CA1329084C

CA1329084C - Collapsible needle cover

Info

Publication number: CA1329084C
Application number: CA000600669A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Clark B. Foster; Terry M. Haber
Original assignee: Habley Medical Technology Corp
Current assignee: Habley Medical Technology Corp
Priority date: 1988-05-31
Filing date: 1989-05-25
Publication date: 1994-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-03
Also published as: JPH0226563A; EP0344606A3; ES2046370T3; DE68911380T2; EP0344606B1; US4935013A; EP0344606A2; DE68911380D1

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A safety enhancing, relatively low-cost, needle cover which is integrally bonded to a disposable needle cannula of a hypodermic syringe and adapted to eliminate the handling and/or destruction of the needle after use. The needle cover comprises distally and proximally oriented pairs of needle cover segments which are hingedly interconnected and pivotable relative to one another. The needle cover is collapsible from an open, expanded configuration, with locking fingers thereof engaging and retaining the cannula in an armed state for administering an injection of the fluid contents of the syringe, to a closed, generally planar configuration, with the cannula biased in a shielded state completely surrounded, shielded and isolated after use. By virtue of the present invention, the needle cannula can be safely discarded within its collapsible cover while avoiding an accidental needle strike and the spread of a contagious, and possibly life threatening disease.

Description

1 :~29084 ;

COL$APS IBLE NE13DI,E COVE~

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~, TEC~INICAL FIELD

Thi~ invention relates to a safety enhancing and relatively low-cost needle cover which is integrally connected to a dispo~able needle cannula of a hypodermic sy~inge, wherein the cover ~8 collapsible rom an open, expanded configuration, at which the cannula is exposed for adminlstering an injection, to a closed, generally planar con~iguration, at which the cannula is completely surrounded, shielded, and i~olated after use.

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.~ Hypodermic syringes are used for a variety of , purposes~ By way of example, the syringe may be used to expulse fluid medication to a patient by way of a hypodermic needle cannula. However, the syringe may be ;, used to treat a patient with a communicable disease. -;i Prior to disposal of ~he syringe, the needle cannula '. , thereof is sometimes broken to prevent reuse. Health .~ care workers are especially susceptible to accidental :. , .
,,. and potentially infectious needle strikes due to the .~ careless handling or breaking of the cannula and disposing of the syringe after use. The resulting . mini-accidents caused by an inadvertent needle strike typi~ally require a blood test for such diseases as AIDS and Hepatitus. The corresponding cost and inefficiency of testing health care workers who have :~ received an inadvertent needle strike re~ult in ; l ' considerable waste, which may be particularly damaging 5" to a health care facility which is striving for economy.
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The following unlted States patents disclose ., various needle cover arrangements:

3,840,008 october 8, 1974 $ 3,884,230 May 20, 1975 ,~. 4,139,009 February 13, 1979 ~ 4,303,069 December 1, 1981 :,;~
~ 4,664,653 May 12, 1987 .. "~; .
4l725,267 February 16, 1988 ~r 4,735/618 April 5, 1988 . . .
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~ SU~NARY OF THE INVENTION
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In general terms, this invention relates to a ~afety enhancing, relatively low-co~, needle cover which i6 integrally bonded to and collapsible around a dispos ble, single use needle cannula. In a first embodiment o~ tbe invention, the combination cannula and collapsible needle cover is detachably connected to the dis~al bore o~ a hypodermic syringe. In a second embodiment, the combination cannula and collapsibla needle cover is integrally connected to the distal bore of a syringe so as to form a one-piece, disposable Eyringe assembly.

~ he needle cove~ of the present inventlon compri-~es distally and proximally oriented pairs o~ needle cover segments, eacb of which segments being joined to an adjacent segment by means o~ an integral hinge around which said cover segments pivot. The needle cover is ,i, ~ collapsi~le from an open, expanded configuration, a~
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. whlch the needle cannula is biased in an . O
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, , a~med state for adminis~2ring an injec~ion~ to a .: closed, generally planar configura~ion, at which the ., .
~ , needle cannula is biased in a shielded state, to be :.~ completely ~urrounded an~ lsol~ted by the cover~ A
palr o~ oppositely dispo~ed, ro~atabl~ mo~ion transferri:ng arms .is connected to ~he needle cover so i. that a health care worker may manually and selectively move the cover between the open and closed configurations.

