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.

Abstract: A unimold sharps container and a unimold wall mount for a sharps container providing a sharps container system made from only two mold cavities. The sharps container is formed from a single mold cavity and comprises a well having four closed sides and a closed bottom and a top which is hingeably affixed to the well such that the entire container is assembled by folding interlocking parts of the container together. In similar fashion, the wall mount is made from a single mold cavity and comprises a secure attachment for a sharps container, yet a quick release feature which permits the container to be quickly and facilely remove for use away from the wall mount.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for combinations comprising medical syringes and self-retracting needle systems. An energy-storing, needle-retracting mechanism comprises an elastic tubing which also is taught perform a plurality of functions comprising the storing of force by which a medical needle is retracted, slidable seals, normally dosed valves and dynamic volume control by which fluid regurgitation upon needle retraction is voided. Selective, constrictive control of the internal volume of the tubing when stretched effectively inhibits regurgitant flow from the needle as the tubing relaxes while retracting the needle. In all embodiments, needle retraction is initiated by forces applied in a direction transverse to the long axis of the needle using but a single hand. The syringe may be used in a plurality of modes such as a standard syringe or as a pre-filled syringe.

Abstract: Parts which may be integrally molded with a phlebotomy barrel or with a Luer fitting to provide, in a single molded part, an extendable safety enclosure for a medical cannula in phlebotomy, syringe and other general medical needle applications. Integrally molded part phlebotomy safety devices are disclosed which require only the integrally-molded part, a medical needle, a label and a transport needle cover to form a ready-to-use phlebotomy device. Upon removal of the label and needle cover, the device is ready for use in a medical procedure. The enclosure comprises a plurality of rigid segments serially connected by a plurality of intersegment hinges, which are preferably living hinges The segments are disposed about a medical needle, folded upon each other during the medical procedure and extended at the end of the procedure to form a secure, substantially rigid safety shroud. During the procedure, the enclosure is folded and conveniently disposed about a proximal portion of the needle.

Abstract: A one-time-use, self-powered, disposable lancet apparatus packaged both as strips comprising a plurality of lancets and as individually packaged lancets. A novel lancet blade design comprises means for attaching each blade in a loader stack for an automated assembly machine. Individually packaged lancets are disclosed in both one-step and two-step embodiments. In each case, every lancet comprises a self-contained package which houses a powered lancet blade before use and a spent blade after use to assure safety from inadvertent sticks both before and after a lancing procedure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for combinations comprising medical syringes and self-retracting needle systems. An energy-storing, needle-retracting mechanism comprises an elastic tubing which also is taught perform a plurality of functions comprising the storing of force by which a medical needle is retracted, slidable seals, normally closed valves and dynamic volume control by which fluid regurgitation upon needle retraction is voided. Selective, constrictive control of the internal volume of the tubing when stretched effectively inhibits regurgitant flow from the needle as the tubing relaxes while retracting the needle. In all embodiments, needle retraction is initiated by forces applied in a direction transverse to the long axis of the needle using but a single hand. The syringe may be used in a plurality of modes such as a standard syringe or as a pre-filled syringe.

Abstract: A container assembly for transport of new devices and for later disposal of sharps related medical waste. The transport and disposal container assembly preferably has a container body with a top opening and an opening encasing lid for use with various sized container bodies. In one embodiment, the container assembly, when used for sharps disposal, includes a lid having a self-closing biased flap in combination with a cradle member which are opened for access to a pathway for dispensing used sharps into the container body, but which restrict direct or line-of-sight access to previously deposited medical waste. A lid made by a single injection molding step is disclosed. The lid comprises a cover which is opened to permit access to the cradle member and pathway and which is securely, but releasibly, closed to provide a double layer of protection between contents of the container body and a user. Such protection is especially desirable when transporting a container partially filled with contaminated sharps.

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 technicians other hand to be used in wound care.

Abstract: A container assembly for transport of new devices and for later disposal of sharps and other medical waste, the assembly comprising a secure closure for transport and tamper evidence upon its being opened for access to new devices is disclosed and claimed. The transport and disposal container assembly preferably has a container body with a device ingress and egress opening, a lid for use with multiple-sized container bodies and at least one apparatus which produces tamper evidence when accessing new devices stored for transport within the assembly. Evidence of tampering comprises at least one of (1) a collar which releasibly, but securely interconnects the container body and lid for transport of new devices, (2) a shrink wrap disposed over the entire container and (3) a seal over the container body opening.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for both blood withdrawal and catheter insertion systems. Two blood withdrawal embodiments are disclosed. 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 of the blood withdrawal embodiments can be made with as few as three molded parts. Energy storing retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts. Triggerable release mechanisms generally comprise two parts or two segments of one part molded about a medical needle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of used medical needles. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for medical syringe, blood withdrawal and catheter insertion systems. Invention manufacture requires only a small number and complexity of parts such that 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 blood withdrawal, syringe and catheter embodiments are disclosed. Energy storing retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts. Triggerable release mechanisms generally comprise two parts or two frangible segments of one part disposed about a medical needle. Each release mechanism involves one part or segment which is securely affixed to the needle and one part or segment which is free to slide and rotate about the needle.

Abstract: A novel two part lancing device comprising a multiple compartment housing for lancets and a carrier. The compartments are joined in a common multiple lancet housing for improved handling and distribution. The housing consists of two end compartments and at least two serially linked, frangibly separable, disposable lancet compartments which comprise presterilized, self-actuating lancets. When fired, each lancet, driven by a precocked torsion spring, executes one reciprocal cycle wherein the lancet tip is driven outward a precise distance to lance a patients finger or the like and is then fully retracted into the housing compartment. The spent lancet can be frangibly separated from the housing to provide access to the next-to-be-used lancet which remains aseptically pure until the moment of separation of the spent lancet. Because the used lancet tip is fully retracted into the housing, the separated lancet compartment can be safely discarded without special handling.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for both blood withdrawal 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 the disclosed embodiments is also disclosed. Energy storing retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts and may be used for both blood withdrawal and catheter needles. Triggerable release mechanisms generally comprise two parts or two segments of one part molded about a medical needle. Each release mechanism involves one part or segment which is securely affixed to the needle and one part or segment which is free to slide and rotate about the needle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus associated with safe retraction of medical needles after use. Embodiments are disclosed for self-retracting needle systems for both blood withdrawal and catheter insertion systems. Two blood withdrawal embodiments are disclosed. 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 of the blood withdrawal embodiments can be made with as few as three molded parts. Energy storing retracting mechanisms comprise elastic tubing and vacuum generating piston parts. Triggerable release mechanisms generally comprise two parts or two segments of one part molded about a medical needle.

Abstract: A container assembly for transport and disposal of medical instruments is disclosed and claimed. The container assembly preferably has a container body and a lid for use with multiple-sized container bodies. The lid includes a self-closing biased flap and a cradle member for insertion of sharp medical instruments and other medical waste without contact by medical personnel during insertion into the container.

Abstract: The container is optionally useful for transport of new sharp medical instruments, and for disposal of used sharp medical instruments. The container includes a pair of top flaps, a first of which pivots relative to the other. The second flap is selectively fixed to the body of the container to limit the opening to the interior of the body when the container is to be utilized for disposal of used sharp medical instruments. The second flap is typically not secured during transport such that it may be moved to provide a relatively large area or opening for insertion or removal of the new medical instruments. Several embodiments of the invention provide closure tabs at the ends of the second flap which are engageable with closure elements carried by the end walls of the container body to fix the second flap and to permit only a restricted opening into the interior of the container for the insertion of used sharp medical instruments.