Portion Of Body Entering Conduit Stored In Material Receiving Syringe Reservoir Patents (Class 604/195)
  • Patent number: 6217559
    Abstract: A safety syringe construction (10) including a conventional syringe member (20) equipped with a fixed tubular male sleeve member (20) and spring biased moveable tubular female sleeve member (30) which is slidable relative to the tubular male sleeve member (30). The male (30) and female (40) sleeve members are provided with a locking unit (15) for releasably engaging the female sleeve member (40) relative to the male sleeve member (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Livingston Foster
  • Patent number: 6210375
    Abstract: A needle retraction mechanism includes a hollow handle defining a cavity, a needle hub assembly movably disposed in the handle, a biasing mechanism to move the needle hub assembly from an extended position to a retracted position and a latch to hold needle hub assembly in the extended position against the bias of the biasing mechanism. The needle hub assembly includes a flexible stopper at its proximal end that creates an air tight seal with the inner wall of the handle. This allows a vacuum to be created between the proximal end of the handle and the flexible stopper when the needle hub is moved from the retracted position to the extended position. The configuration of the flexible stopper allows it to change the amount of frictional force created between the inner wall of the handle and the flexible stopper when the device is at different elevations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: William G. Moulton, Gregory Quickel, Greg L. Brimhall
  • Patent number: 6206857
    Abstract: A syringe with needle retraction arrangement is adapted for automatically retracting the hollow needle into a hollow plunger after use so as to prevent the used needle from contacting with anybody. The syringe provides a closure seat at one end of a hollow plunger, wherein when the closure seat is intentionally pushed towards a mounting seat affixed in a mounting portion of a hollow barrel, a pusher member, which is detachably connect with the closure seat, presses a tip head of a hollow needle as well as an O-ring thereon to slide towards a needle hub to compress a compression spring to store a resilient force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: Marina Ling-Ko Chen
  • Patent number: 6206856
    Abstract: A single-use safety syringe assembly comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical barrel which forms a hollow nozzle located at the distal end of the barrel and which opens into the interior of the barrel. A plunger is slidably mounted in the barrel and forms a longitudinal cavity. A needle holder carries a hollow needle on its distal end, and the needle holder is slidably mounted in the longitudinal cavity of the plunger. A biasing arrangement urges the needle holder in a direction for retracting the needle into the barrel. However, a releasable latching arrangement retains the needle holder against the urging of the biasing arrangement in a position wherein the needle projects from the barrel. An In-Barrel assembly sequence is provided which permits sequentially inserting components of the syringe into the barrel and effecting assembly with a push of the plunger. An OTN catheter may also be employed in combination with the syringe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: Sakharam D. Mahurkar
  • Patent number: 6206853
    Abstract: The invention concerns a self-retracting syringe needle comprising a body (1) supporting an injection needle, a plunger (4), a sheath (5) enclosing the body (1), a spring (6) arranged between the sheath (5) and the body (1), flexible pins (7) co-operating as limit stop with the body (1) to define a first position blocking the body (1) relative to the sheath (5) in a first direction. The syringe comprises a circlip (9) mounted around the body (1) in a position compressed between the sheath (5) and the body (1) in the first blocking position and in a released position in the second blocking position, the circlip (9) having at least one part (9a) with external contour of greater dimension than the sheath (5) internal dimension to block the body (1) in the sheath (5) when it is in the second blocking position, in the direction opposite to the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Bonnet
  • Patent number: 6196997
    Abstract: A disposable syringe mainly used in medical treatment facility and formed so that the piston (4) is pulled into the inside of the syringe body (21) with the needle support (6) by pulling out the piston (4) after the locking projection (9) of the piston *tip is inserted into and engaged with the locking hole (70) of the needle support (6) by pressing in the piston (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventor: Yoshikuni Saito
  • Patent number: 6193687
    Abstract: A safety hypodermic syringe is constructed to include a barrel, a needle assembly, a female connector, a plunger, and a male connector, wherein the female connector is disposed in the front end of the barrel and fastened to the needle assembly, having a rear retaining hole; the male connector is provided at the front side of the plunger and adapted to engage the rear retaining hole upon forward stroke of the plunger, for enabling the needle assembly to be pulled backwards with the plunger and received inside the barrel after the service of the hypodermis syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Cheng-Chi Lo
  • Patent number: 6193695
    Abstract: A disposable syringe assembly generally including a cylinder assembly 10, a needle assembly 20, a piston assembly 30, a seal cap assembly 40, a piston stem 50 and handle 60. The cylinder assembly 10 may be engaged with the needle assembly 20 substantially near the needle end of the cylinder assembly 10 and the cylinder assembly may be engaged with the seal cap assembly 40 near the seal cap end of the cylinder assembly 10. The cylinder assembly 10 may further including a fluid region 14 and an air region 15. As fluid is drawn into the fluid region 14 by movement of the piston assembly 30, air is displaced from the air region 15 through a one-way valve. As fluid is discharged from the cylinder assembly 10, a low pressure is created in the air region 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Inventor: Wayland J. Rippstein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6190361
