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Publication Number
US-8679144-B2
Publication Date
2014-03-25
Expiration Date
Abstract
A puncture needle cartridge 20 detachably mounted on a puncturing device body to form a puncturing device is provided with a needle body 21 having a puncturing portion 212a, and also with a casing 22 for housing the needle body 21 and having openings 223, 224 that are respectively formed in front of and behind the needle body 21. The needle body 21 is mounted so as to be movable between a retracted position, wherein the tip 212c of the puncturing portion is retraced in the casing 22, and an extended position, wherein the tip 212c of the puncturing portion is projected outward from the casing 22 by receiving a pressing force from the puncturing device body. The needle body 21 has a biasing means for biasing the needle body 21 from an extended position towards a retracted position. The puncture needle cartridge can be mass-produced at low cost, and enables a user to perform puncturing safely and easily.
Core Innovation
A puncture needle cartridge is detachably mounted on a puncturing device body to form a puncturing device. The cartridge includes a needle body having a puncturing portion and a pair of engaging portions with tapered inclined surfaces, and the needle body is housed in a casing that has openings respectively formed in front of and behind the needle body.
The needle body is movable between a retracted position, in which a tip of the puncturing portion is retracted in the casing, and an extended position, in which the tip is projected outward from the casing by receiving a pressing force from the puncturing device body. A pair of flexible members biases the needle body from the extended position toward the retracted position, with each flexible member having a first end fixed to an inner surface of the casing and a second end configured to slide in contact with a corresponding engaging portion.
Each flexible member includes a circular arc shaped abutment portion formed at a tip of the flexible member that contacts a corresponding engaging portion among the engaging portions. The flexible members are curved to project backward, and have concave curvature between the first and second ends facing toward the puncturing portion, with the concave curvature portion including the circular arc shaped abutment portion at the second end. In preferred structures, the needle body and casing are integrally molded from a biocompatible material.
Claims Coverage
The consolidated content identifies three independent claims. Each independent claim centers on a detachably mounted puncture needle cartridge with a needle body movable between retracted and extended positions under a pressing force, and a pair of flexible members that bias the needle back, with a circular arc shaped abutment portion interacting with tapered engaging portions.
Detachably mounted puncture needle cartridge forming a puncturing device
A puncture needle cartridge detachably mounts on a puncturing device body to form a puncturing device, with a needle body and a casing for housing the needle body and providing openings in front of and behind the needle body.
Needle body movable between retracted and extended positions by pressing force
The needle body is movable between a retracted position with a tip of the puncturing portion retracted in the casing, and an extended position with the tip projected outward from the casing by receiving a pressing force from the puncturing device body.
Pair of flexible members biasing needle toward retracted position
A pair of flexible members on opposite sides of the needle body biases the needle body from the extended position toward the retracted position, with a first end fixed to an inner surface of the casing and a second end configured to slide in contact with a corresponding engaging portion.
Tapered engaging portions interacting with circular-arc abutment portion
The needle body includes a pair of engaging portions each having a tapered inclined surface, and a circular arc shaped abutment portion formed at a tip of each flexible member contacts a corresponding engaging portion, where the corresponding engaging portion is linear in plan view.
Curved flexible members projecting backward with defined concave geometry
The flexible members are curved to project backward relative to a straight line connecting centers of first and second ends of the flexible members, and the flexible members have concave curvature between the first and second ends, with the second end including the circular arc shaped abutment portion.
Integrally molded needle body and casing from biocompatible material
The needle body and the casing are integrally molded from a biocompatible material.
The inventive core is the combination of a detachably mounted needle cartridge that shifts between retracted and extended positions under a pressing force, and a pair of flexible members with circular arc shaped abutment portions that contact tapered engaging portions to return the needle to the retracted position, with additional geometric and material limitations for the flexible-member curvature and integrally molded biocompatible structure.
Stated Advantages
Improved safety by biasing the needle to the retracted position.
Documented Applications
Blood collection.
Living tissue sampling.
Vaccination.
Drug administration.
Safety lancet application.
Self-actuated puncturing device with a cap and an internal spring [procedural detail omitted for safety].
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