Patent Publication Number: US-6659277-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for recapping single-use hypodermic needles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 09/416,666, filed Oct. 12, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,044, issued Feb. 19, 2002. The present application claims the benefit and priority of this application to the fullest extent provided by law, and incorporates by reference the contents of application Ser. No. 09/416,666, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,348,044, issued Feb. 19, 2002. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to the medical industry, and particularly relates to a method and apparatus for safe, one-handed recapping (re-sheathing) and/or subsequent uncapping (unsheathing) of single-use hypodermic needles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art is replete with devices and methods for providing storage or other protection for a cap of a needle. The prior art likewise includes methods and apparatuses for providing “single-hand” attachment and detachment of caps from their respective needles. In particular, the prior art discloses the use of a clay-like or other “sticky” materials to insert grip the caps of needles, such as shown in Stein (U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,169) and Marsh (U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,223). 
     Particular attention is directed towards the Stein and the Marsh references. As may be seen, each of these references disclose the use of a deformable support material contained by a receptacle. In each of the patents the receptacle can be adhesively attached to a supporting surface by use of an adhesive (as an example see 36 in the Marsh patent). 
     Although the prior art includes advantages, needs still exist in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes deficiencies in the prior art by providing a disposable device which can be temporarily placed on a supporting surface to allow for one-handed uncapping and recapping of single use, disposable hypodermic needles. 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for safely handling single use, disposable hypodermic needles. 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for uncapping said hypodermic needles. 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for recapping said hypodermic needles. 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles which provides improved safety features. 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles which provides improved ergonomic features. 
     Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for handling said hypodermic needles which provides improved cost and convenience features. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an adhesive block device  10  according to the present invention attached within a medical-dental instrument tray  20 . No needles or caps are shown in place in this drawing. 
     FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of a portion of that shown in FIG. 1, with an alternate block configuration shown in phantom as  10 ′. A single capped needle  20  which would be used with the device  10  is shown in phantom as  20 , and additional multiple capped needles which would be used with the alternate elongate configuration are shown as  10 ″. 
     FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a first embodiment needle  30  having a cap  31 , used in conjunction with a block  10  according to the present invention. Any of the four adhesive surfaces of the block can be used to attach the block to a flat surface. Various relative movements between the adhesive block and the needle are also shown. 
     FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a second embodiment needle  40  having a cap  41 , used in conjunction with a block  10  according to the present invention. The dimensions are variable according to the size of the needle cap and number of caps requiring immobilization, and the surface to which the demobilization device is attached. 
     FIG. 5 is a isolated view of the adhesive block according to the present invention. Height and angle may be modified for production to conform to a particular tray. 
     FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of an alternate notched block configuration  60  in which one or more of the four sides having adhesive thereon include notches or grooves such as  67 ,  67 ′, or  67 ″ on any or all of the adhesive-provided sides. One side  61  includes surface portions or faces  62   a ,  62   b ,  68   a , and  68   b . Faces  68   a  and  68   b  are formed by notch  67 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference is now made to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. 
     General Construction and Operation 
     The invention generally relates to the use of an adhesive “block” device  10  which can be used to grip to removable caps of single use, disposable, hypodermic needles. Adhesive is provided on at least portions of, in one embodiment, four sides of the block  10  (see  11 ,  12 ,  13 , and  14  of FIG. 5) allowing for the block to be attached at one side to a medical or dental instrument tray or other supporting surface, with these surfaces being configured to deform and adhesively grip the caps to allow for “one-hand” detachment and reattachment thereof. 
     Details on the Block 
     Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an adhesive block device  10  according to the present invention attached within a medical or dental instrument tray  20 . No capped needles are shown in place in this drawing. FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of a portion of that shown in FIG.  1 . 
     As may be seen, an “adhesive block”  10  is provided, which provides a block which can be used to grip the caps of said hypodermic needles. In one embodiment, four sides of the block include surface adhesive, allowing for the block to be attached to said tray or other flat supporting surface, and to attach itself to the caps. The cap-contacting surface is not only sticky, but is also deformable and has some memory while allowing the deformation to be retained upon light to moderate downward pressure. 
     In one embodiment, one “inclined” side can be at an angle to allow for use within a tray having an angled side wall. It is highly preferable that the dimensions are selected such that the block protrudes slightly above the tray lip to accommodate such deformation during needle cap placement in proximity of the tray wall. 
     The device  10  is intended to be utilized on either flat surfaces or on tray walls with an angulation of approximately 45 degrees. The top of the adhesive block will give a flat surface for the needle cap to rest upon horizontally. The 45 degree angle is intended to stick to the side of medical/dental instrument trays which have a 45 degree angle. However, as shown in FIG. 5, other configurations are contemplated without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It should be understood that the present invention discusses the provision of various “sides” to the adhesive block  10 . The term side is intended to mean a surface or collection of surfaces which are all generally oriented in the same direction. In FIG. 2, the block has six sides, which are all planar. All of these sides consist of one common planar “face”. However, in FIG. 6, some of the sides include multiple surface portions or “faces”, which combine to comprise each side. In FIG. 6, the side  61  includes surface portions or faces  62   a ,  62   b ,  68   a , and  68   b.    
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of a first embodiment needle  30  having a cap  31 , used in conjunction with a block  10  according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a first embodiment needle  40  having a cap  41 , used in conjunction with a block  10  according to the present invention. Various relative movements between the adhesive block and the needle are also shown. As may be seen by these two figures, the block according to the present invention is configured to attach to a variety of needle or needle cap designs. 
     Details on Operation 
     FIG. 3 shows the various movements which may be used to allow for attachment, detachment, decapping of needles and recapping of needles. 
     Movement in the “A” direction, assisted with moderate direct finger pressure causes attachment of the capped needle to the block accompanied by deformation of the block material to conform to the outside dimensions of the needle cap surface. Movement in the “B” direction causes detachment of the capped needle from the block. 
     Movement in the “C” direction, accompanied with continued moderate finger pressure allows for initial one-handed uncapping of the needle. This allows for one-handed un-capping of the needle after the initial “seal” is broken manually. Movement in the “D” direction allows for one-handed recapping of the needle. 
     It should be understood that the device  10  should have sufficient adhesive ability to resist between two and one half and three pounds of pressure before the needle cap is terminally released from the adhesive block prior to disposal. 
     Composition 
     The material to which the adhesive is attached should allow approximately three to five millimeters (3-5 mm) of sponginess and displaying minimum elastic memory when placing the needle cap on the device. 
     The type of material used for this could be Styrofoam or a dense sponge, or any other suitable material known in the art. 
     Alternate Embodiments 
     An alternate embodiment includes the concept of having the adhesive manufactured directly onto the needle cap and when the needle cap placed on a surface for in use one-handed decapping and recapping (after initial decapping). 
     Another alternate configuration is contemplated under which a plurality of capped needles may be placed on one more elongate block. Referencing FIG. 2, phantom lines show the alternate configuration, in which a more elongate block is configured to attach to and support a plurality of capped needles arranged side-by-side in the tray. 
     FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of an alternate block configuration in which the four sides having adhesive thereon include notches or “V”-grooves such as  67 ,  67 ′, or  67 ″ on any or all of the adhesive-provided sides. Such grooves can be configured to accept the round outline of the needle caps. 
     It should be understood that although the above invention has been described in conjunction with single-use, disposable items, it could be used more than once to the extent allowed by proper medical standards. 
     CONCLUSION 
     While this invention has been described in specific detail with reference to the disclosed embodiments, it will be understood that many variations and modifications may be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the appended claims.