Needle shield assembly with hub engagement member for needle device

Inventors

Erskine, Timothy J.

Assignees

Erskine Medical LLC

Abstract

A passively activated needle shield assembly with a hub engagement member for a needle device is provided. The needle shield assembly includes a needle shield movable between a non-shielding position and a shielding position. The needle shield prevents emergence of a sharp distal end of a needle therefrom in the shielding position. An engagement member is slidingly disposed relative to the needle shield for engaging the hub to the needle shield in the non-shielding position. A retainer operatively couples to the engagement member and is positioned to prevent disengagement of the engagement member from the hub in the non-shielding position, and enables removal of the hub from the needle shield by disengaging the engagement member from the hub when the needle shield moves to the shielding position.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a needle device that includes a hub, a needle having a longitudinal axis and a sharp distal end, and a needle shield assembly movable between a non-shielding position and a shielding position. In the shielding position, the needle shield prevents emergence of the sharp distal end of the needle from the needle shield. The needle shield assembly therefore provides a movable shielding function tied to the needle device structure.

The needle shield assembly includes an engagement member slidingly disposed relative to the needle shield for engaging an outer surface of the hub in the non-shielding position. A retainer is positioned in direct engagement with the engagement member to prevent disengagement of the engagement member from the hub in the non-shielding position. The retainer enables removal of the hub from the needle shield by disengaging the engagement member from the hub when the needle shield moves to the shielding position.

In described embodiments, the needle shield assembly includes a sleeve and a carrier with an internal axial lumen and a radial opening, where a channel restricts motion of a needle-blocking object within the carrier. The hub includes a flanged portion that is engaged by flexible hook or finger engaging elements. The coaxial arrangement and the placement of the shield assembly outside the hub in the shielding position are stated to improve compatibility with hemostatic valve/seals by locating the shield assembly outside the hub in the shielding position.

Claims Coverage

The partial content identifies two independent claims: one for a needle device and one for a needle shield assembly. Across these independent claims, three core inventive functions are asserted: a movable needle shield that prevents needle tip emergence, an engagement member that slides to engage the hub in a non-shielding position, and a retainer that prevents disengagement in the non-shielding position while enabling hub removal when the shield moves.

Both independent claims cover a system in which a needle shield blocks emergence of the sharp needle distal end when in a shielding position, while a sliding engagement member holds the hub in a non-shielding position under the restraint of a retainer that allows hub removal once the needle shield moves to the shielding position.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications