Processes for utilizing safety syringe assemblies

Abstract

The processes for inserting fluid under the skin of a patient using a safety syringe assembly include initially locating an up-alignment marker. The marker is aligned with a bevel in the needle of the safety syringe assembly so the orientation of the needle bevel is always known by the medical professional, even when the needle bevel cannot be seen. The needle is inserted bevel up prior to insertion. Once inserted, the medical professional inverts the safety syringe assembly so that the bevel is down. This is done by merely flicking the wrist of the hand holding the safety syringe assembly. This prevents splash back of any body fluids from the patient to the medical professional. The same safety syringe assembly and the same process are used for withdrawing fluids from the body of the patient.

Claims

1. A method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing, said method comprising: initially locating a first alignment marking on a safety syringe assembly, said safety syringe assembly including a needle hub securely retaining a needle, said needle having a needle bevel; using said first alignment marking to position said needle for insertion under said skin of said patient with said needle bevel pointed upward; inserting said needle bevel under said skin of said patient; subsequently rotating said safety syringe assembly after said needle bevel has been inserted under said skin of said patient to a bevel pointed downward position; and inserting said fluid through said needle into said patient, said first alignment marking providing identification of orientation of said needle bevel while said needle bevel is under said skin of said patient and cannot be seen.

2. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 1, wherein said [method is used in allergy testing and said first alignment marking is color coded indicating said needle bevel is pointed upward] safety syringe assembly includes a safety cover, a portion of said safety cover being made of a clear material so that light can pass therethrough, said portion including magnification such that a dosage calibration scale, said needle bevel, and air bubbles are viewable.

3. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 1, wherein said first alignment marking facilitating positioning of an injection angle for insertion of said needle bevel under said skin of said patient.

4. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 1, wherein said first alignment marking facilitates positioning depth of said needle bevel under said skin of said patient.

5. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 1, wherein insertion of said fluid occurs in said bevel pointed downward position under said skin of said patient such that a back splash is retained under said skin of said patient.

6. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 1, further comprising said needle hub being disposed within a needle hub assembly that is securely positionable within a safety cover in a shipping position prior to needle insertion, said needle hub assembly being securely positionable within said safety cover during needle insertion, said needle hub assembly being securely positionable within said safety cover in a disposal position after said needle has been used.

7. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 1, further comprising said needle hub being a needle hub assembly including a hub flex unit having a first diameter in a shipping position, a second diameter in an insertion position, and a third diameter in a disposal position.

8. A method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing, said method comprising: providing a safety syringe assembly having a safety cover and a needle hub, a needle being mountable on said needle hub, said needle having a needle bevel, said needle hub being securely disposed within said safety cover; and providing a first alignment marking on said safety syringe assembly, said first alignment marking indicating orientation of said needle bevel for insertion of said needle into said skin of said patient with said needle bevel pointed upward, said first alignment marking indicating orientation of said needle bevel for subsequent rotation of said needle bevel such that said fluid can be inserted through said needle in a bevel pointed downward position after insertion such that a splash back from said safety syringe assembly remains under said skin of said patient, said first alignment marking indicating orientation of said needle bevel while said needle bevel is under said skin of said patient and cannot be seen.

9. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 8, wherein said first alignment marking facilitating positioning of an injection angle for insertion of said needle bevel under said skin of said patient.

10. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 8, wherein said first alignment marking facilitates positioning depth of said needle under said skin of said patient.

11. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 8, wherein said first alignment marking is color coded having a first color for a needle bevel upward position and a second color indicating said needle bevel is in a pointed downward position.

12. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 8, further comprising said needle hub being disposed within a needle hub assembly that is securely positionable within a safety cover in a shipping position prior to needle insertion, said needle hub assembly being securely positionable within said safety cover during needle insertion, said needle hub assembly being securely positionable within said safety cover in a disposal position after said needle has been used.

13. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 8, further comprising said needle hub being a needle hub assembly including a hub flex unit having a first diameter in a shipping position, a second diameter in an insertion position, and a third diameter in a disposal position.

14. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 1, wherein said safety syringe assembly includes a safety cover, a portion of said safety cover being made of a clear material so that light can pass therethrough, said portion including magnification such that a dosage calibration scale, said needle bevel, and air bubbles are viewable.

15. The method for inserting fluid under skin of a patient providing one-handed operation for allergy testing of claim 8, wherein said safety syringe assembly includes a safety cover, a portion of said safety cover being made of a clear material so that light can pass therethrough, said portion including magnification such that a dosage calibration scale, said needle bevel, and air bubbles are viewable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A depicts a side elevational view of a first preferred embodiment of a safety syringe assembly for use in processes for utilizing the safety syringe assemblies of the present invention, with a needle hub assembly in a shipping position; FIG. 1B depicts a side elevational view of the safety syringe assembly of FIG. 1A, with a needle hub assembly in an insertion position for inserting the needle into the skin of the patient; and FIG. 1C depicts a side elevational view of the safety syringe assembly of FIG. 1A, with a needle hub assembly, the safety syringe assembly having been used and being in a disposal position.

(2) FIGS. 2A and 2B depict side views of the first preferred embodiment of the process for using a safety syringe assembly of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, FIG. 2A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 2B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and injecting fluid into the body of the patient.

(3) FIGS. 3A and 3B depict side views of a first preferred embodiment of the process for using a safety syringe assembly of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, FIG. 3A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 3B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and withdrawing bodily fluid from the patient.

(4) FIGS. 4A and 4B depict side views of a second preferred embodiment of the process for using a safety syringe assembly of the present invention, FIG. 4A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 4B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and injecting fluid into the body of the patient.

(5) FIGS. 5A and 5B depict side views of the second preferred embodiment of the process for using a safety syringe assembly of the present invention, FIG. 5A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 5B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and withdrawing bodily fluid from the patient.

(6) FIG. 6 depicts a side elevational view of the safety cover for use in the safety syringe assembly of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, the safety cover including two halves joined by a breakaway cap.

(7) FIG. 7A depicts a front view and FIG. 7B depicts a rear view of the third preferred embodiment of the needle hub assembly of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, including the needle, a needle hub, and a needle flex unit.

(8) FIG. 8A depicts a cross sectional view through the safety cover and the needle and needle hub. This shows the up-alignment marker (e.g.=a red stripe), on the left, the needle bevel is up toward the up-alignment marker and the down-alignment marker (e.g.a green stripe) is on the right. Also depicted is the needle hub indexing flat toward the magnifier. This design ensures that the needle is always pointed upward toward the up-alignment marker, is always 90 degrees from the needle hub flat and that the needle, the needle bevel, the needle hub are always indexed, with respect to the safety cover, enabling the needle bevel to be toward the up-alignment marker, when viewed through the magnifier or provides the user knowledge of the orientation of the needle bevel relative to the safety cover.

(9) FIG. 8B depicts a cross sectional view through the safety cover, the needle, the needle hub and the syringe of the safety syringe assembly of FIG. 8A. The end of the syringe attaches to the needle hub, with the raised bump ring on the end of the syringe. This shows how the safety syringe assemblies used with the methods of the present invention are compatible with existing syringe designs.

(10) FIG. 9 depicts the hub flex unit of the safety syringe assemble of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, highlighting the hub flex unit having three distinct positionsthe shipping position, the insertion position, and the disposal position.

(11) FIG. 10 depicts a half-section of the needle hub assembly taken from FIG. 7A.

(12) FIG. 11 depicts the needle hub assembly of FIGS. 7A and 7B positioned in one half of the safety cover for use in the safety syringe assembly of FIG. 6, the safety cover including two halves joined by the breakaway cap.

(13) FIG. 12 depicts the beveled needle and needle hub assembly placed into half of the safety cover of FIG. 6, the needle and needle hub assembly, in the first position with the syringe attached to the needle hub assembly.

(14) FIG. 13 depicts the safety cover assembly of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C and a syringe in a position that enables for filling of the device from the vial of medical fluid. The safety cover magnifies the volume scale to ensure that the proper amount of fluid is drawn.