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~ locking ca~ch is connected ko one of ~he needle . . , .: cover segments ~nd i8 adapted to move into respective . ~ engagement with adjacent cover segments to either ., releasably retai~ the needle co~er in the open ... , coniguration with the cannula in the armed ~tate or perm~rlently lock ~h~ needle co~er ln the clo~d con~guratlon with the cannula ln the shielded state.
Ac~ordingly, the needle cannula may be safely disposed ~. of ~ter use within its collapslble cover to avoid :~ . subjecting the health care worke~ ~o an accidental . I ~eedle strike arld the spread of a contagious, and poss~bly life thr.eatening, di~ease.

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In an additional embodiment of the invention, the needle cover may be formed from distally and proximally oriented pairs of needle cover segments and intermediate cover segments located therebetween. The cover segments are pivotally interconnected with one another at respective, integral hinges to permit the needle covsr to he moved between the open, expanded configuration and the closed, substaDtially planaz configuration. The needle cover of this embodiment is characterized by a minimized lateral width in the open configuration to facilitate the positioning of the syringe and the alignment of the needle cannula duriny the administration o~ an injection.

v In yet another embodiment of the invention, the needle cover is provided with a pair of axially projecting resilient fingers which engage the needle cannula and function as spring locks to releasably retain the cover in the open, expanded configuration so that an injection may be administered. The resilient flngers slide rearwardly along the cannula to cause the needle cover to be continuously rotated and ,~ ~.
; automatically snapped-locked in a swept-back, over center configuration without the addition of a separate `~~ locking element.

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In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided for a syringe having a hollow cylinder within which a supply of fluid is to be received and a needle cannula extending from said cylinder and communicating fluidically with the interior thereof, the improvement of needle cover means having an opening formed at one end and being ~ collapsible from an open configuration, at which the cannula projects through said opening for penetrating the tissue of a : patient, to a closed configuration, at which the cannula is surrounded and shielded so as to avoid an accidental needle : strike, said needle cover means being characterized by locking means extending from said needle cover means for releasably . locking said needle cover means in an open configuration so that the cannula projects thxough said opening in said cover means, said locking means having gri.pping means by which to engage the needle cannula at the collapsed, open configuration s of said needle cover means to thereby prevent a return of said cover means to the closed configuration.

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7 1 32~084 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWI~GS

~ FIG. 1 shows the collapsible needle cover according .~ to a first embodiment of the invention detachably ` connected to the distal bore of a hypodermic syringe and moved to a closed, generally planar configuration 5~ for surrounding and shielding a disposable needle ~: cannula;
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FIG. 2 shows the collapsible needle cover of PIG. 1.
in an open, generally expanded configuration to expose ,. the needle cannula for the purpose of administering an ~ injection of the fluid contents of the syringe;
,~, FIGs. 3 5 illustrate the details for operating the needle cover of FIG. l;
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FIGs. 6 and 7 show the collapsible needle cover ;1 accordlng to ~ second embodiment of the invention inteqrally connected to the distal bore of a hypodermic syringe to form a one-piece, disposable syringe .. assembly;
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Figs. 8-10 show the collapsible needle cover according to a third embodiment of the invention having a minimized lateral ~idth when in the open, expanded i configuration or administering an injection; and ,,,~ .
FIGs. 11 to 13 shows the collapsible needle cover . according to a fourth embodiment of the invention having resilient fingers for automatically and reliably ~' locking said cover in the open, expanded configuration for administering an injection.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED E~BODIMENTS

The collapsible needle cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention i~ best described while referring to FIGs. 1-5 of the drawings, where FIG~. 1 and 2 show the needle ~over 1 detachably connected to the distal bore of the hollow cylinder 3 of a conventional bypodermic syringe (shown in phantom and represented by the reference numeral 2~. The needle cover 1 is preferably, but not necessarily, fab~icated from a radiation grade polypropylene materlal. FIG. 1 shows the needle cover 1 in a closed, generally planar configuration so as to completely surrou~d, ~hield, and isolate a needle cannula 4 and thereby prevent an accidental needle ~trike and th~
, ~; 6pread of a contagious, and possibly life threatening .~ disease. FIG. 2 ~hows ~he needle cover 1 in an open, expanded coniguration to expose the cannula 4 and ,, .
'!':, thereby permit said cannul~ to either communicaté with .
l a 80urce of fluid ~80 that the syrlnge 2 may be lnfused .~ wlth a medlcat$on, vitamin~ or the like) or penetrate . . .
' the skin o~ a patient (so that an injection may be administered according to medically accepted ~ , .
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` lO ~ 329084 ,. , techniques). As will soon be described, the eollapsible needle cover 1 and needle cannula 4 are -~ integrally connected to one another so as to be attached to or removed from the syringe 2 as a one : ' piece, combination cannula/cover.

., ' ' . Referring to concurrently to FIGs. 1 and 2, the '~ needle cover 1 is shown comprising distally and proximally oriented pairs of needle cover segments 6-1 ~ and 6-2. Each needle cover segment 6-1 and 6-2 is ,. j joined to its ad j acent segment by means of ~
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pivots when moving between the closed and open configueations o~ ~IGs. 1 anld 2. A narrow orifice 8 i8 ~ established through the hinge 7 at the intersection of :~.' , the dis~ally oriented cover segments 6-1, so a~ to `~ ' receive the distal end of needle cannula 4 therethrough ~` I wben the needle cover 1 is moved to the open, exp~nded coniguration Oe FIGo ;2~
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The peoximally oriented pair of needle cover segments ~ 6-2 are connected to a needle support 10 by means of .; integral hinges 9. A conventional luer lock fitting 12 .
' projects proximally from the needle support 10. In the ., :; i I

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assembled ralationship o FIGs. l and 2, the lue~ lock fitting 12 of needle cover 1 is interconnected ~i.e~
rotated into engagement) with the distal bore of th~
syringe cylinder 3 whereby to detachably connect the needle cover 1 to the syringe 2. The needle support lO
is integrally connected (e.g. molded or thermally bonded) to the ne~dLe cannula 4 so as to support and retain the cannula in coaxial alignment with the Luer lock fltting 12 and the cyllnder 3 of syringe 20 Hence, the needle cover l and needle cannula 4 are packed and shipped to health care facilities as a single piece, combination cannula/cover. ~oreover, and in the assembled relationship, the proximal end of , cannula 4 communicates with the inter ior with the ,~ ~yringe cyli~der 3 via the lue!r lock fit~ing 12, i~ whereby the cylind~r may be infused with fluid or fluid .~ . may be expulsed from the cylinder (with the needle ~' cover 1 in lthe open, expanded conf iguration of FIG. 2) .
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A pair of motion transferring arm~ 14 project~
:~ outwardly and ~n opposite directions from respectlve .;. proximally oriented needle cover segments 6-2. As w$11 be explained when ref err ing to FIG. 4 the motion `!' tran ferring arms 14 may be rnanually rotated toward~
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6-1 and 6-2 to pivot around their respective hinges 8 and 9 and thereby cause needle cover 1 to move from the ~ closed, substantial'ly planar configuration of FIG.l~ to - the open, expanded conf iguration of FIG. 2, such that ~ needle cannula 4 îs biased in an armed stat~ from a : shi~lded state.

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~'; A locking catch 16 extends from one of the F~oximally ~- oriented cover segments 6-2. A f irst notch 18 is :
formed in the other of the proximally oriented cover ~x~ segments 6-2. A second notch 20 is formed in the , ~:
distally orlen~ed cover ~egmen~ fi-l which lies lmmediately above and i8 contiguous with the proximally ,., ~ .
oriented cover segment 6-2 from which locking catch 16 extends~ As will also be explained while reerring to FIGs. 4 and 5, the locking catch 16 performs a dual function. In a f irst case, locklng catch 16 i.~ rotated through notch 20 to ~utomatlcally and releaslbly retain needl~ cover 1 in the open, expanded conf iguration of FIGs. 2 and 4 and thereby permit the cylinder 3 of ~yrirge 2 to be infused with fluid for the purpose of administering an injection. In a second case, locking catch 16 is ro~ated through notch 18 to automat~cally lock needle cover 1 ln the closed, substantially planar configuration of FIGso 1 and 5, whereby the needle . , , ' .
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cannula 4 is surrounded, shielded, and isolated to permit the cannula to be sa~ely handled and discarded after use while avoiding an accadental needle strike.

