Disposable self-shielding unit dose syringe guard

Abstract

An improved guard for a medical cartridge, such as a unit dose pre-filled glass syringe, comprising a body for receiving the cartridge, and a shield slidably attached to the body which are pre-assembled and ready to receive a cartridge therein. The body has a mechanism on a proximal end thereof which holds the cartridge therein. The body and shield have cooperating detents and detent pockets which allow the shield to be directed distally, from an unguarded position in which the needle on the cartridge is uncovered for delivery of medication, to a guarded position in which the needle is permanently covered for disposal. The body may also include a substantially rectangular-shaped finger grip on its proximal end for receiving a similarly shaped proximal flange on the cartridge, whereby the cartridge is received in a predetermined orientation.

1 . A guard for a syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising: 
 a body for receiving the syringe axially through an open proximal end of the body, and comprising an open distal end, the body comprising one or more lateral surfaces defining a recess for receiving the proximal end of the syringe therein, the one or more lateral surfaces comprising one or more slots for receiving at least a portion of the lip of the syringe therein for substantially permanently holding-the syringe to the body;    a shield slidably attached to the body, and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position; and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       2 . The guard of  claim 1 , further comprising a finger hold on the shield.  
   
   
       3 . A guard for a syringe having a needle associated therewith and the syringe having a lip on a proximal end thereof, the guard comprising: 
 a body for receiving a syringe axially through an open proximal end of the body, and having an open distal end through which a needle of a syringe may extend, the proximal end of the body having a wall enclosing a recess for receiving the proximal end of a syringe and lip thereof, the recess being provided with slots adapted to substantially permanently engage a lip on the proximal end of a syringe received in the recess;    a shield slidably attached to the body, and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarding and a guarding position, said shield being adapted to permit a needle-on a syringe to extend through the open distal end when the shield is in the unguarding position and to cover the shield in the guarding position; and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarding and guarding positions.    
   
   
       4 . A guard for a syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising: 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and comprising an open distal end;    one or more lateral surfaces on the proximal end of the body defining a recess for receiving the, proximal end of the syringe therein, the lateral surfaces comprising a mechanism for substantially permanently engaging the lip on the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity;    a shield slidably attached to the body, and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position; and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions, wherein the locking mechanism comprises locking detents in the lateral surfaces for engaging the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity, thereby substantially permanently locking the syringe in the body.    
   
   
       5 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the locking detents have tapered proximal edges and blunt distal edges for substantially permanently receiving the lip on the syringe thereunder.  
   
   
       6 . The guard of  claim 4 , wherein the locking detents define slots for receiving the lip therein, thereby preventing the syringe from being removed proximally from the body.  
   
   
       7 . A syringe comprising: 
 a syringe holding medication comprising proximal and distal ends, the syringe comprising a needle extending from the distal end and a lip on the proximal end;    a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and comprising an open distal end;    one or more lateral surfaces on the proximal end of the body defining a recess for receiving the proximal ends of the syringe therein, the lateral surfaces comprising a mechanism for engaging the lip to substantially permanently encapsulate the syringe in the body;    a shield slidably attached to the body, and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, thereby uncovering and covering, respectively, the needle on the syringe; and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the guarded and unguarded positions, wherein the mechanism comprises detents in the lateral surfaces for engaging the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity, thereby substantially permanently holding the syringe in the body.    
   
   
       8 . The guard of  claim 7 , wherein the detents have tapered proximal edges and blunt distal edges for substantially permanently receiving the lip on the syringe thereunder.  
   
   
       9 . The guard of  claim 7 , wherein the detents define slots for receiving the lip therein, thereby preventing the syringe from being removed proximally from the body.  
   
   
       10 . A guard for a syringe, the syringe comprising a proximal end and,a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising, 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and the body comprising an open distal end,    the proximal end of the body including a finger grip, a recess for receiving the proximal end of the syringe therein, and a wall completely encircling the proximal end through which the lip on the proximal end of the syringe can pass, the proximal end of the body substantially permanently engaging the lip on the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity of the body,    a shield slidably attached to the body and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position, and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       11 . The guard of  claim 10 , wherein the cooperating detents comprise one or more cooperating detents and detent pockets on the body and the shield, at least one of the cooperating detents and detent pockets releasably holding the shield in the unguarded position, and at least one of the cooperating detents and detent pockets comprising a blunt proximal region for substantially permanently locking the shield in the guarded position.  
   
   
       12 . The syringe of  claim 10 , further comprising a finger ledge on one of the body and the shield.  
   
   
       13 . A guard for a syringe, the syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising, 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and the body comprising an open distal end,    the proximal end of the body including a finger grip, a recess for receiving the proximal end of the syringe therein, and a wall completely surrounding the proximal end of the body through which the lip on the proximal end of the syringe can pass, the proximal end of the body substantially permanently engaging the lip on the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity of the body,    a shield slidably attached to the body and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position, and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       14 . A guard for a syringe, the syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising, 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and the body comprising an open distal end,    the proximal end of the body including a finger grip, a recess for receiving the proximal end of the syringe therein, and a wall completely encircling the proximal end of the body through which the lip on the proximal end of the syringe can pass, the proximal end of the body engaging the lip on the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity of the body to substantially permanently encapsulate the cartridge in the cavity, thereby restraining the cartridge from moving proximally from the cavity,    a shield slidably attached to the body and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position, and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       15 . A guard for a syringe, the syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising, 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and the body comprising an open distal end,    the proximal end of the body including a finger grip, a recess for receiving the proximal end of the syringe therein, and a wall completely encircling the proximal end of the body through which the lip on the proximal end of the syringe can pass, the proximal end of the body engaging the lip on the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity of the body to substantially permanently encapsulate the cartridge in the cavity, thereby restraining proximal movement of the cartridge from the cavity,    a shield slidably attached to the body and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position, and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       16 . A guard for a syringe, the syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising, 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and the body comprising an open distal end,    the proximal end of the body including a finger grip, a recess for receiving the proximal end of the syringe therein, and a wall surrounding the proximal end of the body through which the lip on the proximal end of the syringe can pass, the proximal end of the body engaging the lip on the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity of the body to substantially permanently encapsulate the cartridge in the cavity, thereby restraining the cartridge from moving proximally from the cavity,    a shield slidably attached to the body and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position, and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       17 . A guard for a syringe, the syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising, 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and the body comprising an open distal end,    the proximal end of the body including a-finger grip, a recess for receiving the proximal end of the syringe therein, and a wall completely surrounding the proximal end of the body through which the lip on the proximal end of the syringe can pass, the proximal end of the body engaging the lip on the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity of the body to substantially permanently encapsulate the cartridge in the cavity, thereby restraining the cartridge from moving proximally from the cavity,    a shield slidably attached to the body and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position, and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       18 . A guard for a syringe, the syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising, 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and the body comprising an open distal end,    the proximal end of the body including a finger grip, a recess for receiving the proximal end of the syringe therein, and a wall completely encircling the proximal end of the body through which the lip on the proximal end of the syringe can pass, the proximal end of the body engaging the lip on the proximal end of the syringe received in the cavity of the body to substantially permanently encapsulate the cartridge in the cavity to restrain proximal movement of the cartridge from the cavity,    a shield slidably attached to the body and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the unguarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position, and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       19 . A guard for a syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising: 
 a substantially rigid body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and comprising an open distal end;    one or more lateral surfaces on the proximal end of the, body forming a continuous wall for receiving the proximal end of the syringe, and one or more detents extending from the one or more lateral surfaces for engaging the lip to substantially permanently encapsulate the syringe in the body;    a shield slidably attached to the body, and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, thereby uncovering and covering, respectively, the needle on the syringe, and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       20 . The guard of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more detents extend from the one or more lateral surfaces into the recess to capture the lip of the syringe thereunder when the syringe is received within the cavity.  
   
   
       21 . The guard of  claim 19 , wherein the detents have tapered proximal edges and blunt distal edges for substantially permanently receiving the lip on the syringe thereunder.  
   
   
       22 . The guard of  claim 19 , wherein the cooperating detents comprise one or more cooperating detents and detent pockets on the body and the shield, at least one of the cooperating detents and detent pockets releasably holding the shield in the unguarded position, and at least one of the cooperating detents and detent pockets comprising a blunt proximal region for substantially permanently locking the shield in the guarded position.  
   
   
       23 . A guard for a syringe comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a lip on the proximal end, and a needle extending from the distal end, the guard comprising: 
 a body comprising a cavity for receiving the syringe axially therein through an open proximal end of the body, and comprising an open distal end, the proximal end of the body having a wall encircling a recess and a plurality of slots for receiving a portion of the lip of the syringe therein for substantially permanently retaining the syringe to the body;    a shield slidably attached to the body, and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarded and a guarded position, the needle on the syringe extending through the open distal end in the guarded position and being covered by the shield in the guarded position; and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarded and guarded positions.    
   
   
       24 . The guard of  claim 23 , wherein the proximal end of the body comprises locking detents defining the slots.  
   
   
       25 . A guard for a syringe having a needle associated therewith, the guard comprising: 
 a body for receiving a syringe axially through an open proximal end of the body, and having an open distal end, the proximal end of the body having a wall for substantially encircling a recess for receiving the proximal end of a syringe therein, the proximal end of the body substantially permanently engaging a lip on the proximal end of a syringe received in the recess to substantially permanently encapsulate the cartridge in the cavity to restrain proximal movement of the cartridge from the cavity;    a shield slidably attached to the body, and having open proximal and distal ends, the shield being slidable between an unguarding and a guarding position, said shield being adapted to permit a needle on a syringe to extend through the open distal end when the shield is in the unguarding position and to cover the shield in the guarding position; and    cooperating detents on the shield and body for holding the shield in the unguarding and guarding positions.    
   
   
       26 . The guard of  claim 25 , wherein the proximal end of the body has detents for engaging the proximal end of a syringe received in the recess, the detents having tapered proximal edges and blunt distal edges for substantially permanently receiving a lip on a syringe thereunder.  
   
   
       27 . The guard of  claim 26 , wherein the detents define slots for receiving at least a portion of the lip therein, thereby substantially preventing a syringe from being removed proximally from the body.  
   
   
       28 . The guard-of  claim 25 , further comprising a finger ledge on at least one of the body and the shield.  
   
   
       29 . The guard of  claim 28 , wherein the finger ledge comprises a finger hold on the shield.  
   
   
       30 . The guard of  claim 25 , wherein the body has a round cross-section.