This disclosure relates generally to needle-based devices and, more particularly, to a needle-based device with an external safety cap and a needle guide element thereof.
A needle-based device may be a hypodermic syringe, a hypodermic needle, a pen injector and/or a fluid collection device. A needle of the needle-based device may be protected during disuse thereof through a safety cap. However, said safety cap may be accidentally pressed during transportation and/or handling of the needle-based device to cause damage to the needle.
Disclosed are methods, a device and/or a system of a needle-based device with an external safety cap and a needle guide element thereof.
In one aspect, a method includes protecting an entire length of a needle of a needle-based device protruding from a needle mount coupled to a body of the needle-based device or the body of the needle-based device in a first state of disuse of the needle-based device based on providing a needle shield encompassing the entire protruding length of the needle in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device, and encompassing the needle shield completely in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device with an external cap. The method also includes providing a guide element protruding inward from an end of the external cap farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device, internal to the external cap parallel to a length of the external cap and through the needle shield.
The guide element at least partially envelops the needle therewithin to prevent significant lateral movement of the needle, with an inner cross-sectional width of the guide element internal to the external cap being significantly less than that of the needle shield and only slightly more than an external cross-sectional width of the needle to prevent the significant lateral movement of the needle. To prevent the end of the external cap from which the guide element protrudes internal thereto from touching the needle, a length of the guide element protruding from the end of the external cap internal thereto is more than the entire protruding length of the needle but less than a sum of the entire protruding length of the needle, a first distance between an end of the needle farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and an end of the needle shield farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and a second distance related to a clearance space between the end of the needle shield farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and the end of the external cap from which the guide element protrudes internal thereto.
In another aspect, a method includes protecting an entire length of a needle of a needle-based device protruding from a needle mount coupled to a body of the needle-based device or the body of the needle-based device in a first state of disuse of the needle-based device based on providing a needle shield encompassing the entire protruding length of the needle in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device, and encompassing the needle shield completely in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device with an external cap. The method also includes providing a guide element protruding inward from an end of the external cap farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device, internal to the external cap parallel to a length of the external cap and through the needle shield.
The guide element at least partially envelops the needle therewithin to prevent significant lateral movement of the needle, with an inner cross-sectional width of the guide element internal to the external cap being significantly less than that of the needle shield and only slightly more than an external cross-sectional width of the needle to prevent the significant lateral movement of the needle. To prevent the end of the external cap from which the guide element protrudes internal thereto from touching the needle, a length of the guide element protruding from the end of the external cap internal thereto is more than the entire protruding length of the needle but less than a sum of the entire protruding length of the needle, a first distance between an end of the needle farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and an end of the needle shield farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and a second distance related to a clearance space between the end of the needle shield farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and the end of the external cap from which the guide element protrudes internal thereto.
The body of the needle-based device is a barrel thereof. The needle-based device is a hypodermic syringe, a hypodermic needle, a pen injector and/or a fluid collection device.
In yet another aspect, a method includes protecting an entire length of a needle of a needle-based device protruding from a needle mount coupled to a body of the needle-based device or the body of the needle-based device in a first state of disuse of the needle-based device based on providing a needle shield encompassing the entire protruding length of the needle in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device, and encompassing the needle shield completely in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device with an external cap. The method also includes providing a guide element protruding inward from an end of the external cap farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device, internal to the external cap parallel to a length of the external cap and through the needle shield.
The guide element at least partially envelops the needle therewithin to prevent significant lateral movement of the needle, with an inner cross-sectional width of the guide element internal to the external cap being significantly less than that of the needle shield and only slightly more than an external cross-sectional width of the needle to prevent the significant lateral movement of the needle. To prevent the end of the external cap from which the guide element protrudes internal thereto from touching the needle, a length of the guide element protruding from the end of the external cap internal thereto is more than the entire protruding length of the needle but less than a sum of the entire protruding length of the needle, a first distance between an end of the needle farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and an end of the needle shield farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and a second distance related to a clearance space between the end of the needle shield farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and the end of the external cap from which the guide element protrudes internal thereto.
Further, the method includes, in preparation for a second state of use of the needle-based device, removing the external cap from the needle-based device, and retracting the needle shield in a first direction toward the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device to apply a first force in the first direction to cause the needle to emerge out of the needle shield.
Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
The embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.
Example embodiments, as described below, may be used to provide methods, a system and/or a device of a needle-based device with an external safety cap and a needle guide element thereof. Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments.
In one or more embodiments, needle-based device 100 may include a plunger 102 configured to be moved in and out of a barrel 104 thereof. In one example implementation, barrel 104 may be cylindrical and plunger 102 may be appropriately designed (e.g., also cylindrical) to enable slidable movement thereof within barrel 104 and in and out of barrel 104. In another example implementation, barrel 104 may be shaped like a square prism or a rectangular prism and plunger 102 may be appropriately shaped to enable the aforementioned slidable movement. All possible shapes and configurations of barrel 104 and plunger 102 that enable the slidable movement of plunger 102 within barrel 104 and in and out of barrel 104 are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
In one or more embodiments, a base 106 of plunger 102 may enable a user 150 to press plunger 102 into barrel 104 using a thumb of a hand 152 thereof; base 106 may also enable user 150 to draw plunger 102 out of barrel 104 using the thumb and/or other fingers of hand 152. In one or more embodiments, user 150 may be able to use the other fingers (e.g., forefinger and middle finger) and, optionally, a palm of hand 152 to stabilize needle-based device 100 while utilizing the thumb to press plunger 102 into barrel 104; user 150 may hold needle-based device 100 through another hand (e.g., hand 154) and draw plunger 102 out of barrel 104 using the thumb and/or the other fingers of hand 152. The use of plunger 102 and barrel 104 are well known to one skilled in the art with respect to needle-based devices; detailed discussion thereof is, therefore, skipped for the sake of convenience, brevity and clarity.
