Patent US5478328A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5478328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of minimizing disease transmission by used hypodermic needles, and hypodermic needles adapted for carrying out the method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1993-09-02
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Granted: 1995-12-26
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Expires: 2013-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A needle, related attachments, and methods of constructing and using the same, for reducing the risk of infection from material in a used hypodermic needle. The needle is formed with a solid tip having no orifice, at a distal end of the needle. At least one longitudinal bore is formed in the needle which terminates proximal to the needle tip. At least one outlet orifice is formed in communication with the bore, for passage of all material into or out of the needle, the outlet orifice being located at a lateral position spaced back from the solid tip, thereby reducing the risk that an individual who contacts the tip of the needle will contact material retained in the needle.
Inventors
- 👤 David G. Silverman
- 👤 Sally A. Kniffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/06; A61M25/065; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/31; A61M5/32; A61M5/3205; A61M5/321; A61M5/3243; A61M5/326; A61M2005/3267; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/58; A61M2205/583; A61M5/3271; A61M5/3272; A61M5/3286; A61M5/329; A61M5/3291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A hypodermic needle adapted for reducing the risk of infection from material in a used hypodermic needle, comprising: a needle shaft having a bore; a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end of said needle shaft; at least one outlet orifice which communicates with said bore, for passage of all material into and out of said needle, said orifice being formed in said needle at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle; and cover means located on said needle shaft and being operable from a location remote from said tip and said orifice for selectively. exposing and blocking said orifice, said cover means surrounding and being rotatable about said needle to cover said orifice when said cover means is located in a first position and to expose said orifice when said cover means is located in a second position; wherein the cover means comprises a sheath having an aperture which can be aligned with said orifice to expose said orifice and has a solid portion which can be aligned with said orifice to block said orifice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A hypodermic needle adapted for reducing the risk of infection from material in a used hypodermic needle, comprising: a needle shaft having a bore; a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end of said needle shaft; at least one outlet orifice which communicates with said bore, for passage of all material into and out of said needle, said orifice being formed in said needle at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle; and cover means located on said needle shaft and being operable from a location remote from said tip and said orifice for selectively. exposing and blocking said orifice, said cover means surrounding and being rotatable about said needle to cover said orifice when said cover means is located in a first position and to expose said orifice when said cover means is located in a second position; wherein the cover means comprises a sheath having an aperture which can be aligned with said orifice to expose said orifice and has a solid portion which can be aligned with said orifice to block said orifice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
216 words
A hypodermic needle adapted for reducing the risk of infection from material in a used hypodermic needle, comprising: a needle shaft having a bore; a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end of said needle shaft; at least one outlet orifice which communicates with said bore, for passage of all material into and out of said needle, said orifice being formed in said needle at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle; and cover means located on said needle shaft and being operable from a location remote from said tip and said orifice for selectively exposing and blocking said orifice, said cover means surrounding and being rotatable about said needle to cover said orifice when said cover means is located in a first position and to expose said orifice when said cover means is located in a second position; wherein the cover means comprises a sheath having a longer edge portion which blocks said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice and a shorter edge portion which exposes said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
216 words
A hypodermic needle adapted for reducing the risk of infection from material in a used hypodermic needle, comprising: a needle shaft having a bore; a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end of said needle shaft; at least one outlet orifice which communicates with said bore, for passage of all material into and out of said needle, said orifice being formed in said needle at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle; and cover means located on said needle shaft and being operable from a location remote from said tip and said orifice for selectively exposing and blocking said orifice, said cover means surrounding and being rotatable about said needle to cover said orifice when said cover means is located in a first position and to expose said orifice when said cover means is located in a second position; wherein the cover means comprises a sheath having a longer edge portion which blocks said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice and a shorter edge portion which exposes said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
221 words
A sheath for a needle, the needle having a hub and a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end thereof, at least one longitudinal bore which terminates proximal to said needle tip, at least one outlet orifice in communication with said bore for passage of all material into or out of said needle, wherein said outlet orifice is located at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle, the sheath comprising: a sheath body having a substantially circular shape for fitting over and engaging the hub of the needle, the sheath body being rotatable about the needle so that the sheath body can be aligned with the needle orifice to cover and expose the needle orifice; wherein said sheath body is formed so as to be operable from a location remote from the needle tip and the needle orifice for selectively exposing and blocking the needle orifice with the sheath; and the sheath body has an aperture formed therein which can be aligned with said orifice to expose said orifice and has a solid portion which can be aligned with said orifice to block said orifice.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
221 words
A sheath for a needle, the needle having a hub and a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end thereof, at least one longitudinal bore which terminates proximal to said needle tip, at least one outlet orifice in communication with said bore for passage of all material into or out of said needle, wherein said outlet orifice is located at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle, the sheath comprising: a sheath body having a substantially circular shape for fitting over and engaging the hub of the needle, the sheath body being rotatable about the needle so that the sheath body can be aligned with the needle orifice to cover and expose the needle orifice; wherein said sheath body is formed so as to be operable from a location remote from the needle tip and the needle orifice for selectively exposing and blocking the needle orifice with the sheath; and the sheath body has an aperture formed therein which can be aligned with said orifice to expose said orifice and has a solid portion which can be aligned with said orifice to block said orifice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
222 words
A sheath for a needle, the needle having a hub and a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end thereof, at least one longitudinal bore which terminates proximal to said needle tip, at least one outlet orifice in communication with said bore for passage of all material into or out of said needle, wherein said outlet orifice is located at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle, the sheath comprising: a sheath body having a substantially circular shape for fitting over and engaging the hub of the needle, the sheath body being rotatable about the needle so that the sheath body can be aligned with the needle orifice to cover and expose the needle orifice; wherein said sheath body is formed so as to be operable from a location remote from the needle tip and the needle orifice for selectively exposing and blocking the needle orifice with the sheath; and the sheath has a longer edge portion which blocks said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice and a shorter edge portion which exposes said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
222 words
A sheath for a needle, the needle having a hub and a solid tip with no orifice at a distal end thereof, at least one longitudinal bore which terminates proximal to said needle tip, at least one outlet orifice in communication with said bore for passage of all material into or out of said needle, wherein said outlet orifice is located at a lateral position spaced back from said solid tip by an amount sufficient to reduce the risk that an individual who contacts said tip of said needle will contact material retained in said at least one outlet orifice of said needle, the sheath comprising: a sheath body having a substantially circular shape for fitting over and engaging the hub of the needle, the sheath body being rotatable about the needle so that the sheath body can be aligned with the needle orifice to cover and expose the needle orifice; wherein said sheath body is formed so as to be operable from a location remote from the needle tip and the needle orifice for selectively exposing and blocking the needle orifice with the sheath; and the sheath has a longer edge portion which blocks said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice and a shorter edge portion which exposes said orifice when rotated to be aligned with said orifice.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-25 | 1999-06-26 | 1999-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-25 | 2003-06-26 | 2003-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-12-25 | 2007-06-26 | 2007-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |