USRE37252E1 - Safety needle cartridge system - Google Patents

Abstract

A needle protection safety package, instead of being enclosed in a pouch or other containment wrappings, has fitted thereto at respective ends thereof caps or sheaths so that both the needle and the end to which a syringe is adapted to mate remain enclosed and sterile. Such an arrangement enables easy transport of the safety needle package and provides convenience for the user at the same time. The safety package is further designed to prevent burring of the tip of the needle as the cap or sheath is removed from the needle portion of the package. A further embodiment of the safety package incorporates a locking mechanism which prevents contact between the needle and the housing as the housing is pivoted to envelop the needle after use.

Description

This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 884,191 filed May 18, 1992, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to needle protection devices and more particularly to a convenient to use safety needle package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a medical emergency, time is of the essence. For example, medical personnel have to quickly assemble a syringe to a needle for injecting medicant to a patient. With the recent onslaught of contagious diseases, to safeguard medical personnel, and bystanders, needle protection devices have been added to prevent unwanted needle sticks. Such incorporation of needle protection devices to the needle and syringe requires additional time.

A particular needle protection device having a needle integrated to a base, which in turn has connected thereto a pivotable housing, is disclosed in Landis U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,259. To maintain sterility for the device, in one of the embodiments, a frangible strip is provided to seal the housing to the base so that, in order to use the device, the frangible strip has to be peeled away and the housing pivoted away from the needle. This embodiment does not provide a sterile luer to which the syringe is mated. A second embodiment of the Landis invention shows the wrapping of the needle protection device in a sealed plastic pouch. Thus, a user has to tear the pouch to get to the device. As is well known, such pouches are oftentimes difficult to tear, particularly when they have been designed to be sufficiently strong to prevent accidental tearing. Accordingly, precious seconds may be wasted in removing the Landis device from its containment pouch. So, too, such pouch packages are bulky and medical personnel do not like to carry more than the minimum with them.

At the present time, another needle protection device sold in a pouch is the NEEDLE-PRO™ manufactured by the assignee of the present invention. From experience, it has been found that, in certain circumstances, the encasement of such needle protection device in a pouch, or other types of containment wrapping, is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

To provide both convenience and sterility, the present invention safety package (cartridge) has a base having a first end adapted to mate with a syringe and a second end adapted to mate with a needle. The sterile end to be mated to the syringe is enclosed by a cap, which is non-permanently fixed, as for example by stick-welding or a frangible adhesive tape, to the base such that it becomes part of the package but nonetheless can be easily twisted off. Likewise, the end adapted to mate with a needle, if no needle has already been mated thereto, is non-permanently enclosed by a cap or sheath to the base, as for example also by stick-welding or a frangible adhesive tape, so as to be easily twisted off. If a needle has already been mated or molded to the second end, to maintain the needle sterile before use, the needle and the end to which it is mated or molded are enclosed by a sheath, which likewise may be non-permanently fixed to the base. Again, while providing sterile integrity to the safety needle package, the sheath can nonetheless be easily twisted off when the device is to be used. The package is further configured such that the housing coupled thereto is pivotable to a position along the longitudinal axis of the needle to envelop the same, once the sheath has been removed. The housing had previously been configured to extend away from the sheath so that no additional actions are needed to pivot it out of the way to remove the sheath and use the needle. Since both ends of the safety needle package are sealingly enclosed, both the end which mates with the needle (and of course the needle if it has already been connected thereto) and the end which mates with the syringe remain sterile. Further, since no additional containment pouches or wrappings are required, the package of the present invention takes up less space and therefore more than a few of them may be carried by a user at any one time. And without having to tear a containment pouch before usage, the safety needle device of the present invention is convenient to use.

Another aspect of the present invention safety package relates to the design at the end of the base adapted to mate with a needle which provides for automatic loosening of the sheath enclosing the needle. Thus, instead of needing to apply a large force to remove the sheath from the needle, only a gentle force is required. Such design eliminates the potential burring of the tip of the needle which results from the jerking movement of the sheath as it is removed from the needle when a large force is used.

