Safety device for a syringe

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety device for a syringe for avoiding stab wounds, said syringe having a syringe body and a piercing means arranged on the distal end of the syringe body. The safety device comprises a sleeve element that extends along an axial direction (X) and encloses at least partly the piercing means and the syringe body, and a collar element that can be arranged on a distal end region of the syringe body and locks the safety device in the axial direction (X), said collar element having at least one guide projection which engages at least one guide track of the sleeve element. The safety device is further characterized by having a cap element that can be arranged at least in sections on top of the sleeve element and by means of which the sleeve element can be locked with respect to the movement of the syringe body relative to the sleeve element.

Claims

1. A safety device for avoiding stab wounds for a syringe having a syringe body and a piercing means arranged at the distal end of the syringe body, said safety device comprising a sleeve element, which extends along an axial direction (X) and at least partially encloses the piercing means and the syringe body, and a collar element, which can be arranged on a distal end region of the syringe body and locks the safety device in the axial direction (X), the collar element comprising at least one guide projection, which engages in at least one guide track of the sleeve element, wherein: the collar element is arranged on the distal end region of the syringe body so as to be rotatable in a circumferential direction (U) of the syringe body, wherein a movement of the syringe body along an axial direction (X) relative to the sleeve element and the guidance of the guide projection cause the collar element to rotate along the circumferential direction (U), wherein the safety device comprises a cap element that can be removably arranged over the sleeve element at least in portions, the cap element comprising a piercing means protective device, in which the piercing means can be arranged and which is arranged inside the sleeve element, wherein the piercing means protective device can be brought into operative contact with the collar element, wherein through said operative contact the collar element can be locked with respect to said rotation, wherein said lock of the collar element with respect to the rotation causes a lock of said movement of the syringe body relative to the sleeve element.

2. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the collar element is substantially formed as a hollow circular cylinder, the circular cylinder comprising a lateral surface, on which the at least one guide projection is arranged.

3. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the sleeve element comprises a distal opening, having an internal diameter larger than an external diameter of the piercing means protective device at least in portions, such that the piercing means protective device can be arranged inside the sleeve element.

4. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the cap element and the sleeve element comprise complementary latching elements so that the cap element and the sleeve element can be latched together in a separable manner.

5. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the cap element comprises at least one wing-like element which can be received in at least one receptacle of the sleeve element.

6. The safety device according to claim 5, wherein: at least one wing-like element can be brought into operative contact with the collar element, as a result of which the collar element can be locked with respect to a rotation.

7. The safety device according to claim 5, wherein: at least one latching element is arranged on the at least one wing-like element of the cap element, which latching element can be latched into at least one complementary latching element that is arranged in the at least one receptacle of the sleeve element.

8. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the sleeve element comprises a distal region on which at least one latching element is arranged, it being possible for the at least one latching element to be latched into at least one complementary latching element that is arranged in a distal region of the cap element.

9. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the cap element is formed integrally with the piercing means protective device.

10. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the cap element comprises a distal opening, the distal opening being formed as a receptacle, in order to receive the piercing means protective device.

11. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the safety device comprises at least one spring element, which is operatively connected to the syringe body and counteracts the movement of the sleeve element relative to the safety device.

12. The safety device according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one guide track comprises a first and a second track region, which are separated from one another by a fictive separating line extending along the axial direction (X) of the syringe body, it being possible for the guide projection to be arranged in a starting position in the first track region and to be moved from the first track region into an end position in the second track region by passing the separating line when a distal end of the piercing means is arranged at the level of the distal opening of the sleeve element as the syringe body is moved relative to the sleeve element.

13. The safety device according to claim 12, wherein: the at least one guide projection can be moved, by means of a track of the second track region, from the second track region into an end region in which a movement of the sleeve element relative to the syringe body is at least limited, substantially in the axial direction (X).

Description

(1) Other advantages, aims and properties of the present invention are explained with reference to the following description of the attached drawings. Similar components can have the same reference signs in the various embodiments.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a syringe comprising a safety device according to an embodiment;

(4) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a syringe comprising a safety device according to a further embodiment;

(5) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a syringe comprising a safety device according to a further embodiment;

(6) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a syringe comprising a safety device according to a further embodiment;

(7) FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a sleeve element according to a further embodiment;

(8) FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a sleeve element according to a further embodiment;

(9) FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a cap element according to a further embodiment;

(10) FIG. 8 is a side view of a safety device arranged on a syringe body.

