Automatic needle guard

Abstract

A device for selectively protecting a needle includes an adapter holding the needle and a guard engaging the adapter for relative movement therebetween. Further, the device includes a means for guiding movement between the adapter and the guard. Structurally, the guiding means includes a “V” shaped slot in the guard and a radially-extending boss on the adapter. The boss is received in the slot to limit relative movement between the guard and the adapter. Specifically, in a first position of the device, the boss is in a first leg of the slot and the needle partially extends beyond the guard. In a second position, the boss is held at the apex of the slot and the needle fully extends beyond the guard. In a third position, the boss is in the second leg of the slot and the needle is retracted into the guard to protect the needle.

what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device comprising:
 (a) a body, the body having a distal end and a proximal end;   (b) a needle, the needle having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the needle is coupled with the body;   (c) a guard having a distal end and a proximal end, the guard defining a chamber, wherein the guard is configured to translate axially relative to the body; and   (d) a removable shield having a first shield position and a second shield position, wherein the removable shield, in the first shield position, covers the distal end of the needle and prevents the guard from translating relative to the body.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , the device further comprising a spring positioned between the guard and the body. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the guard is movable from a first guard position, wherein at least a portion of the needle extends through an orifice defined by the distal end of the guard, to a second guard position, wherein the distal end of the needle more fully extends through the orifice relative to the first guard position, to a third guard position, wherein the distal end of the needle is substantially retained within the chamber defined by the guard. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , further comprising a lock that substantially prevents axial movement of the guard relative to the body in the third guard position. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable shield includes at least one radially-extending rib positioned within the chamber defined by the guard. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable shield includes a first rib and a second rib, the first rib opposing the second rib, wherein the first rib and the second rib are positioned within the chamber defined by the guard. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein an orifice defined by the distal end of the guard includes a first slot and a second slot sized to accept the first rib and the second rib respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second shield position comprises removing the removable shield such that the distal end of the needle is exposed and the guard is allowed to move axially relative to the body. 
     
     
         9 . A medical device comprising:
 (a) a body, the body having a distal end and a proximal end;   (b) a needle, the needle having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the needle is coupled with the body;   (c) a guard having a cylindrical wall, a distal end, and a proximal end, the cylindrical wall defining a chamber, wherein at least a portion of the body is positioned within the chamber and the guard is selectively movable relative to the body; and   (d) a removable shield, wherein at least a portion of the removable shield is positioned within the chamber defined by the guard such that the removable shield in the chamber substantially limits axial movement of the guard relative to the body.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a spring positioned between the guard and the body. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the guard is movable from a first guard position, wherein at least a portion of the needle extends through an orifice defined by the distal end of the guard, to a second guard position, wherein the distal end of the needle more fully extends through the orifice relative to the first guard position, to a third guard position, wherein the distal end of the needle is substantially retained within the chamber defined by the guard. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a lock that substantially prevents axial movement of the guard relative to the body in the third guard position. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the removable shield includes at least one radially-extending rib positioned within the chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the removable shield includes a first rib and a second rib, the first rib opposing the second rib, wherein the first rib and the second rib are positioned within the chamber defined by the guard when the shield is in a first shield position. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the second shield position comprises removing the removable shield such that the distal end of the needle is exposed and the guard is allowed to move axially relative to the body. 
     
     
         16 . A medical device comprising:
 (a) a body having a distal end and a proximal end;   (b) a needle, the needle having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the needle is coupled with the body;   (c) a guard having a cylindrical wall, a distal end, and a proximal end, the cylindrical wall defining a chamber, wherein at least a portion of the body is positioned within the chamber and the guard is selectively movable relative to the body between a first guard position, a second guard position, and a third guard position; and   (d) a removable shield, having a first shield position and a second shield position, wherein in the first shield position the removable shield covers the distal end of the needle and at least a portion of the removable shield is positioned within the chamber defined by the guard such that the removable shield substantially limits axial movement of the guard relative to the body, and in the second shield position the removable shield is removed such that the distal end of the needle is exposed and the guard is axially movable relative to the body.   
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the first guard position comprises at least a portion of the needle extending through an orifice defined by the distal end of the guard, the second guard position comprises the distal end of the needle extending more fully through the orifice relative to the first guard position, and the third guard position comprises substantially retaining the distal end of the needle within the chamber defined by the guard. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 16 , further comprising a lock that substantially prevents axial movement of the guard relative to the body in the third guard position. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the removable shield includes at least one radially-extending rib positioned within the chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 16 , wherein the removable shield includes a first rib and a second rib, the first rib opposing the second rib, wherein the first rib and the second rib are positioned within the chamber defined by the guard when the shield is in the first shield position.