BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combination of a blunt needle engaged with a hypodermic needle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the combination as seen along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-section view of the combination of a blunt needle engaged with a hypodermic syringe as seen along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hypodermic syringe engaged with a fluid vial during a filling of the hypodermic syringe; and
FIG. 6 is an elevation cross-sectional view of a fluid vial with a penetrating blunt needle after the blunt needle has been used for filling a hypodermic syringe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A device for filling a hypodermic syringe with a fluid medicament is shown in FIG. 1 and is generally designated 10. In FIG. 1 it will be seen that the device 10 includes a hypodermic syringe 12 and a blunt needle 14. For purposes of the present invention, the hypodermic syringe 12 that is shown is only exemplary. Accordingly, as will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, any device that is functionally similar to the hypodermic syringe 12 can be used. In general, such a device 10 will include a syringe body 16 that is formed with a fluid chamber 18. Also, there will be a plunger 20 that is mounted on the syringe body 16 for advancement into the fluid chamber 18 to expel fluid from the chamber 18 through a hypodermic needle 22. As shown, the hypodermic needle 22 will typically have a distal needlepoint 24 and a proximal end 26 that is mounted on the syringe body 16 for fluid communication with the fluid chamber 18.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the salient aspects of a preferred embodiment for the present invention are shown. In FIG. 2 it will be seen that this embodiment for the present invention includes a shrink wrap 28 that interconnects with both the blunt needle 14 and the hypodermic needle 22. In further detail, and as perhaps best seen in FIG. 3, the blunt needle 14 is formed with a lumen 30. Also, the hypodermic needle 22 is formed with an abutment 32 that is located at a distance “d” proximal from the distal needlepoint 24 of the hypodermic needle 22. As intended for the present invention, with this structure the hypodermic needle 22 is advanced into the lumen 30 of the blunt needle 14 until its abutment 32 comes in contact with the proximal end 34 of the blunt needle 14. The distal needlepoint 24 of the hypodermic needle 22 will then be located inside the lumen 30 of the blunt needle 14. It will also be positioned at a distance “dp” proximal to the distal needlepoint 36 of the blunt needle 14. For purposes of the present invention, the distance “dp” will preferably be about one eighth of an inch. The shrink wrap 28 is then used to hold the blunt needle 14 on the hypodermic needle 22.
Still referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that approximately two thirds (⅔) of the shrink wrap 28 covers a length “l” along the portion of the blunt needle 14 at its proximal end 34. The remaining one third (⅓) of the shrink wrap 28 covers the abutment 32, as well as a portion of the hypodermic needle 22 along a length “le” (i.e. l≅2le). Further, it is shown that the outer diameter of the blunt needle 14 (o.d.) is greater than the outer diameter of the hypodermic needle 22 (o.d.h). The consequence of these dimensional distinctions is manifested in the resultant static friction forces that are developed between the various components. Specifically, due to the greater area of contact between the shrink wrap 28 and the blunt needle 14, a static friction force “f2” is established at their interface 38 that is much greater than the static friction force “f3” that is established at the interface 40 between the shrink wrap 28 and the hypodermic needle 22. In addition to holding the blunt needle 14 on the hypodermic needle 22, the present invention envisions that the shrink wrap 28 will also create a fluid seal that will prevent fluid from leaking between the hypodermic needle 22 and the blunt needle 14.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate preferred embodiment for the device 10 of the present invention is shown that relies on a direct contact between the blunt needle 14 and the syringe body 16. Specifically, for this embodiment, the syringe body 16 includes a circular wall 42 that creates an annular recess 44 on the syringe body 16 that is characterized by an inner diameter (i.d.). With this structure, the proximal end 26 of hypodermic needle 22 is affixed to the syringe body 16 to extend distally through the annular recess 44, and beyond. Similar to the preferred embodiment disclosed above, for the alternate preferred embodiment, the hypodermic needle 22 is also inserted into the lumen 30 of the blunt needle 14. This time, however, the proximal end 34 of the blunt needle 14 becomes inserted into the annular recess 44 that is formed on the syringe body 16. With this in mind, the inner diameter (i.d.) of the annular recess 44 is dimensioned relative to the o.d. of the blunt needle 14 to allow for this insertion. Moreover, the selected dimensions also establish an interference fit between the recess 44 and the needle 14 that is characterized by a static friction force “f4”. Also, and again similar to the other preferred embodiment disclosed above, when engaged with each other, the distal needlepoint 24 is positioned inside the lumen 30 of the blunt needle 14, and it is located at a proximal distance “dp” from the distal needlepoint 36 of the blunt needle 14.
As envisioned for the present invention, both the blunt needle 14 and the hypodermic needle 22 can be made of a stainless steel. Alternatively, the blunt needle 14 may be made of a plastic material, if desired. Also, it is envisioned for the present invention that the shrink wrap 28 can be made of any type material well known in the pertinent art that has a shrink ratio of approximately 2:1.
In operation, the hypodermic syringe 12 is provided, with the blunt needle 14 that is attached thereto as disclosed above. The blunt needle 14 is then inserted into a fluid vial 46, as shown in FIG. 5, for the purpose of filling the fluid chamber 18 of the syringe 12 with a fluid (e.g. a fluid medicament). For this task, it is necessary that the blunt needle 14 penetrate through a stopple 48 on the fluid vial 46 (see FIG. 6). The necessary force to do this is transferred from the syringe body 16 to the proximal end 34 of the blunt needle 14 as it urges against the abutment 32 (preferred embodiment), or against the syringe body 16 itself (alternate preferred embodiment). Importantly, once the blunt needle 14 has penetrated the stopple 48, a static friction force “f1” is established between the blunt needle 14 and the stopple 48.
It is an important operational aspect of the present invention that all of the static friction forces established during the manufacture of the device 10 have a predetermined relationship to each other. Specifically, for the preferred embodiment (i.e. wherein the shrink wrap 28 is employed) it is important that the static friction force “f1” established between the blunt needle 14 and the stopple 48 be much greater than the static friction force “f3” that is established between the shrink wrap 28 and the hypodermic needle 22 (f1>>f3). As disclosed above for this embodiment, the static friction force “f2” that is established between the shrink wrap 28 and the blunt needle 14 is also much greater than the friction force “f3”. Further, in their general relationship to each other, “f1” is preferably about equal to “f2” and thus: f1≅f2>>f3. For the alternate preferred embodiment of the device 10, it is important that the static friction force “f1” established between the blunt needle 14 and the stopple 48 be much greater than the static friction force “f4” that is established between the proximal end 34 of the blunt needle 14 and the annular recess 44 of the syringe body 16 (f1>>f4).
With the above in mind, after the blunt needle 14 has penetrated the stopple 48 and the hypodermic syringe 12 has been filled with fluid from the fluid vial 46, the hypodermic syringe 12 is withdrawn from the vial 46. Due to the significant differences in the respective static friction forces that are involved, the blunt needle 14 will remain stuck in the stopple 48 under the influence of the relatively large static friction force “f1” (see FIG. 6). On the other hand, because “f3” is the smallest friction force involved in the preferred embodiment (i.e. with shrink wrap 28) the hypodermic needle 22 of the hypodermic syringe 12 will be removed from the blunt needle 14. In this case the shrink wrap 28 will remain with the blunt needle 14 (see FIG. 6). Recall, f2>>f3. Further, the shrink wrap 28 that remains with the blunt needle 14 may help prevent subsequent fluid leakage from the vial 46. For the alternate preferred embodiment, because the “f4” is less than “f1”, the hypodermic syringe 12 will also be removed from the blunt needle 14.
For both embodiments of the present invention, the friction force “f3” (preferred embodiment) and the friction force “f4” (alternate preferred embodiment) are specifically designed and engineered. In detail, they are designed and engineered to establish predetermined static friction forces between the hypodermic syringe 12 and the blunt needle 14 that will be overcome by any static friction force that may result from the penetration of the dull needle 14 into the stopple 48.
While the particular Hypodermic Needle Tip Protector, as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070287964