(11) FIGS. 1 to 4 show a syringe (2) comprising a safety device (1) for avoiding stab wounds according to various embodiments. The syringe (2) comprises a syringe body (3) designed as a hollow circular cylinder. The syringe body has a distal end region (8) comprising a distal end (4). Arranged at the distal end (4) is a piercing means (5). This piercing means (5) is connected via a hole in the distal end region (8) to the cavity of the syringe body (3), so that the medium to be injected during application of the syringe (2) can emerge from the cavity through the piercing means (5). The distal end region (8) is designed as a conical end piece which has a smaller external diameter than the syringe body (3). The syringe also has a transition region (29) in which the external diameter of the syringe body merges into the external diameter of the end piece. Moreover, a projection (28) is arranged at the distal end region.

(12) Furthermore, a safety device (1) for avoiding stab wounds for a syringe (2) is shown, which syringe comprises a syringe body (3) and a piercing means (5) arranged at the distal end (4) of the syringe body (3). The safety device (1) comprises a sleeve element (6), which extends along an axial direction (X) and at least partially encloses the piercing means (5) and the syringe body (3), and a collar element (7), which is arranged on a distal end region (8) of the syringe body (3) and locks the safety device (1) in the axial direction (X). The safety device (1) further comprises a cap element (11) that can be arranged over the sleeve element (6) at least in portions, and by means of which the sleeve element (6) can be locked with respect to the movement of the syringe body (3) relative to the sleeve element (6). In this case, the sleeve element (6) and the cap element (11) are substantially cylindrical. The sleeve element (6) is shown again, in greater detail, in FIGS. 5 and 6 in an isometric view. FIG. 8 is a side view of the sleeve element (6), arranged on the syringe body (3). The cap element (11) is shown in detail in an isometric view in FIG. 7.

(13) The locking in the axial direction is made possible by a projection (28) or a thicker portion at the distal end (4) of the syringe body, on which projection or thicker portion the distal end of the collar element (7) rests.

(14) The collar element (7) is substantially formed as a hollow circular cylinder (12). The circular cylinder (12) comprises a lateral surface (12a), on which two guide projections (9) are arranged. The guide projections (9) extend radially outwards from the lateral surface (12a), and are diametrically opposed to one another. Furthermore, said guide projections are formed as circular cylinders or as pins. These two guide projections (9) are each guided substantially along the axial direction (X) in a guide track (10) of the sleeve element (6) when the syringe body (3) is moved relative to the sleeve element (6). Furthermore, the collar element (7) is arranged on the distal end region (8) of the syringe body (3) so as to be rotatable in a circumferential direction (U).

(15) The cap element (11) comprises a piercing means protective device (13), in which the piercing means (5) can be arranged. Furthermore, the sleeve element (6) comprises a distal opening (14), the internal diameter (14a) of said distal opening (14) being larger than the external diameter (13d) of the piercing means protective device (13), such that the piercing means protective device (13) can be arranged inside the sleeve element (6).

(16) In this case, the distal end (26) and an adjacent distal region of the piercing means (5) are arranged in a cavity of the piercing means protective device (13). The cavity comprises a first region (13a), the piercing means protective device (13) resting on the inner walls thereof in said first region. In a third region (13c) of the piercing means protective device (13), the cavity additionally extends over the distal end (4) of the syringe body. A second region (13b) is arranged between the first (13a) and the third region (13c), in which second region the internal diameter of the cavity increases from the first region (13a) to the third region (13c). The piercing means protective device (13) extends over the distal end region (8) of the syringe body (3) as far as the collar element (7). The piercing means protective device (13) is in operative contact with the collar element (7), as a result of which the collar element (7) can be locked with respect to a rotation.

(17) The cap element (11) further comprises two diametrically opposed wing-like elements (17). This can also be seen in FIG. 7. Said wing-like elements (17) are complementary to the receptacles (18) of the sleeve element (6). The receptacles are formed as recesses in the sleeve element (6). This can also be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. If the cap element (11) is arranged on the sleeve element (6), the two wing-like elements (17) can be received in the two receptacles (18) of the sleeve element (6). In this case, the piercing means protective device (13) extends through the distal opening (14) of the sleeve element (6). It would also be conceivable for at least one wing-like element (17) to be in operative contact with the collar element (7), as a result of which the collar element (7) can be locked with respect to a rotation.

(18) The distal region (19) of the sleeve element (6) comprises the distal opening (14) of the sleeve element (6) and an annulus (30), which surrounds the distal opening (14) of the sleeve element (6). In this case, the external diameter of the annulus (30) is smaller than the external diameter of the adjacent region of the sleeve element (6). A first (30a) and a second front face (31) are thus formed on the sleeve element (6). The cap element (11) is correspondingly complementary, and therefore the distal region (20) of said element comprises contact surfaces (32) on the inside, which contact surfaces rest on the two front faces (30a, 31).

