MXPA97007485A

MXPA97007485A - Apparatus to remove and discard agu

Info

Publication number: MXPA97007485A
Application number: MXPA/A/1997/007485A
Authority: MX
Inventors: A Shillington Richard; R Mccord Kenneth
Original assignee: Medsafe Systems Inc
Priority date: 1995-03-30
Filing date: 1997-09-30
Publication date: 1998-02-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a needle remover for rotatably coupling and removing a needle from a fastener, comprising: a stationary support member having an opening for receiving a hypodermic disposable needle; an elongated slot associated with said opening and having a plurality of gear teeth along one side thereof to engage grooves in a needle shaft to rotate the needle shaft and unscrew it from a fastener when the gear teeth and the shaft of the needle move transverse to each, and an elongated lip that covers a substantial length of said groove to contact and hold the needle shaft to avoid being removed from the groove.

Description

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING AND DISPOSING NEEDLES TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to devices for removing needles for syringes and pertains particularly to an improved device for removing needles to easily remove needles from syringes.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE The safe and efficient removal of tips such as hypodermic needles and the like is a tremendous problem for physicians and health facilities. Needles and syringes are often separated for disposal and often for the reuse of syringes. The above is particularly true for blood collection syringes that use a suction tube to withdraw blood. It is critical that medical personnel have means to remove and dispose of needles without risk of skin pricking.

In recent years, disposable containers have been developed that provide a reasonably high degree of safety for disposable articles and sharps from hospitals and clinics. Many of these items, such as needles and surgical knives known as spikes, and other similar items and materials, should be discarded in a way that they are kept out of the hands of unauthorized persons and should be prevented from being reused. These containers are designed to prevent materials from being removed from the container under ordinary circumstances. It is desirable in most cases for the container to provide means for removing the needle from syringes and other similar instruments before discarding or for separate disposal.

A secure container of the aforementioned type is that presented in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 4,502,606, issued March 5, 1985 and addressed to a closure with insurance for disposable containers. These containers have usually been provided with tools for removing needles in the form of one or more slots that act as a key to remove needles from syringes and the like. These needle removal tools are not only convenient, but they provide a safe means of removing the needle. Safe disposal of the needle is essential to protect hospital staff from certain injuries and contagious diseases.

Many previous disposable containers have had tools to remove needles built into the upper part thereof adjacent to the waste opening. The above is a convenient and desirable arrangement. However, the above tools, while normally appropriate for most applications, require rotation of the barrel of the syringe to remove the needle. The above is often inconvenient for the user, particularly if the container must be held in the hand. An example of an improved needle removal slot is presented in my U.S. Patent No. 4,984,686, issued June 15, 1991.

In the above-identified patent application, there is provided a slot for removing needles having gear teeth for engaging grooves or channels of a needle shaft to rotationally unscrew the needle. However, further improvements are desirable.

It is, therefore, desirable that an improved, convenient, safe and effective device for removing needles be available.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide an improved needle removal means for disposable containers.

According to the primary aspect of the present invention, a device for removing needles for a disposable container comprises an elongated slot, with a section of teeth of gear along one side for coupling with slots in the shaft of a needle to rotate and unscrew The needle of your fastener as it passes along the slot transverse to the axis of the needle. One specimen includes a flange that engages the axis of the needle to retain it in the slot. Another specimen provides the notched groove in a flexible arm that moves transverse to an axially moved needle to unscrew it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objectives, advantages and characteristics of this invention will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a planar top view of a closure assembly incorporating a preferred specimen of the invention; Figure 2 is a planar partial top view similar to Figure 1, showing an alternative exemplary; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2; Figure 7 is a sectional elevation view of another instance of the insert; and Figure 8 is a planar bottom view pointing upwards from the bottom of the copy of Figure 7.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, there is illustrated a container closure assembly, designated generally by the number 10, which includes a device for removing needles 12 constructed in accordance with a Illustrative example of the invention. This closure assembly comprises a top support or frame 12, which in the illustrated example is generally rectangular in configuration for mounting and covering the upward opening or open top of a container (not shown). This upper part is permanently coupled to a disposable plastic container of the type typically used for the disposal of syringes, tips and the like. This type of container is presented in a number of my previous patents, as will be mentioned.

