Patent ID: 6475194
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A safety syringe for use with a vacuum needle comprising:a vial having a proximal end and a distal end configured to attach to said vacuum needle, said vial including at least one first protrusion and at least one second protrusion extending from an exterior surface of said vial, said second protrusion being circumferentially spaced a selected distance from said first protrusion along the vial exterior surface; a ring rotatably secured around a portion of said vial between the vial distal end and said protrusions, said ring including at least one tab with an engaging surface projecting from an exterior surface of said ring, wherein the engaging surface of said tab engages with an engaging surface on each of said protrusions during operation of said syringe; a shield having an aperture at a proximal end, an aperture at a distal end and a cavity defined therebetween, wherein the shield cavity telescopically receives said vial and said ring at the shield proximal end aperture and the shield distal end aperture permits said vacuum needle attached to the vial distal end to extend from or retract into the shield cavity, and wherein an interior surface of said shield includes at least one channel configured to receive said tab and said first protrusion and permit travel of said tab and said first protrusion between the shield proximal and distal ends; a resilient member within the shield cavity to axially bias said vial and said ring within the shield cavity in a direction toward the shield proximal end; and a retaining member surrounding a portion of said vial between said protrusions and the vial proximal end, wherein said retaining member is configured to engage and seal the shield proximal end aperture while permitting axial movement of said vial with respect to said retaining member and said shield.