with respect to the barrel (222) as it is for injection applications. For other applications, such as withdrawing bodily fluids from a patient, when the needle (210) is retracted, the plunger handle is retracted more than the distance shown in FIG. 2 with respect to the barrel (222).

  Referring to FIG. 27, the removable needle cover (234) is shown installed in the medical device (229), and the locking arm (236) projects into the needle retraction cavity (220), During shipping and handling prior to use, the relative sliding between the front attachment (204) (FIG. 26) and the base portion (216) (FIG. 26) of the connector housing (202) is limited. The front attachment (204) and / or if there is no locking arm (236) or other similarly effective structure on the coaxial line with the fluid path (244) and fluid chamber (240) of the barrel (222) before use. If the lateral movement relative to the other of the connector housing (202) is inadequate, the retractable needle assembly position comprising the holder (246) and the compressed needle retraction spring (250) is realigned and the spring (250) Extends the needle holder (246) and needle (210) and drives it back into the needle retraction cavity (220).

  27-28, the medical device (200) preferably has an annular plunger seal (238) disposed at the forward facing end of the plunger handle (230) and the inner wall ( 28) and sliding engagement and sealing engagement. Referring to FIG. 28, the connector housing (202) preferably has forwardly facing openings (241), (248) spaced laterally. The opening (221) receives the needle holder (246) and the extended needle retraction spring (250) after the connector housing (202) is repositioned and realigned with respect to the front attachment (204) during needle retraction. it can. In order to facilitate assembly of the front attachment (204) to the connector housing (202), preferably, an upper / lower stop member (245) and an upper / lower rail (223) (the lower rail is not visible) are provided between the two. At least one lateral sliding interface is provided. This interface is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis through the needle (210) and barrel (222), so that accidental disengagement is prevented as described in detail with respect to the first embodiment. In one embodiment, the stop member (245) and the upper and lower rails (223) are configured such that the front attachment (204) is snapped into sliding engagement with the connector housing (202) and within a predetermined range of movement. The sliding engagement state is maintained. The range of movement is between a first or initial position where the needle (210) is collinear with the barrel (222) and a second or next position where the needle (210) is collinear with the needle retraction cavity (218). It is preferred that it is sufficient to move.

  Referring to FIGS. 27-29 and 32, fluid around the fluid path (244) (FIG. 27) between the opening (248) of the connector housing (202) and the annular end surface facing the rear of the needle holder (246). In order to prevent leakage, it is preferable to provide a fluid seal such as an annular fluid seal (242). In this embodiment, the fluid seal (242) is preferably made from a medical grade elastomeric material and sealed within the opening (248) of the base (216) of the connector housing (202). The length, radius, durometer hardness of the fluid seal (242), and the inner diameter of the fluid path (244) through the fluid seal (242) are such that the end facing forward of the fluid seal (242) during use is the fluid path The fluid flow through (244) is configured to be pressed against the head portion of the needle holder (246) without blocking or excessively restricting the fluid flow. Referring to FIG. 29, after use of the medical device (200), the fluid seal (242) is preferably a connector since the connector housing (202) is repositioned with respect to the front attachment (204) to initiate retraction. Carried by housing (202). During the repositioning, the forward facing end of the fluid seal (242) preferably moves away from the needle holder (246) and the body portion (206) of the front attachment (204) (FIG. 32) is in fluid sealing engagement with the rear facing surface and prevents any fluid leakage or backflow from the syringe (222). Although the use of the annular fluid seal (242) described herein is preferred, it is within the scope of the present invention to use other similarly effective fluid seals.

  29-33, after relocating the connector housing (202) from the first position to the second position, the needle retraction spring (250) extends rearward from the needle support (208), and the needle holder Since (246) is driven backward, the needle holder (246) enters the needle retraction cavity (229) inside the chamber (218). This retracts the front end of the needle (210) into the needle support (208) or needle retraction cavity (220). The relative lengths of the needle support (208), needle retraction cavity (220) and needle retraction spring (250) cooperate depending on the needle length range of the medical device (200) expected to be used. It is preferable that the size is obtained.