    Abstract: A needle guard assembly for a syringe adapted to receive a hypodermic needle assembly. The guard assembly includes a needle guard that is slidably mounted on a needle-supporting hub. The needle guard may be moved from a latched position wherein the needle is fully protected by the guard to a position wherein the injection end of the needle is exposed. The assembly further includes a locking mechanism for permanently locking the needle guard in an extended position over the needle to prevent further use of the needle and to facilitate safe disposal of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Gettig Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Gettig, Larry E. Shook
  • Patent number: 6186960
    Abstract: A disposable medical collection tube holder assembly with retractable needle is disclosed. The spent needle, or other similar medical device, affixed to the holder may be safely encapsulated and disposed by a simple, one handed operation, and, both the needle and the holder are rendered useless for any subsequent operation. The invention is comprised of two parts, a collection tube holder and an evacuated accessory fitted with an air release/vacuum seal mechanism that readily permits the introduction of the vacuum into the hollow chamber of the accessory. When using the collection tube holder in the standard manner, and after the collection of the blood or other bodily fluids is complete, the collection test tube is withdrawn from the holder and then the needle withdrawn from the vein. The accessory, a tubular member with an evacuated interior, is inserted into the collection tube holder fully, and longitudinally axial force is applied to the proximal (thumb) end of the evacuated accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Texas Applied Biomedical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Martha J. Tripp, Joseph J. Janecka, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6183464
    Abstract: The syringe includes a barrel, a plunger and an adapter for mounting the needle in the distal end of the barrel. The proximal end of the plunger includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth having radially projecting fingers with contact surfaces. The adapter includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth having undercut surfaces. By advancing the plunger to engage the adapter and rotating the plunger relative to the adapter and syringe barrel, the plunger and adapter are locked to one another. By further rotating the plunger and adapter, the adapter is unscrewed from the barrel end and withdrawn with the syringe needle into the interior of the barrel. The plunger may be broken off adjacent the adapter and inserted, broken end first, into the distal end of the barrel to seal the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Inviro Medical Devices Ltd.
    Inventors: Fraser R. Sharp, Donald A. McLean
  • Patent number: 6179812
    Abstract: A safety medical device having a sharpened needle is provided. After use, the needle is retracted so that the contaminated needle is shielded to prevent inadvertent contact with the contaminated needle. In one embodiment, the device includes a barrel and a plunger that is slidable within the barrel. The sharpened needle is operable between a projecting position and a retracted position. In the projecting position, the needle projects forwardly from the front end of the barrel. In the retracted position, the needle is shielded to prevent inadvertent contact with the needle. When the plunger is displaced forwardly to expel fluid from the barrel, the plunger actuates retraction so that the needle is automatically retracted after use. The needle may be included as an element of a needle assembly that is connectable with the barrel. The needle assembly includes a spring for biasing the needle toward the retracted position and a connector for attaching the needle to the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Botich, Thor R. Halseth
  • Patent number: 6171285
    Abstract: A retractable syringe characterized by a syringe needle which can be retracted into the barrel of the syringe and locked therein after use, to prevent accidental needle sticks or re-use of the syringe. In a preferred embodiment the syringe barrel is terminated by a tapered barrel neck which communicates with the syringe barrel interior and threadibly receives the needle hub of a cannulated syringe needle. A syringe plunger, slidably disposed in the syringe barrel, is terminated by a plunger nipple for threadibly engaging the interior of the needle hub. After the syringe plunger is operated to expel the liquid contents of the syringe barrel through the syringe needle, the plunger is rotated in the barrel to threadibly seat the plunger nipple in the needle hub. Continued rotation of the plunger in the barrel threads the attached needle hub and needle into the syringe barrel. In a preferred embodiment a pair of flexible plunger lock tabs is fitted on the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: R. Steven Johnson
  • Patent number: 6162197
    Abstract: A retractable syringe needle, including a needle assembly featuring a needle-holding mechanism containing a hub and a means for securing a syringe barrel to the hub, a hypodermic needle extending through the hub; and a pin connected with said hub. The needle assembly is positioned inside a tubular container which has a tubular wall with a first longitudinal slot therein. The container has a first end adapted to receive a syringe barrel, and a second open end adapted to receive a syringe needle. The needle assembly is slidably mounted in the container so that the first longitudinal slot slidably engages the pin. The needle assembly may be moved from a first position where the needle is within the container to a second position where the needle is exposed by sliding the pin toward the second open end of the container and causing the needle to pass through the second open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Inventor: Owais Mohammad