It should be noted that, in all states of operation of needle-based device 100, at least some portion of plunger 102 (e.g., at least base 106) may be outside barrel 104. It should also be noted that at least some portion of plunger 102 may be inside barrel 104 in all states of operation of needle-based device 100. For example, an end of plunger 102 farthest away from an end thereof including base 106 may be a plunger head 108. In one or more embodiments, plunger head 108 may be inside barrel 104 in all states of operation of needle-based device 100. In one or more embodiments, as shown in
In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may first receive the protruding needle 116 on needle mount 112 through end 308 thereof. In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may then be slid over needle mount 112 until end 308 clasps onto connector 306 on outer wall 304 of barrel 104. In the state of needle shield 302 completely encompassing the protruding needle 116, the other end (e.g., end 310) of needle shield 302 may completely enclose end 118 of needle 116.
In one or more embodiments, the sliding of needle shield 302 over needle mount 112 may be facilitated by wings 2021-2 on needle mount 112. For the aforementioned purpose, optionally, grooves 3121-2 may be provided on an inner wall 314 of needle shield 302. In one or more embodiments, wings 2021-2 of needle mount 112 may be received within grooves 3121-2 during relative sliding of wings 2021-2 with respect to grooves 3121-2. While
Thus, in one or more embodiments, user 150 may cover needle 116 with needle shield 302 for temporary protection (e.g., for transportation to a site of a patient). In one or more embodiments, needle 116 may be covered using needle shield 302 also after use thereof. In one or more embodiments, the covering of needle 116 with needle shield 302 may not only protect needle 116 but also prevent undesirable accidents arising out of unwanted contact therewith. In one or more embodiments, in order to enable injection of a fluid (e.g., a medication) into a body of a patient, needle 116 may be uncovered based on pushing needle shield 302 further downward. In one or more embodiments, as connector 306 may be flexible, user 150 may be able to apply enough downward pressure to enable end 308 of needle shield 302 to pop out of grooves 3181-2 of connector 306 and slide further downward along barrel 104. In one or more embodiments, during the course of needle shield 302 sliding further downward along barrel 104, needle 116 pops out of end 310 of needle shield 302 such that needle 116 is uncovered.
In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may indirectly move further downward along barrel 104 when user 150, after drawing plunger 102 outward from barrel 104, places needle shield 302 against a cap of a vial or a bottle and pushes barrel 104 inward toward the vial or the bottle. In one or more embodiments, this may automatically cause end 308 of needle shield 302 to pop out of grooves 3181-2 of connector 306 and slide further downward along barrel 104, thereby uncovering needle 116. In one or more embodiments, user 150 may hold needle shield 302 to maintain a position thereof in which needle 116 is exposed to inject a fluid (e.g., medication) into a body of a patient or extract blood therefrom. In one or more embodiments, once the task is done, a force may be applied in an opposite direction on needle shield 302 by user 150 to restore a state of complete encompassment of needle 116 by needle shield 302.
Thus, in one or more embodiments, needle-based device 100 may be provided with needle shield 302 configured to protect needle 116 in a state of disuse thereof (e.g., storage, transportation, post-injection of a fluid, post-collection of a fluid) and to be retractable to reveal needle 116 for use (e.g., injection of a fluid, collection of a fluid) thereof. It should be noted that while
It is to be noted that while
Referring back to
In one or more embodiments, ring 502 may be made of a flexible material. Also, in one or more implementations, while ring 502 may change shape due to flexibility thereof, ring 502 may not change a position thereof along barrel 104. In one or more embodiments, an appropriate downward pressure (e.g., by user 150) may enable protrusion 506 to pop out of groove 504 and cause needle shield 302 to go further downward along barrel 104. In one or more embodiments, this may uncover/reveal needle 116 for use on a patient (e.g., to extract blood, to inject a fluid, to prick a finger) or on a vial/bottle (e.g., to extract a fluid). In one or more embodiments, following use of needle 116, an upward pressure may be applied to enable protrusion 506 to once again lock into groove 504 to enable needle shield 302 completely encompass needle 116 again.
The ring (e.g., ring 502) embodiment of
In one or more embodiments, a spring 604 may be placed over needle mount 112 such that spring 604 encompasses the protruding needle 116 along an entire length thereof. In one or more embodiments, now when spring 604 encompassing needle 116 is received within needle shield 302 through end 308 thereof and needle shield 302 is moved downward toward barrel 104, end 308 of needle shield 302 may press against ring 602. In one or more embodiments, further application of pressure (e.g., through hand 152 of user 150) may compress ring 602 and push ring 602 inside end 308 to be received within needle shield 302. In one or more embodiments, in this state, needle shield 302 may completely encompass the entire lengths of both protruding needle 116 and spring 604.