(15) FIG. 14A depicts a front view and FIG. 14B depicts a rear view of another preferred embodiment of the needle hub assembly of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, including the needle, a needle hub, and a needle flex unit. Detail A is an exploded view showing needle orientation and alignment.

(16) FIG. 15 depicts still another preferred embodiment of the safety cover for use with the safety syringe assembly with a lock lever to enable unobstructed movement of the needle hub assembly from the insertion position to the disposal position. Detail B is an exploded view of the lock lever.

(17) FIG. 16 depicts yet still another preferred embodiment of the safety cover for use with the a safety syringe assembly including a lock lever to enable unobstructed movement of the needle hub assembly from the insertion position to the disposal position along with a Detail C of the lock lever.

(18) FIG. 17A depicts a side view of still yet another preferred embodiment of a safety syringe assembly for use in the processes of the present invention, with push locking pads and an indexing flat; and FIG. 17B depicts a front elevational view of the safety syringe assembly of FIG. 17A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(19) Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C each depict side elevational views of a third preferred embodiment of a safety syringe assembly for use with the methods of the present invention [10].

(20) FIGS. 1A and 1B depict side views of a first preferred embodiment of the safety syringe assembly [10] for use in the processes of the present invention, FIG. 1A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 1B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and injecting fluid into the body of the patient.

(21) The safety syringe assembly for use with the processes of the present invention [10] preferably comprises a needle hub assembly [70] and a safety cover [30].

(22) FIG. 1A depicts the safety cover [30] housing the needle hub assembly [70] in a first position for shipping. FIG. 1B depicts the safety cover [30] housing the needle hub assembly [70] in a second position for insertion of the needle [16] into the skin of the patient. FIG. 1C depicts the safety cover [30] housing the needle hub assembly [70] in a third position, the safety syringe assembly [10] having been used and awaiting disposal.

(23) The needle hub assembly [70] includes a hub flex unit [74] mounted upon a needle hub [76], and the needle hub [76] for retaining the needle [16] securely mounted therewithin. The hub flex unit [74] includes a flex arm [77] and a flat [78]. The flex arm [77] prevents the needle hub assembly [70] from sliding within the safety cover [30] during shipping. The flat [78] prevents the needle hub assembly [70] from rotating within the safety cover [30] during shipping.

(24) The needle hub assembly [70] is preferably color coded at the factory, for either a long injection needle (for example, blue) or a shorter needle for testing (for example, white). This ensures that the proper needle length is used for either injection or testing. The current needles used in the industry color code the cap. The cap is a separate piece which can be switched. If the color-coded caps are switched, a longer injection needle may be used for testing and a shorter testing needle may be used for injections. Using the incorrect needle length can give false allergy test results or not enable the allergy fluid to be injected to the proper depth under the skin.

(25) In addition, the safety cover [30] preferably uses visual indicators or alignment markers [33 and 34], such as colored stripes (for example, a green and a red stripe on the safety cover [30]) to indicate the orientation of the needle bevel [18]. In this example, red shows bevel [18] up for insertion under the skin and the green shows the needle bevel [18] down for dispensing of the fluid under the skin.

(26) The safety cover [30] is preferably made of clear material enabling light to enter the safety cover [30] providing for a clear view of the needle bevel [18] orientation, the needle length, as well as enabling light into the safety cover [30] for the reading of the syringe volume scale [46], through the lens, during the process of filling the syringe [45] from the vial of allergy fluid.

(27) The safety cover [30] preferably protects either a short needle [16] for testing or a longer needle [16] for injections. The safety cover [30] includes a window [39].

(28) The safety syringe assembly for use with the processes of the present invention [10] enables one-handed operation by the medical technician or user.

