Abstract:
A safety enclosure for a Huber needle includes a needle housing and a panel unit. The panel unit includes a series of planar panels assembled in an enclosing arrangement defining an enclosed area and is movable between an installation position where the sharp outer end of the Huber needle projects from the panel unit and a safety position where the sharp outer end is covered by the panels. The Huber needle has an aft end and a fore end connected by a bend with the fore end including a sharp outer end.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/855,605, filed Aug. 12, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,768, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/787,605, filed Feb. 26, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,776,016, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a safety enclosure for a hypodermic needle known as a Huber needle and more particularly to improvements over a prior art type of safety enclosure which is defined within U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,522, entitled HYPODERMIC NEEDLE SAFETY ENCLOSURE, issued Sep. 14, 1999, and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     Within the medical field, some patients require the use of a vascular access device as part of his or her care. A vascular access device is used on a patient to provide pain drugs, chemotherapy, antibiotics, antiviral or antifungal drugs as well as for hydration and nutrition. In recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the number of patients with implanted ports. An implanted port requires a special needle to be inserted through the skin of the patient and into the port. The most common type of such a needle includes a ninety degree bend and is commonly referred to as a Huber needle. Because of this ninety degree bend configuration of the needle, removing the needle at the end of the infusion therapy is particularly dangerous to the medical practitioner. This danger has to do with applying an outward force to the needle, and when the needle is exterior of the port, there is a natural bounce-back of the needle. It is during this bounce-back that a needlestick injury would be common to the medical practitioner. As a result, the medical practitioner may be subjected to the same infection that the patient is subjected to. 
     Huber needles are commonly used for long term infusion therapy. The angle relationship of the needle allows the aft end of the needle to be safely anchored by being taped to the exterior surface of the skin of the patient in the area surrounding the infusion port. The Huber needle is commonly left in place for several days and possibly weeks. It is common that the aft end of the Huber needle has attached thereto “wings” with these “wings” to be placed against the patient&#39;s skin and then by taping of these “wings” to the patient&#39;s skin thereby fixes in place the needle relative to the patient. 
     Implanted ports have advantages, such as reduced risk of infection, no need for a dressing, no need to restrict activities of the patient permitting the patient to normalize his or hers life. However, the implanted port has one significant disadvantage and that there is a high degree of needlestick injury during removal of the Huber needle by the practitioner. It is well known that there are hundreds of thousands of needlestick injuries in the medical field each and every year within the United States alone. Not only does the needlestick injury subject the medical practitioner to viruses and bacteria but also to AIDS, hepatitis and other serious diseases. In the past, a needlestick injury has been attributed to carelessness on the part of the medical practitioner. In actuality, carelessness has little to do with needlestick injuries as it is directly related to the difficulty of removing the needle. 
     Inherently, the procedure of removing of a Huber needle results in bounce-back which comprises a rebounding effect. Bounce back is an action which by pulling on the needle or needle attachment, the sharpened end of the needle hooks into the port. This hooking of the needle is due to a snag occurring impeding the removal of the needle from the septum. The medical practitioner thus pulls harder contracting the muscles of his or her arm. When the needle is finally released, the muscles relax and an opposite movement takes place and drives the Huber needle point down into the non-dominant hand of the medical practitioner thus causing the common form of needlestick injury. 
     In the past, there have been devices that have been marketed to help reduce the risk of needlestick injury. The most significant of these devices is what is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,522, which has been previously mentioned. This patent covers a product that is being manufactured and sold throughout the world. The subject matter of the present invention is directed to improvements in the product of this patent with the resultingly improved product to be manufactured and sold by the assignee that has been manufacturing and selling the product of this prior patent. 
     There are certain deficiencies in the product of this prior patent. The prior product had a tendency to move to the safety position inadvertently, like when a patient would roll over on his or her side. This is not desirable as the needle is automatically withdrawn from the port. The gripping handle within the prior product was freely pivotable relative to the needle. This caused a certain amount of instability making it difficult for the medical practitioner to manipulate and install the needle. Also, the needle would have a tendency to rock longitudinally in position and eventually would withdraw itself from the access site. Ergonomically, the housing of the prior art product did not have any finger pads that facilitated the location of the medical practitioner&#39;s fingers that would assist in installing the needle. The panel unit within the prior art product did not have a smooth surface that would be in contact with the patient&#39;s skin which had a tendency to be uncomfortable to the patient. Also, there was no ventilation structure within the prior art product which would tend to eliminate sweating by the patient in the area of the installed enclosure. The locking device for locking the panel together, when in the safety position, was located at the exterior edge of the panel assembly which had a tendency to bend and thereby not function as desired. It is also possible for the Huber needle in the prior art product to move longitudinally relative to the panel unit or wings. It is definitely desirable that the panel unit (wings) be longitudinally fixed in position relative to the needle. There was no structure in the prior art product that assisted in retaining the needle in position relative to the panel unit (wings) during assembly. The prior art product also had several different adhesive joints and it would be desirable to decrease the number of these adhesive joints which would lower manufacturing expense. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The first basic embodiment of the present invention is directed to a Huber needle that is mounted within a needle housing. This needle housing has a through passage and a slot that extends at a right angle from the through passage. The Huber needle is mounted in both the through passage and the slot. A panel unit is composed of a series of edge interconnected sheet material planar panels assembled in an enclosing arrangement defining an enclosed area. Each of the panels are hingedly movable to a pair of the panels. The panel unit is movable between an installation position where the sharp outer end of the needle projects from the panel unit and a safety position where the sharp outer end is covered by the panels. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the needle housing having an annular collar with this annular collar to longitudinally restrain the needle housing relative to the panel unit. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the panel unit and the needle housing cooperating to have a locking device to be engaged only when the panel unit is in the installation position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the locking device being defined as a notch formed in the panel unit and an outwardly flared collar formed on the needle housing. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the slot in the needle housing having at least one ridge which is to function to produce an interference fit in conjunction with the Huber needle. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the needle housing including an enlarged finger pad with the enlarged finger pad to provide a flat surface facilitating application of manual pressure that is necessary to install the Huber needle and also for practitioner comfort. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by ‘including a gripping handle fixed to one of the panels with this gripping handle to be usable during installing of the enclosure. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by having the handle extend to a lower position which is to rest on the skin of the patient to prevent rocking movement of the needle when installed in the port. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the panel unit having side edges when in the installation position with each side edge of the side edges including an elongated protuberance which functions as a guide to assist the user as to where squeezing manual pressure is to be applied to move the panel unit from the installation position to the safety position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the panel unit including wing finger pads to indicate to the user where manual pressure may be applied to facilitate correct installation of the Huber needle within an implanted port. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by the planar panels are defined as having flat exterior surfaces that are to be in contact with the skin of the patient on which the enclosure is mounted for reason of comfort to the patient. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the flat exterior surfaces each having a series of ventilation holes. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by there being included at least one post mounted on one of the panels and located within the enclosed area and the posts including a locking means with this locking means to lockingly engage with another of the panels to maintain the panel unit in the safety position once the panel unit is moved to the safety position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the first basic embodiment is modified by having the Huber needle adhesively attached to an extension tube with this extension tube being mounted coaxially with the needle housing. 
     A second basic embodiment of the present invention is directed to a Huber needle mounted within a needle housing and the Huber needle having a sharp outer end. A panel unit is composed of a series of edge connected sheet material planar panels assembled in an enclosing arrangement defining an enclosed area. Each of the handles are hingedly movable to a pair of the panels. The panel unit is movable between an installation position where the sharp outer end projects from the unit and a safety position where the sharp outer end is covered by the panels. A gripping handle is fixed to one of the panels with the gripping handle to be utilized during installing of the enclosure in the installation position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by the panel unit having side edges when in the installation position with each side edge of the side edges including an elongated protuberance which functions as a guide to assist the user as to where squeezing manual pressure is to be applied to move the panel unit from the installation position to the safety position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by a pair of the planar panels are defined as having flat exterior surfaces that are to be in contact with the skin of the patient on which the enclosure is mounted. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the just previous embodiment is modified by the flat exterior surfaces each having a series of ventilation holes. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by there being included at least one post mounted on one of the panels and located within the enclosed area with this post including a locking means and this locking means to lockingly engage with another of the panels to maintain the panel unit in the safety position once the panel is moved to the safety position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the second basic embodiment is modified by having the gripping handle extend to a lower position which is to rest on the skin of the patient and prevent rocking movement of the needle. 
     A third basic embodiment of the present invention is directed to a Huber needle safety enclosure which has a Huber needle mounted within a needle housing with this Huber needle having a sharp outer end. A panel unit is composed of a series of edge connected sheet material panels assembled in an enclosing arrangement defining an enclosed area with each of the panels being hingedly movable to a pair of the panels. The panel unit is movable between a installation position where the sharp outer end projects from the panel unit and a safety position where the sharp outer end is covered by the panels. The panel unit has side edges when in the installation position with each side edge including an elongated protuberance which functions as a guide to assist the user as to where squeezing manual pressure is to be applied to move the panel unit from the installation position to the safety position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to an improvement of the third basic embodiment by the panel unit including wing finger pads to indicate to the user where manual pressure is to be applied to facilitate correct installation of the Huber needle. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to an improvement of the third basic embodiment by a pair of the planar panels having flat exterior surfaces that are to be in contact with the skin of the patient on which the enclosure is mounted. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to an improvement of the just previous embodiment by the flat exterior surfaces each having a series of ventilation holes. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to an improvement of the third basic embodiment by there being included at least one post mounted on one of the panels and located within an enclosed area with the post including a locking means and this locking means to lock and engage with another of the panels to maintain the panel unit in the safety position once the panel is moved to the safety position. 
     A fourth basic embodiment of Huber needle safety enclosure of this invention is defined as comprising a Huber needle mounted within a needle housing with the Huber needle having a sharp outer end. A panel unit is composed of a series of edge connected sheet material planar panels assembled in an enclosing arrangement defining an enclosed area. Each of the panels are hingedly movable to a pair of the panels. The panel unit is moved between an installation position where the sharp outer end projects from the panel unit and a safety position where the sharp outer end is covered by the panels. At least one post is mounted on the panels and located within an enclosed area. The post includes a locking means with the locking means to lockingly engage with another of the panels to maintain the panel unit in the safety position once the panel is moved to the safety position. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the fourth basic embodiment is modified by there being a plurality of the posts with at least two in number of the posts being mounted on different panels. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is where the fourth basic embodiment is modified by the locking means being defined as a hook with this hook to engage with an aperture formed in a panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal isometric view of the Huber needle safety enclosure of the present invention showing the enclosure in an intermediate position between an installing position and the safety position with the sharpened point of the needle partially extended from the panel unit of the enclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a frontal isometric view showing the enclosure in the installed position and depicting installation within a port implanted within a body of a human; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the enclosure of the present invention taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front end view of the enclosure of the present invention taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a transverse cross-sectional view through the needle housing utilized in conjunction with the enclosure of the present invention taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front isometric view of the enclosure showing the enclosure in the safety position; and 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded frontal isometric view of the Huber needle safety enclosure of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown the Huber needle safety enclosure  10  of this invention. The safety enclosure  10  includes, generally, a needle housing  12  and a panel unit  14 . The needle housing  12  includes an elongated cylindrical hinge tube  16  which is constructed of plastic as well as almost all of the components of this enclosure  10 . The only part that is not constructed of plastic will be the Huber needle  18  itself, which will be constructed of metal. 
     The Huber needle  18  is in the shape of a right angle and has a fore end  20  and an aft end  22 . The fore end  20  is connected to the aft end  22  at a bend  24 . The free end of the fore end  20  is formed into a sharpened tip  26 . The hinge tube  16  has a through passage  28 . The aft end  22  of the Huber needle  18  is located in a close fitting but yet slidable manner within the through passage  28 . Integrally connected to the hinge tube  16  at  20  its front end is a sleeve  30 . Longitudinally formed within the sleeve  30  is a slot  32 . The wall surface of the slot  32  includes a pair of ridges  34  and  36 . The ridges  34  and  36  are located in lateral alignment with each other. However, this is not mandatory as they could be slightly spaced apart. The fore end  20  of the Huber needle  18  is press fitted within the slot  32  with the ridges  34  and  36  forming a tight or an interference fit that tends to hold the Huber needle  18  in conjunction with the slot  32 . This holding of the Huber needle  18  in position with the slot  32  is generally during assembly of the safety enclosure  10  and will tend to prevent accidental dislodgement of the Huber needle  18  from the slot  32 . The reason for this is that the safety enclosure  10  is manufactured at a plurality of different stations at an assembly line. One of the first steps in the assembly line is to insert the Huber needle  18  in conjunction with the needle housing  12  and then that resultingly assembled unit is then moved to the next station. The reason for the ridges  34  and  36  is to prevent the needle  18  from accidentally disengaging from the needle housing  12  during movement from one station to another. The outer end of the sleeve  30  is formed into an outwardly flared collar  38 . The function of this collar  38  will be explained further on in the specification. 
     The needle housing  12  includes an enlarged finger pad  40  which has a flat top  42 . The flat top  42  is to facilitate the application of finger pressure by the installer of the enclosure  10  of this invention. Applying finger pressure onto flat top  42  will cause the sharpened tip  26  and the fore end  20  to penetrate a septum of an implanted port, which is not shown. However, the implanted port would be included within the human body  44 , which is depicted generally in  FIG. 2 . The enlarged finger pad  40  is formed integral to the sleeve  30  and also to the hinge tube  16 . Formed diametrically opposite the exterior surface of the sleeve  30  are a pair of elongated ridges  46 . The function of these ridges will also be explained further on in the specification. The Huber needle  18  has a through conduit  48 . This conduit  48  connects to a through passage  50  formed within an extension tube  52 . Generally, the extension tube  52  will be made of plastic. The extension tube  52  is placed coaxially with bore  54  of the hinge tube  16 . Bore  54  is of a slightly greater diameter than the through passage  28 . It is to be understood that fluids, which includes drugs, solutions, hydrating liquids, etc., are to be supplied through the through passage  50  to within the through conduit  48  to be dispensed exteriorly of the sharpened tip  26 . It is also considered to be within the scope of this invention that fluid could be withdrawn from the through conduit  48  and the through passage  50  for the purpose of performing medical tests or for other medical reasons. In order to insure that the extension tube  52  remains in position, there will be an adhesive  56  that will be applied which will adhesively secure the extension tube  52  to the aft end  22  of the Huber needle  18 . Any desirable medically approved adhesive will be satisfactory. 
     The panel unit  14  is constructed of an end panel  58 , an intermediate panel  60 , another intermediate panel  62  and another end panel  64 . All of the panels  58 ,  60 ,  62  and  64  are generally constructed planar sheet material with plastic being preferred. Panel  58  is connected to panel  60  by living hinge sections  66  and  68 . Formed within the end panel  58  is a cutout area  70 . Integrally mounted on the edge of the panel  60  is an elongated protuberance  72 . The elongated protuberance  72  passes within the cutout area  70  as end panel  58  pivots relative to intermediate panel  60  about living hinges  66  and  68 . The free outer edge of the end panel  58  is formed into flat extension  74 . Integrally connected to the lower surface of flat extension  74  is a tube  76 . Tube  76  has a through passage  78 . 
     Formed through the surface of the intermediate panel  60  are a series of ventilation holes  80 . Also, fixedly mounted on the inside surface of the intermediate panel  60  is a post  82 . The upper end of the post  82  is formed into a lateral extension, which is defined as a hook  84 . Alongside of the post  82  and formed within the panel  60  is an elongated hole  86 . There are shown four in number of the ventilation holes  80  formed within the intermediate panel  60 . However, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention that the number of ventilation holes  80  could be increased or decreased without departing from the scope of this invention. 
     The intermediate panel  60  is connected by a living hinge  88  to intermediate panel  62 . It is to be understood that a living hinge is a term that is commonly used to define a thin or narrowed piece of plastic that connects between two thicker pieces of plastic with that thin piece of plastic allowing pivoting movement between the pieces of plastic. The intermediate panel  62  also includes a plurality of ventilation holes  90  with four in number being shown with it again being understood that this number could be increased or decreased without departing from the scope of this invention. Also mounted on the inside surface of the intermediate panel  62  is a post  92 . The upper end of the post  92  terminates in a laterally extending member defined as a hook  94 . Mounted directly adjacent the post  90  is elongated hole  96 . The elongated hole  96  extends entirely through the intermediate panel  62 . 
     The intermediate panel  62  is connected by living hinges  98  and  100  to end panel  64 . In between the living hinges  98  and  100  there is located an elongated protuberance  102  which is fixedly mounted on the intermediate panel  62 . The elongated protuberance  102  is positioned within cutout area  104  which is formed within the end panel  64 . The free side edge of the end panel  64  is formed into a flat extension  106 . Fixedly mounted to the underside of the flat extension  106  is a tube  108 . Formed through the tube  108  is a through passage  110 . The diameter of the through passage  110  equals the diameter of the through passage  78 . Fixedly attached to the flat extension  106  and also to tube  108  is a gripping handle  112 . The bore  54  is formed through the  20  gripping handle  112 . Gripping handle  112  has a lower extension  116 . The sidewalls of the gripping handle  112  include a series of elongated grooves  118 . 
     The manufacturing procedure for the safety enclosure  10  of this invention is as follows: The aft end of the Huber needle  18  is inserted within the through passage  28  of the hinge tube  16 . The fore end  20  is moved until it fully engages with slot  32  with the ridges  34  and  36  creating a binding action against the fore end  20 . The panel unit  14  is positioned so tube  76  abuts tube  108  and through passages  78  and  110  align. At this time, the enlarged collar is then forced through the passages  78  and  110 . It is to be noted that the enlarged collar  120  has a beveled forward surface and a vertical rear wall  122 . The hinge tube  16  is moved sufficiently through the passages  78  and  110  until the rear wall  122  and collar  120  are located within the bore  54 . At this time, withdrawal of the hinge tube  16  is prevented by the rear wall  122  which is not capable of being conducted over annular wall  124  of the tube  108 . 
     Formed between the intermediate panels  60  and  62  is a notch  126 . The panels  60  and  62  are moved to the position shown in  FIG. 2  until outwardly flared collar  38  engages with the notch  126 . This, in essence, provides a slight lock to hold the panel unit  14  in the position shown in  FIG. 2  so end panel  58  forms a relatively sharp acute angle relative to intermediate panel  60 . At this particular time, the hook  84  abuts against the inside surface of the end panel  58 . At the same time, the end panel  64  forms an acute angle with intermediate panel  62  with hook  94  to abut against the inside surface of end panel  64 . In order to protect the assembler by being stuck by the sharpened end  26  of the Huber needle  18 , there is placed over the fore end  20  a protective tube  128 . The now assembled safety enclosure  10  is to be placed within a shipping container, irradiated or gassed in order to sterilize the enclosure  10 , and then transport such to the consumer. 
     The consumer removes the safety enclosure  10  from its package, which will generally occur in close proximity to the human body  44 . A medical practitioner will then remove the protective tube  128  from the Huber needle  18 . The medical practitioner would grab the gripping handle  112  between thumb and middle finger and orient the safety enclosure  10  in the proper position for insertion. That position would be with the sharpened end  26  directly against the septum of the implant port, which is not shown, which is mounted within the human body  44 . The medical practitioner then places his or her index or first finger on flat top  42  or against flat extension  74  and  106 . The medical practitioner then applies a downward pressure sufficient to cause the sharpened end  26  to penetrate the implant port. The implant port will be covered with a flexible rubber layer which is to be penetrated by the fore end  20  of the Huber needle  18 . Once the fore end  20  is inserted to the proper depth within the implant port, the exterior surface of the intermediate panels  60  and  62  is to be located against the human body  44 . In order to aid comfort to the patient, not only is there provided the ventilation holes  80  and  90  but there is also provided a flattened area  130  on the exterior surface of intermediate panel  62 . There is a similar flattened area, which is not shown, on the exterior surface of the intermediate panel  60 . These flattened areas, when against the body of the patient, provide a more comfortable surface than if the surfaces were not flat. 
     One advantage of the structure of the safety enclosure  10  of the present invention is that when it is installed in conjunction with the human body  44  that the lower extension  116  of the gripping handle  112  actually rests on the body of the human  44 . This resting of the lower extension  116  essentially prevents any rocking movement of the safety enclosure  10  relative to the implant port. Rocking motion can occur during normal daily activity, which includes sleeping of the patient. This rocking motion over a period of time can actually cause the Huber needle  18  to be withdrawn from the implant port. 
     The locking action produced by outwardly flared collar  38  being engaged with the notch  126  can be overcome by the application of a small amount of force in the form of a squeezing action that is applied to the elongated protuberances  72  and  102 . These protuberances  72  and  102 , because of their shape relative to the side edges of the end panels  58  and  64  and intermediate panels  60  and  62 , provides a smoothly contoured structure that readily indicates to the user that the hand is in the proper position for applying the squeezing force. It is to be remembered that the overall structure of the present invention is quite small with the distance between the protuberances  72  and  102 , in the position shown in  FIG. 2 , being approximately one and one-quarter inches. Because the medical practitioner installer is working with such a small unit, the using of the smoothly contoured protuberances  72  and  102  grant to the medical practitioner a certain feel that tells that medical practitioner that the hand is in the proper position for applying the squeezing force. 
     Let it be assumed that it is now desired for the medical practitioner to remove the safety enclosure  10  of this invention from the implant port. The safety enclosure  10 , shown in  FIG. 2 , will actually be taped with adhesive tape, which is not shown, to the human body  44 . A dressing would then be applied. This tape is removed. The medical practitioner places a thumb on elongated protuberance  102  and an index finger on elongated protuberance  72  and applies a squeezing force. Only a small amount of force is required that will cause the end panels  58  and  64  to move upwardly disengaging the collar  38  from the notch  126 . Further squeezing force results in the end panel  58  to be moved alongside of end panel  64 . At the same time, intermediate panel  60  is moved directly alongside of intermediate panel  62 . In this position, the hook  84  is conducted through the elongated hole  96  with the undersurface of the hook  84  abutting against the exterior surface of the intermediate panel  62 . At the same time, the hook  94  is conducted through the elongated hole  86  with the undersurface of the hook  94  being located against the exterior surface of the intermediate panel  60 . The result is that the safety enclosure  10  is in the position shown in  FIG. 6  and is locked in that position by the hooks  84  and  94 . The sharpened end  26  of the Huber needle  18  is clamped between the intermediate panels  60  and  62  making it impossible for the medical practitioner to experience any needlestick injury. At this particular time, the safety enclosure  10  is then discarded at an appropriate discarding location. 
     The including of the grooves  118  on the gripping handle  112  is to provide a roughened surface to facilitate gripping of the gripping handle  112 . Also, it is to be noted that the exterior sidewalls of the gripping handle  112  are formed slightly concave, which again are for the purpose of ergonomics to make it more comfortable when using of the gripping handle  112 . The flattened areas, such as flattened area  130 , permit the application of a cushioning pad, if such is desired. This cushioning pad would be positioned between the safety enclosure and the skin of the patient. 
     The structure of this invention can be incorporated within different sizes of Huber needles  18 . The hinge tube  16  could be manufactured in different colors with a particular color to be coordinated with a particular size of Huber needle  18 . Also, the panel unit  14  could be manufactured of a transparent plastic material to allow visibility of the access site of the Huber needle  18  within the implant port by the medical practitioner. Typically, the length and gauge of the fore end  20  of the Huber needle  18  might possibly be printed on the exterior surface of the end panels  58  and  64  as there will probably be utilized different lengths for the fore end  20  of the Huber needle  18 . 
     The discussion included in this patent is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible and alternatives are implicit. Also, this discussion may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. These changes still fall within the scope of this invention. 
     Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of any apparatus embodiment. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.