In one or more embodiments, when no further external pressure is applied, needle shield 302 may comfortably shield the protruding needle 116 and spring 602. In one or more embodiments, although ring 602 may not lock needle shield 302 in a position, needle shield 302 may be prevented from falling outward when needle-based device 100 is flipped over because a cross-sectional inner diameter of ring 602 may be more than a cross-sectional inner diameter of end 308. In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may be hollow. In one or more embodiments, further, a cross-sectional inner diameter of end 310 of needle shield 302 farthest away from end 308 may be smaller than a cross-sectional diameter of spring 604. Thus, in one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may be prevented from falling downward by spring 604 when needle-based device 100 is held in an upright position.
In one or more embodiments, if spring 604 were not present, needle shield 302 may slip and fall downward; alternatively or additionally, needle shield 302 may be prevented from falling downward based on an element mounted on needle mount 112, as discussed above. However, in one or more embodiments, upon further application of pressure in a downward direction toward barrel 104 by user 150 or by pressing end 310 of needle shield 302 against a surface (e.g., an arm of a patient, a cap of a vial/bottle) that exerts a normal reaction in the downward direction, needle shield 302 moves in the downward direction along barrel 104, thereby compressing spring 604 also in the same direction to uncover/reveal needle 116. In one or more embodiments, the uncovered/revealed needle 116 may then be utilized appropriately (e.g., for injecting a fluid into a patient, for pricking a finger/body part of the patient, for pricking a cap of a vial/bottle). Following use of needle 116, the force along the direction of compression of spring 604 may be relaxed (e.g., by taking needle-based device 100 out of the surface, user 150 stopping the application of pressure in the downward direction) to enable spring 604 revert to an uncompressed version thereof; in the uncompressed state of spring 604, needle shield 302 may once again completely encompass the protruding needle 116 and spring 604.
In other words, immediately following relaxation of the application of the force along the direction of compression of spring 604, needle-based device 100 may be automatically transitioned back to the state of disuse thereof (e.g., a state where needle shield 302 completely encompasses needle 116 and spring 604) following use thereof in accordance with another force (e.g., a restoring force) provided by decompression of spring 604 that is automatically applied in a direction diametrically opposite to the direction of compression of spring 604.
In the scenario of injecting a fluid into the body of a patient, needle-based device 100 may first be placed against a cap of a vial/bottle from which the fluid is to be extracted. When end 310 is pressed against the cap, the normal reaction from the cap pushes needle shield 302 downward, thereby compressing spring 604. The downward movement of needle shield 302 and the compression of spring 604 exposes needle 116 that pricks the cap. Plunger 102 may also be pushed in by way of user 150 pressing base 106 in an upward direction toward needle mount 112 such that plunger head 108 contacts needle mount 112. Now, pulling plunger 102 back may create a gap between needle mount 112 and plunger head 108. Said gap may constitute a low pressure region, thereby enabling the fluid to fill the gap by way of gushing in through the hollow needle 116.
Now, the desired quantity of the fluid may be filled in the gap. The gap may be controlled based on graduated marks (e.g., shown as graduated marks 606) on barrel 104. Once the desired quantity of fluid is available in the gap, user 150 may take needle-based device 100 out of the vial/bottle, thereby decompressing spring 604 to restore spring 604 to the original shape thereof. User 150 may then place end 310 of needle shield 302 against the arm of a patient, which, again, compresses spring 604 as discussed above, and exposes needle 116. The exposed needle 116 may prick a skin of the patient; the pressing of base 106 may compress a volume of the gap, thereby creating a high pressure region therein. The fluid may be squeezed through the hollow needle 116 into the body of the patient.
Once the fluid is injected into the body of the patient, needle-based device 100 may be extracted out of the arm of the patient. This decompresses spring 604 and restores needle shield 302 to the position in which needle shield 302 completely encompasses the exposed needle 116 and spring 604. Needle-based device 100 may also be employed to prick a finger tip of the patient to extract blood or to extract another fluid from a bottle/vial; additionally, needle-based device 100 may be used to extract venom from a body portion of a mammal. The details with respect to the figures discussed above make the aforementioned uses obvious. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
With respect to
In one or more embodiments, the use of external locking may prevent reuse of needle-based device 100, or at least needle 116 therein. Although
In yet another alternative implementation, external cap 702 may cover lock button 708 of needle shield 302 to prevent premature/accidental locking during transportation or handling of needle-based device 100. In one example implementation, external cap 702 may be designed like a pen cap. Other configurations of external cap 702 are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments herein.