(29) The safety cover [30] and needle hub assembly [70] for use with the processes of the present invention are both indexed to the needle bevel ensuring that during either testing or injection, the needle [16] is bevel up [18a] for insertion and bevel down [18b] for dispensing. The current needle used in the allergy industry is not indexed to the needle bevel. This enables the needle bevel to be inserted in any orientation and dispensed in any orientation. This current product is deficient in that it does not enable the proper circular bubble to be created under the skin for testing (enabling false positives or no positive at all) and can cause the fluid to be sprayed back onto the medical technician or user during injection.

(30) The safety cover [30] has now moved past the original position with the needle hub pads locked into recesses into this safe (disposal) pocket of the safety cover [30]. Once in this position, the needle [16], needle hub [76], safety cover [30] and syringe [45] can be disposed of together or the needle [16], needle hub [76] and safety cover [30] can be removed from the syringe [45] and disposed of separately.

(31) FIGS. 2A and 2B depict side views of a second preferred embodiment of the process for using a safety syringe assembly of the present invention, FIG. 2A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 2B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and injecting fluid into the body of the patient.

(32) FIGS. 3A and 3B depict side views of the first preferred embodiment of the process for using a safety syringe assembly of the present invention, FIG. 3A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 3B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and withdrawing bodily fluid from the patient.

(33) FIGS. 4A and 4B depict side views of the second preferred embodiment of the process for using a safety syringe assembly of the present invention, FIG. 4A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 4B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and withdrawing bodily fluid from the patient.

(34) FIGS. 5A and 5B depict side views of the second preferred embodiment of the process for using a safety syringe assembly of the present invention, FIG. 5A being the safety syringe assembly prior to insertion under the skin of the patient, and FIG. 5B being the safety syringe assembly after insertion under the skin of the patient and withdrawing bodily fluid from the patient.

(35) The processes of the present invention for inserting fluid under the skin of a patient using a safety syringe assembly include initially locating a syringe orientation member, such as a red color, on the syringe. The opposite side of the safety cover may have a green color. In this example, red indicates that the needle bevel is up [18a] and ready for insertion under the skin of the patient [66] and the green indicates that the needle bevel is down [18b] and ready for either dispensing of the fluid into the body of the patient or for withdrawing of bodily fluid from the body of the patient. The up alignment marker [33] is aligned with a bevel in the needle [16] of the safety syringe assembly [10] so the orientation of the needle bevel is always known by the medical professional using the safety syringe assembly [10], even when the needle bevel itself is under the skin of the patient [66] and cannot be seen.

(36) The needle [16] is inserted bevel up [18a]. Once inserted, the medical professional inverts the safety syringe assembly [10] so that the bevel is down [18b]. This is done by merely flicking the wrist of the hand holding the safety syringe assembly [10] and prevents splash back of any bodily fluids from the patient to the medical professional.

(37) The same safety syringe assembly [10] and the same process can also be used for withdrawing fluids from the body of the patient [66]. One preferred embodiment of the safety syringe assembly [110] includes a first needle-injection member or indexing flat [62] to assist in determining how deep to insert the needle [16]. Also, included is a second needle-injection member or an indexing ramp [64] which is useful in determining the angle for inserting the needle [16].

(38) For example, the method of the present invention enables the needle for allergy testing fluid to be injected to a specific depth under the skin of a patient. The safety syringe assembly is guided by an indexing flat [62] projecting from the safety cover [30]. In one preferred embodiment the safety syringe assembly includes an orientation alignment marking so that the medical professional using the safety syringe assembly [10] always knows the position of the needle bevel, even when the needle bevel is under the skin of the patient [66]. The needle [16] is inserted under the skin of the patient with the needle bevel up [18a] to minimize patient discomfort. Once under the skin of the patient [66], the medical professional places the needle bevel down [18b] by rotation of the wrist holding the safety syringe assembly, preferably between an angle of 75 degrees and 285 degrees. This will minimize any splash back during the allergy testing process.

(39) In the first embodiment of the safety syringe assembly [10] depicted in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B for use with the processes hereof, the safety syringe assembly [10] preferably deploys colors are used to mark the needle bevel up position. One example is to mark the [18a] position red and the [18b] position green. Another embodiment tints the magnifier [44] a color, such as red.

