Disposable vial holder and method to prevent needle stick injuries

Abstract

A vial holder is provided to protect a user's hand from needle sticks. The holder includes a handle and a shield attached to a distal end of the handle. An opening is formed in the distal end of the handle to receive a vial. The vial is placed through the opening and into a passageway of the handle with the upper end of the vial exposed. A user grasps the handle which holds the vial in a stabilized manner. A needle may then safely approach the vial in which inadvertent slippage or movement of the needle results in contact with the needle against the shield and not contact with the user's hand.

Claims

1. A vial holder comprising: a handle having an opening formed at distal end thereof, and a passageway communicating with the opening, the passageway extending a depth within a portion of the handle from the distal end toward a proximal end of the handle; a shield attached to a distal end of the handle, the shield being substantially planar and extending substantially perpendicular to an axis of the handle; a flange connected to and protruding from the opening, and the flange extending radially inward into the passageway; the passageway is tapered commencing at a larger diameter at the opening to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle; and wherein the vial holder is made as a single member.

2. A vial holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the shield is made from a needle impenetrable plastic having a first stiffness, and the handle is made from a plastic having a second lesser stiffness.

3. A vial holder, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the shield is substantially circular shaped.

4. A method of preventing needle stick injuries during use of a needle in withdrawing contents of a vial, the method comprising: providing a vial holder including a handle having a passageway extending partially through the handle, the handle having a proximal and distal end; providing a shield attached to a distal end of the handle, the shield extending substantially perpendicular to an axis of the handle, and the shield having a shape to substantially cover an edge of user's hand grasping the handle; providing a vial with contents therein, and frictionally holding the vial within the passageway of the vial holder, the passageway being tapered with a larger diameter at an opening to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle; the vial having a base and a cylindrical sidewall extending from the base, wherein a lower portion of the cylindrical sidewall contacts an interior-surface of the passageway, and an upper portion of the cylindrical sidewall located within the passageway can be spaced from and not in contact with the interior surface of the passageway; grasping and holding the handle of the vial holder; moving a needle toward the upper end of the vial; and withdrawing contents within vial.

5. In combination, a vial holder and vial comprising: a handle having a passageway extending at least partially through the handle, the handle further having a proximal end and a distal end; the passageway having an interior tapered surface commencing with a larger diameter at an opening of the passageway at the distal end of the handle, to a smaller diameter towards the proximal end of the handle; a shield attached to the distal end of the handle and the shield being substantially planar; a vial secured in the passageway, the vial having a base and a sidewall extending from the base; and wherein a lower portion of the sidewall contacts the interior surface of the passageway, and an upper portion of the sidewall can be spaced from and not in contact with the interior surface of the passageway.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is perspective view of a first preferred embodiment;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment;

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 showing the holder securing an ampoule;

(4) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 showing the holder securing an ampoule;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing use of the first embodiment in which a user holds the holder in the hand, while another person holds a syringe in preparation for contacting the needle of the syringe with the ampoule; and

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another preferred embodiment in which the handle is angled from the shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the vial or ampoule holder 10 in two preferred embodiments. The vial holder has two primary components, namely, a shield 12 and a handle 14. The handle 14 as shown is substantially cylindrical. Alternatively, the handle can have a multi-faceted surface, such as may be provided with the handle having a heptagonal or octagonal shaped cross section (not shown). The handle 14 is hollow along a portion of its length as defined by a vial opening 16 that communicates with an internal passageway 18. Preferably the passageway 18 is tapered in order to receive different sized vials. The shield 12 as shown has a substantially circular shape, but the shape of the shield may be modified to ensure coverage of the user's hand. The shape of the shield 12 may be extended to also cover a portion of the user's hand near the wrist, as explained below in reference to FIG. 6.

(8) As shown in FIG. 2 in an alternative embodiment, a protruding flange 30 is illustrated that may further assist in stabilizing and holding the vial. As shown, the depth of the passageway 18 is the same as FIG. 2, but the protruding flange 30 provides additional coverage for holding the side surface of the vial.

(9) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the depth of the passageway 18 may be adapted to accommodate the appropriate sized vials V such that the lower end of the vial V is seated against the bottom of the passageway. As shown, the remaining portion of the handle may be solid which enhances stability for holding by the user. Alternatively, the passageway can be sized and tapered to only frictionally hold the sidewall of the vial V and therefore have depth greater than the length of the vial.

(10) Referring to FIG. 5, in use, a vial V is inserted within the opening 16, and the passageway 18 covers the vial V with exception of the upper end of the vial that may protrude beyond the shield 12. This configuration enables a secure connection for holding the vial, yet enables easy access to the vial by the needle of a syringe. Because the vial is held within the holder, this provides additional stability for the user to prevent inadvertent slippage or movement of the needle as it penetrates the seal of the vial. The user's hand H is protected by the shield, and the diameter of the shield ensures that most or all of the exposed edge of the hand cannot be contacted by the needle N of the syringe S.

(11) Optionally, the shield may be made of a bright color which may further assist the person in manipulating the syringe to direct the needle toward the vial and to ensure the needle is appropriately centered to penetrate the seal of the vial. Otherwise, the vial holder itself may be made of clear plastic material or any other color.

(12) Referring to FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment is illustrated in which the handle 40 does not extend substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shield 12, but rather, extends at an angle. Therefore, it is contemplated that the handle itself may be manufactured with a slight offset as compared to only a perpendicular arrangement between the handle and shield. This angle or offset handle may be advantageous to better align the user's hand with the approaching needle, and may depend on the preference of the user as to either an angled or perpendicular arranged handle. FIG. 6 also illustrates the shield 12 having an extension 44 located along a portion of the peripheral edge of the shield 12. An imaginary line 42 is shown as the circular diameter in which the size and shape of the extension 44 can be compared. The extension can be centered over the user's wrist to provide an additional area of protection.

(13) Although the FIG. 5 illustrates the user grasping the handle in a particular manner, the invention is not limited to any particular manner of grasping by the user and accordingly, the user may wish to most comfortably position the fingers around the handle. For example, the user could simply hold the handle with the fingers in which the proximal end of the handle is placed in the palm of the user's hand. Further, while the shield has been illustrated as having a particular size and shape, the present invention also contemplates varying the size and shape of the shield to correspond with the method of use in which the positioning of the user's hand may dictate the area of the shield in order to cover the portions of the hand that may be exposed to a needle stick.

(14) According to a particular method of the present invention, the vial holder V is provided and a user secures a vial within the passageway 18. The tapered passageway enables the user to seat the vial within the passageway with a desired frictional resistance in which the vial does not seat in the bottom of the passageway but rather is held by the sidewalls of the passageway. Once the vial has been secured, a user grasps the handle 14 and the needle may then be safely moved towards the vial. Once the needle has withdrawn the contents of the vial, the needle is separated from the vial and the vial holder and vial may be disposed of. Alternatively, prior to disposal, the vial holder and vial may be separated from one another.

(15) The vial holder and method of the present invention provides a convenient, reliable, and cost-effective way in which to prevent needle stick injuries. The unique combination of the handle and shield not only provides protection for the user, but also enhances the stability of the vial to prevent slippage of the needle when making contact with the vial. The invention is easily incorporated into surgical room procedures in which the vial holder can be made sterile and disposable. Many different types of plastics can be used for the vial holder, to include a wide selection for desired colors, stiffness, and imperviousness to needle penetrations.

(16) While the present invention has been set forth with respect to one or more preferred embodiments it is contemplated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the invention commensurate with the scope of the claims appended hereto.