The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 06, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 08, 1996
Richard A Overton, Santa Ana, CA (US);
Charles W Dickerson, Tustin, CA (US);
Ronald B Luther, Newport Beach, CA (US);
Luther Medical Products, Inc., Tustin, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus which is useable to blunt the sharpened distal tip of a hypodermic needle, said apparatus comprising an elongate blunting member which is axially disposable within the lumen of the needle, and which is axially advanceable from a 'non-blunting' position within the lumen to a 'blunting' position wherein the blunt distal tip of the blunting apparatus protrudes out of the distal end of the needle. A positioning member may be formed on the proximal end of the blunting apparatus, said positioning member being engageable with the needle to alternately hold the blunting member in either its 'non-blunting' position or its 'blunting' position. One such positioning member comprises a generally cylindrical body having a series of elastomeric engagement fins formed thereon such that, when advanced into the hollow bore of the needle hub, the engagement fins will be proximally deflected and frictionally engaged thereby. Such proximal deflection and frictional engagement of the engagement fins deters proximal extraction of the blunting member, but allows the blunting member to be further advanced in the distal direction.