  • Patent number: 6156013
    Abstract: A single-use safety syringe assembly comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical barrel which forms a hollow nozzle located at the distal end of the barrel and which opens into the interior of the barrel. A plunger is slidably mounted in the barrel and forms a longitudinal cavity. A needle holder carries a hollow needle on its distal end, and the needle holder is slidably mounted in the longitudinal cavity of the plunger. A biasing arrangement urges the needle holder in a direction for retracting the needle into the barrel. However, a releasable latching arrangement retains the needle holder against the urging of the biasing arrangement in a position wherein the needle projects from the barrel. An In-Barrel assembly sequence is provided which permits sequentially inserting components of the syringe into the barrel and effecting assembly with a push of the plunger. An OTN catheter may also be employed in combination with the syringe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventor: Sakharam D. Mahurkar
  • Patent number: 6152901
    Abstract: A blood sampling device for introducing a blood sample into a vacuum tube including a pierceable stopper, the device comprising: a tubular body including a side wall provided with at least one longitudinal slot ending in rear and front enlargements, and a front transverse wall provided with an orifice and a cannula having a front part and a rear part extending on either side of a side housed in the tubular body and cooperating with the longitudinal slot, the slide being displaceable between a rear end position in which it is located in the rear enlargement of the slot while the front and rear parts of the cannula are situated inside the tubular body, and a front end position in which it is locked in the front enlargement of the slot while the front part of the cannula passes through the orifice in the transverse wall of the tubular body and protrudes from the latter for the purpose of implanting it in a sampling zone and introducing a blood sample into the vacuum tube, after the latter has been placed in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Altair
    Inventors: Daniel P. Arruego, Alain B. Lloze
  • Patent number: 6132401
    Abstract: The invention concerns a safety syringe in which the needle may be held within a sheath both before and particulary after use without handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Nordway Limited
    Inventors: Hendrikus J Van Der Meyden, Alexis A Wadman
  • Patent number: 6129710
    Abstract: The present invention provides a safety syringe having a syringe cylinder, a piston stem, a needle cannula capable of being retracted into said syringe cylinder, and a needle cannula attachment hub capable of attachment to the syringe cylinder. An interior configuration of the hub includes a narrow distal portion and an enlarged well area disposed proximal thereto. The narrow distal portion may also include a plurality of annular grooves. The well area and the annular grooves are capable of being filled with an adhesive for attaching the hub to the needle cannula such that high forward needle pull-out forces and lower reverse needle pull-out forces are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Spectrum Biotech Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Beth B. Padgett, Quinton J. Farrar
  • Patent number: 6123688
    Abstract: A pre-filled injection device having a retractable needle with a sharpened tip for penetrating the skin of a patient for administering medicinal fluids is provided. The pre-filled injection device of the present invention allows the needle to be manually retracted, thereby reducing the risk of transmission of various pathogens, most notably human immune virus (HIV), to infected personnel, due to an inadvertent needle stick. The present pre-filled injection device has a hollow housing which receives a pre-filled cartridge containing medicinal fluids. A needle retainer initially holds a needle projecting forwardly from the hollow housing. The rear end of the needle pierces the pre-filled cartridge when sufficient pressure is applied to the end of the pre-filled cartridge to advance it in the forward direction. A plunger is slidably displaceable within the housing. A latch member is operable in a latched position to prevent forward movement of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Botich, Thor R. Halseth
  • Patent number: 6117107
    Abstract: A safety syringe for intravenous injection with a guided plunger is provided that comprises a barrel, a needle unit, and a plunger. An outlet is eccentrically disposed on the top of the barrel. The needle unit includes a needle and a spindle shaped needle holder mounted inside the outlet. A connecting stem has an arrowhead shaped mortise disposed under the spindle shaped needle holder. A plunger has a plunger head on the top thereof with an arrowhead shaped tenon eccentrically disposed thereon. A supporting plate disposed under the plunger head has two guide notches matched with two longitudinal guide strips inside the barrel, so that the arrowhead shaped tenon aligns with the needle unit. After completion of the injection, the arrowhead shaped tenon and the needle unit are connected together, the needle unit can then be pulled into the barrel and subsequently deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Long-Hsiung Chen
  • Patent number: 6117113
    Abstract: A syringe has a barrel, a plunger and an adapter for threaded engagement with the distal end of the barrel. The adapter has a central axial passageway for passing fluid between proximal and distal ends. The plunger and adapter have cooperating engagement structure including connective and drive surfaces for connecting the plunger to the adapter and unthreading the adapter from the barrel end for withdrawal of the adapter into the interior of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Inviro Medical Devices Ltd.
