GB2205043A

GB2205043A - Hypodermic needle handling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2205043A
Application number: GB08811328A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Alfred Jones; Peter Anthony Haydn Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-05-16
Filing date: 1988-05-13
Publication date: 1988-11-30
Also published as: GB8811328D0; GB8711608D0

Abstract

Apparatus for use in handling hypodermic needles, to reduce the danger of accidental stabbing when separating the holder and needle and consequent infection, comprises a plate-like member (1) to which one end region of an elongated arm (3) is fixed, a supporting pistol grip (5) being provided at the other end region of the arm (3). The plate-like member (1) is detachably attachable to the mouth of a container and has an aperture (11) through which a needle (31) can be passed. A movable jaw (9) can grip the needle (31) to hold the needle whilst a holder (29) is unscrewed, the jaw (9) being controlled by a trigger (7) on the piston grip (5) via a linkage (8). By releasing the trigger (7) the jaw (9) moves to allow the needle to drop into the container. The apparatus is thus supported by one hand remote from the needle, whilst the other hand is used to unscrew the holder. If the needle is released before the holder (29) is fully unscrewed the danger of stabbing is reduced by the remote location of said one hand. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION HYPODERMIC NEEDLE HANDLING APPARATUS The present invention relates to apparatus for use in handling hypodermic needles.

In particular the present invention relates to apparatus for use in handling disposable hypodermic needles of the type used in conjunction with vaccuum blood sampling systems in order to minimize the risk of infection to the operator by needle stick injury.

Conventionally such hypodermic needles are screwed into one end of a tubular holder and then the needle is inserted into a vein in a person's body. An evacuated phial is then inserted into the tubular holder so that the end of the needle within the holder pierces the phial, blood then being drawn into the phial to raise the pressure within the phial. when the required sample has been obtained, the needle is withdrawn from the vein and the phial is extracted from the holder. Then the needle is unscrewed from the holder and placed in a disposal container which is usually subsequently incinerated to completely destroy any potentially infective agent.

To at least reduce contact with the used hypodermic needle the disposal container can have a graduated aperture into which the needle and the end of the tubular holder can be inserted. The holder and needle are then moved along the graduated aperture until the needle is frictionally gripped by the sides of said graduated aperture. The holder is then rotated to unscrew the holder from the needle, the needle then dropping through the aperture into the disposable container. Whilst this arrangement is used it can have its dangers. For example, the person handling the holder will normally hold the disposal container near to the graduated aperture. If the needle and holder are completely separated then there is no problem.However, if the needle and holder are not completely separated and the person withdraws the holder and/or if the person is distracted and lifts the holder and needle out of the aperture, it has been known for the person to accidentally stab his other hand which is steadying the container. Clearly this is dangerous, especially if a highly infective agent is present in the person from whom the blood sample has been taken.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for use in handling used hypodermic needles, whereby the needle is positively gripped whilst and until the holder is unscrewed.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in handling hypodermic needles, said apparatus comprising a member with an aperture through which a needle can be passed, selectively operable gripping means being arranged to positively grip a needle so located, so that a holder can be then unscrewed from the needle.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention said member is a generally rectangular plate-like member with an arm projecting from said member with a pistol grip located towards the free end region of said arm. The plate-like member is detachably attachable to a disposable container with said aperture arranged over the mouth of the container. Said selectively openable gripping means preferably comprise a pair of jaws located beneath said aperture and biassed apart by a spring, said jaws being closable by a trigger associated with the remote pistol grip. Preferably a tubular guide projects from the plate-like member, coaxially with said aperture. Thus, a used holder and needle can simply be dropped into the tubular guide and the needle is thus automatically guided into said aperture, the aperture being too small for the holder to pass therethrough.