The operation of the collapsible needle cover 1 is now describe while referring ~o FIGs. 3t4, and 5 of the drawings. FIG. 3 shows the needle cover 1 immediately after its removal from a package in which ~aid cover is .
transported to a health care facility. More particularly, a pre-sterilized needle cover 1 is packed in a substantially collapsed condition with the needle cover segments 6-1 and 6-2 therPof pivoted around their respective hinges 7 and g to the closed, generally planar con~iguration to surround needle cannula 4.
~owever, to permit the cover 1 to be moved, by . a health :
:.~. car~ work~r, out of the collap~ed condition, whereby ;~ needle cannula 4 may be biased in the armed state ~of ~;~ FIG. 4) ~rom the shielded state ~of FIG. 3) ~o that an ~-.".
injection may be administered, the locking catch 16 i8 located next to, but outside, the notch 18 in the adjacent proximally oriented cover segment 6-2. That `f is to say, the needle cover 1 is moved to but not .` locked in the closed, generally planar configuration.
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The combina~ion needle cover l/needle cannula 4 i~
. removed from its package with the cover in the collapsed confi~uration and the needle cannula 4 in the shielded s~ate. The cover is then removably attached to the syringe 2 by rotating the luer lock fitting 12 ~, of ~he cover ln~o engagement wi~h the distal bore of the syringe cylinder 3.

