Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21~0~03
PLIABLE SECURITY PROTECTOR, FOR
SYRINGE NEEDLES IN GENERAL
1- EXPOSITION OF CAUSES
The present invention is related to needles for hypodermic
syringes, and particularly it refers to a pliable security protector,
for syringe needles in general; having as an aim to bring forward
a practical and secure means destined to the covering of said
needles.
As it is already known, in the handling of syringes (for the
o application of injections, blood extraction, etc.), the needles
constitute the paramount risk factor, as it is a cutting and
stabbing means, which can be easily introduced in the body due
to its size and shape, even through involuntary actions.
The problem deepens even more when the needle has
been already used as, in case of accidental pinching or cutting,
if it was contaminated -for example as a consequence of having
been used byo a person with hepatitis, AIDS, etc.), the wound
produced in second terms constitutes the best way for the
transmission of the illness through blood.
Removable tip protectors are known, these are destined to
cover the needle against accidents, when it is handled before or
after having been used.
Although it is true that said tip protectors comply their
objective of covering the needle, given that they are fit simply
through pressure, it is common that they uncouple -due to
incorrect collocation, defectuous fitting, or simply as a
- 21S0~03
consequence of the handling they are submitted to- which,
through time, has caused numerous accidents.
The invention object of this patent consists on a pliable
protector, which is normally found in a position of complete
5 covering of the needle, while as it is folded, said needle is easily
enabled; being enough the removing of the locking means to
cause its automatic coverage due to the own elasticity of the
articulations.
Said device has the advantage of forming a single piece
o with the coupling base of the needle; in such a way that there is
no possibility that the coverage might loosen or get lost, at the
same time it does not require to fit in or enter in contact with
the needle for its command, since the same is done with one
hand, with no risk whatever for the operator.
Finally, it must be noted that the new covering device does
not imply the modification of the shape nor the size of the
conventional coupling nozzles of the syringe, neither the type or
size of the needle.
The acceptance that this invention will have when put into
20 practice can be easily imagined, whichever the category or
destination it is given, as, due to the characteristics that define
it, it can be applied to any type of needle and usable in any type
of syringe.
- 2150~03
Il- MAIN OBJECT
Aiming to the specified objects, and such as it has been
claimed said pliable security protector, for needles and syringes
in general, is of the type that conforms a long tip protector (b)
5 which, surpassing the length of a needle (2), it covers it .
completely; this needle (2) beginning in a coupling nozzle (a) to
the peak of the syringe; characterized because said tip protector
(b) is constituted by a deformable parallelogram of four concave
complementary arms (3), (5), (4) and (6), articulated between
o themselves -(5') and (6')- two and two in their intermediate areas
and articulated by the other ends (3')-(4') in the coupling nozzle
(a) in which the needle (2) begins, on one part, and in (5") and
(6") with a tubular terminal (9-9'), disposed surpassing the sharp
pointed end (2') of the needle (2), constitutes an enabling
15 passage for the folding of the arms (5) and (6) and sides (3) and
(4) of the deformable parallelogram against its base in the
mentioned coupling nozzle (a); including the already mentioned
tip protector (b), temporary positional locking means (1') of this
plied display, and locking means (p) of the concave arms (5)-(3)
20 (6)-(4) displayed in a covering disposition of the needle (2).
111- ILLUSTRATIONS
For a better clarity and comprehension of the object of the
invention, it is illustrated with various figures, in which it has
25 been represented in some of the preferred embodiments; all as
an example, not limiting, being:
- 2150403
Figure 1, a view in perspective of the folded protector, and
including a contact clamp; showing the way in which it is
opened to be used.
Figure 2, an elevational view of the tip protector consisting
in parts in the shape of a deformable parallelogram, indicating
the way in which the folding is produced, according to the
arrows, to the effect of giving place to the correlative projection
of the needle.
Figure 3, another elevational view of the folded protector,
o with the needle completely enabled; permitting the view of its
general constitution and disposition of the different parts and
elements that constitute it.
Figure 4, another elevational view of the needle with its tip
protector in a position indicating the way in which it covers it
completely.
Figure 5, a longitudinal section of the needle with its tip
protector according to Figure 4, that shows the profile of the
simple and composed arms which constitute it.
Figure 6, a cross section of the needle and tip protector,
according to the plan indicated as VI-VI in Figure 5; showing
the way in which the intermediate internal projections of the
arms define between each other an adjusted passage of the
needle, preventing relative movements or flexions of the same
when it is covered by the protector.
Figure 7, an elevational longitudinal view of the closed
protector, completely covering the needle.
- 21~0~03
Figure 8, a top view of the closed protector, in which the
extreme nozzle can be seen -formed by two complementary
semi-nozzles- through which the needle projects.
Figure 9, a cross section of the cover and the needle
according to a plan indicated as IX-IX.
Figure 10, shows how the open tip protector begins
operating to produce its shutting1 according to the arrows,
actioning it with only one hand and without danger of entering
in contact with the needle; and finally,
o Figure 11, the complementary view to that of Figure 10 in
which it is shown how the tip protectors finishes closing
through pressure of the composed arms, according to the arrows
and the corresponding positional lock.
In the different figures, the same reference numbers
indicate same parts or corresponding ones, having been marked
with letters the group of various elements.