The needle removal groove 12 is illustrated formed in a closure frame 14, which in the exemplary illustrated has a generally rectangular configuration, with an opening 16 for syringes, and covers 18 and 20 for the opening and the needle groove. The needle removal device can also be incorporated into a number of other container closure assemblies associated with various container closures, such as those presented in my United States Patent Number 4,984,686. These tops can be permanently attached to a disposable plastic-type container of the type typically used for the disposal of needles, and other objects and the like, as presented in a number of my prior patents.

The illustrated closure assembly is designed for use in conjunction with containers for the disposal of suction-type syringes widely used for the removal of blood samples. The closure comprises a rectangular panel 14, with an opening 16 for receiving spent syringes. Adjacent to the opening 16 is a remover device according to the invention, generally designated with the number 12, for removing needles from the body of the syringe.

The opening 16 and the needle removal groove 12 are positioned within a concealed rectangular portion, as illustrated, with hinged covers 18 and 20 hinged on one side of the upper frame. The hinged covers 18 and 20 are shown rotated in an open position, and each includes safety tabs 22 and 24 to engage the slots 26 and 28 to secure in a permanently clamped or closed position when the container is filled and ready for use. be discarded With reference now specifically to the syringe removal slot, it will be noted that the slot comprises a first portion or to receive the syringe 26, a second or intermediate portion and to receive the slot 28 and an end or release section of the needle 30. The entire groove is hidden low within the closure frame assembly, as will be appreciated from Figures 2 and 3. The groove also opens directly into a container to direct the disposal of the needles.

The needle entry slot portion 26 slopes downwardly from the upper surface of the frame 14, with parallel and opposite side walls 32 and 34 to the intermediate section 28. The intermediate section 28 extends generally horizontally and is formed by an indented wall formed with teeth 36, 38 and 40, which cause rotation of the groove and the needle as the syringe is held against rotation and passed or moved along the groove transverse to the axis of the needle.

A terminal end of the slot 44 is formed of a continuation of the side wall 42, which continues from a top surface and an opposite side wall above the teeth 36, 38 and 40 and from the slot 32. The terminal end portion of the slot extends below a generally C-shaped or growing hook or inwardly extending loop 44, which extends over and engages the radially extending flank of a needle slot to exert force to force it from the end of a barrel . The teeth 36, 38 and 40 slope down slightly from the upper surface of the hook 44, which allows a flank of the groove to extend below the hook 44. The former also accommodates the screwdriver movement of the groove as it moves downwardly. outside the end of a barrel.

The entire groove 12 is concealed below an upper surface of a support structure, such as a container lid, so that there is provided support or spacer surfaces that engage the end of a syringe barrel, and separate or place the grooves of the shaft to engage the intermediate portion of the slot and the teeth 36, 38 and 40. The foregoing is explained more fully in the original application that has been allowed and is incorporated herein by reference as being fully included. In particular, as illustrated in the original application, a barrel of syringe illustrated in phantom has a neck into which a needle shaft is screwed. The end surface of the barrel engages the surfaces surrounding or on each side of the slot, and allows the needle to extend down just enough to engage the teeth 36, 38 and 40. In the present application the barrel 52a will engage the surface 14a surrounding the slot.

As the shaft is unscrewed from the end of the barrel, it moves downward as allowed by the upper surfaces sloping downwardly of the teeth 36, 38 and 40 (for example, Figure 13). At the end of the trip, the axle flank extends below the horseshoe-shaped clip or bracket 44 to give an axial force on the needle and shaft assembly if needed.

Referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, a modification of the basic notched groove of Figure 2 includes lips or flanges 46 and 48 at the entrance end of the groove 50 and extending along the side of the groove opposite the teeth of the gear. These tabs serve as fasteners to secure behind the upper surface of the needle shaft and hold it in place to prevent it from being pulled out of the slot once inserted. The foregoing will be better appreciated when looking at Figure 4 where a conventional needle shaft is illustrated, and in Figure 5 and 6 where it can be seen that the flanges will engage back or up the axle flank and hold it in place. . In some examples it may be necessary to engrave the end of the clamp neck to provide a space behind the rim or flank of the shaft.

