Patent ID: 6379337
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A retractable needle in combination with a catheter, comprising:a) a needle assembly comprising: a cylindrical hub having an anterior end and a posterior end; a hollow needle extending through the hub and projecting from the anterior end of the hub; a tubular flash chamber having a first end which is connected in a leakproof fashion with the posterior end of the hub, and a second end; and a stem having a defined diameter rigidly connected with said hub, said stem being non-rotatable relative to said hub, wherein said stem has a thumbrest rigidly fixed to the stem at a defined distance from the hub; where an interior of the hollow needle is in fluid communication with an interior of said tubular flash chamber; b) a housing with a defined longitudinal axis having a tubular wall with a longitudinal slot which is wider than the diameter of the stem therein, said housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the housing has an opening adapted to allow the hollow needle to pass therethrough and the second end of the housing is closed; said housing having said needle assembly mounted therein so that the stem is slidably engaged by the longitudinal slot, so that said needle assembly may be moved from a first position where the needle passes through the opening in the first end of the housing and is exposed to a second position where the needle is within the housing by sliding the stem toward the second end of the housing and causing the needle to retract through the opening in the first end of the housing; c) a means for reversibly locking the stem at a first defined location in said longitudinal slot so as to hold said needle assembly in said first position; wherein the means for reversibly locking the stem at the first defined location comprises a first transverse slot intersecting the longitudinal slot at the first defined location, and a first pair of teeth on opposite sides of the first transverse slot; wherein a locking position is defined between the first pair of teeth and a closed end of the first transverse slot; and wherein the first pair of teeth are separated by a distance which is smaller than the diameter of the stem, but which is large enough to allow a user to push the stem through the first pair of teeth; d) a means for reversibly locking the stem at a second defined location in said longitudinal slot so as to hold said needle assembly in said second position; e) a catheter which is supported by the needle when the needle is in the first position; and f) a means for removably fastening the catheter to the first end of the housing; where the hub of said needle assembly is movably positioned along the defined longitudinal axis of the housing.