Protective device and syringe

Claim 2

A protective device (2) for removably shielding a hypodermic needle (6) that is connected to a syringe (4), the device comprising a substantially tubular sheath (8) that is movable between an extended needle protecting position whence the sheath shields the full length of the needle, and a retracted position, the device being characterised in that it further comprises leans (88,90) to allow access to the connection (24,26) between the needle and the syringe when the sheath is in the extended needle protecting position.

Claim 3

A protective device (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sheath (8) slides along the barrel (10) of the syringe (4)>

Claim 4

A protective device (2) according to claims 1 or 2 for use with a syringe (4) having needle connecting means (24,26) to connect a hypodermic needle (6) to said syringe, wherein said protective device comprises a sheath (8) having a peripheral wall (48) bounding a through channel opening at one end to an open rearward end wall (76) and at the opposite end to an open forward end wall (74), said through channel having a cross-­sectional dimension and configuration corresponding to that of the barrel (10) of said syringe to receive it therein, and to enable sliding of said sheath forwardly on said barrel in the direction toward said needle connecting means and rearwardly thereon in the direction toward the syringe plunger assembly (12), said peripheral wall of said sheath having an elongated needle protective portion, said sheath being reciprocally movable on said barrel of said syringe between a retracted position wherein said needle protective portion of said peripheral wall of said sheath is positioned to enable access to said needle connecting means of said syringe, and an extended needle protecting position wherein said needle protective portion of said peripheral wall of said sheath extends forwardly of said barrel of said syringe, said elongated needle protective portion of said peripheral wall of said sheath which extends forwardly of said barrel of said syringe having a longitudinal dimension at least as great as that of a said hypodermic needle when connected to said needle connecting means of said syringe, said protective device including needle disconnect means (88,90) to enable disconnecting said hypodermic needle from said syringe while said sheath is in its said extended needle protecting position.

Claim 5

A protective device (2) according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising stop means (78) to stop forward sliding movement of said sheath (8) before said rearward end wall (76) thereof passes beyond the end of said barrel (10) having said needle connecting means (24,26) thereat.

Claim 6

A protective device (2) according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising lock means (80,82) to lock said sheath (8) in said extended needle protecting position, said lock means being operable between a locking position to lock said sheath in said extended needle protecting position and an unlocking position to release said sheath for moving from said extended needle protecting position to said retracted needle connecting position.

Claim 7

A protective device (2) according to any preceding claim, wherein said means (88,90) to allow access to the connection (24,26) between the needle (6) and the syringe (4) comprises one or more access apertures (88,90).

Claim 8

A protecting device (2) according to claims 5 or 6, wherein said lock means (80,82) includes a lock member (80) having an abutment surface (82) positioned on said barrel (10) of said syringe (4) rearward of said open rearward end wall (76) of said sheath (8) when it is in its said extended needle protecting position, said peripheral wall (48) of said sheath having a rear peripheral edge surrounding said open rearward end wall thereof, said abutment surface of said lock member being movable between an abutting position wherein it abuts against said rear peripheral edge to prevent rearward movement of said sheath on said barrel of said syringe and a release position wherein said sheath is released for rearward movement on said barrel of said syringe, said abutment surface of said lock member being normally biased toward its said abutting position.

Claim 9

A protective device (2) according to claim 7, wherein said lock member comprises an elongated spring member (80) having a stationary connecting end for connection to said barrel (10) of said syringe (4) and a movable end (82) having said abutment surface thereon, said movable end of said spring member being normally biased outwardly from said barrel of said syringe to said abutting position and movable inwardly toward and against said barrel of said syringe to said release position, said spring member extending at a diagonal from said barrel of said syringe when said movable end thereof is in its normally biased outwardly position and diverging therefrom as it extends in the direction toward said end of said barrel having said needle connecting means (24,26) thereat.

Claim 10

A protective device (2) according to any one of claims 3 to 8, for use with a syringe (4) having at least one longitudinal rib (52,56,60,62) formed on said barrel (10) thereof to extend from said end thereof having said plunger assembly (12) connected thereto to said end thereof having said needle connecting means thereat (24,25); wherein said peripheral wall (48) of said sheath (8) has a corresponding longitudinal groove (64,66,68,70) opening to said through channel to receive said longitudinal rib therein when said sheath is mounted on said barrel of said syringe, said longitudinal groove in said peripheral wall of said sheath extending from the end thereof adjacent said open rearward end wall (76) to the end thereof adjacent said open forward end wall (74), said longitudinal rib being slidable in said longitudinal groove as said sheath is moved on said barrel of said syringe between its retracted and its extended needle protecting position.