Yet a third aspect of the invention relates to the permanent retention of the housing at a position in alignment along the longitudinal axis of the needle (or the base of the cartridge) such that a used or contaminated needle is not exposed. To accomplish this end, a first embodiment uses locking means in the form of at least one hook, integral of the housing, which permanently locks onto the needle once the housing is pivoted to its alignment position, to thereby prevent relative movement between the needle and the housing. A second embodiment of this aspect of the present invention involves the cooperative mating of an opening at the lower part of the housing to a corresponding anchor at the base of the cartridge such that once the housing is pivoted to its alignment position and the anchor lockably projected into the opening, the housing is fixedly maintained at the alignment position. No hook is used in this embodiment. Such embodiment therefore prevents any contact between the contaminated needle and the housing to thereby enable less costly manufacture of smaller and/or thinner needles, and also prevent any atomizing of potential contaminated droplets of fluid collected at the tip of the needle, which could happen were the housing hook to contact and snap onto the needle as in the previous embodiment. A variant of the third aspect embodiment of the present invention provides at least two opposed openings at the bottom portion of the housing which cooperate with corresponding locking tabs extending from appropriate portions of the base such that once the housing is pivoted to the alignment position and the respective tabs snapped into the corresponding openings, the housing is locked into place at the alignment position.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a safety package that is both convenient to use and transport.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a safety package that remains sterile, yet at the same time takes up less space than prior art packages.

It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a different locking mechanism which fixedly retains the housing at a desirable position to envelop the needle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The above-mentioned objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and the invention itself will best be understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the base and housing of the present invention, sans the needle and the enclosure cap and sheath;

FIG. 2B is a top view of the FIG. 2A needle protection device;

FIG. 2C is a cross sectional view of FIG. 2B along view A—A;

FIG. 3A is a side view of the sheath for enclosing the needle and the end of the base member to which the needle is mated;

FIG. 3B is a cutaway cross sectional view of the FIG. 3A sheath;

FIG. 3C is an end view of the FIG. 3A sheath;

FIG. 4A is an end view of the cap for enclosing the end of the base member to which a syringe is mated;

FIG. 4B is a cutaway cross sectional view, along line B—B of the FIG. 4A end view, of the present invention cap;

FIG. 4C is an end view looking into the opening of the FIG. 4B cap;

FIG. 5 is a semi-cutaway side view of the present invention illustrating in particular a design that advantageously provides automatic loosening of the needle sheath of the hub of the needle so that the former is easily removed from the latter;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the base and housing of the present invention package in which the locking mechanism for maintaining the housing at a position in alignment with the needle for enveloping the same comprises an opening at the lower portion of the housing cooperating with an anchor extending from an appropriate portion of the base; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a variant of the locking mechanism of the instant invention in which the needle housing is maintained at the alignment position by two cooperative openings/tabs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the safety needle protection package (cartridge)2 of the present invention is shown. As illustrated,package2 has abase4 to which ahousing6 is hingedly attached via aliving hinge8.Base4 has anend portion10 for receivinghub12 of aneedle14 of a needle assembly. It should be noted thatneedle14 may actually be integrated to endportion10 or added to endportion10 later. As shown in FIG. 1,end portion10 comprises a protrusion11 extending from asupport13 ofbase4. Extending fromsupport13 and surrounding protrusion11 is aportion26, the lower half of which is internally threaded for receivingextension arm15 ofhub12.

Base4 further has anotherend portion16 which is adapted to mate with a syringe (not shown). Integrated tohousing6 is a secure means18 which, for example, may be configured into the shape of a hook, as that shown in FIG.2C.Housing6 can be pivoted from the direction as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A to a direction substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis ofneedle14 orbase4, designated20, per the direction indicated bydirectional arrow22. Slot19 (see FIG. 2B) provides the opening through which needle14 passes whenhousing6 is pivoted perdirection22. Thus,housing6 is pivotable, as shown in FIG. 2A, perbi-directional arrows24.

The construction ofbase4 andhousing6, as well as their relationship toneedle14, is discussed in detail in Hollister U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,842, assigned to the same assignee as the instant invention and whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

To provide convenience for transport and use, and at the same time maintain sterility,base4 has fitted thereto at its end portion16 acap28 whose different views are more clearly shown in FIGS. 4A-4C. As shown in FIG. 4C, opening30 ofcap28 fittingly mates withend portion16, particularly at itsextension16e so thatcap28 completely enclosesend portion16. To maintain the integrity of this enclosure,cap28 is non-permanently fixed tobase4, as for example by a stick-weld made at apoint34 betweenlip32 ofbase4 andcap28, or a frangible adhesive tape wrapped about the junction oflip32 andcap28. See FIG.1.Cap28 may be configured withridges36 along its side walls to enable a user to easily twist and remove the same frommember4. Instead of ridges, longitudinal extensions such as38 may also be used.

