WO2005087291A1

WO2005087291A1 - Needle device

Info

Publication number: WO2005087291A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/000349
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter George Austin
Original assignee: Von Pace Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-03-15
Filing date: 2005-03-14
Publication date: 2005-09-22

Abstract

A needle device (10) having housing (12) and a needle structure (20). The housing (12) having an internal cavity (17), with an opening (18) communicating between the cavity (17) and the exterior of the housing (12). The needle structure (20) having a needle (22) which, in a condition for use of the device (10), extends outwardly of the housing (12) from the cavity (17) through the opening (18). The needle structure (22) being movable lengthwise from the condition for use to a retracted position within the cavity (17). The device (10) also has resilient means (40) releasable from a loaded condition to engage and move the needle structure (20) from the condition for use to the retracted position, and holding means (50) for holding the resilient means (40) in said loaded condition, but actuable to release the resilient means (40) to effect said movement of the needle structure (20) to said retracted position. The holding means (50) having first and second cooperating elements (52, 54). The first element (52) being formed as a section of the housing (12), and the second element (54) being formed as an engagement portion of the needle structure (20) which is engaged by the section of the housing (12) in the condition of the needle structure (20) for use. The holding means (52, 54) being actuable to release said holding by manual deformation of the housing (12), to disengage the section (52) from the engagement portion (54) of the needle structure (20).

Description

NEEDLE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a needle device.

Background of the Invention In order to provide protection to medical staff using needle devices, e.g. catheter devices for medical treatment, it is desirable that the needles of these be retractable so that, after use, risk of transmission of diseases by contact with the needle device is reduced.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved needle device.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a needle device comprising: a housing having an internal cavity, with an opening communicating between the cavity and the exterior of the housing; a needle structure having a needle which, in a condition for use of the device, extends outwardly of the housing from the cavity through the opening, the needle structure being movable lengthwise from the condition for use to a retracted position within the cavity; resilient means releasable from a loaded condition to engage and move the needle structure from the condition for use to the retracted position; and holding means for holding the resilient means in said loaded condition, but actuable to release the resilient means to effect said movement of the needle structure to said retracted position; the holding means having first and second cooperating elements, the first element being formed as a section of the housing, and the second element being formed as an engagement portion of the needle structure which is engaged by the section of the housing in the condition of the needle structure for use, wherein the holding means are actuable to release said holding by manual deformation of the housing, to disengage the section from the engagement portion of the needle structure.

The needle device is applicable, for example, to catheter devices in which the needle is hollow and is inserted into a patient to enable transfer of fluid to or from the patient. It is also applicable to syringes, in which the needle is also hollow and the housing is, for example, adapted to receive a plunger movable to displace fluid in the cavity outwardly through the needle. It may also be used in conjunction with a cannula in which the needle passes through the cannula for purposes of facilitating positioning the cannula in a patient.

The side wall of the housing is preferably inwardly resiliently deformable at opposed locations to cause the first element to be moved outwardly to effect said disengagement. The housing preferably has a non-circular, most preferably ovaloid, cross-section at the location of the first element such that the cross-sectional dimension, of the housing is greater between said opposed locations than transverse thereto.

In one form, the second element is formed as a surface of a groove on the needle structure.

In another form, the second element is formed as a lateral abutment surface on said needle structure. The first element is preferably formed as a transversely extending abutment surface or an abutment tip on a catch portion of the housing.

In yet another form, the second element is formed as a surface on a transversely extending opening in a side of said needle structure. The first element is preferably formed as an inward projection on the inner surface of the housing, the projection extending into said opening in the side of the needle structure, in said condition for use of^" the needle device, but being retracted from said opening in the side of the needle structure to effect said release of said holding.

The section is preferably one of two sections at opposed sides of the housing.

The needle device is, in one embodiment, formed as a syringe having a plunger movable in said housing for displacing fluid in the housing externally through said needle.

The needle device is, in another embodiment, formed as a catheter device, having means for coupling the needle to a tube for delivery of fluid to or withdrawal of fluid from a patient via said needle. Brief description of the drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of ex-amples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a lengthwise cross-section of a needle device formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, in a condition for use;

Fig. 2 is a view like Fig. 1, but showing the needle device in a condition in wtαich a needle of the device is withdrawn;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 4, but illustrating the needle device under a condition of release of the needle to permit movement thereof to the position of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a winged cannula incorporated the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a partly sectioned side view of a syringe formed in accordance wdth a second embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged scrap views of the region "A" in Fig. 1 illustrating cooperating components of a holding means of the invention, in engaged and releasecl conditions, respectively; and

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are views like Fig. 8, but illustrating respective modifications of the needle device.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments Figs. 1 to 6 and 8 and 9 show a first embodiment of a needle device according to the invention, in the form of a catheter device 10. The device 10 has a needle receiving housing 12, of hollow generally cylindrical form. The housing 12 has a. main body portion 15, which defines an internal cavity 17 of the housing 12. At a forward end, the housing 12 has a forward hollow protrusion 16, of somewhat cylindrical form., and having a reduced diameter compared with the body portion 15. The interior of the protrusion is of generally cylindrical form and forms a forward extension of the cavity 17. An opening 18 is formed at a forward end of the protrusion 16, in a transverse wall portion 25 thereof.