As specifically illustrated in Figure 4, a conventional tubular holder or barrel 52 for suction-type containers includes a neck 54 having an internal cord plug for receiving a needle assembly having an elongated needle extending forward 56 and an inwardly extending needle 58 that is covered by a sheath valve and punctures the suction tube. A shaft assembly includes a portion with upper rope 60, flank similar to intermediate disc 62 and grooves or grooves extending forward 64. Conding portion 60 has cord within the internal cord plug (not shown) at neck 54. Slots are normally quarter in number but can serve or act merely as a pinion gear, which cooperates with the teeth in the slot in a manner similar to a rack or linear gear. Thus, the grooves in the shaft and the teeth of the gear in the groove act as a combination of pinion and rack gear.

In operation, a syringe barrel 62 is held in the hand, and the needle 56 is inserted into the slot of the inlet 28 and is allowed to slide forward, coming into contact with the slot 64 in the toothed section of the slot a as the barrel is held and held against the rotation and forced forward along the groove. As the barrel moves forward along the slot, the slots 64 in engagement with the teeth 36, 38 and 40 force the shaft to rotate in the opposite direction or to unscrew from the neck 54 of the barrel of the syringe.

As the needle and shaft assembly move from the terminal end of the groove, the needle and shaft assembly is allowed to fall from the end of the barrel. In case it is held in position by friction, the semicircular fastener 46 can be brought into contact with the flank of the barrel as the barrel is pulled upwards, which expels the rope portion of the needle shaft from the barrel. barrel neck end 54. Thus, the needle is removed quickly, safely and effectively from the end of the barrel of the syringe.

In Figures 2 to 6 the specimen of the syringe barrel is forced down until the lips or flanges 46 and 48 come into contact with the upper surface of the flank 62 which holds it in place. As the barrel of the syringe moves forward, the lip or flange 52 comes into contact with the flank of the shaft 62 as the grooves or grooves of the shaft come into contact with the tooth 32 and hold it in place. as the shaft moves forward along the groove. At the end of the groove the flank of the shaft extends below the hook or rim 44 so that the barrel 52 is pulled up the axis of the needle from contacting and expelling out of the end of the barrel.

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, an alternative example of the invention is illustrated. The device or apparatus of Figures 7 and 8 comprises a generally stationary support 66 which may be a wall or other portions such as a closure assembly of a disposable container. The support 66 includes an opening or recess 68 which is preferably formed as a tubular sleeve by the walls 70 extending normal to the surface of the support as it is inside a container. A groove assembly for elongate removal is associated with opening 68 and comprises an elongated flexible arm having an inner end portion 72 for engagement with the surface of the support 66 and outer flexible arm portion 74 with an intermediate portion 76. The intermediate portion it extends 90 ° from the base or the coupling portion 76 with the flexible end portion on the outside thereof and including a notched groove for removing needles 78. The notched groove 78 includes a plurality of teeth in mesh 80, 82 and 84 that extend along one side thereof and a lip or flange in overlap 86 on the opposite side of them. A terminal end of the slot includes a hook or rim covering it 88 as in the previous example.

The arm assembly may be coupled to the support in any suitable manner as illustrated which includes an overlap band 90 spaced apart from the bottom surface of the wall 66 and which forms a slot 92 through which the arm 72 extends and a slot 94 which extends and secures within a slot 96 near the end of the band or arm 72. Thus, the entire slot assembly can be easily assembled by simply sliding the end thereof through slot 92 and 94 securing in its site. The input end of the slot is aligned with the axis of the recess 68 to properly position the needle shaft at the beginning of the slot.

In operation, as a syringe or barrel needle holder 98 having a needle assembly including a shaft with slot 100 is engaged by rope To a plug in a neck 102 is inserted into the apparatus or sleeve 68 the slots of the shaft 100 extend into the slot as illustrated in Figure 8 towards the series of gear teeth 80 to 84. As the barrel is it forces down along its axis and the arm portion 74 is forced to flex downward and move to one side by pulling the slot portion through the shaft of the needle. The former moves the teeth of the gear through the shaft and in relation to the slots that force the shaft to rotate counterclockwise as it moves down to the end of the slot 78. The former unscrews the needle of its plug by means of which it is forced to leave the plug and fall inside the container or other disposable container. The flexible arm is then moved to the ready position when the clamping barrel is removed from the recess.

