Safety needle device

Abstract

A safety needle device is disclosed having a housing configured to couple to a syringe, the housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a housing body. A first guide path, a second guide path and a third guide path may be disposed on the housing body. A needle hub is disposed on the proximal end of the housing and a needle cannula is attached to the needle hub. The device having a retractable sheath configured to move between an initial position, a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the housing, wherein the initial position partially exposes a distal tip of the needle cannula, the retracted position fully exposes the needle cannula, and the extended position fully covers the distal tip of the needle cannula. The retractable sheath also may have a guide element. The first, second and third guide paths are configured to slidingly receive the guide element. The device also having a first locking member, a second locking member, a rotating cam disposed in the housing body, and a spring element to bias the retractable sheath to an extended state to cover the distal end of the needle cannula upon completion of an injection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety needle device, comprising:
 a housing configured to couple to a syringe, the housing having a proximal end, a distal end, and a housing body;   a first guide path, a second guide path and a third guide path disposed on the housing body, the second guide path intersecting the first guide path and the third guide path, the first guide path and the third guide path parallel to a central axis which extends along the housing;   a needle hub disposed on the proximal end of the housing;   a needle cannula attached to the needle hub;   a retractable sheath having a rotating cam configured to move between an initial position wherein the initial position partially exposes a distal tip of the needle cannula, a retracted position wherein the retracted position fully exposes the needle cannula and an extended position with respect to the housing wherein the extended position fully covers the distal tip of the needle cannula,   the first guide path and the second guide path disposed on the housing body configured to receive the rotating can, wherein the retractable sheath rotates with respect to the housing during movement from the initial position to the retracted position;   a first locking element comprising a tab on a distal end of the retractable sheath and a locking rib on the housing,   a second locking element;   the rotating cam disposed in the housing body; and   a spring element;   wherein movement of the retractable sheath from the initial position to the retracted position engages the locking rib of the housing to the tab on the distal end of the retractable sheath, thereby preventing further rotation of the rotating cam and thus preventing the guide member from returning to the first guide path;   wherein movement of the retractable sheath from the retracted position to the extended position engages the second locking element to a distal tip of the needle cannula, wherein the second locking element inhibits reuse of the safety needle device by inhibiting translation of the retractable sheath.   
     
     
         2 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating cam is a peg. 
     
     
         3 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking element is passively activated. 
     
     
         4 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein rotation of the retractable sheath from the initial position to the retracted position transfers the rotating cam of the retractable sheath from the first guide path on the housing to the third guide path on the housing via the second guide path. 
     
     
         5 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein the second locking element is passively activated. 
     
     
         6 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking element inhibits reuse of the safety needle device by inhibiting rotation of the retractable sheath. 
     
     
         7 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring element biases the retractable sheath toward the extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable sheath translates from the initial position to the retracted position without impediment. 
     
     
         9 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein the needle cannula is obscured from view when the retractable sheath is in the extended position. 
     
     
         10 . The safety needle device of  claim 1 , wherein the spring element is a coil spring. 
     
     
         11 . The safety needle device of  claim 1  further comprising a metal latch disposed on the retractable sheath. 
     
     
         12 . The safety needle device of  claim 1  further comprising a cap removably coupled to the housing.