In FIG. 4, the needle cover 1 is moved out of the collapsed condition, so that needle cannula 4 can be blased in the armed state. More particularly, with the . needle cover 1 attached to the cylinder 3 of syringe 2, the health care worker applies an axially and ... . proximally directed force to each o~ the pair of motion transferring arms 14 ~in the direction of the re~erence `'r~ . arrows 22 o FIG. 3). Accordingly, the arms 14 will : . rotate towards one another in a generally proximal direction, whereby to correspondingly cause needle cover segments 6-1 and 6-2 to pivot around their resp~ctive hinges 7 and 9 for movemen~ to the open, expanded con~iguration of FIG. 4. During the ~ relocation of needle cover 1 (in the direction of re~erence arrow 24) J the locking catch 16, which ~xtends from a proximally oriented cover segment ~-2 i~
advanced through tbe notch 20, whereby to be :s .
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automatically napped into engagement with i~9 ad~acent, contiguously disposed and distally oriented cover seg~ent 6-1 in which the notch 20 is formed to releasably and reliably retain needle cover 1 in the . .
p8n, expanded configuration, MoreoverO the distal end .~ of needle cannula 4 extends through the opening 8 in ~- the hinge 7 between adjacent distally oriented cover segments 6-l, so that cannula 4 is held in the armed ;~ state at which xyrlnge cylinder 3 i~ lnfused with fluid for subsequent injection throu~h the skin of a patientD
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After an injaction is administered, and referring now ~' to ~IG. 5 of the drawings, the needle cover 1 18 again ~; collapsed whereby cover segments 6-1 and 6-2 are ,.
' re~urned to the closed, generally planar configuration ... .
and needle cannula 4 is biased in the shielded state.
~ore particularly, the health care worker detaches the locking catch 16 from ~i7eO rotates locking catch 16 out of engagement with) the distally oriented needle cover segment 6~ uch that the catch is moved out o~
notch 20. With his thumb and index finger, the health care worker then applies equal and oppo~ite, laterally directed forces (in the direction of the reference arrows 26) to the proximally oriented needle cover ., .
~i segment 6-2 to cause the segments 6-l and 6 2 to pivot ,~
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~' around their respective hinges 7 and 9 and thereby .. collapse needle cover 1 around needle cannula 4. The .~. continued applicati`on of the laterally directed forces . advances locking ca~ch 16 through the notch 18 in the : proximally orien~ed coves segment 6-2 in which said . notch is formed.
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.,, Accordingly, locking catch 16 is automatically snapped into engagement with cover segment 6-2, whereby to pe~manently lock needle cover 1 in the clo~ed, generally planar configuration wi h needle cannula 4 bia0ed in the shielded ~tate. Hence~ the needle cover segments 6-1 and 6~2 surround, shield and isolate the cannula 4 so that the syringe 2 may be safely handled without ~ubjecting the health care worker to an accidental needle ~trike and the spread conta~ious and po~sibly life~threatening disease~ Since the locking catch 16 prevents the inadvertent return of the needle cover 1 to th~ open, expanded con~iguration (of PIG.
4), needle cover 1 may be detached from syringe cylinder 3. ~owever, unlike many conventionally syringe assemblies, the needle cannula 4 need not be di~ectly handledd c~t, or otherwise des~royed after use, but may be conYenien'cly and safely discarded in .
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the shielded s~ate of FIG, 5 within the eollap~ed . , needle cover 1.
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A collapsible needle cover 31 according to a second embodiment of the present invention ls now descr~bed ~, while re~erring to FIGs. 6 and 7 o~ the drawings~ Like .~ tbe needle cover 1 of FIGs. 1-5, the needle cover 31 o~
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FIGs. 6 and 7 is integrally connected (e.g. molded or ; bonded) to a needle cannula 34. ~owever, needle cover :./. .
31 is also integrally connected to the dis~al bore of a ~;~, cylinder 33 from a syringe 32 ~o as to ~orm a one-.: . piece, disposable ~yringe assembly.
., .~ . Needle cover 31 comp~ises clis~ally and proximally oriented pairs of needle cover segments 36-1 and 36-2 ., !
which are hingedly interconnected wath one another and adapted to pivot when cover 31 i~ moved between the clo6ed and open configuratiolls. That is, ~IG. 6 shows . the needle cover 36 in a closed, generally planar .., ~.................. con~iguration with the needle cover ~egments 36-1 and .
.~. 36-2 completely surrounding~ shielding, and isolating ~ ~ the cannula 34 so as ~o prevent an accidental needle .:, , strlke. FIG. 7 shows the needle cover 31 in the open, ~ expanded configuration to expose the cannula 34 through ;~ an orifice 38 ~n ~he cover 31 and thereby permit the , .
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:; fluid contents of syringe 33 to be injected through ~he skin of a patient~
. ' , A pair o~ force transferring arms 44 project I ou~wardly and in opposite directions from respective prox$mally oriented needle cover segments 36 2. As , pre~lously disclosed when referring to FIGs. 4 and 5, j axially and proximally directed forces may be manually applied to the motion transferring arms 44 (in the direction o~ the re~erence arrows 46 of FIG. 63 to cause said arms to rotate, whereby needle cover ; Regments 36-l and 36-2 are correspondingly pivoted around their respective hinges. Hence, the needle cover 31 i~ moved to the open, expanded coniguration ' of FIG. 7 with needle cannula 34 biased in the armed ~tate. The continued appl;cation of for~e to motion transferring arms 46 ~in the direc~ion of reference `i arrow~ 50~ al~o cau~es a locking catch 48, which ;~ j extends from a proxim~lly o~iented cover segment 36-2, ~' ' to be advanced through a notch 52 and snapped into i, ! , ~ - engagement with tbe adiacent and contiguously disposed f` distal cover segment 36-l in which such notch is ~;: formed. Accordingly, the needle cover 31 i~ releasably :., .
re-ained in the open, expanded configuration of FIG. 7 80 tha~ an injection may be administered.
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1 3290~4 A description of the return of needle cover 31 to the closed, generally planar configuration of FIG. 5 with needle cannula 34 in the shielded state (suitable to permit ~he one-piece syringe 32 of the second embodiment to be safely discarded after use~ is similar to that which was previously provided when referring to FIG. 5. Therefore, for purposes of brevity, thii description will be omitted.

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FIGs. 8-10 of the drawings illustrate a collapsible and disposable needle cover 60 formed in accordance ,~
with a third embodiment of the present invention. It is preferable that the needle cover 60 of the present ; embodiment include a needle cainnula 62 that i5 integrally connected te.g~ molded or bonded) to a needle supporting hub 64 having a luer lock fitting.
- Therefore, a one-piece combination needle cannula and collapsible needle cover is provided that is adapted to i be removably attached to the distal end of a 'A' conventional syringe ~shown in phantom and represented ~ .
~ by the reference numeral 66), whereby cannula 62 may be ~i .
shielded and removed from the syringe 60 after use to permit the cannula to ~e safely handled and discarded .~.
~` while avoiding an accidental needle strike and the possible spread of a contagious disease.