    Inventors: Laurel A. Novacek, Fraser R. Sharp, Donald A. McLean
  • Patent number: 6106500
    Abstract: A needle-syringe assembly comprises an elongated, generally cylindrical barrel which forms a hollow nozzle located at the distal end of the barrel and which opens into the interior of the barrel. A plunger is slidably mounted in the barrel and forms a longitudinal cavity. A needle holder carries a hollow needle on the distal end, and the needle holder is slidably mounted in the longitudinal cavity of the plunger. The needle holder includes a lateral arm which extends between the plunger cavity and the barrel. A spiral channel or slot forms a guide surface which extends along a proximal end portion of the barrel for engaging the lateral arm of the needle holder and retracting the needle holder within the barrel in response to relative rotational movement between the barrel and the needle holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Sakharam D. Mahurkar
  • Patent number: 6102894
    Abstract: A modular retractable spring cannula blood collection device that is comprised of a needle cannula with a rigid first end and a biased spring formed at the second end. The second end of the needle cannula that is formed into a biased spring needle cannula is contained in an elongated hollow tube with a first end and a second end wherein the first end has a cannula support tunnel and a hub is formed at the second end. The second end of the biased spring needle cannula is fixed to the second end of the elongated hollow tube and a latching means is fixed to the spring needle cannula and wherein the latching means is fixed to a latch release near the first end of the elongated hollow tube thereby supporting the first end of the spring needle cannula and thereby further restraining the biased spring needle cannula within the elongated hollow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Edward D. Dysarz
  • Patent number: 6099500
    Abstract: A safety needle cannula module in interchangeable combination with a safety syringe and plunger module, wherein the safety needle cannula module is formed with one of a variety of needle cannula sizes and wherein said safety syringe may be one of a variety of syringe sizes. The safety needle cannula module with needle cannula of desired size is attached to a safety syringe module wherein said safety syringe is a desired size. After medication is injected into a body with the safety needle cannula and the safety syringe, the safety syringe module reacts with the safety needle cannula module and further causes said safety needle cannula to be automatically retracted and disposed within the hollow plunger within said safety syringe module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Edward D. Dysarz
  • Patent number: 6093174
    Abstract: A pre-filled syringe comprising, as common prior art syringes have, a partially open end, a neck extending therefrom, a needle, a needle cover plus a new type of attachment for storing and using the syringe needle. Prior to using the pre-filled syringe, the needle and needle cover are attached to the inside surface of the syringe neck, with the needle puncture end (and the respective needle cover end) within the syringe body surrounded by the pre-filled solution, while the needle attachment end (and the respective needle cover end) is exterior to the syringe body. To use the syringe, the needle cover and needle are removed from the syringe body interior and are attached at the needle attachment end to the outside surface of the syringe neck. The needle cover is then removed from the needle, and the needle is now primed for use. In one embodiment, the storage attachment comprises mating threading on the needle cover and the body neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Oleg L. Novinkov
  • Patent number: 6093171
    Abstract: A safety syringe that is characterized by that a plunger thereof has an elastic stopper fitted around a neck portion of the plunger near a front end thereof. When the plunger is fully pushed forward in a barrel of the syringe, the stopper slightly deforms to allow the plunger to move forward a little further, so that all medical liquid in the barrel is injected into a patient's body. The safety syringe is also characterized by that an elastic catch hook is provided at the front end of the plunger and a catch rib is provided around a rear inner end of a locking tip that is fitted to a front end of the barrel for a needle to connect thereto. When the plunger is further pushed forward in the barrel, the catch hook is moved beyond the catch rib and retained in the locking tip by the catch rib. Whereby, simply pulling the plunger backward could directly pull the locking tip and a used needle backward into the barrel to avoid injuring others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Wu-Shun Huang
  • Patent number: 6090077
