Patent EA-003501-B1 (EA)
Title: Needle protecting arrangement
IPC: A61M5/158
Filed: 2000-12-11
Abstract: 1. An needle protection arrangement (2), including a needle protector (2') and suitable for a hypodermic syringe, the syringe having a container (10) holding a rod which imparts reciprocal motion to a plunger (12) in the container and a needle (14) affixed to or fastenable to one of the container's end-parts (13), the said needle protector (2') having the basic shape of a tube whose axial length is somewhat greater than the length of the needle, the tube serving as a needle protector with an inner radial-related cross-section shaped to correspond to or at least essentially correspond to the shape of the outer radial-related cross-section of the container (10), the said needle protector (2') being axially movable along the container from a needle-covering position to a needle-exposing position or vice-versa, the needle protector's axial movement in relation to the container offering at least two separate, distinct positions, a first position in which the needle protector protects the needle (14) and the needle point, the free end of the needle protector being located next to the needle point, and a second position in which the needle protector protects the needle and its point, the free end of the needle protector being located at a greater distance from the needle point while the needle protector still covers the needle and its point, the first position being devised to pose stiff resistance to movement of the needle protector in relation to the container in order to expose the needle point, characterized in that a said first position is defined by the loose co-action of a locking boss (40) with a recess or groove (100) in which the groove's (100) locking boss enclosing locking surfaces have opposing bevelled or rounded edges (101, 102) so the locking boss (40) is able to slide, when there is movement in both directions, along and over the said rounded edges with some intentional resistance, that the said second position is defined by the co-action of the said locking boss (40) With an adjacent recess or a groove with transverse edges (201, 202) and that a recess or groove pertaining to said second position being located closer to the needle (14) than the recess or groove for the said first position. 2. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the needle protector is provided with a single locking boss facing the container. 3. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking boss is devised with somewhat bevelled edges. 4. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the container has a transverse groove with bevelled edges for the said first position. 5. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the container has a transverse groove with rectangular transverse edges for the said second position. 6. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the needle protector and container are inseparably conjoined in the said second position. 7. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a first end-part of the needle protector, facing away from a membrane, is provided with a first part of a two-part coupling element between the needle protector and the container. 8. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the said first part is comprised of an inner radially and/or axially related groove or edge. 9. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that a second part of a coupling element on the container consists of a radially and/or axially related edge or grove. 10. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the said edge is located next to the said end-part. 11. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 7, characterized in that the material in and the dimensioning of the needle protector, at least at the first end-part, has properties enabling the needle protector to expand over the said edge. 12. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a first needle protector end-part, facing away from the membrane, is provided with a first part of a two-part coupling arrangement, the container having two other coupling arrangement parts axially displaced from one other. 13. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1 or 7, characterized in that a needle protector membrane (2b) is inside the needle protector 2' at a distance of 2 to 10 mm, preferably 3 to 5 mm, from the end of the tube. 14. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1 or 13, characterized in that the said membrane is fastened to the needle protector by a ring-shaped reinforcement. 15. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the said needle protector is made from a transparent plastic material. 16. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the said first position groove serves as fracture scoring when a flexural force is imposed. 17. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 16, characterized in that the said fracture scoring groove is located, in the said second position, next to the fully inserted plunger inside the container. 18. A needle protection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that an end-part of the needle protector is located, in the said second position, next to the said groove.