WO2005058391A1 - Permanent locking safety guard for sharp - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety guard for use with sharp instruments to prevent accidental puncture by the instrument. The device can be used with a single hand and has a protective sheath (1) connected by a pulley (4) and sheath guide (3) to a syringe (2) to cover a cannula (8). The sheath (1) is activated by a thumb glide (5) that slides in a glide track (6).

Description

PCT Utility Patent Application For Thumb glide Safety Guard for Protection Against Sharp Instruments.

Background Of the Invention

The dangers of transmission of toxic mediations, microorganisms, and other blood borne pathogens through accidental puncture by shaφ instruments is a major concern to the general public and of particular concern to the healthcare professionals. For a device to be effective in protecting the general public and healthcare professionals there are a number of important characteristics that must be achieved if the device is to be considered successful. The most important characteristic is that the design be such that the safety device is convenient to use and minimizes the potential for inadvertent contact with the instrument both before and after use of the instrument. The safety device must not interfere with use of the instrument itself, and the device must be both simple and convenient for the practitioner to use with out the danger that the practitioner will puncture himself. The desired closure for this protective device should be single-handed action closure because most needle stick injuries happen when a practitioner uses both, hands to close the shaφ. This Utility patent application addresses this single handed closure issue. It is the object of the present invention to provide safety guard to protect against exposure to shaφ instruments that does not interfere with operation of the instrument itself. It is also important for this utility invention to provide a design that is resistant to accidental breakage, including a secure hinge locking mechanism that does not require the application of adverse to pulling or torsion force by a user. There are several types of hinged, sheath protective devices, however none are effective as a single-handed activated device. The Utility the Thumb Glide apparatus to assist in the permanent and temporary closure of the sheathed hinge makes the single handed closure not only a naturally motion but a safer operation. It is important that this design does provide a single-handed replacement of the cover, which is the primary advantage of a single molded hinged design with audible lock. The Thumb is used to drag

Claims

Once use is completed the Tumb is again used to push up the lever that is attached to the sheath to assist in the single handed closure with a secure push back into place action until one hears the audible lock of the needle into the sheath. The materials used for this utility apparatus will be polycarbonate, acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene, polystyrene; thermoplastic polymeric resins but not be limit to say materials. This is just a list of examples, as more advanced materials become economical, they should be used accordingly.

What is CLAIMED is: 1) A Permanent locking mechanism for a safety guard, wherein said safety guard comprises a longitudinal member that includes two side walls and a longitudinal slot, comprising: a rear locking tab attached to one of said side walls; and a front locking tab attached to the other of the said side walls; with a base pulley at the back of the longitudinal member. The base pulley is attached to an elongated projectile that is attached to a sliding brace which allows for up and down sliding motion to leverage the longitudinal member vertical to horizontal motion.

2) The sliding brace, which guides and pushes or pulls the base pulley of the longitudinal member is a stationary lever with up and down, glide posts. When the glide post is in the close position the longitudinal member is closed over the shaφ instrument. As the glide post is pushed or pulled down, it s attached elongated projectile pulls the longitudinal member away from the shaφ instrument allowing full exposure for use.

3) A safety guard to protect against inadvertent contact with an instrument having a shaφ end, comprising: a hollow square base disposed on such instrument in advance of such shaφened, said base comprising at least one side lug, an opposing lug, and a side face, said face including a hole: 4) A longitudinal member comprising a hinge end and a cover end, said hinge end connected to said base, said longitudinal member including two side walls and being of sufficient length to cover such shaφ end and having a longitudinal member including two side walls and being of sufficient length to cover such shaφ end and having a longitudinal slot wider than such shaφ end, said opposing lug being disposed and shaped to fit into said longitudinal slot when said safety guard is in a closed position, said longitudinal member further comprising a protrusion at said hinge end, said protrusion being of such shape to be held between said at least one side lug and said opposing lug when said safety guard is in a closed position; and

5) A permanent locking mechanism comprising a rear locking tab attached to one of said side walls of said longitudinal member and a front locking tab attached to the other of said side walls of said longitudinal member, said front locking tab disposed between said rear locking tab and said longitudinal slot.

6) Wherein the rear locking tab has a trapezoidal cross section and wherein said front locking tab has a trapezoidal cross section and said front locking tab is offset from said rear locking tab in a direction transverse to said longitudinal slot, and wherein said front locking tab and said rear locking tab overlap in said transverse direction.

Figure 1 Component parts

1 - sheath

2- syringe

3- sheath guide

4- pulley

5- thumb glide

6- glide track

7- hook lock

8- cannula