Thus, exemplary embodiments discussed above provide for safety mechanisms with respect to needle-based device 100. The manual shielding available in typical syringes may require capping a needle after use thereof. The capping and uncapping may cause needle injuries to a user. Additionally, in a spring-based typical implementation of a syringe that allows for a needle to be retracted therewithin, some space may be reserved in a barrel for the spring. This may result in loss of space for medication. The automatic retraction of needle shield 302 in the exemplary embodiments discussed herein may also allow for one-handed operation of needle-based device 100. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
It should be noted that exemplary embodiments discussed above have been placed in the context of a syringe and needle 116, with barrel 104 and plunger 102. However, concepts associated with the exemplary embodiments discussed herein are applicable across embodiments where needle mount 112 is coupled to a body (alternative to barrel 104) of needle-based device 100 and needle 116 protrudes from needle mount 112. In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may encompass the protruding needle 116 in a state of operation; needle shield 302 may be retracted to reveal/uncover needle 116. In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may also be protected through external cap 702, as discussed above. All reasonable variations in and combinations of the exemplary embodiments discussed with respect to
In one or more embodiments, operation 806 may involve transitioning the needle-based device back to the first state of disuse thereof following the second state of use in accordance with a force applied in a second direction diametrically opposite to the first direction. In one or more embodiments, operation 808 may then involve securedly maintaining the encompassing of the entire protruding length of the needle by the needle shield in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device based on coupling between the needle shield and the body of the needle-based device.
As discussed above, other possible embodiments include lock button 708 being a separate element that engages with needle shield 302 or both with needle shield 302 and spring 604.
Embodiments of needle-based device 100 discussed above may further be modified to reduce complexity of assembly of components thereof and, thereby, not only render needle-based device 100 cost-effective and/or cost-competitive in the market but also provide increased value through needle-based device 100 to users (e.g., user 150) in terms of increased safety. It should be noted that plunger 102, as applicable to all embodiments discussed herein, may be provided with an element (e.g., rubber-based, rubber black) in the form of a stopper/gasket (not shown; e.g., attached to plunger head 108) to prevent fluid (e.g., medication) stored in barrel 104 from leaking when plunger 102 is pushed in or pulled out of a region within barrel 104.
It should be noted that the cross-sectional width terminology has been employed herein instead of cross-sectional diameter in order to accommodate different shapes of barrel 1400 (barrel 104) and/or needle 116 such as cylinders and rectangular prisms. All possible shapes are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. Further, it should be noted that the extension of needle port 1406 from end 1402 into barrel 1400 within inner cross-sectional width 1404 thereof may cause needle port 1406 to be entirely encompassed within inner cross-sectional width 1404 of barrel 1400; here, an outer boundary of needle port 1406 along a length of barrel 1400 may at most be flush (or level) with an outer cross-sectional boundary of barrel 1400 at end 1402. In other words, needle port 1406 may be limited by end 1402 and may not protrude out of end 1402; at best, needle port 1406 may be flush with the outer cross-sectional boundary of barrel 1400 at end 1402.
In one or more embodiments, the attachment of needle 116 to barrel 1400 may be completed through gluing needle 116 to barrel 1400 within inner cross-sectional width 1408 of needle port 1406.
All other possible methods (e.g., using epoxy resin) of stably connecting needle 116 within needle port 1406 are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. In one or more embodiments, the unstableness of needle 116 mounted on a conical structure/syringe cone may be avoided by the attachment of needle 116 to barrel 1400 discussed above.
In one or more embodiments, an inner cross-sectional dimension of needle shield 302 may be more than an outer cross-sectional dimension of barrel 1400 to enable the sliding of needle shield 302 over barrel 1400. In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may first receive the protruding needle 116 on barrel 1400 through end 308 thereof. In one or more embodiments, needle shield 302 may then be slid over barrel 1400 until end 308 clasps onto connector 1504 on outer wall 1502 of barrel 1400. In the state of needle shield 302 completely encompassing the protruding needle 116, the other end (e.g., end 310) of needle shield 302 may completely enclose end 118 of needle 116.
In one or more embodiments, the outer wall of needle shield 302 may include cuts (not shown) that reveal needle 116 while needle 116 is still protected by needle shield 302. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein. In one or more embodiments, the sliding of needle shield 302 over barrel 1400 may be facilitated by wings 2021-2 now provided on outer wall 1502 of barrel 1400 instead of on needle mount 112. Again, analogous to
It should be noted that, while
As the only difference between the embodiments of needle-based device 100 of
Thus, exemplary embodiments discussed with reference to
It should be noted that the concepts discussed herein and the discussion in general may also apply to the needle-based device 100 embodiment of
In one or more embodiments, in the state of disuse of needle-based device 100, when there is no external cap 2002, needle-shield 302 may move around (e.g., during transportation) needle 116 to cause damage thereto; spring 604 in the spring 604 embodiment may also move around. In one or more embodiments, lock button 1102 may be accidentally unhooked when there is no external cap 2002 and needle shield 302 may accidentally be pressed from a top (e.g., end 310) thereof toward needle 116 to cause damage thereto. In one or more embodiments, even in the locked state of needle-based device 100, damage may be caused to needle 116 when needle shield 302 is pressed based on end 310 touching needle 116.