(40) In the second embodiment of the safety syringe assembly [110] depicted in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B for use with the processes hereof, the safety cover [30] of the safety syringe assembly [110] includes an indexing ramp [64] and an indexing flat [62], each of which are disposed on opposing outer surfaces, preferably 180 degrees apart. Preferably, the alignment ramp is centered relative to the needle bevel. The indexing ramp [64] is used by the medical professional for calibrating needle depth and the indexing flat [62] is used for determining needle angle.

(41) FIG. 6 depicts a side elevational view of the safety cover [30] for use in the safety syringe assembly [10] of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. The safety cover [30] includes two halves joined by a breakaway cap [40]. The breakaway cap [40] is attached to both halves of the safety cover [30], holding them together and in position, relative to each other, until needle hub assembly [70] can be placed into the safety cover [30] and the breakaway cap [40] glued closed. Preferably, the two halves of the safety cover [30] are glued together. The adhesive is applied as recommended by the manufacturer taking care to avoid the hub assembly and the windows [39].

(42) Also depicted are the two openings for the needle hub pads assemblies, an initial position, as well as the locking recesses used to lock the needle hub assembly [70] into a disposal position.

(43) The assembly is closed, clamped and cured per manufacturer instructions. Packaging and sterilization protocols are then followed.

(44) FIG. 7A depicts a front view and FIG. 7B depicts a rear view of a first preferred embodiment of the needle hub assembly [70] of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, including the needle [16], a needle hub [76], and a needle flex unit [74]. The needle hub [76] includes locking pads and four spring members, two spring members for each pad, that are used to hold the needle [16] and needle hub [76] in an initial position or are used to lock the needle [16] and needle hub [76] in a locked position for disposal.

(45) FIG. 8A depicts a cross sectional view through the safety cover [30] and the needle [16] and needle hub [76]. This shows the red stripe, on the left, the needle is bevel up [18a] toward the red stripe and the green stripe on the right. Also depicted is the needle hub [76] indexing flat [78] toward the magnifier. This design insures that the needle [16] is always pointed upward toward the red stripe, is always 90 degrees from the needle hub flat [78] and that the needle [16], the needle bevel, the needle hub [76] are always indexed, with respect to the safety cover [30], enabling the needle bevel to be toward the red stripe, when viewed through the magnifier or gives the user knowledge of the position of the needle bevel position relative on the safety cover [30]. This shows the red stripe, on the left, the needle is bevel up [18a] toward the red stripe and the green stripe on the right. It also shows the needle hub indexing flat [78] toward the magnifier. This design ensures that the needle [16] is always pointed up toward the red stripe, is always 90 degrees from the needle hub flat [78] and that the needle [16], the needle bevel, the needle hub [76] are always indexed, with respect to the safety cover [30], enabling for the needle bevel to be toward the red stripe, when viewed through the magnifier or provides the medical professional knowledge of the position of the needle bevel relative to the red stripe on the safety cover [30].

(46) FIG. 8B depicts a cross-sectional view through the safety cover [30], the needle [16], the needle hub [76] and the syringe [45] of the safety syringe assembly [10] of FIG. 12A. The end of the syringe [45] attaches to the needle hub [76], with the raised bump ring on the end of the syringe [45]. This shows how the safety syringe assembly for use with the processes of the present invention [10] are compatible with existing syringe designs. FIG. 8B depicts how the end of the syringe [45] attaches to the needle hub assembly [70], with the raised bump ring on the end of the syringe [45]. This design enables the safety syringe assembly [10] to be compatible with an existing syringe design. This syringe design is made in the millions each year. Slight modifications to the needle hub [76] can be made enabling the safety syringe assembly [10] to be used with other standard medical syringes.

(47) FIG. 9 depicts the hub flex unit [74] of the safety syringe assembly [10] of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, highlighting the hub flex unit, the hub flex unit being in a first position during shipping, the hub flex unit being in a second position during insertion of the needle [16] into the skin of the patient [66], and the hub flex unit [74] being in a third position after the needle [16] has been inserted into the skin of the patient awaiting disposal.