    Abstract: A tamperproof retractable non-reusable syringe has a one piece hollow outer body with a barrel for a slidable plunger, a transition zone and a smaller diameter nose portion. An elongated needle holder and spring combination is installable from the rear of the outer body, guided into the nose portion and held by cooperating inwardly and outwardly facing surfaces oriented in the direction of retraction at the most constricted part of the transition zone where the nose begins. The plunger has an opening with a dislodgable stopper for receiving parts of the retraction mechanism. The stopper and the head of the needle holder are of significantly reduced diameter from the injection fluid chamber to resist blowing out prematurely. In one embodiment the head of the needle holder is surrounded by a separable retainer member which is slidingly removed by contact with the tip of the plunger after the stopper is mostly or fully removed to avoid cumulation of force required for retraction after the injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 6086566
    Abstract: The invention concerns an injection syringe (10) comprising a syringe body (12) bearing an injecting needle (22) and a rear actuating piston (14) movably mounted in the body (12). It further comprises a mobile protector (36) of the end (22A) of the injecting needle, movable between a retracted position in the body (12) and an active protecting position in which the front end or the protector (36) is in front of the injecting end (22A). The protector (36) and the syringe body (12) comprise protuberances associated (44, 102) by projections and recesses for maintaining the protector (36) in its active protecting position. The syringe comprises a member (66) for positively retaining in locked position the protuberances associated (44, 102) by projections and recesses when the needle protector (36) is in active protecting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Societe d'Etudes et d'Applications Techniques-S.E.D.A.T.
    Inventor: Yves Arnissolle
  • Patent number: 6086568
    Abstract: An improved syringe plunger rod for a retracting needle syringe is illustrated having a plunger rod with inner and outer members and a retaining ring. The retaining ring restricts movement between the inner and outer members until the ring makes contact with the proximal end of the retracting needle syringe and further distal force is applied to the inner member. Once disengaged, the inner member moves relative to the outer member to activate the retractable needle syringe. One advantage of the improved plunger rod is that it reduces the probability of premature activation of the retractable needle syringe. In addition, the improved plunger rod assists in the prevention of re-use of the syringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Richard Caizza
  • Patent number: 6086545
    Abstract: A sampling device for sampling body fluid includes a casing which is pressed against a skin surface to produce a seal therewith. A cocking mechanism is pulled rearwardly to place a lancing device in a cocked state. By releasing a trigger, the lancing device is driven forward to produce an incision in the skin, and then is retracted out of the incision. A plunger mounted on the cocking mechanism is then retracted to generate a negative pressure at the front end of the casing to draw body fluid from the incision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Amira Medical
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Roe, Joel S. Douglas
  • Patent number: 6083199
    Abstract: A single use retractable syringe (1) comprises a hollow barrel (2), a needle (3) engaged with a first end (4) of the hollow barrel (2) and a plunger (5) slideably disposed in the hollow barrel (2). Corresponding interlocking portions (6,7) are provided on the plunger (5) and needle (3) and are engageable only when radially aligned. The syringe (1) is provided with means for rotating the plunger (5) relative to the needle (3) from an orientation where the corresponding interlocking portions (6,7) are radially non-aligned on an initial depression of the plunger (5) toward the hollow barrel first end (4) to expel air to an orientation where the corresponding interlocking portions (6,7) are radially aligned on a subsequent depression of the plunger (5) to dispense fluid from the hollow barrel (2), thereby enabling the corresponding interlocking portions (6,7) to engage and retract the needle (3) into the hollow barrel (2) on a subsequent retraction of the plunger (5) away from the first end (4) following use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventors: Craig Stephen Thorley, Joseph Hermes Kaal
  • Patent number: 6077245
    Abstract: A disposable medical syringe apparatus with retractable needle is disclosed. The spent needle, or other similar medical sharps device, affixed to a detachable needle hub on the syringe barrel may be safely encapsulated and disposed by a simple, one handed operation, and, both the needle and the syringe apparatus are rendered useless for any subsequent operation. The invention is comprised of two parts, a syringe barrel fitted with a detachable needle hub and an evacuated plunger fitted with a combination catch ring/air release/vacuum seal mechanism that readily permits the introduction of the vacuum into the hollow chamber of the plunger. The syringe apparatus is used in the standard manner for an injection of medicinal liquid or for the collection of blood or other body fluids. When use is complete, continued longitudinal axial force is applied to the distal (thumb) end of the evacuated plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Texas Applied Biomedical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Joyce Heinrich, Brent W. Murray, Martha J. Tripp, Joseph J. Janecka, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6074370