To maintainneedle14 in a sterile condition and, at the same time prevent needle sticks, asheath40, more clearly shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, encloses bothneedle14 andend portion10 ofbase4. As shown in FIG. 1,member42 ofsheath40 which extends fromlip44 fittingly mates withportion26 ofbase4 such that both needle14 and a portion of protrusion11 are enveloped bysheath40. In the instance whereneedle14 is to be mated to endportion10 later, only protrusion11 is covered bysheath40 as the latter fittingly mates withportion26. As withcap28 andend portion16,sheath40 is non-permanently fixed toportion26 ofmember4 by, for example, a stick-weld at46 or a frangible adhesive tape wrapped thereabout. By providinglongitudinal extensions48 along the length ofsheath40, a user can twistsheath40 offbase4 for removal. See FIG.3B.Needle14 could then be mated to endportion10 at that time if it had not been mated thereto previously. It should be noted thatcap28 andsheath40 could be produced by a host of manufacturers, as for example the Sherwood Medical Company of Deland, Fla.

Oncebase4 has fitted thereto at itsrespective end portions16 and10 correspondingcap28 andsheath40,safety needle package2 can be sterilized by conventional methods, as for example by conventional radiation or chemical treatments. Once having been sterilized,safety needle device2 can be carried or transported without any need for a protective containment pouch or wrapper, as the sterility ofneedle14 and end16 are ensured bysheath40 andcap28, respectively.

Assumingneedle14 had previously been mated to endportion10, to usesafety device2, a user only needs to twist and removecap28 frombase4, couple a syringe to end16, and removesheath40. Ifneedle14 had not previously been mated to endportion10, it can be added tobase4 atend portion10 aftersheath40 has been removed frombase4. After usage,housing6 is pivoted alongdirection22 to a position substantially in alignment alonglongitudinal axis20 so thatneedle14 is secured byhook18 and relative movement is prevented betweenneedle14 andhousing6.

A second aspect of the safety package of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 whereneedle14 is presumed to have been mated to endportion10. The FIG. 5 embodiment is necessitated by the fact that ifsheath40 were to be separated fromneedle14 by pulling, the force required tends to cause a jerking motion, inasmuch asneedle hub12 is tightly fitted tomember42 ofsheath40. Such jerking motion oftentimes causes the tip ofneedle14 to touch the inside ofsheath40 which results in a burr to the tip ofneedle14.

To prevent burring of the tip ofneedle14, as shown by the FIG. 5 embodiment,needle hub12, tightly fitted tomember42 ofstealth40, as it is inserted to endportion10 and mate with protrusion11 during assembly, threadedly mates with aninternal thread17 surrounding protrusion11 viaextender arm15. In other words,external arm15 ofhub12 is threaded approximately1 turn intointernal thread17 to secureneedle14 tobase4. At this point,needle hub12 remains tightly fitted tomember42 ofsheath40 whileneedle sheath40 is non-permanently fixed tobase4 by, for example a stick-weld atpoint46.

The design ofsheath40 is such thatlip44 has abottom face45 that coacts withtip19 ofbase4 at the area proximate topoint46. Thus,sheath40 is prevented bylip44 from being inserted any further intobase4. Extending internally belowlip46 ofsheath40 is a plurality ofextenders50. See FIG.3B. Theseextenders50 come into contact with a plurality ofpartitions21 extending from the top portion ofneedle hub12. Thus, a torque force applied tosheath40causes hub12 to rotate in tandem.

For the FIG. 5 embodiment, when shipped,sheath40, withneedle14 tightly fitted thereto and securely mated tobase4 viathread17, is non-permanently fixed tobase4 atpoint46. To ensure that no force is needed to jerkinglyseparate sheath40 fromhub12, a user only needs to twist sheath40 (clockwise assuming conventional threads) so thatextender arm15, and thereforehub12, is threaded towardsupport13 viainternal thread17. Ashub12 is threaded towardsupport13, protrusion11 is extended further intocavity23 ofhub12, ashub12 is pulled closer towardsupport13. At the same time,sheath40 remains in the same relative position, insofar aslip44 remains biased againsttip19 ofbase4. Thus, assheath40 is rotated, due to cooperation betweenextenders50 ofsheath40 andpartitions21 ofhub12 and the biasing betweenlip44 andtip19,hub12 is automatically loosened and separated fromsheath40. Oncehub12 is firmly or fully seated,sheath40 can be easily removed fromhub12 by a gentle straight pull, which does not cause the interior ofsheath40 to come into contact with the tip ofneedle14.