Further, in one or more embodiments, even when external cap 2002 covers needle shield 302, accidentally pressing external cap 2002 in the state of disuse may cause needle shield 302 to be pressed such that the top (e.g., end 310) thereof presses against needle 116 to cause damage thereto. To avoid this, in one or more embodiments, external cap 2002 may have to be made extra long such that even when external cap 2002 is accidentally pressed, an end 2004 thereof farthest away from needle mount 112 (or, farthest away from barrel 1400 in the case of the embodiments of needle-based device 1500 with wings (2021-2, 2121-2, 4021-2)) may not touch end 310. Exemplary embodiments of needle-based device 100 and needle-based device 1500 from
In one or more embodiments, in order to avoid the aforementioned problem(s), external cap 2002 may include a guide element 2006 protruding inward from end 2004 and internal to external cap 2002 parallel to a length thereof. In one or more embodiments, in the state of disuse of needle-based device 100, guide element 2006 may at least partially (e.g., including fully or partially) envelop needle 116 therewithin to prevent significant lateral movement of needle 116. In one or more embodiments, in order to at least partially envelop needle 116 therewithin, guide element 2006 may protrude internal to external cap 2002 and go right through (e.g., through a slot (not shown) on a surface of end 310) needle shield 302. While in some embodiments, guide element 2006 may be cylindrical/shaped like a rectangular prism and may completely envelop needle 116 within, in some other embodiments, guide element 2006 may only be a broken cylinder/rectangular prism to only partially envelop needle 116 within. All possible and implementable shapes of guide element 2006 are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
In one or more embodiments, in order to prevent significant lateral movement of needle 116, an inner cross-sectional width of guide element 2006 internal to external cap 2002 may be significantly less than that of needle shield 302 and only slightly more than an external cross-sectional width of needle 116. Further, in one or more embodiments, in order to prevent end 2004 of external cap 2002 from which guide element 2006 protrudes internal thereto from touching (e.g., at end 118 based on a passage from end 2004 to end 118 via guide element 2006) needle 116, a length of guide element 2006 protruding from end 2004 may be greater or more than a length of needle 116 protruding from needle mount 112 (or barrel 1400/104 in the case of the embodiments of
In other words, in one or more embodiments, the entire protruding length of needle 116<the length of guide element 2006<the entire protruding length of needle 116+first distance 2008+second distance 2010. In one or more embodiments, this may ensure that guide element 2006 may never reach end 114 in the state of disuse of needle-based device 100/1500 and that guide element 2006 may never fully encompass the entire protruding length of needle 116 in the state of disuse of needle-based device 100/1500. Now, in one or more embodiments, even when end 2004 is pressed accidentally (e.g., during transport and/or movement of needle-based device 100/1500), end 2004 may never touch end 118 of needle 116, thereby ensuring that no damage occurs thereto.
Further, in one or more embodiments, needle 116 as discussed herein may protrude from needle mount 112 in the case of needle-based device 100 or from barrel 1400 (body of needle-based device 1500) in the case of needle-based device 1500. Exemplary embodiments with external cap 2002 discussed herein may ensure that needle-based device 100/1500 may not be self-activated (e.g., during transportation, handling, drop) or prematurely activated (e.g., accidentally) prior to removal of external cap 2002. Also, in one or more embodiments, external cap 2002 may ensure the impossibility of pressing lock button (1102, 1202) prior to removal of external cap 2002. Thus, in one or more embodiments, right steps may be enforced in the use of needle-based device 100/1500.
It is obvious that transitioning needle-based device 100/1500 with external cap 2002 in the state of disuse thereof into the state of use may first involve removing external cap 2002 (e.g., out of needle shield 302 and needle-based device 100/1500), unhooking (e.g., by untangling hook tooth 1110/1210 from the top of barrel 1400/needle mount 112/coils/wires of spring 604) lock button (1102, 1202) to unlock needle shield 302 and then retract needle shield 302 toward barrel (1400, 104) or needle mount 112 to cause needle 116 to emerge out of needle shield 302 to prepare needle-based device 100/1500 for the state of use thereof. All discussions relevant to the use and disuse of needle-based device 100/1500 discussed above may be applicable to the embodiments with external cap 2002. All reasonable variations are within the scope of the exemplary embodiments discussed herein.
In one or more embodiments, operation 2304 may involve encompassing the needle shield completely in the first state of disuse of the needle-based device with the external cap. In one or more embodiments, operation 2306 may then involve providing the guide element protruding inward from an end (e.g., end 2004) of the external cap farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device, internal to the external cap parallel to a length of the external cap and through the needle shield. In one or more embodiments, the guide element at least partially envelops the needle therewithin to prevent significant lateral movement of the needle, with an inner cross-sectional width of the guide element internal to the external cap being significantly less than that of the needle shield and only slightly more than an external cross-sectional width of the needle to prevent the significant lateral movement of the needle.
In one or more embodiments, to prevent the end of the external cap from which the guide element protrudes internal thereto from touching the needle, a length of the guide element protruding from the end of the external cap internal thereto is more than the entire protruding length of the needle but less than a sum of the entire protruding length of the needle, a first distance (e.g., first distance 2008) between an end of the needle farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and an end (e.g., end 310) of the needle shield farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and a second distance (e.g., second distance 2010) related to a clearance space between the end of the needle shield farthest away from the needle mount or the body of the needle-based device and the end of the external cap from which the guide element protrudes internal thereto.
