Abstract: A medical needle cover arrangement for a single-use syringe having a medical needle with a sharp tip, the needle being mounted on the syringe to project forwardly from a needle hub. A sleeve forming a part of a safety device is mounted on the syringe. The sleeve is arranged for axial movement with respect to the needle from an initial shielding position to a non-shielding position, the sleeve being blocked against forward movement with respect to the syringe from its initial shielding position. A soft needle cover overlies the needle with the sharp tip of the needle sealed by the cover. The rear end of the soft needle cover and the forward end of the syringe hub are profiled with complementary engaging surfaces. The cover has a step part-way between its ends, the step being engaged by an internal abutment at the forward end of the sleeve, to resist movement of the cover forwardly away from the syringe hub and so maintain a seal between the cover and hub.

Abstract: A safety needle device for a medical injector supporting a needle projecting forwardly from the front of the injector body has a tubular sleeve for a supported needle, the sleeve being slidable rearwardly with respect to the needle to expose at least the tip thereof. The sleeve has a forward end for contacting an injection site and a removable cover is engaged in sealing contact with the forward end of the sleeve. The sleeve may have an in-turned flange at its forward end defining an orifice through which the needle projects when the sleeve slides rearwardly. The removable cover may effect a seal to that flange.

Abstract: A medical needle safety device includes a needle mount for supporting the needle and a needle shielding sleeve surrounding a supported needle coaxially with the mount, for sliding from a needle shielding position towards a non-shielding position. The mount (30) provides a sliding surface and a resiliently flexible finger is provided on the sleeve, the finger being resiliently deformed outwardly as the sleeve moves towards a non-shielding position, to urge the sleeve back to a shielding position. A control member is disposed within the sleeve and the inner surface of the finger has a camming surface with a transition profile between the inner surface and canning surface. On initial rearward movement of the sleeve, the control member interacts with the camming surface of the finger to flex the finger outwardly and store energy therein.

Abstract: A safety device for a medical injector supporting a needle projecting forwardly from the front of the injector has a tubular sleeve slidable rearwardly to expose at least the tip of a supported needle. The sleeve has a forward end for contacting an injection site and a removable cover for the needle is attached to the forward end of the sleeve. The sleeve has an external end face lying in a radial plane and having an orifice through which a needle projects when the sleeve slides rearwardly. The removable cover effects a seal to the forward end of the sleeve. Alternatively, the cover may frictionally engage the forward end of the sleeve or the cover may have a bore into which an enlargement member may be pressed so as to expand the cover within the sleeve and connect the cover to the sleeve.

Abstract: A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enlargement at or adjacent the rear end of the barrel and carries at its forward end a safe needle device or a needle shield of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel. At least one of the enlargement of the syringe barrel or the support surface has a profile tapering or rounded inwardly in the downward direction so that when the tray is supported generally horizontally and a syringe barrel is lowered into an upstand, the syringe barrel is centred by co-operation between the enlargement and the support surface. The enlargement may be a flange at the rear end of the syringe barrel or could be a further component fitted to the barrel.

Abstract: A handling system for use in the manufacture of syringe barrels includes a tray having an array of apertures with a tubular upstand around each aperture, each upstand at the upper end thereof defining a support surface for a syringe barrel. Each syringe barrel comprises a cylindrical part and an enlargement at or adjacent the rear end of the barrel and carries at its forward end a safe needle device or a needle shield of a greater diameter than the syringe barrel. At least one of the enlargement of the syringe barrel or the support surface has a profile tapering or rounded inwardly in the downward direction so that when the tray is supported generally horizontally and a syringe barrel is lowered into an upstand, the syringe barrel is centered by co-operation between the enlargement and the support surface. The enlargement may be a flange at the rear end of the syringe barrel or could be a further component fitted to the barrel.

Abstract: A medical needle safety device includes a needle mount for supporting the needle and a needle shielding sleeve surrounding a supported needle coaxially with the mount, for sliding from a needle shielding position towards a non-shielding position. The mount (30) provides a sliding surface and a resiliently flexible finger is provided on the sleeve, the finger being resiliently deformed outwardly as the sleeve moves towards a non-shielding position, to urge the sleeve back to a shielding position. A control member is disposed within the sleeve and the inner surface of the finger has a camming surface with a transition profile between the inner surface and canning surface. On initial rearward movement of the sleeve, the control member interacts with the camming surface of the finger to flex the finger outwardly and store energy therein.

Abstract: A safety device having a tubular support for a needle mount end and a protective shield slidably mounted on the support from a set position, a retracted position and then to a locked position to covers the needle. A locking member mounted on the support, within the shield and a cam follower is engaged with a cam profile on the locking member. Forward axial movement of the support relative to the locking member causes the locking member to rotate relative to the support. The shield has a guide defining a shoulder towards its rearward end and an abutment on the locking member is receivable behind the shoulder when the shield is in its locked position. A spring acts such that when the locking member is turned to engage its abutment with the shoulder of the shield when the latter is in its locked position, so preventing subsequent rearward movement thereof.

Abstract: A safety device for a medical needle (10) has a tubular support (14) for the needle mount end and a tubular protective shield (25) slidably mounted on the support (14) from a set position to a retracted position and then to a locked position where the shield covers the needle. The shield (25) and support (14) are restrained against relative rotational movement. A locking member (18) is rotationally mounted on the support, within the shield, there being a cam follower (22) on the support engaged with a cam profile (21) on the locking member (18) whereby forward axial movement of the support relative to the locking member causes the locking member to rotate relative to the support. The shield (25) has a guide (27) defining a shoulder (32) towards its rearward end and an abutment (23) on the locking member (18) is receivable behind the shoulder when the shield is in its locked position.