Patent ID: 7566327
Filing Date: 2009-07-28
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A needle protector for use with a needle assembly that includes a piercing end, a hub and a plastic tube attached to the hub, said protector comprising: a body including proximal and distal open end; a plurality of side walls extending between the said proximal and distal open ends, said side walls defining an interior chamber, wherein said distal open end is adapted to receive the hub of a needle assembly; wherein said proximal open end is comprised of an end wall, said end wall defining an aperture sized that said hub cannot pass through said proximal open end, said aperture defining a multiple profile window including a first profile sized and shaped to slidably receive said tubing and a second profile sized and shaped to retain said tubing, said aperture being completely enclosed by said end wall such that said tubing is contained within said aperture; wherein at least one of said side walls includes a flexible retaining member adapted for contacting said hub of said needle assembly and spaced a sufficient distance from said distal end such that when said needle hub is in the fully retracted position said piercing end is completely contained within said interior chamber; and wherein one of said side walls further comprises a longitudinally extending depression in the interior surface of said one of said side walls thereby defining an internal groove extending axially from said first open distal end to said open proximal end.