  Although the medical device described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 24-33 is similar in many respects to the medical device described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-23, the medical device (200) has several different advantages. . This advantage is only available in embodiments where the associated medical instrument such as a syringe is made as an integral part of the medical device. More specifically, when a syringe barrel is present with a plunger, such as a plunger (228), having a slidable fluid seal, such as a plunger seal (238), within one device, the fluid chamber (240), etc. Variable volume fluid chambers can be created. In addition, the user is provided with the ability to generate either positive or negative pressure within a fluid delivery or fluid extraction device having a retractable needle and a needle retraction cavity that is not always deployed in the fluid path. . With this configuration, the user can inject or withdraw variable volumes of various fluids with varying viscosities at different pressures suitable for the application without risk of rupture or needle retraction. Furthermore, the device of the present invention can ensure all safety related to the retraction operation with one hand of the needle, and after use, the needle can be retracted directly from the patient to a safe position where the needle cannot be reused. . Furthermore, since it has a simple and compact structure, there are few moving parts, and manufacturing and assembly costs can be reduced, so that the applicability over a wide range can be enhanced.

  Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 24-33 in that it includes an associated medical device part that is an integral part of the connector housing. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 34-44, the associated medical device is a syringe. Referring to these figures, the medical device (300) preferably includes a connector housing (302) and a front attachment (304). The connector housing (302) further includes a generally cylindrical barrel (306) and a needle retraction cavity (310) that are integrally molded or made as a single structure with the base (326) (FIG. 37). . The base (326) preferably has a laterally spaced opening facing forward, the opening being a fluid chamber (352) (352) (inside the barrel (306)). Opening into the needle retraction cavity (320) and cylindrical bore communicating with FIG. Also, as described with respect to the medical device (200) of FIGS. 24-33, a stop member may be used to limit movement of the connector housing (302) (FIGS. 34-36) relative to the front attachment (304) during needle retraction. (328) (330) (FIG. 37) are arranged opposite to each other. As shown in FIGS. 34-42, a plunger handle (308) having a forward facing plunger seal (324) is slidable longitudinally within the barrel (306), and the barrel (306) The volume of the fluid chamber (352) required for inhalation, infusion or extraction through the fluid path (354) (FIG. 39) communicating with the front end of the fluid chamber (352) by inserting or withdrawing it can.

  34 to 37, 43 and 44, the front attachment (304) preferably further includes a main body (312) in which a pair of upper and lower clip members (315) facing rearward are arranged in the lateral direction. Preferably, the clip member slides on upper and lower rails disposed between opposing stop members (328) and (330) of the base portion (326) of the main body portion (312) to snap with these rails. And has a slope to be slidably engaged. As shown in FIG. 44, the rectangular shoulder disposed on the back of each member of the upper and lower clip members (315) is preferably a front attachment (304) along at least one sliding interface extending laterally. And the sliding engagement between the main body (312) and the main body (312). An annular fluid seal (336) (FIGS. 37, 39, 42) is preferably disposed between the connector housing (302) and the front attachment (304) and is slidably engaged with each other to provide the medical device (300). When used, limit fluid leakage between the two.

  More specifically with reference to FIGS. 37, 39, 42, the front attachment (304) preferably includes a needle retraction mechanism having a needle holder (338) and an attached retractable needle (340). And a biasing member such as a coil spring (342) for applying a rearward biasing force to the needle holder (338). As will be described later, when the needle is retracted, the needle from the patient, vial or other fluid source or receptacle is used. Easy to pull out (340). The front end of the spring (342) is preferably seated inside the nose (344), and the elongated portion of the needle holder (338) is preferably inserted into the spring (342). During assembly, the spring (342) is preferably held in a compressed state until the front attachment (304) is engaged with the base portion (326) of the connector housing (302). Prior to attaching the front attachment (304) to the connector housing (302), the annular fluid seal (336) is preferably seated inside the cylindrical bore (334) (FIG. 37) and behind the needle holder (338). The surface facing is preferably pressed against the compressed spring (342) and butt-engaged with the opposing portion of the seal (336).

