Anesthetizer with automatic needle decommissioning mechanism
A medical device includes a hollow needle having a distal end and a proximal end, and a substantially flexible storage chamber for storing a medical preparation. The storage chamber is disposed spaced apart from the proximal end of the needle. The medical device further includes a needle shield, means operable to advance the storage chamber toward the proximal end of the needle and enabling fluid communication thereof with the medical preparation in the storage chamber, and means operable to decommission the needle substantially immediately using the needle shield after injecting the medical preparation with the needle.
This patent application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/177,266 filed Jun. 19, 2002, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/299,628 filed on Jun. 20, 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to the field of medical products, and more particularly to a device such as an anesthetizer with automatic needle decommissioning mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe insertion of a large gauge needle or an intravenous (I.V.) catheter can be a frightening and painful experience. The sight alone of the large gauge needle is enough to cause a patient to become anxious and tense. The patient's reaction causes his muscles to become tense and hard, making needle penetration difficult and painful.
Typically, the I.V. needle must be inserted into a vein along the forearm or on the back of a hand. It is not uncommon for a first attempt to insert the I.V. needle to fail because it is difficult to locate a vein in some patients. As a result, further painful probing is often required to find the vein and insert the needle. After insertion, an I.V. catheter may remain in place for an extended period of time. The site of penetration may remain painful due to the pulling and stretching of the catheter. As a result, the patient may be subject to pain and suffering repeatedly and needlessly. It is therefore in the best interest of the patients and medical and health professionals that the patient's pain and fear associated with I.V. needle and other large gauge needles are addressed.
An additional concern for today's medical and health professionals and staff is the possibility of contracting infectious blood-borne diseases through accidental contact with used needles. Measures, guidelines and legislation for the safe handling and disposal of used needles and syringes have been prescribed. Some needle retraction and shield mechanisms have been heretofore proposed to remove the needle point from possible exposure and contact with personnel after use. However, these devices often require the user to affirmatively actuate or initiate the mechanism to retract or shield the needle, which renders the device ineffective in some instances where the user is either careless, forgetful, or in a rush such as in emergency situations, for example. Other proposed devices require a two-handed operation to retract or cover the needle, which makes these devices inconvenient to use in many instances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThere is an urgent desire to provide medical and healthcare professionals and staff syringes and other devices with a needle that is automatically decommissioned after use to prevent accidental needle pricks. The present invention provides a device such as an anesthetizer that has an automatic needle retraction or covering mechanism to decommission the needle. It should be noted that the automatic mechanisms described herein are equally applicable to syringes and other devices in which it is desirable to render a sharp edge or point inaccessible.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a medical device includes a hollow needle having a distal end and a proximal end, a substantially flexible storage chamber for storing a medical preparation, the storage chamber being disposed spaced apart from the proximal end of the needle. The medical device further includes a needle shield, means operable to advance the storage chamber toward the proximal end of the needle and enabling fluid communication thereof with the medical preparation in the storage chamber, and means operable to decommission the needle substantially immediately using the needle shield after injecting the medical preparation with the needle.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an anesthetizer includes a substantially flexible storage chamber for containing a numbing solution, a fine gauge hollow needle having a distal end and a proximal end, the needle operable to conduct the numbing solution from its proximal end to its distal end, a needle shield, and a decommissioning device operable to decommission the needle using the needle shield substantially immediately after injecting the numbing solution into a patient's skin with the needle, the numbing solution operable to raise a skin wheal.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a medical device includes a substantially flexible storage chamber for containing a solution, a hollow needle having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the needle operable to pierce the storage chamber and the needle operable to conduct the solution from its proximal end to its distal end, means for shielding the needle, and means for actuating the needle shielding means substantially immediately after injecting the solution into a patient's skin with the needle, the solution operable to raise a skin wheal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFor a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to
It should be noted that although the present invention is primarily described as operating in an anesthetizer used to numb a site intended for a later needle insertion, the present invention is equally applicable and operable for use with a syringe and other such devices to decommission the needle so that it can no longer pose a threat to personnel. The present invention is especially suitable for disposable devices but can be implemented in non-disposable devices as well.