A needle structure 20 is freely slidable axially of the housing 12. The structure 20 has a hollow needle 22, with an inner end portion of the needle 22 being secured to a larger diameter cylindrical body 30. In a condition for use of the device 10, the inner end of the needle 22 and the body 30 are within the cavity 17, and the needle 22 extends from the body 30 forwardly through the opening 18 to a sharp tip 24.

A helical compression spring 40 within the cavity 17 is positioned coaxially on the needle 22 so as to be between the transverse wall portion 25 and the body 30. In the condition shown in Fig. 1, the spring 40 is compressed and is held in this condition by a holding means 50 which locks the needle 22 in the extended position.

The holding means 50 has cooperating elements 52, 54 (see Figs. 8 and 9) formed respectively on the body 30 and on the wall 36 of the main body portion 15 of the housing 12. The element 52 is formed as a rearwardly facing peripheral abutment surface at the forward portion of a peripheral groove 80 on the body 30.

There are two opposed elements 54, formed as forwardly facing transverse surfaces on inwardly extending sections 58 of the inner periphery of the cavity 17. More particularly, although the body portion 15 of the housing 12 is, over most of its length, of hollow circular cross-section (Fig. 3), the transverse configuration is, at the lengthwise location of the elements 54, modified to be somewhat ovaloid as shown in Fig. 4. This is accomplished by forming the elements 54 as inward abutments 55 (Fig. 2) at opposed locations of the cross-section aligned with the smaller cross-sectional dimension of the ovaloid.

The abutments 55 are, in the condition shown in Fig. 1, positioned immediately behind and in abutting relationship with the elements 52, and serve to constrain the body 30 and the needle structure 20 against rearward movement under influence of the spring 40. This condition is shown in more detail in Fig. 8. The peripheral wall 36 of the body portion 15 is however relatively thin, at least at the lengthwise location of the elements 54, so that the wall is manually deformable at these locations. Accordingly, by application of inwards pressure against the wall, at locations "X" (see Fig. 4) of greater cross-sectional dimension located between the elements 54, the cross-section can be deformed to a near circular configuration (Fig. 5). When the cross-section is so deformed, the elements 54 are moved away from each other (Fig. 9), and become disengaged from the elements 52, and the spring 40 then acts against the body 30 to move the body 30 and needle structure 20 rearwardly into the cavity 17. By this, the tip of the needle 22 is withdrawn through the opening 18, and is no longer exposed. This condition is illustrated in Fig. 2.

As mentioned above, the needle device 10 can be used as a catheter device for transfer of fluid to or from a patient. By this, once the needle 22 has been passed into the vein of a patient, under the condition of the device 10 shown in Fig. 1, fluid may be transferred via a flexible tube 100 (see Fig. 6) which is connected the needle structure 20 at a rear end thereof and extends rearwardly from the needle structure 20 through an opening 102 in a rear closure member 104 secured to housing 12 to close the cavity 17. After use, the needle structure 20 is retracted by the described action of squeezing the body portion 15, the tube 100 moving rearwardly through the opening 102.

The housing 12 may be made of quite small dimension. Fig. 6 shows the device formed as a winged cannula 120. The needle 22, the spring 40 (not shown) and the body 30 (not shown) are formed as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The housing 112 is similar to the housing 12, but provided with side wings 114, 116 to facilitate taping down of the cannula 120 to the skin of a patient. Also, in this form, the tube 100 communicates directly with the rear end of the housing 112. This arrangement functions in similar manner to that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5, the housing 112 having opposed elements 54 as described.

The needle device 10 can also be adapted for use as a syringe. Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment of a needle device according to the invention, in the form of a syringe 120. The syringe 120 operates similar to the device 10 of Figs. 1 to 5, in the process of retraction. Like reference numerals denote like components in Fig. 7 and in Figs. 1 to 5, and only the differences are described. Particularly, instead of providing the tube 100, the rear end of the needle 20 is open to the cavity 17. The housing 12 is provided with a plunger 124 axially movable in the cavity 17 to displace fluid from the cavity 17 through the needle structure 20. As depicted, the spring 40 is in the process of moving the needle structure 20 rearwardly, the plunger 124 having previously been moved rearwardly from an advanced position prevailing at the end of the inwards injection movement to a rear position to allow the needle structure 20 to be accommodated in the cavity 17.