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Needle cover 60 comprises distally and proximally oriented pairs of needle cover segments 68 and 70.
Needle cover segments 68 and 70 are hingedly interconnected with intermediate needle cover segments 72, such that the needle cover segments 68, 70 and 72 are adapted to pivot relative to one another when the needle cover 60 is moved between the closed and open configurations. To this end, FIG~ 8 shows the needle cover 60 in a closed, generally planar configuration with the distal, proximal and intermediate cover segments 68, 70 and 72 completely surrounding, shielding and isolating the cannula 62 so as to prevent an accidental needle strike. EIG. 10 :i~
~ shows the needle cover 60 in an open, expanded ; configuration to expose the calnnula 62 through an ~` opening 74 in the cover to permit the contents of ~ syringe 66 to be injected into a targeted tissue area -~,j! of the patient.
.

`~' -~ More particularly, and as best shown in PIGo 9, one ` of the distal cover segments 68 is pivotally connected . ,~ .
at an integral hinge 75 with a first intermediate cover - segments 72-1. Intermediate cover segmsnt 72-1 extends - continuously ~rom integral hinge 75 to an integral hinge 76 formed with one of the proximal cover ~}~
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f segments 70. The other distal cover segment 68 is pivotally connected at an integral hinge 77 with a second intermediate cover segment 72-2. Intermediate cover segment 72-2 is also hingedly coDnected to the first intermediate cover segment 72-1. A third intermediate cover segment 72-3 is connected from an integral hinge 78 with the other proximal needle cover ."
~ segment 70 to the first intermediate cover 7~ segment 72 1~ Each of the proximal cover segments 70 , ~
:~; is also hingedly connected to the hub 64~ such that the hub 64 and needle cover 60 are integrally connected together. Each of the distal cover segments 68 is also pivotally connected together at an integral hinge :~: through which the opening 74 is formed for receiving the needle cannula 62.
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~ In the configuration shown in FIGr 9~ the hingedly .,~, i connected distal, proximal and intermediate cover segments 68, 70 and 72 will be aligned with one another ~,:.
ii to form a figure "8" when the needle cover 60 is . collapsed from the closed, planar configuration (of s FIG. 8) to the open, expanded configuration (of ,:, FIG. 10)o The advantage of the bereinabove disclosed arrangement of pivotally interconencted needle cover ~ segments is that the lateral width of needle cover 60 .

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22 ~ 3~q will be minimized relative to the needle covers 1 and 31 of FIGs. 1-7 when said needle cover 60 is located in the open, expanded configuration of FIG. 10 for administering an injection. Accordingly, the needle cover 60, which i5 characterized by reduced lateral width, will make the process of administering the injection easier and more reliable and permit the health care worker to make a veni puncture through the patient's skin without interfering with the bevel orientation of the cutting surface of cannula 62.

, s A pair of motion transferring arms 80 project outwardly and in opposite dirlections from respective proximally oriented needle cover segments 70. Axially and proximally directed forces may be manually applied i~
to motion transferring arms 80 (in the direction of the ~: reference arrows 82 of FIG. 9) to cause said arms to ,"
;i rota~e, whereby the proximal, distal and intermediate needle cover segments 68, 70 and 72 are correspondingly pivoted around their respective hinges. Hence, the ~,:5, needle cover 60 is moved (in the direction of the reference arrow 84 of ~IG. 9) to the open, expanded configuration of FIG. 10 with needle cannula 62 biased ~:~ in the armed state through opening 74.

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The continued application of force to motion transferring arms 80 also causes a locXing catch 86, which extends from one of the proximally oriented cover segments 70, to be advanced towards and rotated into a notch 88 formed in one of the distally oriented cover segments 68~ whereby catch 86 is snapped into éngagement with cover segment 68. ~ccordingly, the i. .
needle cover 60 is shown in FIG. lY releasably retained in the open, expanded configuration of relatively small ir', lateral width so that an injection may be efficiently .~;
administered.
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A description of the process for detaching locking catch 86 from the notch 88 and collapsing the needle cover 60 to the closed, generaIly planar configuration .
`~ of FrG. 8 with needle cannula 62 in the shielded state ,.~,.~
(suitable to permit the combination needle cover and cannula to be removed from syringe 66 and safely discarded after use) is similar to the process described when previously referring to FIG. 5.