    Abstract: A syringe apparatus and process for using the same is provided, the syringe apparatus having a barrel, a plunger movable within the barrel, a needle assembly attached to an end of the barrel and having a passageway therethrough, a deformable base positioned within the barrel, flexible supports included on the deformable base, a spring within the passageway of the needle assembly, a hollow needle passing through the passageway, an enlarged head on the needle, and a rupturable web on an end of the plunger, whereby when the plunger moves through the barrel toward the needle assembly, a fluid can be moved from the barrel through the hollow of the needle, and continued movement of the plunger flexes the supports and moves the deformable base downwardly until such time a sufficient force is imparted to the rupturable web by the enlarged head to tear the web, the deformable base then releasing the needle due to force applied by the spring to project the needle into the interior of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Syringe Development Partners L.L.C.
    Inventors: William B. S. Pressly, Sr., Charles A. Vaughn, Sr., G. Samuel Brockway, Thomas R. Ellis
  • Patent number: 6071956
    Abstract: An exogenous stimulus is applied to tissues or cells which are at risk in a subsequent surgical procedure or other intervention which induces a response by the cells that minimizes reaction to the subsequent procedure. Stimuli can be chemical, physiological or physical. Examples include those stimuli known to induce expression of stress response proteins or heat shock proteins, especially heat shock protein 70 (hsp 70) and hsp 90, for example, exposure to heat or dilute hydrogen peroxide, or direct administration of exogenous heat shock proteins, or those stimuli which act to inhibit or reduce heat shock protein expression, for example, treatment with flavonoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Endoluminal Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin J. Slepian, Stephen P. Massia
  • Patent number: 6066115
    Abstract: A safety syringe includes a barrel, a plunger, a needle set and a needle sheath. The plunger can be engaged with the needle set after completing an injection with the syringe, and the needle set can be then pulled in into the barrel for storage. Further, the needle set inside the barrel will pose automatically obliquely for avoiding the needle cannula being accidentally exposed exterior to the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Yu-Hau Chang Lai
  • Patent number: 6059756
    Abstract: A safety injection device has a barrel, a seat operatively and slidably received within the barrel and having a needle cannula extending out therefrom, a stopper detachably received in a chamber defined in the seat and a plunger slidably received in the barrel and having a pair of connectors detachably received in the stopper and a pair of spaced extensions The gap between the two extensions allows the plunger to engage with the stopper and therefore to push the seat originally received in the barrel. Due to the movement of the connectors, the seat is able to be secured with respect to the barrel with the needle cannula extending out from the barrel and pulled back into the barrel with the needle cannula received in the barrel. With such a construction, human intervention in the disposal and exposure to the contaminated cannula is avoided, and therefore, the risk of infection is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Song-Hwa Yeh
  • Patent number: 6056726
    Abstract: The present invention relates to intravenous catheter insertion devices which employ a sharp needle to introduce and emplace an intravenous catheter into a body vessel of a patient. The sharp needle end is positioned to extend from within the catheter such that the needle and catheter can be introduced into the body vessel which is pierced by the sharp needle. Following use of the present intravenous catheter insertion device to introduce and emplace an intravenous catheter into a patient's body vessel, the needle is withdrawn from within the catheter and the device is separated from the catheter such that only the catheter remains within the body vessel. The safety intravenous catheter insertion device of the present invention comprises self-contained coupling means for preventing separation of the catheter from the device until the needle is substantially transposed into a safety receptacle to thereby permit the used needle to be safely handled and discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: Dennis Ray Isaacson
  • Patent number: 6050977
    Abstract: An improved syringe of the type having a hollow body which is closed at one end by an injection means and is open at the other end, the open end receives an elongated plunger means which moves through the hollow body and forces the contents of the body through the injection means. The improvement is comprised of an elastic member which retracts the injection means into a protective covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Futura Medical Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Adams
  • Patent number: 6050974