(19) FIGS. 1 and 2 show embodiments of the safety device (1) in which the cap element (11) is formed integrally with the piercing means protective device (13).

(20) FIGS. 3 and 4 show embodiments of the safety device (1) in which the cap element (11) comprises a distal opening (21). In this case, the distal opening (21) is formed as a receptacle in order to receive the piercing means protective device (13). The piercing means protective device (13) comprises a flange on the distal end thereof, which flange is embedded in the receptacle of the distal opening (21) of the cap element (11).

(21) FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 again show a safety device (1), which comprises a spring element (22) in the form of a spiral spring, which is operatively connected to the syringe body (3) and counteracts the movement of the sleeve element (6) relative to the safety device (1). Accordingly, the piercing means (5) remains inside the sleeve element (6) until the intended use. During use, the sleeve element (6) has to be moved counter to the spring force in order for the piercing means (5) to be able to pass through the distal opening (14) of the sleeve element (6). After the syringe (2) has been used, the sleeve element (6) automatically slides over the piercing means (5) again, driven by the spring force of the spring element (22). The guidance of the guide projection (9) in the guide tracks (10) causes the collar element (7) to rotate counter to the circumferential direction (U). The user is thus protected from receiving stab wounds from the used and contaminated piercing means.

(22) According to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6, the cap element (11) and the sleeve element (7) comprise complementary latching elements (15, 16) so that the cap element (11) and the sleeve element (7) can be latched together in a separable manner. In the present embodiments, the sleeve element (6) comprises a distal region (19) on which latching elements (15) are arranged. These latching elements (15) can be latched into complementary latching elements (16) which are arranged in a distal region (20) of the cap element (11). In particular, the latching elements (15) of the sleeve element (6) are arranged on a lateral surface of the annulus (30).

(23) FIG. 5 shows a sleeve element (6) which comprises two receptacles (18) for the wing-like elements (17) of the cap element (11). Latching elements (15) are arranged in the receptacles (18), which latching elements are complementary to corresponding latching elements (16) of the wing-like elements (17) of the cap element (11) (not shown here), and can be latched therein.

(24) The guide tracks (10) of the sleeve element (6) comprise a first (23) and a second trackregion (24), which are separated from one another by a fictive separating line (25) extending along the axial direction (X) of the syringe body (3), it being possible for the guide projection (9) to be arranged in a starting position in the first track region (23) and to be moved from the first track region (23) into an end position in the second track region (24) by passing the separating line (25) when a distal end (26) of the piercing means (5) is arranged at the level of the distal opening (14) of the sleeve element (6) as the syringe body (3) is moved relative to the sleeve element (6). This can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the guide projection (9) having passed the separating line (25) in FIG. 8, as a result of which the distal end (26) of the piercing means (5) is already protruding beyond the distal opening (14) of the sleeve element (6).

(25) The sleeve element (6) further comprises an end region (27). In this case, the guide projections (9) can be moved, by means of a track of the second track region (24), from the second track region (24) into an end region (27). In this end region (27), a movement of the sleeve element (6) relative to the syringe body (3) is at least limited, substantially in the axial direction (X).

(26) All of the features disclosed in the application documents are claimed to be essential to the invention provided that they are novel over the prior art, either on their own or in combination with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(27) 1 safety device

(28) 2 syringe

(29) 3 syringe body

(30) 4 distal end of the syringe body

(31) 5 piercing means

(32) 6 sleeve element

(33) 7 collar element

(34) 8 distal end region of the syringe body

(35) 9 guide projection

(36) 10 guide track

(37) 11 cap element

(38) 12 hollow circular cylinder

(39) 12a lateral surface of the circular cylinder

(40) 13 piercing means protective device

(41) 13a first region

(42) 13b second region

(43) 13c third region

(44) 13d external diameter

(45) 14 distal opening of the sleeve element

(46) 14a internal diameter

(47) 15 latching element

(48) 16 latching element

(49) 17 wing-like element

(50) 18 receptacle

(51) 19 distal region of the sleeve element

(52) 20 distal region of the cap element

(53) 21 distal opening of the cap element

(54) 22 spring element

(55) 23 first track region

(56) 24 second track region

(57) 25 separating line

(58) 26 distal end of the piercing means

(59) 27 end region

(60) 28 projection

(61) 29 transition region

(62) 30 annulus

(63) 30a first front face

(64) 31 second front face

(65) 32 contact surfaces

(66) X axial direction

(67) U circumferential direction