Although the present embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the various embodiments. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
This Application is a Continuation-in-Part Application of, and claims priority to, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/221,848 titled NEEDLE-BASED DEVICE BASED ON DIRECT WING-BASED COUPLING OF A NEEDLE SHIELD TO A BARREL THEREOF AND SAFETY MECHANISM IMPLEMENTED THEREIN filed on Jul. 13, 2023, which is a Continuation-in-Part Application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/494,904 titled “NEEDLE-BASED DEVICE WITH A SAFETY MECHANISM IMPLEMENTED THEREIN” filed on Oct. 6, 2021. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/494,904, in turn, is a U.S. Continuation Application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/831,824 titled “NEEDLE-BASED DEVICE WITH A SAFETY MECHANISM IMPLEMENTED THEREIN” filed on Mar. 27, 2020 and issued on Nov. 16, 2021 as U.S. Pat. No. 11,173,254, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/234,793 also titled “NEEDLE-BASED DEVICE WITH A SAFETY MECHANISM IMPLEMENTED THEREIN” filed on Apr. 19, 2021 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,224,699 on Jan. 18, 2022. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/234,793 is a Continuation-in-Part Application of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/831,824. The contents of each of the aforementioned applications are incorporated in entirety thereof in this Application by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4425120 | Sampson et al. | Jan 1984 | A |
4430080 | Pasquini et al. | Feb 1984 | A |
4631057 | Mitchell | Dec 1986 | A |
4636201 | Ambrose et al. | Jan 1987 | A |
4654034 | Masters et al. | Mar 1987 | A |
4664654 | Strauss | May 1987 | A |
4693708 | Wanderer et al. | Sep 1987 | A |
4735617 | Nelson et al. | Apr 1988 | A |
4752290 | Schramm | Jun 1988 | A |
4810248 | Masters et al. | Mar 1989 | A |
4826488 | Nelson et al. | May 1989 | A |
4863435 | Sturman et al. | Sep 1989 | A |
4887998 | Martin et al. | Dec 1989 | A |
4894055 | Sudnak | Jan 1990 | A |
4897083 | Martell | Jan 1990 | A |
4900311 | Stern et al. | Feb 1990 | A |
4911693 | Paris | Mar 1990 | A |
4927019 | Haber | May 1990 | A |
4927416 | Tomkiel | May 1990 | A |
4932940 | Walker et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
4950242 | Alvarez | Aug 1990 | A |
4950250 | Haber et al. | Aug 1990 | A |
4952207 | Lemieux | Aug 1990 | A |
4964866 | Szwarc | Oct 1990 | A |
4966592 | Burns et al. | Oct 1990 | A |
4998920 | Johnson | Mar 1991 | A |
4998922 | Kuracina et al. | Mar 1991 | A |
5002536 | Thompson et al. | Mar 1991 | A |
5041099 | Gelabert | Aug 1991 | A |
5057087 | Harmon | Oct 1991 | A |
5085647 | Henderson et al. | Feb 1992 | A |
5104385 | Huband | Apr 1992 | A |
5104386 | Alzain | Apr 1992 | A |
5112311 | Utterberg et al. | May 1992 | A |
5135504 | McLees | Aug 1992 | A |
5152750 | Haining | Oct 1992 | A |
5154699 | Ryan | Oct 1992 | A |
5156599 | Ranford et al. | Oct 1992 | A |
5163917 | Huefner et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
5163918 | Righi et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
5181524 | Wanderer et al. | Jan 1993 | A |
5188613 | Shaw | Feb 1993 | A |
5193552 | Columbus et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5207646 | Brunel | May 1993 | A |
5215534 | De Harde et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
5222945 | Basnight | Jun 1993 | A |
5246427 | Sturman et al. | Sep 1993 | A |
5254099 | Kuracina et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
5256153 | Hake | Oct 1993 | A |
5259841 | Hohendorf et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
5266072 | Utterberg et al. | Nov 1993 | A |
5267961 | Shaw | Dec 1993 | A |
5269761 | Stehrenberger et al. | Dec 1993 | A |
5300040 | Martin | Apr 1994 | A |
5304149 | Morigi | Apr 1994 | A |
5312347 | Osborne et al. | May 1994 | A |
5342323 | Haining | Aug 1994 | A |
5366447 | Gurley | Nov 1994 | A |
5368577 | Teoh et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5385557 | Thompson | Jan 1995 | A |
5401246 | Mazur et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
5403288 | Stanners | Apr 1995 | A |
5411487 | Castagna | May 1995 | A |
5498243 | Vallelunga et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
5498244 | Eck | Mar 1996 | A |
5562625 | Stefancin, Jr. | Oct 1996 | A |
5582594 | Chen | Dec 1996 | A |
5591138 | Vaillancourt | Jan 1997 | A |
5647849 | Kalin | Jul 1997 | A |
5651774 | Taranto et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
5669889 | Gyure et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5674203 | Lewandowski | Oct 1997 | A |