(48) The safety syringe assembly [10] for use with the processes of the present invention [10] enables the medical professional to push one or two buttons on the needle hub [76], releasing the needle [16] and hub from an initial safety position. After the release, the syringe [45], protected needle [16] and safety cover [30] can be placed on the top of the vial of allergy fluid and be safely inserted into the vial for the extraction of the fluid into the syringe [45]. This protects the medical technician from the potential stick hazard of an exposed needle [16] during the process of extracting fluid from the vial.

(49) FIG. 10 depicts a half-section of the needle hub assembly [70] of FIG. 9A. The hub well, into which the cannula is inserted, has two functions. The hub well [86] helps to align the adhesive-dispensing tip with the cannula-to-hub bond joint and the hub well [86] helps to promote adhesive flow into the bond line.

(50) FIG. 11 depicts the needle hub assembly of FIGS. 7A and 7B positioned in one half of the safety cover [30] for use in the safety syringe assembly [10] of FIG. 6, the safety cover [30] including two halves joined together by the breakaway cap [40].

(51) The needle [16] and needle hub [76] are inserted into a half [36] of the safety cover without the magnifier [44]. Also, the needle [16] and needle hub [76] are depicted in their initial position. After the needle [16] and needle hub [76] are placed into this position, an adhesive can be placed on the edge of half of the safety cover [30] and the safety cover [30] is closed, creating the safety cover [30], needle [16] and needle hub assembly [70]. This safety syringe assembly [10] is now ready to have the syringe [45] inserted.

(52) FIG. 12 depicts the needle [16] and needle hub [76] placed into half of the safety cover [30] of FIG. 6, the needle [16] and needle hub [76], in the first position with the syringe [45] attached to the needle hub [76].

(53) The needle [16] and needle hub [76] are depicted into half of the safety cover [30], the needle [16] and needle hub [76] in the initial position, with the syringe [45] attached to the needle hub [76]. The syringe volume scale [46] need not be placed in this position because it can be rotated later, on the needle hub [76], so that the scale [46] is visible through the magnifier [44].

(54) To initiate operation, the syringe [45] is pushed firmly into the needle hub [76] taking care not to depress the flex arms [77].

(55) FIG. 13 depicts the safety cover [30] assembly of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C and a syringe [45] in position that enables filling of the device from the vial of medical fluid. The safety cover [30] magnifies the volume scale [46] to ensure that the proper amount of fluid is drawn.

(56) The safety cover [30] includes magnification to magnify the volume scale [46] on the syringe [45], for both a long and short needle, and magnifies a large portion of the volume scale [46]. Magnifying is particularly important when injecting low doses (0.01 to 0.30 ml) and permitting the practitioner, nurse, or user to detect air bubbles that can significantly alter the amount of allergen drawn into the syringe [45] and can also increase the risk of blood clots developing in the patient after injection. In addition, magnification can significantly affect the reproducibility of the skin test wheal (bleb) when comparing the saline negative control injection to the actual allergy injection. Proper intradermal allergy testing requires inserting the needle [16] under skin is bevel up [18a] and rotating the needle [16] 180 degrees and injecting the allergen is bevel down [18b] to prevent splash-back on the practitioner, nurse, or user if the needle bevel is not fully inserted and to have all of the allergy tests injected needle]16] is bevel down [18b] so every test is done the same way by all practitioners.

(57) For scale alignment, when the thumb stop [49] and the plunger [88] are aligned, the scale [46] appears in the magnifying window and the needle [16] is bevel up [18a].

(58) The safety cover magnifier [44] enlarges the volume scale [46] to ensure that the proper amount of fluid is either drawn or inserted through the syringe [45]. With the needles and syringes, used today, it is difficult to read the small graduations, on the syringe volume scale [46]. Without drawing in the proper amount of allergy fluid, false positives or false negatives are possible, during testing. For example, if the proper volume of allergy fluid is not being drawn into the syringe [45], allergy testing may be less affective.