Albeit the FIG. 5 embodiment shows that the internal surface ofmember42 is contiguous with the external circumferential surface ofhub12, as for example atjunction25, it should be appreciated thathub12 andmember42 can be designed so thathub12 is tightly fitted tomember42 at only one common point, as for example by a corresponding ring and groove configuration. The FIG. 5 embodiment shows thatsheath40 is non-permanently fixed tobase4 withhub12 not fully seated towardsupport13. Of course,sheath40 can be non-permanently fixed tobase4 afterhub12 is fully threaded. At which case a counterclockwise rotation would break the seal at46.

Yet a third aspect of the safety package of the present invention is illustrated with respect to FIG.6. In place ofhook18 as shown in FIGS. 2A-2C which snaps ontoneedle14 to prevent relative movement between it andhousing6 as discussed above, the FIG. 6 variant has ananchor62 protruding frombase4 which works cooperatively with anopening60 at the lower portion ofhousing6. Whenhousing6 is pivoted to the position substantially in alignment withneedle14,anchor62 would be projected through opening60 to thereby fixedly retainhousing6 at the alignment position. In particular, as shown,anchor62 has a graduatedtip portion64 whosebase66 is larger than the diameter ofopening60. And inasmuch asbase portion64 is elastic and can be forced throughopening60, oncehousing6 is pivoted to its alignment position, it is prevented from further substantial movement relative tobase4, asbase66 prevents any reverse pivotal movement byhousing6. Thus, once pivoted to the alignment position and locked to anchor62, needle14 (not shown in FIG. 6 for the sake of clarity) is substantially enclosed byhousing6. Of course,housing6 of the FIG. 6 embodiment does not have any hooks such as18 shown in FIGS. 1,2 and5 integrated thereto. Thus, by not making any contact withneedle14 ashousing6 is pivoted to the alignment position, spraying of potentially contaminated droplets of fluid which may have adhered to the tip ofneedle14 is prevented. Furthermore, insofar as no forced contact is made toneedle14 ashousing6 is pivoted to its alignment position, a thinner needle, which if used in the FIG. 1 embodiment would have buckled, could be manufactured instead, to thereby lower the manufacturing cost.

A variant of the FIG. 6 embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 7 in whichhousing6 is shown to have been pivoted to its alignment position to encloseneedle14. As shown,housing6 has two opposedopenings68, one fully shown and the other partially shown. With reference to the fully shown opening68, it can be seen that the opening is made at the lower portion ofhousing6 and extends from the back ofhousing6 to proximately the medial portion of its side pane. A pair of corresponding lockingtabs70 are formed at corresponding portions ofbase4. Eachtab70 has a slanting surface70s which gradually increases, in terms of its extension alongbase4, from top to bottom. Thus, as shown,tab70 has abase portion70b that extends beyond the face of the side pane ofhousing6 such thathousing6 is fixedly retained at its alignment position, once it is pivoted thereto, by the coaction betweenedge72 ofhousing6 andbase70b oftab70. Thus, similar to the discussion with respect to the FIG. 6 embodiment, there is no contact made betweenhousing6 andneedle14 as the former is pivoted toward the latter. Accordingly, for the FIG. 7 embodiment,needle14 likewise may be manufactured to have a thinner gauge and any splattering of contaminated fluid droplets at the tip ofneedle14 is prevented.

Inasmuch assafety needle package2 does not require any additional packaging and therefore is not bulky, the user can conveniently carry a number of them with him for use. And since there is no need to tear any pouch or other containment wrapping, precious time can be saved in emergency situations in which time is of the essence, as all a user needs to do is removecap20 andsheath40, and connect a syringe to endportion16. In addition, without having to individually package each needle protection device, potential savings could be achieved during manufacturing.

It should be appreciated that the present invention is subject to many variations, modifications and changes in detail. For example, instead of stick-welding cap28 andsheath40 tobase4, other adhesive methods which would maintain the sterile condition and integrity of the package may also be used. For example, instead of two frangible tapes to respectively sealsheath40 andcap28 tobase4, a single frangible tape sealing the area aboutjunctions46 and32 could be used. Thus, it is the intention of the inventor that all matter described throughout this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. Accordingly, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the hereto appended claims.