While the needle slot is illustrated in the present invention in conjunction with a specific disposable container lid, it should be understood that it can be used in conjunction with substantially any lid, as presented in any number of my prior patents. It can also be used in conjunction with other needle slots, as illustrated for example in my U.S. Patent No. 4,984,684 and others.

While I have illustrated and described my invention by means of specific examples, it should be understood that numerous changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A toothed needle remover for rotatably attaching and removing a needle from a fastener, comprising: a stationary support member having an opening for receiving a hypodermic disposable needle; an elongated slot associated with said opening and having a plurality of gear teeth along one side thereof to engage grooves in a needle shaft to rotate the needle shaft and unscrew it from a fastener when the teeth of the needle The gear and shaft of the needle move transverse to each other; and an elongated lip that covers a substantial length of said groove to contact and hold the needle shaft against being removed from the groove.
2. A needle gear remover according to claim 1 wherein said support member includes guide means comprising a generally cylindrical plug for reciprocally receiving a needle receiving end of a needle holder.
3. A needle-gear remover according to Claim 2 wherein said slot comprises a flexible arm having an inner end fixed to said support member and an inner end including said gear teeth and guide means for the shaft of the needle for guiding the needle shaft along said gear teeth after movement of the needle holder along the axis of the needle.
4. A stirring with needle gears according to claim 1 wherein said groove comprises a flexible arm having an inner end fixed to said support member and an exli? M? outer including said gear teeth and pure guide means the axis of the needle to guide the axis of the needle along said gear teeth after movement of the needle holder along the axis of the needle.
5. A needle-gear remover according to Claim 1 wherein said groove comprises a flexible arm having an inner end secured to said support member and an outer end including inline gear teeth and guide means for the shaft of the needle to guide the axis of the needle along after movement of the needle holder along the axis of the needle.
6. A needle gear remover according to Claim 1 wherein: said support member is a closure frame for a disposable container; and said guide means comprises a generally cylindrical sleeve for reciprocally receiving a needle receiving end of a needle holder.
7. A needle gear remover according to Claim 6 wherein said groove comprises an arm assembly having an inner end substantially straight and fixed to a lower surface of said closing frame and a curved outer end including said gear teeth.
8. A needle gear remover according to Claim 7 wherein said sleeve has a central axis, one end of said groove is aligned with said axis.
9. A needle gear remover according to Claim 7 wherein said sleeve has a central axis, and said curved outer end is bent transverse to said axis with one end of said slot aligned with said axis.
10. A toothed needle remover for engaging and pivotally removing a needle from a fastener, comprising: a closure frame for a disposable container; a generally cylindrical opening in said closure frame for receiving a fastener for a disposable hypodermic needle; an elongated slot spaced apart from and aligned with said opening, said slot having a plurality of gear teeth along one side thereof for engaging the grooves in a needle shaft to rotate the needle needle and unscrew it from the fastener when the teeth of the gear and the shaft of the needle move transverse to each other.
1. A needle-gear remover according to Claim 10 wherein said elongated groove includes guide means for the needle shaft to guide the axis of the needle along said gear teeth after movement of the needle holder to along the axis of the needle.
12. A stir gears needle according to claim 10 wherein said slot comprises a flexible arm having a fixed end to said support member and said means inner end which includes said teeth aligned gear and guide for the shaft needle to guide the axis of the needle along after movement of the needle holder along the axis of the needle.
13. A needle gear remover according to Claim 10 wherein said opening comprises a generally cylindrical sleeve for reciprocally receiving a needle holder from the needle holder.
14. A stir gears needle according to claim 10 wherein said slot comprises an arm assembly having a fixed subslancialmente straight inner end to a bottom surface of said closure frame and a curved outer end which includes said gear teeth.
15. A stirring with needle gears according to Claim 14 wherein said sleeve has a central axis, one end of said groove is aligned with said axis.
16. A stirring with needle gears according to Claim 15 wherein said sleeve has a central axis, and said curved outer end is bent through said shaft with one of said grooves aligned with said axis.
17. A needle gear remover according to Claim 10 wherein said groove includes a retainer flange for covering and retaining a needle shaft in said groove.