Abstract:
The invention provides a safety syringe for extracting blood, with retractable or removable needle that can be retracted into the syringe body or removed after use and safety locks that lock the retractable needle in an extended position during use and in a retracted position after use to ensure that the syringe is not reused or that the needle is not inadvertently extended. When retracted, the needle assembly is cocked at an angle identifying the syringe as used and adding further protection to prevent the needle from being inadvertently extended and exposed from the tube. These safety features work in conjunction to enhance the usability and increase the safety of the syringe. Thereby protecting medical workers from being injured by an exposed needle or contaminated by disease or infection from contact with the patient&#39;s blood present on a used needle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a medical syringe. More specifically, the present invention discloses a safety syringe with a retractable needle and safety lock, for extracting blood.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Syringes are utilized by medical workers for a variety of uses including injecting and withdrawing blood samples.  
           [0005]    However, due to the fixed nature of conventional syringes, accidents are far to common. Such accidents include, puncture by exposed needles and contamination or infection caused by contact with residual blood left on the needle or syringe after use. Due to the harmful or fatal nature of such diseases, contaminates, or infections, such accidents endanger the lives of medical personal working in doctor&#39;s offices, clinics or hospitals.  
           [0006]    Medical personal can be further exposed to danger if syringes are not disposed of properly after use. Additionally, if a syringe is re-used, accidentally or other wise, a patient may be infected or contaminated by contact with residual blood left on the used syringe.  
           [0007]    Therefore, there is a need for an improved safety syringe for extracting blood, with retractable needle that can be retracted into the syringe body after use, having safety locks that lock the retractable needle in an extended position during use and in a retracted position after use to ensure that the syringe is not reused or that the needle is not inadvertently extended so as to provide more safety for medical workers and patients. Additionally, the needle assembly can be removed from the syringe after use and properly disposed and the syringe plastic material may be recycled accordingly.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    To achieve these and other advantages and in order to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional method in accordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides an improved safety syringe for extracting blood, with retractable needle that can be retracted into the syringe body after use and safety locks that lock the retractable needle in an extended position during use and in a retracted position after use to ensure that the syringe is not reused or that the needle is not inadvertently extended so as to provide more safety for medical workers.  
           [0009]    The safety syringe basically comprises a tube with guiding track, a needle retaining base, a needle mounting base, and a button. The button comprises a button face, a prong, an end tip, and a ridge.  
           [0010]    The needle mounting base comprises a mount whereby a needle can be attached to the needle mounting base. A ridge formed on the needle mounting base to mate with a matching groove in the needle retaining base. A bump provides a snapping lock for holding the needle mounting base onto the needle retaining base. Note, the ridge and groove may be inverted to provide a groove in the needle mounting base and a ridge in the needle retaining base. A flow tube extends through the needle mounting base with one end exposed in an opening of the mount in a top side of the needle mounting base and another end exposed in the bottom of the needle mounting base. The end of the flow tube has a sharp tip for puncturing the seal of the vacuum vial. The flow tube allows for blood to flow from the needle into the vacuum vial. The end of the flow tube may or may not extend to be exposed through the top of the opening and is positioned to allow mating with the needle. A top tab protrudes from the top end of the needle mounting base. A bottom tab protrudes from the bottom end of the needle mounting base. The top tab and bottom tab provide a slot for mating with the end tip of the button thereby affixing the button and the needle mounting base.  
           [0011]    The needle retaining base comprises an opening with a groove for mating with the needle retaining base and the ridge. This arrangement allows the needle retaining base to affix in a correct position to the needle mounting base. A slot in the top of the needle retaining base comprises a groove to mate with a mating ridge on the button. This arrangement allows the button to be affixed to the needle retaining base and still provide free in and out movement of the button. A notch is provided to increase flexibility in the sidewall of the needle retaining base. A slot is provided in the sidewall of the needle retaining base to mate with a mating ridge on the inside of the tube. This allows the needle retaining base to be locked in position during use of the safety syringe.  
           [0012]    The tube comprises a cap that can be opened to allow for a vacuum vial to be inserted into the tube or closed before or after use to prevent contact with the flow tube. The cap has tabs that allow the cap to be snapped and held onto slots provided in flanges of the tube. A tab is provided for snapping into a mating notch in the wall of the tube after the cap is opened. A slide track is provided in the side of the tube. The slide track comprises a slanted safety lock slot, a zigzag notch, an L section, and an ear tab. The slide track guides the button attached to the needle retaining base in the correct position as the needle retaining base travels through the tube. A locking ridge on the inside of the tube mates with the slot in the sidewall of the needle retaining base to allow the needle retaining base to be locked in position during use of the safety syringe. An opening in the top and side of the tube comprises a closed section and an open section. The closed section prevents the needle mounting base from being inadvertently removed. The open section allows the needle mounting base to be removed if desired when the button is moved into the L section of the tube. The ear tab functions to lock the button, the needle retaining base, and the needle mounting base in a fixed place. The needle mounting base may be removed from the safety syringe by pushing in the button when the button is locked in the L section by the ear tab.  
           [0013]    To prepare the safety syringe for use, a vacuum vial with seal is inserted into the opening of the tube until the tip of the flow tube punctures the seal of the vacuum vial. When the seal is punctured, the vacuum pressure in the vial will act as a suction and draw blood from the patient, through the needle and the flow tube, and into the vial. The slot is provided in the sidewall of the needle retaining base to mate with a mating ridge on the inside of the tube. This allows the needle retaining base to be locked in position during use of the safety syringe.  
           [0014]    The needle, needle mounting base, needle retaining base, and button can be placed in an in-use or ready to use position. As mentioned previously, the slot is provided in the sidewall of the needle retaining base to mate with a mating ridge on the inside of the tube. This allows the needle retaining base to be locked in position during use of the safety syringe and prevents the needle assembly from inadvertently retracting into the tube. Note, the zigzag notch in the slide track is provided for safety protection to prevent the needle assembly from inadvertently extending or protruding from the tube or from moving into an in-use position. The saw tooth nature of the zigzag notch will catch or inhibit movement of the button. In a closed or retracted position, the button is snapped into the slanted safety lock slot of the slide track. Due to the slanted nature of the safety lock slot, the needle assembly is cocked into an angled position. This prevents the needle from inadvertently protruding from the end of the tube and endangering the safety of medical workers. This also easily identifies the safety syringe as used and prevents re-use of the safety syringe.  
           [0015]    A top tab protrudes from the top end of the needle mounting base. A bottom tab protrudes from the bottom end of the needle mounting base. The top tab and bottom tab provide a slot for mating with the end tip of the button thereby affixing the button and the needle mounting base. Note, in this position the closed section of the tube holds the needle mounting base in place and prevents the needle mounting base from being inadvertently removed. An opening in the top and side of the tube comprises a closed section and an open section. As mentioned previously, the closed section prevents the needle mounting base from being inadvertently removed. The open section allows the needle mounting base to be removed if desired when the button is moved into the L section of the tube. The ear tab functions to lock the button, the needle retaining base, and the needle mounting base in a fixed place. The needle mounting base may be removed from the safety syringe by pushing in the button when the button is locked in the L section by the ear tab. In this way, the needle mounting base and needle can be easily removed from the tube. Thereafter, the needle mounting base and needle can be disposed of properly. Since the materials of the button, tube, and needle retaining base are of similar materials, these components can be recycled after the needle and needle mounting base have been removed.  
           [0016]    These and other objectives of the present invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.  
           [0017]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRITPION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a safety syringe with retractable needle and safety locks according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a needle and needle retaining base according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a cross section drawing illustrating a safety syringe and vacuum vial according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a cross section drawing illustrating a safety syringe and vacuum vial according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 a  is a cross section drawing illustrating a safety syringe with retractable needle and safety locks according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 b  is a cross section drawing illustrating a safety syringe with retractable needle and safety locks according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 c  is a cross section drawing illustrating a safety syringe with retractable needle in a retracted position and safety locks according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 a  is a drawing illustrating a needle retaining base and button according, to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 b  is a drawing illustrating a needle retaining base and button according to an embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a safety syringe with removable needle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.  