's ~; Therefore, this process will not be described again.
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r FIGs. 11-13 of the drawings illustrate a `` collapsible needle cover 90 according to a fourth ;~ embodiment of the present invention. Needle cover 90 ~;, '~ r~, ;''.-.

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; includes a needle cannula 92 and needle supporting hub 94 which are integrally interconnected with needle cover 90 to form a one piece disposable needle cannula ; and collapsible needle cover that is adapted to be ,--attached to the distal end of a conventional syringe ~; (shown in phantom and represented by reference numeral 96) or removed from the syringe and safely .
~ discarded with the cannula 92 surrounded and shielded `9 after use. Needle cover 90 also includes pairs of distally and proximally oriented needle cover segments 97 and 99 which are pivotally interconnected with one another by means of integral hinges. Thus, the needle cover 90 is adapted to be moved between a ,:
'~ closed, substantially planar configuration (of FIG. 11 at which to surround and shield the cannula 92, and an open, expanded configuration (of FIG. 13), at which the cannula 92 is exposed through an opening in the needle ,.~
cover to permit the contents of the syringe 96 to beinjected into a targeted tissue area o~ the patient.

In accordance with the present embodiment, the needle coYer 90 is provided with a pair of axially projecting resilient fingers 100 which, as will soon be explained~ act as spring locks that cooperate with cannula 92 to releasably retain the needle cover 90 in ~` '.

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the open, expanded configuration (of FIG. 13) so that an injec~ion may be administered. Thus, cover 90 can be automatically and reliably locked in the open . ., rj~ configuration by means of the fingers 100 without the inclusion of an additional locking catch ~such as that designated by reference numeral 16 in FIG. 4).
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i More particularly, each finger 100 is coextensively formed with and projected outwardly from a respective ~ distal needle cover segment 97. In the closed, planar c~ configuration of FIG. 11, fingers 100 extend in O yenerally spaced, parallel alignment with one another aod with the needle cannula 92 which is located therebetween. As the needle cover 90 is moved, in FI~. 12, towards the openD expanded configuration (by means of force transferrLng a;rms 102), the fingers 100 will correspondingly rotate into contact with and slide ."
~^ along needle cannula 92 as the needle cover 90 is positioned in the open, expanded configuration of FI5~ 13. That i5, the fingers 100 are disposed ~- opposite one another to grip the cannula 92 `~ therebetween, such that the finyers slide axially and proximally along cannula 92 as needle cover 90 is moved to the expanded configuration.

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26 ~ 34 ,., When the needle cover 90 is in the open, expanded configuration of FIG. 13, the distally and proximally oriented needle cover segments 97 and 99 are pivoted - relative to one another to assume a swept back, over-center configuration. That is to say, cover segments 97 and 99 are rotated in a generally rearward direction and past a horizontal reference line ~; (designated by reference numeral 104 of FIG. 13). The aforementioned swept back, over-center configuration is . achieved by aligning the motion transferring arms 102 in a slightly forward direction (best sbown in FIG. ll) .~ and by elongating the inteyral hinges which connect . distal and proximal cover segments 97 and 99 to each other and to the needle supporting hub 94 to permit the continued rearward rotation of the cover segments around t~eir hinges and beyond the horizontal reference line 104. The advantage of the foregoing is that once the needle cover 90 is rota~ed beyond horizontal :~ reference line 104, the cover segments will easily and ~x con~inuously rotate around their respective hinges, such that cover 90 is automatically snapped and locked :~.
ln the open, expanded configuration. The engagement of needle cannula 92 by resilient fingers 100, as such : .~
fingers slide axially along the cannula, causes the needle cover 90 to be continuously rotated to and 1,.
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snap-locked in the open configuration, as shown in FIG. 13. Moreover, the resilient fingers 100 form a spring to actively oppose the return of needle cQVer 90 to the closed configuration of FIG. 11. Therefore, needle cover 90 may be reliably retained in the open, expanded configuration~ 50 that an injection may be administered, without the inclusion of an additional locking catch.
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h Once the injaction has been completed, the health care worker applies a sufficient forward (iOe. axial . and distal) pressure to the needle cover 90 to overcome the locking force exerted by resilient fingers 100.
Accordingly, the needle cover 90 is moved out of the . open configuration and collapsed towards the closed 'J confi~uration (of ~IG. 11), whereby to surround and .,:
shield ~he cannula 92 after use. The needle cover 90 ~ may then be removed from the syringe 96 and safely -~ discarded without subjecting the health care worker to .:~
~ an accidental, and possibly life-threatening, needle ^ strike.
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By virtue of the present invention, a reliable, :;
: safely enhancing needle cover is available which is . integrally connected to a needle cannula and easily :,:
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: manipulated between open and closed configurations, : whereby either an injection may be administered or the cannula may be completely surrounded, shielded, and isolated so as to be suitable for disposal after a i ~- single use without requiring the needle to be handled, i cut or destroyed. Accordingly, a health care worker will not be subjected to the risk of an accidental :? needle strike and the spread of a contagious and s . life-threatening disease.