Referring more specifically to
In operation, the user removes cap 14 and spacer 20 and exerts pressure on actuation button 22 to close the gap previously occupied by spacer 20. The advancement of actuation button 22 in effect pushes storage bulb 18 toward the proximal tip of needle 24, which pierces its wall and makes contact with medicated solution(s) therein. The user then positions the distal end of anesthetizer 10 over the intended injection site and lowers anesthetizer 10 and its nose cone 28 onto the injection site and presses down thereon. The downward pressure pushes nose cone 28 into body 12 against biasing element 26. The downward pressure also forces the ridges 33 of ratchet 32 to be displaced beyond channels 25. Ratchet 32 rotates due to the shape of ridges 33 of ratchet 32 and the shape of ridges 35 of collar 34. In other words, it is easier for ratchet 32 to rotate in one direction versus the other because of the trapezoidal shape of its teeth 33. After rotation for a predetermined amount determined by the width of ridges 33 and spacing therebetween, ridges 33 of ratchet 32 and collar 34 come to rest on “top” of channels 25, being urged against channels 25 by spring 26. With ratchet 32 and collar 34 resting against channels 25, a space is created between collar 34 and nose cone 28. Nose cone 38 is thus able to retract when anesthetizer 10 is lowered onto the patient's skin, where the needle tip and a predetermined length thereof extend beyond nose cone 38 and into the patient's tissues. The user at this time may squeeze or otherwise exert pressure on storage bulb 18 to force the numbing solution or fluid therein to go through needle 24 and enter into the patient's tissues at the injection site. In a preferred embodiment such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,505,694 and 5,190,521 issued to Hubbard et al. on Apr. 9, 1996 and Mar. 2, 1993, respectively, anesthetizer 50 may be used to inject an anesthetizing solution to raise a skin wheal in preparation for the subsequent insertion of a larger gauge needle. As a result, a skin wheal is raised at the injection site that operates to numb the patient's skin and underlying tissues so that the insertion of a larger gauge needle does not cause unnecessary pain for the patient.
As the user completes the injection of the numbing solution, he exerts downward pressure again to force nose cone 38 slightly further up into body 12, which causes ratchet 32 to be displaced beyond channels 25 and to rotate again relative thereto. This time, ridges 33 of ratchet 32 are able to fall in between channels 23, thus eliminating the space between collar 34 and nose cone 28, and extending nose cone 28 out from body 12. The user may perform these functions in one continuous action that can become second nature. The stops, embodied as notch 25d and bend 25c formed in channels 25 or a similar structure may be used to prevent nose cone from re-retracting into body 12 or prevent ratchet 32 from further rotation after the first use. It may be seen that the retraction mechanism described above operates much like a retractable ballpoint pen. Variations on this mechanism now known or later developed are equally applicable to the present invention. The user may replace cap 14 onto the distal end of anesthetizer 10 and discard it into an approved container.
Referring now to
Thereafter, the user may then remove cap 72 and hold anesthetizer 50 in the manner shown in
Anesthetizer 110 may be constructed of a commercially available plastic vial or ampule filled with the desired medicated solution(s). Anesthetizer 110 may be packaged and distributed already assembled as shown or it may be assembled by the user immediately prior to use. For example, the user may connect a filled plastic vial or ampule containing the solution(s) (storage bulb 112) with a needle assembly using coupling 124. As the user rotates the needle assembly with respect to storage bulb 112, the needle pierces the wall of the storage chamber and comes in contact with the solution(s) contained therein. Thereafter, the user may remove a covering of antiseptic applicator and use it to prepare the injection site. In the embodiment shown, cap 130 may be removed from anesthetizer 110 by applying pressure and snapping off the cap along scored mark 132. The user then positions anesthetizer 110 over the injection site perhaps with the bottom surface of movable needle housing 129 gently in contact with the injection site skin surface. The user may then squeeze storage bulb 112 and further press downward into the skin surface. The downward pressure pushes up cylindrical needle housing 129 to its compressed or retracted position and exposes the tip and a length of the needle. At the same time, the medicated solutions are forced out of storage bulb 112 and flow into the patient's tissues to preferably raise a skin wheal or otherwise numb the injection site. The downward pressure also compresses biasing members 126, which upon release of the downward pressure by the user after injection, causes needle housing 129 to be biased to its extended position. When needle housing 129 is returned to its extended position, the needle point is contained within the housing. If preferred, a locking mechanism such as locking tabs shown in
