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:
Apr. 30, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 30, 1999
Christophe Van Landuyt, London, GB;
Smiths Industries public limited company, London, GB;
Abstract
A needle protector assembly for protecting a needle tip after it has been withdrawn from a catheter has a protective housing into which the needle is slid. A device at the patient end of the housing has two locking arms sprung outwardly away from one another, which engage projections on the hub of the catheter. A shutter plate and finger project inwardly from the locking arms and each has a catch that engages one another. The finger is sprung rearwardly away from the shutter plate but is held forwardly by a trigger lever engaging the side of the needle. When the needle is withdrawn into the housing, the trigger lever springs down allowing the finger to move rearwardly away from the shutter plate, thereby disengaging the catches. This allows the locking arms to spring outwardly and disengage the catheter hub, so that the assembly can be removed from the catheter.