    Abstract: An automatically retractable hypodermic needle incorporating a spring loaded needle assembly held in place by a rotatable member having a dislodgable filler sleeve extending through a hole in the rotatable member, such that upon the application of downward pressure by the plunger on the edge of the rotatable member, the member is rotated and the dislodgable filler sleeve is aligned with the spring loaded needle assembly, allowing the needle assembly to force the filler sleeve out of the hole in the rotatable member, and accordingly, allow the filler sleeve and needle assembly to be automatically retracted into the barrel of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventors: Edward F. Allard, Daniel Q. Longmire
  • Patent number: 6039713
    Abstract: A needle-bearing device for injecting medicinal fluid from a pre-filled cartridge is provided. After use, the needle is retracted into the body of the device to prevent inadvertent contact with the sharpened end of the needle. In one embodiment, the invention provides a manually actuable button that effectuates retraction of the needle after use. In another embodiment, retraction is effectuated automatically after the injection is complete.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: MDC Investment Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Botich, Thor R. Halseth, John Barker
  • Patent number: 6036674
    Abstract: A retracting needle syringe includes a barrel having a chamber, an open proximal end and an open distal end. A plunger is slidably positioned in fluid-tight engagement with an inside surface of the barrel. The plunger has an elongated cavity in its distal end and a cover element sealing the cavity. A needle assembly at the distal end of the barrel includes a needle cannula having an inner hub having an open proximal end and a distal end connected to the needle cannula so that the lumen of the cannula is in fluid communication with the chamber. A flange on the inner hub is connected to a proximal end of an outer hub so that the needle cannula projects distally outwardly from a distal end of the outer hub. A spring is contained between the inner hub and the outer hub. A circular release element is movably connected to a proximal end of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Caizza, Robert Cipoletti
  • Patent number: 6033386
    Abstract: The syringe includes a barrel, a plunger, and an adapter for mounting the needle in the distal end of the barrel. The adapter includes a protrusion projecting away from the needle end and into the barrel defining an annular space between the barrel and the protrusion. The plunger and protrusion have complementary surfaces whereby the plunger may grip the adapter for removal of the adapter into the interior of the barrel after use. These complementary surfaces afford initial resistance to further axial movement of the plunger toward the adapter, signalling the user that further axial pressure will permanently lock the plunger and adapter to one another whereby, upon application of full axial pressure on the plunger, the complementary surfaces of the plunger and adapter permanently lock to one another to enable joint unitary movement of the plunger and adapter together with the needle carried by the adapter into the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Inviro Medical Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: Laurel A. Novacek, Fraser R. Sharp, Donald A. McLean
  • Patent number: 6033385
    Abstract: A safety vein syringe with retractable special needle, including a syringe barrel, a plunger, an injection needle and a guiding mechanism formed between the needle holder and the plunger. By means of the guiding mechanism, the plunger can be only axially moved within the barrel without rotation and two needle pulling members can be easily aligned with each other and latched together. The first needle pulling member is formed on the needle holder or the plunger, having at least one rotatable click. The second needle pulling member is formed on the plunger or the needle holder, having a detent. When the piston of the plunger is pushed to the bottom, the detent is easily and firmly engaged and hooked with the click. Thereafter, the injection needle and the needle holder can be together pulled into the barrel with the tip of the injection needle positioned under the shoulder section of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Inventor: Wen-Neng Liu
  • Patent number: 6030415
    Abstract: A system for repairing body lumens including a modular graft and a method for deploying the graft within the body lumen. The modular graft includes a first component having first and second leg portions which mate with second and third graft components, respectively. The second leg portion has a bell bottom shape. The modular graft further includes expandable members which aid in implanting the modular graft as well as facilitates the mating of its components. In order to repair the body lumen, the first component is placed at the repair site and thereafter, the first and second legs are advanced to the repair site and attached to the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Endovascular Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy A. M. Chuter
  • Patent number: 6024710