In operation, as the user lowers anesthetizer 150 at the injection site, and pushes needle 154 into a patient's skin 168 to make the injection, actuator 166 is pushed upward and causes catch 162 to release cap 156. Alternatively, actuator 166 may cause catch 162 to release biasing spring hinge. 164. Upon actuation, biasing spring hinge 164 causes cap 156 to flip downward about a pivot point at spring hinge 164. Cap 156 may then temporarily rest against the patient's skin near the injection site. However, as the user moves anesthetizer 150 away from the patient's skin, spring hinge 164 further biases cap 156 to its activated position covering needle 154, as shown in
It may be seen that the size and structure of housing 160 is determined by the mechanism it houses and may be eliminated altogether. For example, if catch 162 can be incorporated with spring hinge 164, then housing 160 may not be necessary. Furthermore, the structure of actuator 166 may be determined upon the material used and how much pressure is needed to release catch 162. Anesthetizer 150 is designed to be actuated automatically without requiring the user to perform any extra step in his/her typical procedure. The implementation shown in
In operation, anesthetizer 180 can be operated easily with one hand. The user squeezes storage bulb 182 slowly to prime needle 190 so that it is in fluid communication with the solution(s) stored in the storage bulb. The user then lowers anesthetizer 180 onto the injection site with needle covering tube 200 lightly touching the skin surface. The user then exerts pressure downward, which forces needle covering tube 200 to retract into bulb seat 188. Needle point 204 is thus exposed by the retracting tube 200 and used to deliver the solution(s) to the patient's tissues at the intended injection site as the user squeezes storage bulb 182. As needle covering tube 200 retracts, its finger 202 travels along groove 194 from its first end to its peak 198, at which point tube 200 is fully retracted and exposing the maximum length of needle 190. Thereafter, as user lifts up anesthetizer 180 from the injection site, tube 200 is biased by biasing element 192 to force it back downward along with moving finger 202 further along groove 194 toward bend 196 near its second end. When tube 200 descends fully and completely shields needle point 204, finger 202 also reaches bend 196. When any future pressure is exerted on tube 200, bend 196 causes finger 202 to remain at the second end of groove 194 and thus preventing tube 200 from retracting again. In the embodiment shown in
In operation, the user may gently rest the distal tip of anesthetizer 220 on a patient's skin at the intended injection site. The user may hold the anesthetizer perpendicularly with respect to the skin surface or at an angle. The user then pushes storage bulb 224 toward needle 232 and enables the medicated solution in storage bulb 224 to be in fluid communication with needle 232, and further pushes needle seat 236 against biasing member 234 and extends needle 232 out of distal opening 230 to its extended position. When needle 232 reaches its extended position, button 238 snaps into small opening 228 and counters the force of biasing member 234 to continually maintain the extended position of needle 232. The user then injects the medicated solution into the patient's tissues by squeezing the storage bulb. Immediately thereafter, the user gently pushes in button 238 to allow the force generated by biasing element 234 to retract needle 232 into the anesthetizer body. It may be seen that the user may easily accomplish decommissioning the needle using just one hand, while freeing the other hand to perform other functions
Although the various embodiments of the present invention are shown separately, it should be understood that structural elements of different embodiments may be combined without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the embodiments shown in
The various embodiments of the medical device of the present invention provide an easy and substantially automatic way to retract or cover the needle point so that it would not present a health hazard to medical and health care professionals and staff. The operations of the anesthetizer can be actuated without using two hands to free up the other hand for other important activities. The needle point is deactivated or decommissioned automatically upon the completion of the injection or with slight or minor actuation using the same hand. The anesthetizer is primarily used to substantially numb an area of the patient's skin in preparation for the insertion of a larger gauge needle, such as an IV catheter. This eases the patient's mind and fear and thus makes the entire process more comfortable and easy for the patient as well as the healthcare professional. The present invention is also applicable to other medical devices such as syringes, scalpels that have a needle or sharp edge that may become contaminated with blood-borne infectious agents during use.