In use, an operator holds the apparatus attached to the disposable container in one hand by the pistol grip and locates a used needle and holder in the tubular guide. Then by squeezing the trigger the jaws close on the needle and positively grip the needle. The part of the holder projecting from the guide can then be rotated by the operator's other hand. However, due to the jaws positively gripping the needle, the holder cannot be lifted from the tubular guide until it has been detached from the needle. Then the trigger can be released allowing the jaws to release the needle which drops into the said disposable container. This operation clearly prevents any accidental injury and possible infection, as previously possible.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described hereabove said arm is fixedly and rigidly secured to the said plate-like member, said plate-like member being detachably attachable to the mouth of a disposable container by a projection which can engage around part of the edge of said mouth and a screw attachment which can be engaged in an aperture adjacent to the mouth.However, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, said arm is pivotally attached to the plate-like member with a cam member fixed beneath the plate-like member so as to rotate with the arm. when attaching the plate-like member to a disposable container, the arm is rotated relative to the plate-like member after the plate-like member has been located in position, and the cam member thus rotates to grip a part of the lip of the container mouth between a lobe of the cam member and a projection provided on the undersurface of the platelike member. whilst the cam member may have a smooth profile, preferably an edge or sharp projection is provided on the cam profile so as to bite into the usually used plastics structure of the disposable container, thus ensuring a positive attachment.The plate-like member can be simply detached when required by rotating the arm further, or in the return direction.

Preferably, the plate-like member is provided with an additional aperture through which other items to be disposed of can be passed, without requiring the plate-like member to be detached from the container.

The present invention thus provides a simple apparatus which firmly positions a user's hand supporting the disposable container at a location remote from the mouth of the container, whilst positively gripping a hypodermic needle until the holder has been positively detached, i.e. unscrewed.

Thus the likelihood of injury-and infection, by being stubbed accidentally by a partially detached needle, is at least reduced.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference-to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention; Fig.2 is a perspective view from underneath of the embodiment of Fig.l; Fig.3 is a perspective view from underneath of part of a modified form of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, with the mouth of a disposable box shown in dashed outlined, and the cover in a released position; Fig.4 is a perspective view from underneath of the embodiment of Fig.3, with the cover in a locked position; Fig.5 is an inverted plan--view of a modified form of the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4; and Fig.6 is a side view of the cover used in the embodiment of Fig.5.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs.l and 2 comprises a rectangular plate-like member 1 with one end region of an elongate arm 3 integral with said plate-like member 1. A pistol grip 5 is provided at the free end region of said arm 3, the pistol grip 5 incorporating a manually operable trigger 7 which is connected by a linkage 8 extending through said arm 3 and said plate-like member 1, with a movable jaw 9 located beneath an aperture 11 in said plate-like member 1. Said movable jaw 9 is spring biassed away from a fixed jaw 13 to allow clear passage through the aperture 11, squeezing of the trigger 7 moving the jaws 9 towards the fixed jaws 13. A tubular guide 15 projects from the plate- like member 1 and serves to guide needles, etc., into said aperture 11.Depending from the plate-like member 1 to one side of the aperture 11 is an angled bracket 17, a bolt 19 and knurled nut 21 assembly engaging through an elongate slot 22 on the opposite side of said aperture 11.

When the above embodiment is to be used with a conventional disposable box 23 having a rectangular mouth 25, the plate-like member 1 is located over the rectangular mouth 25 with the angled bracket 17 engaging over a side edge of said mouth 25. The head of the bolt 19 is then engaged in a tapered slot 27 in the wall of the box 23 adjacent to the opposite side edge of the rectangular mouth 25, and the bolt is then moved to trap the bolt 19 in the tapered slot 27, the knurled nut 21 being then tightened to secure the plate-like member 1 to the box 23.

In use, an operator grips the piston grip 5 in one hand, said one hand being thus remote from the tubular guide 15 and aperture 11. A holder 29 and attached needle 31 is then located in the tubular guide 15 so that the needle 31 passes through the aperture 11, the holder 29 being too large to pass therethrough. The operator then squeezes the trigger 7 with said one hand so that the jaws 9,13 grip the needle 31, and with the other hand the operator rotates the holder 29 to thus separate the holder 29 from the needle 31.Due to the jaws 9,13 positively gripping the needle 31 there is no danger of the operator lifting the holder 29 out of the tubular guide 15 before it is separated from the needle 31, and even if the jaws were inadvertently released, allowing the holder and needle to be extracted, there is little chance of the operator stabbing himself/herself accidentally, as the operator's said one hand is remote from the tubular guide 15. when the holder 29 has been detached, the trigger 7 can be released allowing the jaws to separate, the detached needle then dropping safely into the disposable box 23. The plate-like member 1 has a further aperture 33 to allow other items to be placed in the disposable box 23 without having to detach the apparatus of the present invention.