    Abstract: An assembly for the collection of a patient's blood specimen comprises an elongate needle holder, a blood collection tube, and a cap closing the blood collection tube. The needle holder supports a blood extracting needle through a closed end thereof. The blood collection tube is insertable into the interior of the needle holder so as to collect blood. The cap has a membrane which is puncturable by the needle upon insertion of the blood collection tube into the interior of the needle holder. The cap includes a deflectable member extending therefrom for engagement with the cylindrical wall of the needle holder so as to frictionally resist longitudinal movement of the tube within the tube holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Henry F. Miller
  • Patent number: 6024727
    Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for both blood draw, syringe and catheter insertion systems. Invention manufacture requires only a minimal number and complexity of parts such that a projected manufacturing cost is potentially low enough to permit the apparatus to be cost competitive with contemporary non-self retracting needle systems. Methods for making and assembling each of the disclosed the embodiments is also disclosed. One blood draw embodiment can be made with as few as three molded parts. Energy-storing, needle-retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts. In an elastic tubing embodiment, selective, constrictive control of stretched tubing volumes effectively inhibits regurgitant flow from the needle. In all embodiments, needle retraction is a single handed operation permitting a technician's other hand to be used in wound care.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventors: Gale H. Thorne, David L. Thorne, Mark Nelson, Charles V. Owen, Sandra A. Thorne
  • Patent number: 6017325
    Abstract: A disposable syringe with an automatically retractable hypodermic needle for use in the injection of medicinal substances and/or the removal or samples of blood and liquids in general in human or veterinary medicine is disclosed. Once the operation of the syringe is performed the application of slight additional pressure to the end of the piston's travel causes the needle to be automatically shot inwards, with it remaining permanently housed in the interior in order to protect the operator from pricks or contact with pathogenic substances, and also making it unusable for subsequent applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Inventors: Daniel Alberto Yerfino, Aldo Luis Ducler
  • Patent number: 6010486
    Abstract: A retracting needle syringe is described which allows safe and easy disposal of a syringe and prevents re-use of the syringe by destroying the plunger rod and needle hub and retracting the needle into the plunger rod. Once the safety feature is activated, positive or negative pressure in the barrel to draw out medication is defeated. The retracting needle safety feature requires only an increase of force along the same line of action as the injection stroke. This allows for safe, one-handed injection, which is critical in some situations. The retracting needle syringe of the present invention also minimizes the amount of wasted medication because the plunger rod incorporates a plunger tip that occupies the entire volume inside the barrel. Because the retracting needle syringe uses standard luer-lok fittings, it can be used with a variety of standard needles that do not have retracting cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Carter, Richard Caizza
  • Patent number: 5997512
    Abstract: A single use retractable medical device dispenses fluids from a separable carpule. A retraction mechanism having a spring loaded needle holder with a double ended needle is mounted the in front of a housing by means of a push ring slidingly mounted on a widened portion of the needle holder. An outer edge of the push ring grips or is restrained by the inner wall surface of the housing to hold the needle holder in place. A carpule positioned through an opening in back of the housing is progressively received by a plunger which drives a separable two-part piston to unload medicine from the carpule through the needle. At the end of an injection, the plunger is depressed further to remove the push ring in cooperation with the carpule thereby freeing the needle holder for retraction through the front opening of the carpule. As the needle is retracted into the housing from one end, the edge of the thumb cap of the plunger disappears into an opening at the opposite end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Thomas J. Shaw
  • Patent number: 5997511
    Abstract: A syringe (10) comprises a barrel (12), a plunger (14) and a retractable needle mount (16). The needle mount (16) is secured in an opening in one end (20) of the barrel by resiliently flexible arms (64) having shoulders (62) which cooperate with shoulders (32) defined in recesses (28) of the barrel wall (36) by insert ring (24) seated on step (22). The plunger piston (96) has slots (114) in an end face thereof which closely receive the distal portions (74) of the arms (64) widthwise. The slots (114) have surfaces (116) which act on the arms to disengage the arms from the recesses (28) and catches (122) which cooperate with catch surfaces (80) on the arms so that the needle mount (16) is withdrawn with the plunger (14). The barrel (12) includes integrally hinged guide members (126) to axially orientate the plunger (14) relative thereto and the plunger has catch means (140) which cooperates with the guide member (126) to secure the withdrawn plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventors: Napoleon Curie, David Neven Mason