Claims
1. An anesthetizer, comprising:
- a body having a distal end and a proximal end and housing the needle, the body defining an opening providing user access to the storage chamber;
- a substantially flexible storage chamber for containing a numbing solution;
- a fine gauge hollow needle having a distal end and a proximal end housed within the body, the needle operable to conduct the numbing solution from its proximal end to its distal end while the substantially flexible storage chamber is depressed to decrease its internal volume;
- a decommissioning device operable to retract the needle substantially immediately after injecting the numbing solution into a patient's skin with the needle, the numbing solution operable to raise a skin wheal.
2. The anesthetizer of claim 1, further comprising a locking member preventing the needle distal end from advancing beyond the distal end of the body after injecting the medical preparation with the needle.
3. The anesthetizer of claim 1, further comprising a needle shield.
4. The anesthetizer of claim 3, wherein the needle shield comprises a needle housing operable to retract into the distal end of the body.
5. The anesthetizer of claim 3, wherein the needle shield comprises a cap coupled to the body and operable to cover the distal end of the body.
6. The anesthetizer of claim 1, wherein the needle decommissioning device comprises:
- a biasing member in communication contact with the needle and urging the needle toward the proximal end of the body and retracting the distal end of the needle inside the body; and
- a locking member preventing the needle distal end from advancing beyond the distal end of the body after injecting the medical preparation with the needle.
7. The anesthetizer of claim 6, wherein the locking member comprises a locking tab.
8. The anesthetizer of claim 6, further comprising an actuator operable to release the needle to enable the biasing member to bias the needle toward the proximal end of the body.
9. The anesthetizer of claim 1, wherein the needle decommissioning device comprises:
- a needle housing operable to be displaced between an extended position covering the distal end of the needle and a retracted position exposing the distal end of the needle; and
- a biasing member in communication contact with the needle housing and biasing the needle housing toward the extended position.
10. The anesthetizer of claim 9, further comprising a locking device preventing the needle housing from moving into its retracted position after injecting the medical preparation with the needle.
11. The anesthetizer of claim 9, wherein the needle housing comprises:
- a substantially cylindrical tube encircling the needle;
- a tab formed on an exterior surface of the tube;
- a groove having a predetermined configuration formed on an interior surface of the medical device body, the tab operable to be slidably engaged within the groove; and
- a locking device including a bend in the groove operable to prevent the tab from traveling in an direction to displace the needle housing to its retracted position.
12. The anesthetizer of claim 11, wherein the locking device further comprises a one-way tab operable to prevent the tab from traveling in the direction to displace the needle housing to its retracted position.
13. The anesthetizer of claim 12, wherein the needle decommissioning device comprises:
- a needle cap operable to be displaced between an extended position covering the distal end of the body and a retracted position exposing the distal end of the body;
- a biasing member in communication contact with the needle cap and operable to bias the needle cap toward the extended position; and
- an actuator operable to automatically release the needle cap in response to completing injection of the medical preparation.
14. The anesthetizer of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises a pin coupled to the biasing member and operable to contact with a patient's tissues when the injection is being made, the pin contact triggering the biasing member to be released and moving the needle cap to its extended position.
15. The anesthetizer of claim 1, wherein the storage chamber further comprises at least two separate chambers operable to contain at least two separate solutions, the at least two separate chambers being divided by a wall that is breakable when a force is applied to the storage chamber to allow the at least two separate solutions to mingle.
16. A medical device comprising:
- a storage chamber;
- a medical preparation housed in the storage chamber and operable to raise a skin wheal;
- a hollow needle having a first end disposed proximate the storage chamber and a second end configured to provide an injection;
- an actuator operable to advance the first end of the needle to puncture the storage chamber and enable fluid communication from the storage chamber to the second end of the needle, and further operable to retract and lock at least the second end of the needle into a shielded position after an injection.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 9, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 17, 2006
Inventor: V. C. Saied (Wichita Falls, TX)
Application Number: 11/350,644
International Classification: A61M 5/00 (20060101); A61M 5/32 (20060101);