  Prior to use, the removable needle cover (314) (FIGS. 37, 37-39) is preferably installed in frictional engagement with the nose portion (344) (FIG. 37) of the body portion (312). This prevents the needle (340) from being blunted or contaminated and prevents the needle from being inadvertently stuck during handling prior to use of the medical device (300). As shown, the needle cover (314) preferably comprises a forwardly projecting locking arm (318) that is received in the front opening of the needle retraction cavity (320) and prior to use, Relative sliding between the connector housing (302) and the front attachment (304) is prevented. However, one of ordinary skill in the art, upon reading this disclosure, may use other methods to prevent movement or repositioning of the connector housing (302) relative to the front attachment (304) of the medical device (300) prior to use. It would be possible to use and provide an effective locking device.

  The front attachment (304) further comprises a laterally facing textured surface to initiate needle retraction after use, said surface through the needle (340) and fluid path (354) It is configured to be used to apply a pressure or resistance force in a direction across the fluid flow direction. Such pressure or resistance, when combined with the opposing pressure applied to a portion of the connector housing (302), facilitates lateral repositioning of the connector housing (302) relative to the front attachment (304). The fluid flow through the fluid path (354) is interrupted and needle retraction is initiated after use. When the connector housing (302) moves laterally with respect to the front attachment (304), the front facing surface of the annular seal (336) is disengaged from the rear facing surface of the needle holder (338) and the annular The seal (336) is slid laterally and engages the rear facing surface of the body (312). This blocks any fluid flow forward from the syringe barrel (308) or cylindrical bore (334) after such repositioning.

  The relative lateral movement between the connector housing (302) and the front attachment (304) is such that the needle (340) extends forward from the front attachment (304) substantially coaxially with the syringe barrel (306). To move between position 1 and the second position where the needle is retracted to the safe position after use and no longer projects forward from the nose 344 (FIG. 37) and body 312 Limited. When the head portion facing the back of the needle cover (338) moves into the needle retraction cavity (320) of the needle retraction chamber (310) substantially on the same axis as the front opening, the rear of the spring (342) The needle holder (338) is moved rearward by the urging force toward, and enters the closed rear end of the needle retraction chamber (310). The rear end of the needle retraction chamber (310) is vented as desired as long as the needle holder (338) is housed inside the needle retraction cavity (310). Since the spring (342) and the needle (340) generally span the gap between the needle retraction chamber (310) and the body (312) of the front attachment (304), the front attachment (304) It is then held in the second position and cannot be returned to the first position without disassembling the used medical device (300) (this is not allowed).

  Importantly, the manufacturing and assembly of the medical device disclosed herein is more tolerable than the conditions required for a conventional medical device having a plunger-actuated retractable needle. In this connection, manufacturing costs can be reduced, which can serve as a basis that can be provided to healthcare providers and consumers at low cost. Another advantage of having needle retraction cavities that are laterally spaced is that a series of operations do not require cutting or breaking, conventionally between the needle retraction mechanism and the syringe barrel wall. There is no need to use a retainer or a holding member that has been arranged in the box.

  Luer connectors and compression springs are satisfactory for use in the present invention, but other connectors and attachments are acceptable provided they meet the general parameters disclosed herein and set forth in the claims. A force member can also be used. Those skilled in the art will be able to make other modifications and variations to the present invention by reading this specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims.