Said references correspond to the following detail, being:
(a) - nozzle
(b) - long tip protector
(C) - tubular head
(p) - binding
(1) - body of (a)
(1') - locking end of (b)
(2) - needle
(2') - sharp pointed end
(3) - first elementary arm (base)
`- 21S0403
(3') - base articulation of the first composed arm
(4) - second elementary arm, (base)
(4') - base articulation of the second composed arm
(5) - third elementary arm (end)
(5') - intermediate articulation of the first compos~d arm
(5") - head articulation of the first composed arm
(6) - fourth elementary arm (end)
(6') - intermediate articulation of the second composed
arm
o (6") - head articulation of the second composed arm
(3-5) - first composed arm
(4-6) - second composed arm
(7) - holder of (3-5)
(7') - holder of (4-6)
(8) - part of the head body related to (5)
(8') - part of the head body related to (6)
(9) - semi-nozzle of (c) corresponding to (8)
(9') - serni-nozzle of (c) corresponding to (8')
(10) - nerve of (8)
(10') - nerve of (8')
(10") - locking round salient of folding
(11) - passage of the needle
(11') - elastic membrane of positional lock in (11)
(12) - internal centering fin of (3-5)
(12') - terminal of (12)
(13) - internal centering fin of (4-6)
21~0403
(13') - terminal of (13)
(14) - intermediate holder
(14') - intermediate holder
IV- DESCRIPTION
In general terms, the security protector (b), for syringe
needles (2), is of the type consisting of a long tip protector
which, surpassing the length of the needle (2), it covers it
completely; having said needle its beginning in a nozzle (a)
coupled to the syringe (not illustrated), while at the opposite
part it ends with a sharp pointed end (2').
More particularly, and as can be seen in the Figures, the
long tip protector (b), consists of four elementary arms (3), (4), (5)
and (6), respectively, with an internal complementary concavity
and articulated between each other two by two, that compose
two composed arms (3-4) and (5-6) constituting a deformable
parallelogram.
Thus, the first elementary arm (3) and the third elementary
arm (5), that reciprocally vinculate through one intermediate
articulation (5') form -as it was said- a first composed arm (3-5)
that, through an articulation (5"), they connect to the body (8) of
a head (c), while at the opposite part, by means of another base
articulation (3') it connects with the body (1) of the nozzle (a),
figure 3.
At the same time, the second elementary arm (4) and the
fourth elementary arm (6), that reciprocally vinculate through an
- 21S0403
intermediate articulation (6') form -as it was mentioned- a first
composed arm (4-6) that, through an articulation (6"), they
connect to the body (8') of a head (c), while at the opposite part,
by means of another base articulation (4') it connects with the
5 body (l) of the nozzle (a), figure 3.
In the tubular head (c), the semi-nozzles (9) and (9') form an
opening destined to enable the passage of the needle (2), figures
2 and 3.
This header has the salients (7) and (7') as holders, while
lO the other salients in the areas of the intermediate articulations
(5') and (6'), form or can form other intermediate holders.
To assemble the device around the needle (2) -in the
manufacturing phase- the header (c) is formed by two parts that
have respective nerves (lO) and (lO') which can be leant opposite
15 against each other, which have coupling means male-female
that bind them, such as perforations of ones, and the others with
rounded salients (lO") across them (figures 3 to 5).
Likewise, from the internal part of the parallelogram, the
intermediate articulations (5') and (6') have internally projected
20 centering fins (12) and (13) that can present a format as can be
observed in figures 4 and 5, and especially in the section of the
figure 6; defining a narrow passage of the needle (2) between
them.
Lastly, the protector possesses means of positional locking
25 of the arms, be it in the position folded towards the base (a) -
figure 3- held back in the same through a simple pressure that
2150403
produces the wedging of these locking means (rounded salient
and perforations, hookings or simply the end (1') of the body (1)
in the header (c). In the passage (11), these locking means can
be given by a salient or membrane (11') which positionally fixes
5 the folding and unfolding of (b), by a forced adjustment against
the lateral external parameters of the needle (2).
The head, (c) as well as the arms (b) and the coupling
nozzle (a), can be, preferably, structured as a single piece of
plastic material or an appropriate similar one; or constituting at
o the end of the arms (3) and (4) articulated in (3') and (4') with a
ring the adheres to the body (1) of the coupling nozzle (a). This
last way of embodiment, obviously, has the advantage of being
able to adapt the system of the conventional needles, with no
need of modifying or producing them expressly.
Each needle (2), provided with its incorporated protector
(b), can be sold in a package including a security binding (p)
(figure 1), that guarantees that the system has not been
previously used (figure 1).
Having been removed said binding (p), in order to enable
20 the needle (2), it is only needed to press the protector at the
holders (14) and (14'), as it is shown in figure 2, with which the
composed arms (3-5) and (4-6), articulated in (5')-(6'), (3')-(4') and
(5")-(6"), will fold its structure deforming the parallelogram in
such a way that the arms (5) and (6) get near the arms (3) and
25 (4), respectively (figure 3), and, at the same time due to that
folding, the needle (2) projects out of the protector, being
2150~03
enabled for its normal use, and fixed in such position due to the
locking means.
Once the needle (2) is used, the protector (b) is pressed
again in the opposite way to the one indicated in figure 2
5 (figures 10 and 11), with which the parallelogram will close and
will cover the needle (2) completely (figures 7 and 9). To
cooperate with this procedure, the structure (b) can be normally
tensed in an elastic way towards the folding position.
There is no doubt that when the present invention is put
10 into practice, same can suffer modifications respecting certain
details in its construction and shape, which does not imply that
it is getting apart from the fundamental principles clearly
substantiated in the following claims:
