SAFETY NEEDLE FOR ADMINISTERING MEDICATION AND WITHDRAWING BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS

A safety needle for administering medication and withdrawing biological fluids includes a hollow needle tube including a proximate end, an opposing distal end, and a lumen extending along the length of the shaft from the proximate end to the distal end. The shaft includes an adapter at the proximate end and a beveled tip the distal end. The adapter is configured for connecting the needle to a syringe. An optional collar tube may be mounted on the shaft to limit insertion of the needle into the body. A plurality of visible depth indication bands or rings can be provided on the shaft. The bands can have various colors or various shades of one color. The bands can have uniform or non-uniform widths, with each band being a different distance from the beveled tip.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure of the present patent application relates to hypodermic needles, and particularly, to a safety needle for accurate medication administration and bodily fluid withdrawal.

2. Description of the Related Art

Hypodermic needles are used in veterinary and human hospitals and clinics in combination with syringes or cannulas for injecting medications into or withdrawing fluid from human or animal bodies. While injecting medication or withdrawing bodily fluid, it is important for the practitioner to be aware of how deep to insert the needle and the proper angle of insertion. An incorrect angle or depth of needle insertion may cause injury. Insufficient insertion of the needle may lead to a failed injection or leakage of fluid out of the body.

Thus, a safety needle for administering medication and withdrawing biological fluids solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY

A safety needle for administering medication and withdrawing biological fluids includes a hollow needle tube or shaft including a proximate end, an opposing distal end, and a lumen extending along the length of the shaft from the proximate end to the distal end. The shaft includes an adapter at the proximate end and a beveled tip the distal end. The adapter is configured for connecting the needle to a syringe. In an embodiment, the adapter is tapered and includes a first end and a second end that is larger in diameter than the first end. An optional collar tube may be mounted on the shaft to limit insertion of the needle into the body. A plurality of visible depth indication bands or rings can be provided on the shaft. The depth indication bands may include generally circular indicia that extend along the full circumference of the shaft or half of the circumference of the shaft. The bands can have various colors or various shades of one color. The bands can have uniform or non-uniform widths, with each band being a different distance from the beveled tip.

One or more safety needles may be provided in a pre-packaged kit. The kit may include a separate guide or a guide printed on the exterior surface of the package. The guide provides the distance from the bevel tip to the closest edge of each depth identification band. The guide may include a picture of the safety needle indicating the depth of each band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG.1, the safety needle for administering medication and withdrawing biological fluids10is shown attached to a syringe S. The details of the safety needle10are shown inFIG.2. The safety needle10includes a hollow needle tube or shaft22including a proximate end, an opposing distal end, and a lumen24extending along the length of the shaft from the proximate end to the distal end. The shaft22includes an adapter21at the proximate end and a beveled tip25at the distal end. The adapter21is configured for connecting the needle22to a syringe S or cannula. In an embodiment, the adapter21is tapered and includes a first end23and a second end27that is larger in diameter than the first end23. An optional collar tube28may be mounted on the shaft22to limit insertion of the needle10into the body B. The collar tube28can be adjacent to the adapter. A plurality of visible depth indication bands or rings26can be provided on the shaft22, e.g., proximate the distal end of the shaft22. The depth indication bands26may include generally circular indicia that extend along the full circumference of the shaft22or half of the circumference of the shaft22. The bands26can have various colors or various shades of one color. Each of the bands26can represent a different distance from the beveled tip25. In an embodiment, the bands26are half-circumferential and on the same side of the needle shaft as the bevel25to allow a user to see the bands26while inserting the needle10into the body B. In an embodiment, a first end of the collar tube28can contact the adapter21and a second end of the collar tube28can be aligned with one of the bands26to limit insertion of the needle beyond the second end of the collar tube28.

In an embodiment, the bands26are different shades of grey (greyscale), or different shades of any other color to distinguish the bands26from each other. The bands26are formed on the needle shaft22and are spaced from the bevel tip at pre-selected distances. The bands26may all have the same width or the bands may have non-uniform widths.

Referring toFIG.3, a further embodiment of the safety needle30is shown. As with the previous embodiment, the safety needle30includes a hollow needle tube or shaft32with an adapter21at a first end, a beveled tip35at a second end, and a lumen34extending from the first end to the second end. The adapter21is tapered and includes a first end23and a second end27that is larger than the first end23. An optional collar tube28may be mounted on the shaft32, to limit insertion of the needle10into the body B. The safety needle30also includes visible depth indication color bands36on its surface at different distances from the needle bevel35. Each of the bands36are a different color or shade and have the same uniform width W1. For example, the bands26may have a width ranging from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm or a width ranging from about 1 mm to about 2 mm. In an embodiment, a first end of the collar tube28can contact the adapter21and a second end of the collar tube28can be aligned with one of the bands36to limit insertion of the needle beyond the second end of the collar tube28.

A further embodiment of the safety needle, designated40, is shown inFIG.4. As with the previous embodiments, the safety needle40includes a hollow needle tube or shaft42with an adapter41at a first end, a beveled tip45at a second end, and a lumen44extending from the first end to the second end. The adapter41differs from the adapters of the previous embodiments. The adapter41includes a tapered section43attached to the shaft42, a cylindrical section47attachable to a syringe S or cannula, and a hexagonal section49between the tapered section43and the cylindrical section47. An optional collar tube148may be mounted on the shaft to limit the insertion of the needle40into the body B. The safety needle40also includes lower and upper visible depth indication color bands46,48, respectively. The bands46,48can have different widths. Each of the bands46,48can have a different color or shade. The width W2of the lower bands46(the bands nearest to the bevel) can be selected based on the application of the needle (needle depth). For example, the lower bands46can have a width ranging from about 2 mm to about 5 mm. The upper bands48can have a width W3ranging from about 1 mm to about 2 mm for more accurate depth measurement. In an embodiment, a first end of the collar tube148can contact the adapter41and a second end of the collar tube148can be aligned with one of the bands46,48to limit insertion of the needle beyond the second end of the collar tube148.

A kit can include one or more safety needles10,30,40shown inFIGS.1-4and an explanatory guide50. The guide50may be a separate item included within the package interior or printed on the exterior surface of the exterior kit packaging. The guide50can include a listing of the color or shade of each band52and a listing of insertion depth measurements54represented by each band. The insertion depth is the distance (depth) from the bevel tip to the edge of each depth identification band closest to the tip. The guide50may also include a picture of the safety needle such as shown inFIGS.3-4with a numerical indication of the insertion depth corresponding to each band.