Claims (14)

A connector housing (32,202,302), a front portion attachment (34,204,304), wherein the projecting from the front attachment in front retractable needle (38, 210, 340), a needle retraction mechanism, the lock Shikihari cover (36,234,314), A medical device comprising
The connector housing (32, 202, 302) has a front surface (61) facing forward, and the surface (61) is formed with a first opening (52,248) and a second opening (46,221), The first opening communicates with a rear-facing connector (48) for attaching another associated medical device, and the second opening communicates with a rearwardly extending needle retraction cavity (58, 220, 320). ,
The front attachment (34,204,304) includes a base (82,206,312) having a rear facing surface (87) and a needle support (84,208,344) projecting forward from the base (82,206,312), the needle support being It has an opening formed therein with a stepped bore (86), the stepped bore (86) is configured to communicate with the rear facing surface (87),
The connector housing further includes a plurality of first rails (64, 66) having a front facing surface (61), and the front attachment includes a base (82, 206, 312) and a rear facing surface (87). A plurality of second rails (91, 93) are further included, and the connector housing and the front attachment are such that the first rail (64, 66) and the second rail (91, 93) cooperate with each other. Slidable along at least one sliding interface in a direction transverse to the needle (38, 210, 340) and the needle retraction cavity (58, 220, 320), the opening of the stepped bore (86) of the front attachment being a connector Facing the first opening (52,248) of the housing,
In the needle retraction mechanism, a biasing member (80, 250, 342) that biases the needle (38, 210, 340) backward is provided in the stepped bore (86),
The locking needle cover (36, 234, 314) includes a rearwardly extending locking arm (98), and prior to use of the medical device, the locking arm has a second opening in the front facing surface (61) of the connector housing. Inserted in the section (46, 221), to limit relative sliding movement between the front facing surface (61) of the connector housing and the rear facing surface (87) of the front attachment. And
After removing the locking arm (98) of the locking needle cover (36,234,314) from the connector housing (32,202,302), the connector housing (32,202,302) is the length of the retractable needle (38,210,340) relative to the front attachment (34,204,304). It is slidable in the direction across the shaft, and the connector housing is slid laterally with respect to the front attachment, so that the needle retraction cavity (58,220,320) of the connector housing is the same as the needle (38,210,340) and the needle retraction mechanism Alignment on the line initiates the retraction of the needle (38, 210, 340), and the connector housing is repositioned to a safe position where no part of the needle protrudes forward from the front attachment .   The medical device of claim 1, wherein the associated medical instrument is selected from the group consisting of a syringe, a vascular catheter insertion device, a fluid infusion set, and a fluid collection device. The medical device of claim 2 , wherein the associated medical instrument is a syringe. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a fluid seal (68,242,336) disposed between the front attachment (34,204,304) and the connector housing (32,202,302) . Fluid seal (68,242,336) is an annular seal which is seated in the first recess formed in the opening (52,248) of the connector housing (32,202,302), the medical device of claim 4. Fluid seal (68,242,336) is between connector housing (32,202,302) and front attachment (34,204,304) to limit leakage of fluid around the fluid path (54,244,354), the medical device of claim 4. The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the fluid seal (68,242,336) is adjacent to a rearwardly facing end of the needle retraction mechanism . It said stop member for limiting the relative sliding move that comprises a (62,63,245,328,330), medical device of claim 1. Connector housing (32,202,302) has a first position with respect to the front attachment (34,204,304), wherein in the first position, the needle retraction mechanism is on the first opening (52,248) and coaxial lines, claim 1 medical device. Connector housing (32,202,302) has a second position with respect to the front attachment (34,204,304), wherein in the second position, lies substantially on the same axis a second opening (46,221) is a needle retraction mechanism, wherein Item 1. A medical device according to Item 1 . Connector housing (32,202,302) has a second position with respect to the front attachment (34,204,304), wherein in the second position, the interior near the needle retraction mechanism and a needle at least partially needle retraction cavity (58,220,320) that medical device of claim 10. Locking needle cover (36,234,314) is selectively removable medical device of claim 1. The second rail (91, 93) of the front attachment (34, 204, 304) and the first rail (64, 66) of the connector housing (32, 202, 302) are configured to be snapped into sliding engagement , The medical device of claim 1 . The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the needle retraction cavity (58, 220, 320) has a rear end (44), which is closed or ventilated.

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