SYRINGE SAFETY ASSEMBLY
Systems, devices, and methods are provided for providing safe syringe assemblies for injections. The syringe assemblies include a shielding mechanism that covers a syringe needle after an injection is delivered, thereby reducing the risk of a subsequent accidental stab from the needle. The shielding mechanism has a pre-injection configuration in which the needle extends beyond the housing and a post-injection configuration in which at least one component of the syringe assembly covers the needle. In some implementations, the syringe assembly includes a lock that inhibits the assembly from returning to the pre-injection configuration once an injection is delivered. The syringe assemblies may also include a bevel orientation mechanism that allows a user to align a needle bevel to accurately insert a needle for injection.
1 . A syringe assembly, comprising:
a housing having a retaining clip and an inner chamber with a first opening for receiving a syringe and a second opening to allow a needle of the syringe to extend beyond the housing;
a first sheath positioned within the housing;
a spring that exerts a force biasing the housing in a direction towards the second opening of the housing and biasing the first sheath in a direction towards the first opening of the housing; and
a retainer that moves in a direction perpendicular to the spring force to release the retaining clip upon actuation of the syringe assembly.
2 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining clip is static and does not move relative to the housing when the syringe assembly is actuated.
3 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the syringe assembly is actuated by the depression of a plunger into the syringe.
4 . The syringe assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plunger contacts the retainer and exerts a force that causes the retainer to move perpendicular to the spring force.
5 . The syringe assembly of claim 3 , wherein:
the plunger contacts an intermediate actuator; and
the intermediate actuator contacts the retainer and exerts a force that causes the retainer to move perpendicular to the spring force.
6 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the syringe assembly moves from an unshielded configuration to a shielded configuration upon actuation of the syringe assembly and the first sheath includes a locking mechanism that locks the housing and first sheath in the shielded configuration and prevents the syringe assembly from returning to the unshielded configuration.
7 . The syringe assembly of claim 6 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a shelf on the housing that contacts legs on the first sheath.
8 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an outer top at the first opening of the housing, wherein the first sheath is held within the housing by the outer top.
9 . The syringe assembly of claim 8 , wherein the outer top is configured to receive a syringe inserted into the syringe assembly.
10 . The syringe assembly of claim 9 , wherein an opening of the outer top is shaped to match a shape of a collar of an inserted syringe.
11 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second sheath positioned within the housing.
12 . The syringe assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first sheath includes a locking mechanism comprising legs on the first sheath that contact a shelf on the second sheath.
13 . The syringe assembly of claim 12 , wherein the legs are angled to allow the legs to deflect as the shelf passes the legs when the first sheath and second sheath move from an unshielded configuration to a shielded configuration and prevent subsequent deflection, blocking the shelf from moving back past the legs once the syringe assembly is in the shielded configuration.
14 . The syringe assembly of claim 11 , wherein the spring is positioned at a top opening of the second sheath.
15 . The syringe assembly of claim 11 , wherein the spring contacts the second sheath directly to exert a biasing force on the second sheath.
16 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring surrounds at least a portion of a syringe inserted into the syringe assembly.
17 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a top cover coupled to the housing.
18 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the syringe is pre-filled with a dosage of medication.
19 . The syringe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the syringe is empty and configured to be filled with medication by a user prior to injection.
20 . A method of making a syringe assembly, comprising:
providing a housing having a retaining clip, said housing having an inner chamber with a first opening for receiving a syringe and a second opening to allow a needle of the syringe to extend beyond the housing;
positioning a retainer to interact with the retaining clip, wherein the retainer moves in a direction perpendicular to a spring force to release the retaining clip upon actuation of a syringe;
placing a sheath within the housing; and
positioning a spring to exert a force biasing the housing in a direction towards the second opening of the housing and biasing the sheath in a direction towards the first opening of the housing.
21 - 38 . (canceled)
39 . A syringe assembly, comprising:
a housing having an inner chamber with a first opening for receiving a syringe and a second opening to allow a needle of the syringe to extend beyond the housing;
a sheath positioned within the housing;
a spring that exerts a force biasing the housing in a direction towards the second opening of the housing and biasing the sheath in a direction towards the first opening of the housing;
a locking mechanism that resists the biasing force of the spring; and
a plate that rotates to release the locking mechanism upon actuation of the syringe assembly.