A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figs 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, and the same reference numerals as used in Fig.l will be used for equivalent parts in Figs 3 and 4. Basically the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 differs from the embodiment of Fig.l solely in respect of its means of attachment to a disposable box. The rectangular plate-like member 1 has an angled bracket 17 which depends from the underside of the plate-like member, and a cam member 35 is fixedly mounted underneath the plate-like member on an extension 36 of the tubular guide 15, which extends through an aperture 11 in said plate-like member, said tubular guide 15 being freely rotatable within said aperture 11. One end region of an elongate arm 3 is integral with the tubular guide 15, with a pistol grip and trigger located at the other end region.The trigger 7 is connected by a linkage 8 extending through the arm 3 to a movable jaw which projects through an aperture in the wall of the extension 36 of the tubular guide 15, to co-operate with a fixed jaw on the inside wall of said extension 36, said extension having a reduced diameter cross-section as compared to the tubular guide 15.

To secure this embodiment (Fig.3) over the rectangular mouth of a disposable box 23, the angled bracket 17 is engaged over one side edge of the rectangular mouth and the arm 3 is rotated (see Figs. 3 and 4) relative to the plate-like member 1 so that the cam 35 is brought to engage and press against a downwardly directed lip on the opposite side edge of said mouth - see Fig.4. Thus, the angled bracket 17 is held around said one side edge, securing the apparatus to the disposable box. Preferably the arm 3 has to be moved through approximately 900 to secure the apparatus in position.

In a modified form of the embodiment shown in Figs.

5 and 6, the cam 35 is provided with a knife edge 37 which, in use, bites into the downwardly directed lip on the mouth of the box 23, thereby providing for more secure attachment.

In a further modified form the apparatus of the present invention can be used in conjunction with conventional hypodermic syringes and needles. This modification comprises an enlarged tubular guide 15 with a set of variable diameter inserts to accommodate various syringe diameters.

Whilst the above described embodiments of the present invention utilise gripping means in the form of a pair of jaws which are spring biassed, an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) utilises gripping means in the form of two parallel rollers, at least one of which is axially rotatable by, for example, a crushed handle. The rollers have axial grooves which can at least partially mesh so that a needle drawn between the rollers is deformed and can be positively pulled off the holder in constructions where the needle and holder are a clip fit.

The present invention thus provides a simple apparatus which facilitates the safe disposal of hypodermic needles after use.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in handling hypodermic needles, said apparatus comprising a member with an aperture through which a needle can be passed, selectively operable gripping means being arranged to positively grip a needle so located, so that a holder can then be unscrewed from the needle.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said member is a generally plate-like member with an arm projecting from said member with a supporting grip located towards the free end region of the arm remote from said member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said selectively operable gripping means comprise a pair of jaws located beneath said aperture and biassed apart by a spring, said jaws being closable by a trigger associated with the remote supporting grip.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims l to 3, in which said member is provided with attachment means for detachably attaching the apparatus to a disposable container with said aperture arranged over a mouth of the container.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which a tubular guide projects from said member coaxially with said aperture.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 5 when dependent on claim 2, in which the arm is fixedly and rigidly secured to said plate-like member.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which said plate-like member is detachably attachable to a mouth of a container by a projection which can engage around part of the edge of the mouth and a screw attachment which can be engaged in an aperture adjacent to said mouth.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or any one of claims 3 to 5 when dependent on claim 2, in which said arm is pivotally attached to the plate-like member with a cam member fixed beneath the plate-like member so as to rotate with the arm.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, in which said plate-like member is detachably attachable to a mouth of a container by a projection which projects from the undersurface of the plate-like member, and said cam member, rotation of said arm gripping part of the lip of the mouth between the cam and said projection to thus secure the apparatus to the container.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which the cam has a smooth profile.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which a sharp projection is provided on the cam profile to bite into the material of the container.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which an additional aperture is provided in said member.

13. A method of detaching a hypodermic needle from a holder using apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of locating the holder and needle with the needle extending through said aperture, operating said gripping means to grip the needle and detaching the holder from the needle whilst the gripping means still grip the needle, and releasing the gripping means to allow the needle to drop through said aperture.

14. A method of detaching a hypodermic needle from a holder using the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. Apparatus for use in handling hypodermic needles, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.