         [0030]    Refer to FIG. 1, which is a drawing illustrating a safety syringe with retractable needle and safety locks according to an embodiment of the present invention and to FIG. 2, which is a drawing illustrating a needle and needle mounting base according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]    The safety syringe basically comprises a tube  10  with guiding track, a needle retaining base  20 , a needle mounting base  30 , and a button  40 .  
         [0032]    The button  40  comprises a button face  42 , a prong  44 , an end tip  48 , and a ridge  46 .  
         [0033]    The needle mounting base  30  comprises a mount  32  whereby a needle  31  can be attached to the needle mounting base  30 . A ridge  34  formed on the needle mounting base  30  to mate with a matching groove  241  in the needle retaining base  20 . A bump  33  provides a snapping lock for holding the needle mounting base  30  onto the needle retaining base  20 . Note, the ridge  34  and groove  24  may be inverted to provide a groove in the needle mounting base  30  and a ridge in the needle retaining base  20 .  
         [0034]    A flow tube  38  extends through the needle mounting base  30  with one end exposed in an opening  321  of the mount  32  in a top side of the needle mounting base  30  and another end  381  exposed in the bottom of the needle mounting base  30 . The end  381  of the flow tube  38  has a sharp tip for puncturing the seal of the vacuum vial (not shown). The flow tube  38  allows for blood to flow from the needle  31  into the vacuum vial. The end of the flow tube  38  may or may not extend to be exposed through the top of the opening  321  and is positioned to allow mating with the needle  31 .  
         [0035]    A top tab  39  protrudes from the top end of the needle mounting base  30 . A bottom tab  36  protrudes from the bottom end of the needle mounting  5  base  30 . The top tab  39  and bottom tab  36  provide a slot for mating with the end tip  48  of the button  40  thereby affixing the button  40  and the needle mounting base  30 .  
         [0036]    The needle retaining base  20  comprises an opening  24  with a groove  241  for mating with the needle retaining base  20  and the ridge  34 . This lo arrangement allows the needle retaining base  20  to affix in a correct position to the needle mounting base  30 .  
         [0037]    A slot  26  in the top  22  of the needle retaining base  20  comprises a groove  261  to mate with a mating ridge  46  on the button  40 . This arrangement allows the button  40  to be affixed to the needle retaining base is  20  and still provide free in and out movement of the button  40 .  
         [0038]    A notch  29  is provided to increase flexibility in the sidewall of the needle retaining base  20 .  
         [0039]    A slot  28  is provided in the sidewall of the needle retaining base  20  to mate with a mating ridge  19  on the inside of the tube  10 . This allows the  20  needle retaining base  20  to be locked in position during use of the safety syringe.  
         [0040]    The tube  10  comprises a cap  18  that can be opened to allow for a vacuum vial (not shown) to be inserted into the tube  10  or closed before or after use to prevent contact with the flow tube  381 . The cap  18  has tabs that allow the cap  18  to be snapped and held onto slots provided in flanges  16  of the tube  10 .  
         [0041]    A tab  145  is provided for snapping into a mating notch in the wall of the tube  10  after the cap  18  is opened.  
         [0042]    A slide track  14  is provided in the side of the tube  10 . The slide track  14  comprises a slanted safety lock slot  141 , a zigzag notch  143 , an L section  147 , and an ear tab  149 . The slide track  14  guides the button  40  attached to the needle retaining base  20  in the correct position as the needle retaining base  20  travels through the tube  10 .  
         [0043]    A locking ridge  19  on the inside of the tube mates with the slot  28  in the sidewall of the needle retaining base  20  to allow the needle retaining base  20  to be locked in position during use of the safety syringe.  
         [0044]    An opening  12  in the top  11  and side of the tube  10  comprises a closed section  123  and an open section  121 . The closed section  123  prevents the needle mounting base  30  from being inadvertently removed. The open section  121  allows the needle mounting base  30  to be removed if desired when the button  40  is moved into the L section  147  of the tube  10 . The ear tab  149  functions to lock the button  10 , the needle retaining base  20 , and the needle mounting base  30  in a fixed place. This is particularly useful during use of the safety syringe. The needle mounting base  30  may be removed from the safety syringe by pushing in the button  40  when the button is locked in the L section  147  by the ear tab  149 .  
