operatively position a shield or like protective structure
ASSEMBLY FOR THE PROTECTION AGAINST in covering relation to the needle without bringing the
INADVERTENT PUNCTURE BY MEDICAL other hand into close proximity to the pointed end of
NEEDLES the needle.
5 In an attempt to overcome certain of the above set
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION forth problems in the medical profession, the prior art is
1. Field of the Invention replete with numerous structures designed for the The present invention relates to a protection struc- shielding or protection of the needle, and particularly
ture capable of covering a medical needle after use, the pointed end thereof so that inadvertent punctures
such as when it is withdrawn from the patient's body, 10 and contact with medical personnel would be elimi
thereby preventing inadvertent contact and penetration nated. Problems associated with many of the prior art
of the sharpened end of the needle with medical person- structures is the ineffectiveness to adequately protect
nel handling the needle. medical personnel, complex structural design of such
2. Description of the Prior Art medical structures resulting in their being commercially Use of needles in the medical profession for transfer- 15 impractical and the inability of many of the structures to
ring bodily fluids both into and from the human body is be operated utilizing only a single hand of the user,
of course extremely widespread and a common practice „rrwwA
in patient care. Due to the advances in modern medical SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION technology, numerous structural modifications have The present invention relates to a protective shield been made with the intravenous needle and the reser- 20 designed to be movably attached and utilized in combivoir structure to which it is attached such as but not nation with a medical instrument incorporating a fluid limited to a catheter, hypodermic syringe, I. V. adminis- dispensing or receiving needle such as but not limited to tering assembly, etc. The majority of such structures a hypodermic syringe, catheter, I.V. assembly, etc. The presently in use are now intended and designed to be protective assembly of the present invention includes a disposable after a single use in order that infectious and 25 ... preferably m the form of m eiongated contagious diseases cannot be spread from one patient hollow mterior sieeve or tube having its outer most end to another. Such disposable medical structures are also substantially closed. The dosed end however does have utilized m order to eliminate any sterilizing step or pro- m nme integrally formed therein of sufficient transcesses previously used with permanent intravenous yerse dimension to concentricaliy surround the needle
needle structures. . JU and allow passage thereof through the aperture when
In utilizing such disposable structures proper tech- ^ ... ^ { ^ of ^ nee.
niques for the actual disposal of such intravenous nee- ,, c a °. ° .
,,M , , .. , , . . . . . die from a non-covering position to a covering position,
dies have become particularly important m recent years _ et.i. I_
in an effort to reduce the inadvertent spread of conta- A. ^on-covering position is defined by the shield gious diseases such as, but not limited to Acquired Im- 35 disposed in a somewhat retracted position leaving the mune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The later disease ported free end of the needle and a majority of the is of particular concern since there is no known cure. ^S* thereof free for penetration mto a patient s body. Further, it has been scientifically established that one Conversely, the covering or protecting position of the method of transferring the disease is through the use of shield sleeve * defined by its positioning m an outintravenous needles. 40 wafdly extended disposition from a position generally Accordingly, there is a need in the medical profession adjacent the needle mount to an outer pointed end of and the medical instrument industry for a device capa- the needle. In such a covering position, the closed end ble of being used with disposable intravenous and like of the shield covers the pointed end of the needle in a needles useable on a variety of medical structures which protecting relation thereto.
adequately and effectively protects the sharpened or 45 A locking means is incorporated in the subject assempointed tip of the needle from inadvertently coming bly to assure that the shield sleeve is removably maininto contact, and puncturing the medical personnel tained, selectively either in the covering position or the operating the medical instrumentation. Of particular non-covering position. Further, the locking means inconcern is the ability to allow the medical personnel corporates preferably a plurality of flexible material preferably to utilize a single hand in the operative and 50 finger structures disposed transversely or radially outselective positioning of a shield in overlying and cover- ward from and adjacent to one needle mount. The fining, protecting relation to the sharpened point of the gers have projecting portions preferably formed at their needle. Typically, prior art and present day techniques distal end. A projecting portion of each finger extends involve the inclusion of an elongated hollow hub or outwardly from the length of the finger into sliding and covering in which the needle is originally packaged. 55 removably locking engagement with cooperative strucThe needle is administered to the patient by first remov- tures formed on the inner surface of the shield sleeve, ing the hub. After injection or withdrawal of the in- Such cooperative structural features on the inner surtended fluid to or from the patient, the needle is re- face may be defined by track means including a pluralmoved and the hub is normally inserted in covering and ity of integrally formed, elongated tracks at least equal protecting relation to the needle. 60 in number to the number of fingers and disposed in
In such a procedure, both hands of the person are cooperative engagement with the aforementioned proutilized; one to hold the syringe or like medical struc- jecting portions thereof. In a preferred embodiment to ture and the other to fit the shield over the needle. Such be described in greater detail hereinafter, opposite ends techniques and apparatus have resulted in numerous of each of the tracks are structured and configured to inadvertent punctures of medical personnel even when 65 receive the projecting portions of the correspondingly extreme care was utilized. disposed fingers such that a locking inner engagement
Accordingly, a preferred technique and apparatus may occur therebetween. Therefore, initially the shield would involve the personnel to utilize a single hand to sleeve is disposed in its non-covering position wherein
