Needle guide for needle-based medical device
Inventors
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-8241256-B2
Publication Date
2012-08-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A needle-based medical device including a needle guide and a method for constructing the same are disclosed. The needle-based medical device includes a tube having a first lumen; a needle guide which is dimensioned to be inserted into the lumen of the tube, and a needle. The needle is inserted such that an end is positioned in the needle guide. A glue may also be provided to secure the needle guide to the tube. In one embodiment, the tube may be made of extruded plastic.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a needle-based medical device having a needle hub/needle guide assembly in which a needle guide positions a needle end relative to a tube. The assembly includes a tube with a first lumen and a needle guide body having a lumen to position a proximal end of a needle, with the needle guide received into a distal end of the first lumen.
The needle guide and tube are configured to form annular spaces that receive glue. A dedicated glue well is formed adjacent to ribs, and glue introduced into the glue well flows by capillary action into first and optionally second annular spaces between the needle guide and the tube and, optionally, between the needle and the needle guide.
The glue is then cured to seal and secure the needle guide and/or needle end in the assembly. The needle guide includes ribs extending longitudinally in a distal direction beyond a distal end of the body, and a flange coupled to a distal end of the ribs with a radially outer surface at a greater radial distance, where the flange can act as a mechanical depth stop limiting insertion depth.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive concept is needle-positioning by a needle guide body, glue-securing via annular spaces created by ribs, and a distal flange with a larger radial distance to control spacing and provide a depth-stop function.
Needle guide body with insertion portion and needle positioning lumen
A body for insertion into a distal end of a first lumen of a tube, the body including an outer surface at a first radial distance from a longitudinal axis of the body and a second lumen to position a proximal end of a needle.
Longitudinal ribs creating an annular space for glue
At least two ribs extending longitudinally in a distal direction beyond a distal end of the body, each of the at least two ribs radially distanced from the longitudinal axis of the body by a second radial distance, the second radial distance being greater than the first radial distance, so as to create a first annular space between the first lumen of the tube and the outer surface of the body.
Distal flange with radially outer surface at a third radial distance
A flange coupled to a distal end of the at least two ribs, wherein a radially outer surface of the flange is distanced from the longitudinal axis of the body by a third radial distance, the third radial distance being greater than the second radial distance.
Needle guide with a smaller outer diameter than tube for glue seal space
A body having an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the tube and a lumen for positioning a proximal end of the needle relative to the tube.
First rib radially dimensioned to space the body in the tube for receiving glue and providing a seal
A first rib connected to the body and extending longitudinally in a distal direction beyond a distal end of the body, the first rib being radially dimensioned to position the body in the tube spaced apart from the inner diameter of the tube, thereby providing an annular space between the inner diameter of the tube and the outer diameter of the body for receiving glue for securing the body to the tube and providing a seal between the body and the tube.
Flange coupled to rib with radially outer surface at a third radial distance
A flange coupled to a distal end of the first rib, wherein a radially outer surface of the flange is distanced from the longitudinal axis of the body by a third radial distance, the third radial distance being greater than the second radial distance.
Across the independent claims, the needle guide positions a proximal needle end in a tube using a body with one or more lumens, while longitudinal ribs create an annular space for receiving glue and sealing or securing the body relative to the tube. A flange coupled to the distal end of the ribs is defined by a third radial distance greater than the rib radial distance, and the flange can function as a depth stop.
Stated Advantages
Extruded plastic tubes are used to reduce cost and manufacturing difficulty versus molded tubes.
The flange can act as a mechanical depth stop limiting insertion depth.
Documented Applications
Needle-based medical device having a needle hub/needle guide assembly.
Interested in licensing this patent?