5688241 | Asbaghi | Nov 1997 | A |
5879337 | Kuracina et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5997513 | Smith et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6004296 | Jansen et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6156012 | Nathan | Dec 2000 | A |
6162197 | Mohammad | Dec 2000 | A |
6224569 | Brimhall | May 2001 | B1 |
6394983 | Mayoral et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
6413236 | Van Dyke | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6436075 | Liao | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6537257 | Wien | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6558360 | Olovson | May 2003 | B1 |
6575939 | Brunel | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6692470 | Sanpietro | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6752788 | Tuen | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6776775 | Mohammad | Aug 2004 | B1 |
6817989 | Svendsen et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6918889 | Brunel | Jul 2005 | B1 |
6926697 | Malenchek | Aug 2005 | B2 |
7282042 | Wang | Oct 2007 | B2 |
7300420 | Doyle | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7314464 | Giambattista et al. | Jan 2008 | B2 |
7329238 | Halseth et al. | Feb 2008 | B2 |
7381199 | Kuan | Jun 2008 | B2 |
7455661 | Barrelle et al. | Nov 2008 | B2 |
7462168 | Stonehouse et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
7497847 | Crawford et al. | Mar 2009 | B2 |
7566324 | Hommann et al. | Jul 2009 | B2 |
7727190 | Miller | Jun 2010 | B2 |
7799002 | Dillard, III | Sep 2010 | B2 |
7837659 | Bush, Jr. et al. | Nov 2010 | B2 |
7854723 | Hwang et al. | Dec 2010 | B2 |
7922698 | Riesenberger et al. | Apr 2011 | B2 |
8016797 | Gratwohl et al. | Sep 2011 | B2 |
8062265 | Millerd | Nov 2011 | B2 |
8172810 | Liversidge | May 2012 | B2 |
8226630 | Ackerman | Jul 2012 | B2 |
8323251 | West et al. | Dec 2012 | B2 |
8337467 | Rimlinger et al. | Dec 2012 | B2 |
8337468 | Reis et al. | Dec 2012 | B1 |
8398597 | Brimhall | Mar 2013 | B2 |
8545454 | Kuracina et al. | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8591474 | Gratwohl et al. | Nov 2013 | B2 |
8617119 | Liversidge | Dec 2013 | B2 |
8747355 | Rubinstein et al. | Jun 2014 | B2 |
8858508 | Lavi et al. | Oct 2014 | B2 |
8864718 | Karlsen et al. | Oct 2014 | B2 |
8936575 | Moulton | Jan 2015 | B2 |
9022979 | Woehr | May 2015 | B2 |
9248244 | Roberts et al. | Feb 2016 | B2 |
9333306 | Cross et al. | May 2016 | B2 |
9352099 | Roberts et al. | May 2016 | B2 |
9421336 | Ekman et al. | Aug 2016 | B2 |
9555221 | Koehler et al. | Jan 2017 | B2 |
9579467 | Karlsson | Feb 2017 | B2 |
9586011 | Roberts et al. | Mar 2017 | B2 |
9649452 | Srinivasan et al. | May 2017 | B2 |
9750894 | Quinn et al. | Sep 2017 | B2 |
9757527 | Bokelman et al. | Sep 2017 | B2 |
9931476 | Zhang et al. | Apr 2018 | B2 |
10010684 | McDown et al. | Jul 2018 | B2 |
10092322 | Albert et al. | Oct 2018 | B2 |
10166334 | Wyrick | Jan 2019 | B2 |
10220157 | Nguyen | Mar 2019 | B2 |
10335555 | Klippenstein | Jul 2019 | B2 |
10357621 | Gupta et al. | Jul 2019 | B2 |
10426901 | Cho | Oct 2019 | B2 |
10478568 | Evans et al. | Nov 2019 | B2 |
10485920 | Bendix et al. | Nov 2019 | B2 |
10518041 | Brereton et al. | Dec 2019 | B2 |
10518042 | Keim et al. | Dec 2019 | B2 |
10668217 | Fabien et al. | Jun 2020 | B2 |
10814069 | Takemoto | Oct 2020 | B2 |
10821236 | Limaye | Nov 2020 | B2 |
10926036 | Shluzas et al. | Feb 2021 | B2 |
11020535 | Shi et al. | Jun 2021 | B2 |
11065395 | Schoonmaker | Jul 2021 | B2 |
11116911 | Wu | Sep 2021 | B2 |
11318256 | Alexandersson | May 2022 | B2 |
11376373 | Perot et al. | Jul 2022 | B2 |
11426529 | Hommann et al. | Aug 2022 | B2 |
20030055383 | Bush et al. | Mar 2003 | A1 |
20030181860 | Swenson | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030187401 | Doyle | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20040030294 | Mahurkar | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20050113750 | Targell | May 2005 | A1 |
20050171486 | Hochman | Aug 2005 | A1 |
20050203466 | Hommann | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050209568 | Shanley | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050240160 | Lin | Oct 2005 | A1 |
20050277892 | Chen | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20060100589 | Lin | May 2006 | A1 |
20060173409 | Yang | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20060282044 | Mohammed | Dec 2006 | A1 |
20070073224 | Dries | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20070078409 | Saltz | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20080177238 | Follman et al. | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20090157010 | Martin | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20090292240 | KraMer | Nov 2009 | A1 |
20110137261 | Garber et al. | Jun 2011 | A1 |
20120022463 | Wu | Jan 2012 | A1 |
20130030365 | Liversidge | Jan 2013 | A1 |
20130035643 | Kawamura | Feb 2013 | A1 |
20130079715 | Wu | Mar 2013 | A1 |
20130261559 | Werbickas | Oct 2013 | A1 |
20130261564 | Wong | Oct 2013 | A1 |
20140039406 | Verespej et al. | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140088513 | Darichuk et al. | Mar 2014 | A1 |
20150038922 | Slemmen et al. | Feb 2015 | A1 |
20150133870 | Ashworth et al. | May 2015 | A1 |
20150272492 | Schraga | Oct 2015 | A1 |
20160354550 | Ward | Dec 2016 | A1 |
20170014578 | Bunch | Jan 2017 | A1 |
20170182260 | Schraga | Jun 2017 | A1 |
20180161520 | Smith et al. | Jun 2018 | A1 |
20180200487 | Sokolski et al. | Jul 2018 | A1 |
20180243514 | Kim et al. | Aug 2018 | A1 |
20190151564 | Schrul | May 2019 | A1 |
20190151565 | Groetzbach | May 2019 | A1 |
20190374717 | Swanson | Dec 2019 | A1 |
20200398002 | Mesa et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
20210299361 | Moleda | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20210299364 | Moleda | Sep 2021 | A1 |
20220072238 | Julian et al. | Mar 2022 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1317938 | Jul 2006 | EP |
1949929 | Nov 2009 | EP |
3360592 | Aug 2018 | EP |
3017838 | May 2019 | EP |
2883563 | Mar 2021 | EP |
200191613 | Aug 2000 | KR |
20190128609 | Nov 2019 | KR |
102185590 | Dec 2020 | KR |
20230058935 | May 2023 | KR |
506843 | Oct 2002 | TW |
1990014112 | Nov 1990 | WO |
9220390 | Nov 1992 | WO |
1994004205 | Mar 1994 | WO |
1997027891 | Aug 1997 | WO |
1998031407 | Jul 1998 | WO |
2001045776 | Jun 2001 | WO |
2003015855 | Feb 2003 | WO |
2003066141 | Aug 2003 | WO |
2003082385 | Oct 2003 | WO |
2004060445 | Jul 2004 | WO |
2007077463 | Jul 2007 | WO |
2008127195 | Oct 2008 | WO |
2011107954 | Sep 2011 | WO |
2011162913 | Dec 2011 | WO |
2012000834 | Jan 2012 | WO |
2012000835 | Jan 2012 | WO |
2012045350 | Apr 2012 | WO |
2012093073 | Jul 2012 | WO |
2013064475 | May 2013 | WO |
2017069316 | Apr 2017 | WO |
2017179813 | Oct 2017 | WO |
2018079962 | May 2018 | WO |
2018111797 | Jun 2018 | WO |
2019010689 | Jan 2019 | WO |
2021191670 | Sep 2021 | WO |
2022051470 | Mar 2022 | WO |
2022052575 | Mar 2022 | WO |
2023072578 | May 2023 | WO |
Entry |
---|
“Insulin Safety Syringes” by Medivena, Found Online on [May 31, 2021] https://www.one-care.com/safety-insulin-syringes. |
“One Care Insulin Safety Syringes” by Medivena, Found Online on [May 31, 2021] https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c2e33d43917eeb9b98da746/t/5e85017fc8068858c09e1e44/1585774982210/ONE-CARE%E2%84%A2+Insulin+Safety+Syringes+_+website.pdf. |
“Single Use Safety Syringe With Passive Needlestick Injury & Reuse Prevention” By Alfa Corpuscles Pvt. Ltd., Found Online On [May 31, 2021] https://birac.nic.in/product-detail.php?product=56. |
“Ritract safety syringe” by BerryDesign, Published online in 2005 https://www.berrydesign.com.au/portfolios/medical/ritract-safety-syringe.php. |
“An introduction to needlestick protection and safety syringes” by Springboard, Published Online on [Jun. 13, 2018] https://www.springboard.pro/safety-syringes/. |
“The hypodermic syringe performance based on the ISO 7886-1:2017” by Krisdiyanto, Found Online on [Dec. 9, 2022] https://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9750608/pdf/medi-101-e31812.pdf. |
“Spotlight On Safety” by UCR Environmental Health & Safety, Found Online on [Oct. 20, 2023] https://ehs.ucr.edu/sites/default/files/2021-01/Bio_6_syringe.pdf. |
“Instructions for Use UDENYCA® (yoo-den-i-kah) (pegfilgrastim-cbqv Injection” by Coherus BioSciences, Inc., Found Online on [Oct. 20, 2023] https://udenyca.com/pdf/udenyca-instructions-for-use_pfs.pdf. |
“Instructions for Use Xolair® (ZOHL-air)” by Genentech, Inc., Found Online on [Oct. 20, 2023] https://www.gene.com/download/pdf/xolair_ifu.pdf. |
“Safety-engineered needles and syringes” by BD, Found Online on [Oct. 20, 2023] https://www.krackeler.com/pdf/BD_Product_Catalog.pdf. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20230355890 A1 | Nov 2023 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 18221848 | Jul 2023 | US |
Child | 18223294 | US | |
Parent | 16831824 | Mar 2020 | US |
Child | 17494904 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 17494904 | Oct 2021 | US |
Child | 18221848 | US | |
Parent | 17234793 | Apr 2021 | US |
Child | 18221848 | Jul 2023 | US |
Parent | 16831824 | Mar 2020 | US |
Child | 17234793 | US |