US Patent:
20040193120, Sep 30, 2004
Inventors:
F. Ferguson - Salt Lake City UT, US
Richard Fiser - Kirkwood MO, US
James Curtis - Deland FL, US
Charles Owen - Highland UT, US
David Thorne - Kaysville UT, US
Mark Nelson - Sandy UT, US
Roy Barrus - West Bountiful UT, US
Gale Thorne - Bountiful UT, US
Eugene Weilbacher - Chesterfield MO, US
Michael Thorne - Bountiful UT, US
Steven Brown - Roy UT, US
Donald Solomon - Ogden UT, US
International Classification:
A61M005/00
US Classification:
604/263000, 604/198000, 600/576000
Abstract:
Medical needle shield apparatus including a shield with two or more segments hingedly connected to each other and movable from a retracted position where the needle is exposed, to an extended position where the shield extends beyond the end of the needle. The needle is affixed in a hub of a medical needle device, and the shield is articulated to the hub. At least one of the two or more segments has an open orifice through which the needle passes to form an axis of intersection about the needle. The shield includes a channel for covering the needle when the shield is linearly extended. One or more locks associated with one or more of the segments secures one or more of the segments relative to the shield in the extended position. A latch is also disposed on the distal segment for securing the distal segment relative to the shield when in the extended position. The number of hingedly connected segments depends upon the needle length and device length required to extend the shield beyond the distal end of the needle.