The housing 12 may be formed by, for example, moulding, and may be flexible and/or resilient over the entirety thereof or over parts thereof sufficient to enable the described deformation to occur. Particularly, it is generally sufficient that parts of the housing in the regions at and surrounding the locations "X" are deformable, e.g. by making the wall 36 sufficiently thin as to be readily flexed inwardly by manual pressure exerted thereagainst.

In the modifications of the needle device 10 shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, like reference numerals denote like components in Figs. 1 to 5. The following description is confined to matters of difference.

In the arrangement of Fig. 10, the element 54 is defined as a transverse abutment surface formed on an inwardly extending catch portion 132 on the section 58 and the body 30, instead of having the groove 80, is provided with a rearwardly facing lateral step surface 134. The abutment surface defining element 54 may as shown be annular, defined at the junction between a larger diameter forward portion of body 30 and a rear smaller diameter portion thereof. Retraction of the needle structure 20 is effected by outwards movement of the section 58 to cause the catch portion 132 to be disengaged from the step surface 134.

hi the arrangement of Fig. 11, the section 58 has at its inner surface a radially inwardly extending projection 136, the forward surface of which defines element 54. The body 30 has a side opening 138 and in the condition for use, the needle structure 20 is latched in position by positioning of the projection 136 therein, the element 52 in this case being defined by a forward part of the inner surface of the opening 138. Retraction of the needle structure 20 is effected by outwards movement of the section 58 to cause the projection 136 to be withdrawn from the opening 138.

In the arrangement of Fig. 12, the element 54 is defined as a transverse abutment tip formed on an inwardly extending catch portion 139. The body 30 is provided with a rearwardly facing lateral step surface 134, similar to that shown in Fig. 10. Retraction of the needle structure 20 is affected by outwards movement of the section 58 to cause the tip 139 to be disengaged from the step surface 134.

The modified arrangements of Figs. 10, 11 and 12 may provide a more positive latching of the needle structure 20 in the position for use, and a more reliable retraction of the needle structure 20. It is of course to be understood that the modifications of Figs. 10, 11 and 12 may be provided for each pair of elements 52, 54, in which case, in the arrangement of Fig. 11, the opening 138 may be formed as a transverse bore through the body 30. hi the arrangements of Figs. 10, 11 and 12 it is not necessary to form the body 30 with the described groove 80.

The described arrangement has been advanced merely by way of explanation any many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and combination of novel features herein disclosed.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

Claims:

1. A needle device comprising: a housing having an internal cavity, with an opening communicating between the cavity and the exterior of the housing; a needle structure having a needle which, in a condition for use of the device, extends outwardly of the housing from the cavity through the opening, the needle structure being movable lengthwise from the condition for use to a retracted position within the cavity; resilient means releasable from a loaded condition to engage and move the needle structure from the condition for use to the retracted position; and holding means for holding the resilient means in said loaded condition, but actuable to release the resilient means to effect said movement of the needle structure to said retracted position, the holding means having first and second cooperating elements, the first element being formed as a section of the housing, and the second element being formed as an engagement portion of the needle structure which is engaged by the section of the housing in the condition of the needle structure for use, wherein the holding means are actuable to release said holding by manual deformation of the housing, to disengage the section from the engagement portion of the needle structure.

2. The needle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side wall of the housing is inwardly resiliently deformable at opposed locations to cause the first element to be moved outwardly to effect said disengagement.

3. The needle device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing has a non circular cross-section at the location of the first element such that the cross-sectional dimension of the housing is greater between said opposed locations than transverse thereto.

4. The needle device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cross-section of the housing at said location is ovaloid.

5. The needle device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second element is formed as a surface of a groove on the needle structure.

6. The needle device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second element is formed as a lateral abutment surface on said needle structure.

7. The needle device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first element is formed as a transversely extending abutment surface on a catch portion of the housing.

8. The needle device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first element is formed as an abutment tip on a catch portion of the housing.

9. The needle device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second element is formed as a surface on a transversely extending opening in a side of said needle structure.

10. The needle device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first element is formed as an inward projection on the inner surface of the housing, the projection extending into said opening in the side of the needle structure, in said condition for use of the needle device, but being retracted from said opening in the side of the needle structure to effect said release of said holding.

11. The needle device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said section being one of two sections at opposed sides of the housing.

12. The needle device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, formed as a syringe and having a plunger movable in said housing for displacing fluid in the housing externally through said needle.

13. The needle device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, formed as a catheter Device and having means for coupling the needle to a tube for delivery of fluid to or withdrawal of fluid from a patient via said needle.

14. A needle device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to: Figs. 1 to 6 and 8 and 9; Fig. 7; Fig. 10; Fig. 11, or Fig. 12 of the accompanying drawings.