Claims (21)

I claim:

1. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end matable with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end, said sheath means being fitted to said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position to be in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein said needle assembly comprises a needle attached to a hub;

wherein after said sheath means has been removed from said second end and said needle assembly mated thereto, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping said needle mated via said hub to said second end; and

wherein said sheath means encloses at least a portion of said needle assembly including a needle, said second end of said base comprises an internal thread for receiving a hub of said needle assembly, said sheath means having a first portion cooperatively biasing against a second portion of said base so that when said sheath means is rotated to fully thread said hub into said base, said sheath means is automatically loosened from said hub for easy removal from said needle.

2. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end matable with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end, said sheath means being fitted to said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position to be in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein said needle assembly comprises a needle attached to a hub;

wherein after said sheath means has been removed from said second end and said needle assembly mated thereto, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping said needle mated via said hub to said second end; and

wherein said housing means comprises at least one opening matable with an anchor means integrated to said base such that once said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position and said anchor means lockably projected through said opening, said housing means is substantially fixedly retained at said alignment position.

3. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end matable with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end, said sheath means being fitted to said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position to be in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein said needle assembly comprises a needle attached to a hub;

wherein after said sheath means has been removed from said second end and said needle assembly mated thereto, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping said needle mated via said hub to said second end; and

wherein said housing means comprises at least two opposed openings at its lower portion each of which, when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, cooperatively mates with a corresponding extension integrated to said base such that said housing means is substantially fixedly retained at said alignment position.

4. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end adapted to mate with a syringe and a second end adapted to mate with a needle mounted to a hub;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means fitted about said hub for enclosing said needle, said hub of said needle mated to said second end of said base;

housing means hingedly attached to said base;

wherein after said sheath means is removed from said needle, said housing means being pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said needle for enveloping said needle; and

wherein said second end of said base is internally threaded for mating with said hub, said sheath means having a first portion biased against a second portion of said base so that said first and second portions would coact against each other to loosen said sheath means from said hub for easy removal when a torque force is applied to substantially seat said hub to said second end.

5. The safety package of claim4, wherein said housing means comprises at least one opening matable with an anchor means integrated to said base such that once said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position and said anchor means lockably projected through said opening, said housing means is substantially fixedly retained at said alignment position to prevent said needle from being exposed.

6. The safety package of claim4, wherein said housing means comprises at least two opposed openings at its lower portion each of which, when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, cooperatively mates with a corresponding extension integrated to said base such that said housing means is fixedly retained at said alignment position to prevent said needle from being exposed.

7. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end adapted to mate with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein after said sheath means is removed from said second end, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping a needle mated to said second end, said housing means comprising at least one opening matable with an anchor means integrated to said base such that once said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position and said anchor means lockably projected through said opening, said housing means is substantially fixedly retained at said alignment position.

8. The safety package of claim7, wherein said sheath means is tightly fitted to a hub of said needle; and

wherein said second end of said base comprises an internal thread for receiving said hub, said sheath means having a first portion biased against a second portion of said base so that when said hub is substantially threaded into said base, said first and second portions would cooperatively act against each other to loosen said sheath means from said hub for easy removal from said needle.

9. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end adapted to mate with a syringe and a second end matable with a needle assembly;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end;

housing means hingedly attached to said base and pivotable to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein after said sheath means is removed from said second end, said housing means pivotable for substantially enveloping a needle mated to said second end, said housing means comprising at least two opposed openings at its lower portion each of which, when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, cooperatively mates with a corresponding extension integrated to said base such that said housing means is fixedly retained at said alignment position.

10. The safety package of claim9, wherein said sheath means is fitted to a hub of said needle; and

wherein said second end of said base comprises an internal thread for receiving said hub, said sheath means having a first portion biased against a second portion of said base so that when said hub is substantially threaded into said base, said first and second portions would cooperatively act against each other to loosen said sheath means from said hub for easy removal from said needle.

11. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end and a second end, a needle extending from said second end;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end, said sheath means being fitted to said second end for enclosing at least a portion of said needle;

housing means pivotable relative from said base to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base;

wherein after said sheath means has been removed from said second end, said housing means being pivotable for substantially enveloping said needle;

wherein said sheath means has a first portion cooperatively biasing against a second portion of said base so that when said sheath means is rotated to fully thread said hub into said base, said sheath means is automatically loosened from said hub for easy removal from said needle; and

wherein said second end of said base comprises an internal thread for receiving said hub.

12. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end and a second end;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end;

housing means pivotable relative to said base to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base for substantially enveloping a needle extending from said second end after said sheath means is removed from said second end;

one and other coacting means in said housing means and said base, respectively, for non-reversibly retaining said housing means and said base relative to each other for enveloping said needle when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, said housing means not pivotably away from said base once it is non-reversibly retained to said base; and

wherein said one coacting means comprises at least one opening and said other coacting means comprises an anchor means integrated to said base.

13. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end and a second end;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end;

housing means pivotable relative to said base to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base for substantially enveloping a needle extending from said second end after said sheath means is removed from said second end;

one and other coacting means in said housing means and said base, respectively, for non-reversibly retaining said housing means and said base relative to each other for enveloping said needle when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, said housing means not pivotable away from said base once it is non-reversibly retained to said base;

wherein said one coacting means comprises at least two opposed openings and said other coacting means comprises a corresponding number of extensions integrated to said base.

14. A safety package comprising:

a base having a first end and a second end;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end;

housing means pivotable relative to said base to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base for substantially enveloping a needle extending from said second end after said sheath means is removed from said second end;

one and other coacting means in said housing means and said base, respectively, for non-reversibly retaining said housing means and said base relative to each other for enveloping said needle when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, said housing means not pivotable away from said base once it is non-reversibly retained to said base;

wherein said one coacting means comprises at least one opening and said other coacting means comprises an anchor means integrated to said base, said anchor means lockably projecting through said opening to thereby non-reversibly retain said housing means at said alignment position.

15. A safety package comprising:

a base having first end and a second end;

cap means for enclosing said first end;

sheath means for enclosing said second end;

housing means pivotable relative to said base to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base for substantially enveloping a needle extending from said second end after said sheath means is removed from said second end;

one and other coacting means in said housing means and said base, respectively, for non-reversibly retaining said housing means and said base relative to each other for enveloping said needle when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position;

wherein said one coacting means comprises at least two opposed openings and said other coacting means comprises a corresponding number of extensions integrated to said base; and

wherein when said housing means is pivoted to said alignment position, each of said openings cooperatively mates with a corresponding one of said extensions such that said housing means is substantially non-reversibly retained at said alignment position, said housing means not pivotable away from said base once it is non-reversibly retained to said base.

16. A safety package comprising:

a base having one end and an other end;

a cap for enclosing said one end;

a sheath for enclosing said other end;

a housing having at least two side walls pivotable relative to said base to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base for enveloping a needle extending from said other end; and

one and other coacting means at said base and said housing, respectively, for non-reversibly retaining said housing and said base relative to each other for enveloping said needle when said housing is pivoted to said alignment position after said sheath is removed from said other end, said one coacting means comprising at least one extension having at least one portion including a slanting surface, said other coacting means comprising an edge at one side wall of said housing that engages with said portion for non-reversibly retaining said housing relative to said base once said housing has been pivoted to said alignment position, said housing not pivotable away from said base once it is non-reversibly retained to said base.

17. Safety package of claim16, wherein said extension comprises at least one tab having a portion that extends beyond said one side wall of said housing.

18. Safety package of claim17, wherein said other coacting means comprises at least one opening having an edge at said one side wall of said housing for coacting with said tab.

19. A safety package comprising:

a base having one end and an other end;

a sheath for enclosing one of said ends where a needle extends so as to enclose said needle;

a cap for enclosing the other of said ends;

a housing having at least two side walls pivotable relative to said base to a position in substantial alignment along the longitudinal axis of said base for substantially enveloping said needle upon removal of said sheath from said one end, said housing having at least one edge at each of said two side walls; and

two extensions integrated to said base each for coacting with the one edge at a corresponding side wall of said housing, each of said extensions having a portion with a slanting surface that engages with the one edge at its corresponding side wall to non-reversibly maintain said housing relative to said base once said housing is pivoted to said alignment position, said housing not pivotable away from said base once it is non-reversibly maintained relative to said base.

20. Safety package of claim19, wherein each of said extensions comprises at least one tab having a base portion formed at the end of said slanting surface extending beyond its corresponding side wall of said housing.

21. Safety package of claim20, wherein each corresponding side wall of said housing comprises at least one opening for forming the edge to which said base portion of said tab engages with.

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