Patent ID: 6080135
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A protection system which, in conjunction with a hypodermic syringe, automatically provides protection to a hypodermic needle once the needle has been used with the syringe such that, once activated, the system covers a total length of the needle so as to prevent an accidental needle stick, wherein the system comprises:link-pins crossing a nozzle body of the syringe;a spring situated along a longitudinal direction of the syringe and concentric with the nozzle body; anda protective component, displaceable along the longitudinal direction, comprising:at least one tumbler situated concentric with the nozzle body and the spring and abutting against an end of the spring, wherein at a rest position the one tumbler compresses the spring along the longitudinal direction, said one tumbler being shaped of a cylindrical or trunco-conical shape and provided with a dragging device, said device having:an annular hip; andat least one retaining component situated opposite the link-pins for retaining said one tumbler in its retracted position such that, when movement of a stopper in the syringe substantially reaches an end of its travel, a projection extending outward from the stopper acts upon the link pins so as to laterally move the retaining component and so release the one tumbler from its retracted position such that force exerted by the spring displaces the one tumbler along the longitudinal direction until action of the dragging device locks the tumbler in its extended position wherein, if a single tumbler is used, the one tumbler covers the total length of the needle and, if more than one tumbler is used, drags other remaining ones of the tumblers into their corresponding extended positions until all of the tumblers reach a position of maximum extension which covers the total length of the needle; andwherein the hip has a termination with a hook shape such that, if said one tumbler is used, once said one tumbler is extended, the hip prevents said one tumbler from being displaced in an opposite direction which would uncover the needle or, if multiple tumblers are used, once all the tumblers are extended all the terminations associated therewith prevent any of said tumblers from being displaced in the opposite direction which would uncover the needle.