Claim 11

A protective device (2) according to any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the stop means includes a longitudinal groove (68) in said peripheral wall (48) of said sheath (8), opening to said through channel thereof, an abutment surface (78) in said longitudinal groove at the end of said sheath adjacent said rearward end wall (76) thereof, said longitudinal groove being adapted to be received by a rib (60) positioned on said barrel (10) of said syringe (4), wherein said longitudinal groove is movable along said ribs from said retracted position to said extended needle protecting position, said rib being positioned to abut against said abutment surface in said groove and to prevent further forward movement of said sheath on said barrel of said syringe when said sheath has reached its extended needle protecting position.

Claim 12

An injection apparatus comprising a syringe (4), a hypodermic needle (6), and a protective device (2) according to any of claims 1 to 8.

Claim 13

An injection apparatus comprising a syringe (4) comprising a barrel (10) having one or more longitudinal ribs (60) formed therealong, and a protective device (2) according to claims 9 or 10.

Claim 14

An injection apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said peripheral wall of said barrel (10) of said syringe (4) is cylindrical; said barrel comprises a first elongated slot (38) in said peripheral wall of said barrel having a longitudinal lateral dimension to receive a cartridge of an injectable substance to seat in said barrel in position for operable contact by said plunger assembly, a first longitudinal rib (52) on said barrel extending parallel to and near one side of said first elongated slot, and a second longitudinal rib (56) on said barrel extending parallel to and near the opposite side of said first elongated slot; and said sheath (8) comprises a first longitudinal groove (64) in said peripheral wall of said sheath opening to said through channel thereof, a second longitudinal groove (66) in said peripheral wall (4) of said sheath opening to said through channel thereof, said first and second longitudinal grooves being position to receive respective ones of said first and second longitudinal ribs therein when said sheath is mounted on said barrel for sliding engagement therewith as said sheath is moved between its said retracted and extended needle protecting positions.

Claim 15

An injection apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the lateral dimension of said first elongated slot (38) is substantially equal to the diameter of said through channel bounded by said cylindrical peripheral wall of said barrel, said first longitudinal rib (52) extends adjacent to one side of said first elongated slot, said second longitudinal rib (56) extends adjacent to the opposite side of said first elongated slot, said first and second longitudinal ribs being diametrically opposite from each other, a second elongated slot (40) in said peripheral wall of said barrel (10) opposite from said first elongates slot, said second elongated slot having a longitudinal and lateral dimension large enough for a user to extend an object therethrough to push a said cartridge outwardly of said barrel, a short third longitudinal rib (60) on said barrel extending from said second barrel end toward said first elongated slot and axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said first elongated slot, a short fourth longitudinal rib (62) on said barrel extending from said second barrel end toward said second elongated slot and axially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said second elongated slot, a third longitudinal groove (68) in said peripheral wall (48) of said sheath opening to said through channel thereof a fourth longitudinal groove (70) in said peripheral wall of said sheath opening to said through channel thereof, said third and fourth longitudinal grooves being positioned to receive respective ones of said third and fourth longitudinal ribs therein when said sheath is mounted on said barrel for sliding engagement therewith as said sheath is moved between its said retracted and extended needle protecting positions.

Claim 16

A protective device (2) for removably shielding a hypodermic needle (6) that is connected to a syringe (4), the device comprising a substantially tubular sheaf (8) that is movable between an extended needle protecting position whence the sheath shields the full length of the needle, and a retrafted position, the device being characterised in that; the device further comprises lock means (80,82) to the lock said sheath in the extended needle protecting position; or the device further comprises stop means to stop forward movement of said sheaf in a predetermined position; or said sheath is slidable along the barrel (10) of the syringe.

Claim 17

A protective device (2) for removably shielding a hypodermic needle (6) that is connected to a syringe (4), the device comprising a substantially tubular sheaf (8) that is movable between an extended needle protecting position whence the sheath shields the full length of the needle, and a retrafted position, the device being characterised in that; the device further comprises lock means (80,82) to the lock said sheath in the extended needle protecting position; or the device further comprises stop means to stop forward movement of said sheaf in a predetermined position; or said sheath is slidable along the barrel (10) of the syringe.