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. It will be apparent that while the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and ~ describedt various modifications may be made wi~hout .~ departing from the true spirit and scope of the . invention~ Having thus set forth a preferred !
.~ embodiment of the invention what is claimed i5:

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Claims

1. For a syringe having a hollow cylinder within which a supply of fluid is to be received and a needle cannula extending from said cylinder and communicating fluidically with the interior thereof, the improvement of needle cover means having an opening formed at one end and being collapsible from an open configuration, at which the cannula projects through said opening for penetrating the tissue of a patient, to a closed configuration, at which the cannula is surrounded and shielded so as to avoid an accidental needle strike, said needle cover means being characterized by locking means extending from said needle cover means for releasably locking said needle cover means in an open configuration so that the cannula projects through said opening in said cover means, said locking means having gripping means by which to engage the needle cannula at the collapsed, open configuration of said needle cover means to thereby prevent a return of said cover means to the closed configuration.

2. The needle cover means for a syringe as recited in claim 1, wherein said gripping means of said locking means includes locking fingers which are movable with said needle cover means so as to slide axially along the needle cannula when said needle cover means is collapsed from the closed to the open configuration, said locking fingers engaging and gripping the cannula at the collapsed condition of said needle cover means to prevent a return of said cover means to the closed configuration.

3. The needle over means for a syringe as recited in claim 1, further characterized by at least a pair of generally planar, proximal cover segments and a pair of generally planar distal cover segments, said pairs of proximal and distal cover segments being pivotally interconnected with one another so that said cover means extends axially and in generally parallel alignment with the needle cannula in the closed configuration of said cover means, and said cover means extends radially and in angled alignment with the needle cannula in the open configuration of said cover means.

4. The needle cover means for a syringe as recited in claim 3, wherein each cover segment of said pairs of proximal and distal cover segments is of identical length relative to one another.

5. The needle cover means for a syringe as recited in claim 3, wherein said locking means extends from at least one of said pairs of proximal or distal cover segments so that said gripping means of said locking means is rotated into engagement with the needle cannula when said needle cover means is collapsed to the open configuration.

6. The needle cover means for a syringe as recited in claim 3, further characterized by hinge means located between said pairs of proximal and distal cover segments at which each segment of said pair of proximal cover segments is pivotally connected to a respective segment of said pair of distal cover segments so that said cover means is movable between the closed and open configurations.

7. The needle cover means for a syringe as recited in claim 6, wherein said pairs of proximal and distal cover segments are pivotable at said hinge means so that each cover segment thereof is angled proximally of and in substantially the same direction relative to a reference line which extends in perpendicular alignment with the needle cannula.

8. The needle cover means for a syringe as recited in claim 3, further characterized by catch means extending from a cover segment of said pair of distal cover segments to engage the other cover segment from said pair of distal cover segments to retain said cover means in the closed configuration.

9. The needle cover means for a syringe as recited in claim 1, wherein the needle cannula and said needle cover means are integrally interconnected with one another to form a one piece cannula and collapsible cover means therefor.

10. The needle cover means for a syringe as recited in claim 9, further characterized by a hub connected to said cover means for receiving and supporting the needle cannula, said integrally connected needle cannula and cover means being detachably connected to the cylinder of the syringe by means of said hub.