         [0045]    Refer to FIG. 3, which is a cross section drawing illustrating a safety syringe and vacuum vial according to an embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 4, which is a cross section drawing illustrating a safety syringe and vacuum vial according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0046]    To prepare the safety syringe for use, a vacuum vial  50  with seal  52  is inserted into the opening of the tube  10  until the tip  381  of the flow tube  38  punctures the seal  52  of the vacuum vial  50 . When the seal  52  is punctured, the vacuum pressure in the vial  50  will act as a suction and draw blood from the patient, through the needle  31  and the flow tube  38 , and into the vial  50 .  
         [0047]    Note, FIGS. 3 and 4 show in more detail a function of the slot  28  and mating ridge  19 . The slot  28  is provided in the sidewall of the needle retaining base  20  to mate with a mating ridge  19  on the inside of the tube  10 . This allows the needle retaining base  20  to be locked in position during use of the safety syringe.  
         [0048]    Refer to FIGS. 5 a ,  5   b  and  5   c , which are cross section drawings illustrating a safety syringe with retractable needle and safety locks according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0049]    In FIG. 5 a , the needle  31 , needle mounting base  30 , needle retaining base  20 , and button are in an in-use or ready to use position. As mentioned previously, the slot  28  is provided in the sidewall of the needle retaining base  20  to mate with a mating ridge  19  on the inside of the tube  10 . This allows the needle retaining base  20  to be locked in position during use of the safety syringe and prevents the needle assembly from inadvertently retracting into the tube.  
         [0050]    In FIG. 5 b , the needle  31 , needle mounting base  30 , needle retaining base  20 , and button are in a retracting position. Note, the zigzag notch  143  in the slide track  14  is provided for safety protection to prevent the needle assembly from inadvertently extending or protruding from the tube or from moving into an in-use position. The saw tooth nature of the zigzag notch  143  will catch or inhibit movement of the button.  
         [0051]    In FIG. 5 c , the needle assembly is in a closed or retracted position. In this position, the button is snapped into the slanted safety lock slot  141  of the slide track  14 . Due to the slanted nature of the safety lock slot  141 , the needle assembly is cocked into an angled position. This prevents the needle  31  from inadvertently protruding from the end of the tube and endangering the safety of medical workers. This also easily identifies the safety syringe as used and prevents re-use of the safety syringe. Additionally, the slanted safety lock slot  141  prevents the end of the flow tube from protruding through the bottom of the tube body.  
         [0052]    Refer to FIGS. 6 a ,  6   b , and  7 , which are drawings illustrating a needle mounting base and button according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  show detailed views of the attachable and removable nature of the button  40  and the needle mounting base  30 .  
         [0054]    In FIG. 6 a , a top tab  39  protrudes from the top end of the needle mounting base  30 . A bottom tab  36  protrudes from the bottom end of the needle mounting base  30 . The top tab  39  and bottom tab  36  provide a slot for mating with the end tip  48  of the button  40  thereby affixing the button  40  and the needle mounting base  30 . Note, in this position the closed section of the tube  10  holds the needle mounting base  30  in place and prevents the needle mounting base  30  from being inadvertently removed.  
         [0055]    In FIGS. 6 b  and  7 , an opening  12  in the top  11  and side of the tube  10  comprises a closed section  123  and an open section  121 . As mentioned previously, the closed section  123  prevents the needle mounting base  30  from being inadvertently removed. The open section  121  allows the needle mounting base  30  to be removed if desired when the button  40  is moved into the L section  147  of the tube  10 . The ear tab  149  functions to lock the button  10 , the needle retaining base  20 , and the needle mounting base  30  in a fixed place. The needle mounting base  30  may be removed from the safety syringe by pushing in the button  40  when the button is locked in the L section  147  by the ear tab  149 .  
         [0056]    In this way, the needle mounting base  30  and needle  31  can be easily removed from the tube  10 . Thereafter, the needle mounting base  30  and needle  31  can be disposed of properly. Since the materials of the button  40 , tube  10 , and needle retaining base  20  are of similar materials, these components can be recycled after the needle  31  and needle mounting base  30  have been removed.  
         [0057]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the invention and its equivalent.