(59) Also depicted is the needle hub indexing flat toward the magnifier. This embodiment ensures that the needle [16] is always pointed upward toward the up-alignment marker [33], is always 90 degrees from the needle hub flat and that the needle, the needle bevel, the needle hub are always indexed, with respect to the safety cover [30], enabling the needle bevel to be pointed toward the up-alignment marker [33], when viewed through the magnifier [44] or gives the user knowledge of the position of the needle bevel position relative on the safety cover.

(60) To perform a visual check, the needle [16] should be clearly visible in the magnifier [44] of the safety cover with the needle bevel [18] facing toward the red stripe.

(61) To initiate filling, the one or more flex arms [77] are pressed, and the safety cover [30] slides back on the syringe [45] to expose the needle [16]. Then, the safety syringe assembly [10] is filled to the desired level, as the safety cover [30] is unlocked into this position, as the syringe [45] is held and the plunger [88] is pulled to fill.

(62) To dispose after use, the plunger [88] is pulled back so that the needle hub assembly [70] is in the shipping position and the arms [77] are again depressed, continuing pulling until the needle hub assembly [70] snaps into the disposal pockets [32] and the syringe [45] pops off.

(63) The release points on the needle hub [76] are tapered such that after injection, the safety cover [30] can be moved into a locked position that insures that the needle [16] with allergy fluid, potential blood and bodily fluid will not expose the medical professional to any bio-hazards because the safety cover [30] will completely cover the needle [16].

(64) The safety cover [30], with the needle [16] and needle hub [76] in the locked position lock the safety cover [30], needle [16] and needle hub [76] together such that this bio-hazard can be properly disposed of, in a sharps container and the syringe [45] can be separated from the safety cover [30], needle [16] and needle hub [76] for recycling by placing the syringe [45] in a separate container.

(65) FIG. 14A depicts a front view and FIG. 14B depicts a rear view of a second preferred embodiment of the needle hub assembly [170] of the safety syringe assembly depicted in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, including the needle [16], a needle hub [76], and a needle flex unit [174]. The needle hub assembly [170] includes locking pads and four spring members, two spring members for each pad, that are used to hold the needle [16] and needle hub [76] in an initial position and are used to lock the needle [16] and needle hub [76] in a locked position for disposal.

(66) The needle, as depicted in FIGS. 14A and 14B and further shown in Detail A includes a longitudinal axis [17a], a vertical axis [17b], and a lateral axis [17c]. Preferably, the top of the needle bevel is aligned with the vertical axis [17b] as shown in DETAIL A when the needle bevel is pointed upward.

(67) Preferably, the needle is initially positioned horizontally with the bevel facing upward. In the real world, the medical professional using the syringe assembly will not be using a leveler and the needle will not be lying on a horizontal plane. Accordingly, the initial position will be horizontal with the bevel facing upward, 75 degrees about the vertical axis [17b].

(68) Once the needle is under the skin of the patient [66], the needle [16] is inverted from a bevel-up position [18a] to a bevel-down position [18b] to avoid splash-back or other contamination to the medical professional.

(69) FIG. 15 depicts still another embodiment of the safety syringe assembly [210] for use in the processes of the present invention. A lock lever [212] enables unobstructed movement of the needle hub [276] from the insertion position to the disposal position along with a Detail B depicting an exploded view of the lock lever [212]. The lock lever [212] ensures that the needle hub [276] will not become reengaged with the safety cover window [239] of the safety cover [230].

(70) FIG. 16 depicts yet another embodiment of a safety syringe assembly [310] for use in the processes of the present invention. A syringe [345] is secured to a needle hub [376] which securely retains a needle [16] having a needle bevel positioned upward [18a] prior to insertion. A lock lever [312] is depicted which enables movement of the needle hub [376] from the insertion position to the disposal position along with a Detail C of the lock lever [312]. The lock lever [312] ensures that the flex arm [77] of the needle hub [376] will not become reengaged with the window [339] of the safety cover [330].

(71) FIGS. 17A and 17B depict still yet another embodiment of a safety syringe assembly [410] for use in the processes of the present invention. A syringe [445] is secured to a needle hub [476] which retains a needle [16] having a needle bevel positioned upward [18a] prior to insertion. A pair of opposing push locking pads [412] and an indexing flat [462] positioned on the needle hub [476] between the pair of opposed locking pads [412].

(72) The pair push locking pads [412] are used when the needle hub [476] moves through the safety cover from the shipping position to the injection position or from the injection position to the disposal position.

(73) The teachings of the needle hub assemblies depicted in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and 14A and 14B may be used in the safety syringe assemblies depicted in FIGS. 15 and 16 along with only minor modifications to the safety cover [30]. Also, hub units that do not flex may also be used in FIGS. 15, 16, and 17.

(74) In addition, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that the safety cover [30] may also be deployed in a broad range of safety syringe assemblies.

(75) For shipping, the hub with flex arms [77] is positioned in the safety cover windows [39] with the needle [16] pointing toward the sharps guard and the needle bevel [18] toward the red stripe.

(76) The syringe [45] can be rotated to any position, but the needle bevel [18] will maintain its position.

(77) The safety syringe assembly [10] is snapped off and disposed of in recycling. The needle hub assembly [70] is locked into the dispose pocket [32] and cannot be dislodged easily. The needle [16] is contained and is disposed of in the sharps container while the syringe [45] is recycled.

(78) Throughout this application, various Patents and Applications are referenced by number and inventor. The disclosures of these documents in their entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification to more fully describe the state of the art to which this invention pertains.

(79) It is evident that many alternatives, modifications, and variations for processes for utilizing the safety syringe assemblies of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in lieu of the disclosure herein. It is intended that the metes and bounds of the present invention be determined by the appended claims rather than by the language of the above specification, and that all such alternatives, modifications, and variations which form a conjointly cooperative equivalent are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of these claims.

PARTS LIST

(80) 10. Safety Syringe Assembly1st Preferred Embodiment

(81) 16. Needle

(82) 17a. Needle Longitudinal Axis

(83) 17b. Needle Vertical Axis

(84) 17c. Needle Lateral Axis

(85) 18a. Needle Bevel (Up)

(86) 18b. Needle Bevel (Down)

(87) 30. Safety Cover

(88) 32. Disposal Pocket

(89) 33. Up Alignment Marker

(90) 34. Down Alignment Marker

(91) 36. Safety Cover First Portion

(92) 38. Safety Cover Second Portion

(93) 39. Safety Cover Window

(94) 40. Breakaway Cap

(95) 44. Magnifier

(96) 45. Syringe

(97) 46. Syringe Calibration Scale

(98) 49. Thumb Stop

(99) 62. Indexing Flat

(100) 64. Indexing Ramp

(101) 66. Skin of Patient

(102) 70. Needle Hub Assembly

(103) 74. Hub Flex Unit

(104) 76. Needle Hub

(105) 77. Hub Flex Arm

(106) 78. Hub Flat

(107) 82. Alignment Pins

(108) 84. Alignment Holes

(109) 86. Hub Well

(110) 88. Plunger

(111) 110. Safety Syringe Assembly2.sup.nd Preferred Embodiment

(112) 170. Needle Hub Assembly

(113) 174. Hub Flex Unit

(114) 210. Safety Syringe Assembly3.sup.rd Preferred Embodiment

(115) 212. Lock Lever

(116) 230. Safety Cover

(117) 239. Safety Cover Window

(118) 245. Syringe

(119) 270. Needle Hub Assembly

(120) 276. Needle Hub

(121) 310. Safety Syringe Assembly4.sup.th Preferred Embodiment

(122) 312. Lock Lever

(123) 329. Safety Cover Window

(124) 330. Safety Cover

(125) 345. Syringe

(126) 376. Needle Hub

(127) 410. Safety Syringe Assembly5.sup.th Preferred Embodiment

(128) 412. Locking Pad

(129) 445. Syringe

(130) 462. Indexing Flat

(131) 476. Needle Hub