Needle safety device

1. A needle safety device for a medical device, the needle safety device comprising:

a base portion having a bore extending in an axial direction therethrough for receiving a needle and

two opposing jaws extending from the base portion generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion in the region of its free end, wherein at least one of the head portions forms a locking shoulder for securing the needle safety device in a housing of the medical device; and

an elastic element surrounding the jaws in a region between the base portion and the locking shoulder, wherein the elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws can be spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element in order to allow the needle received in the bore to extend all the way through the needle safety device, and the elastic element having an axial length such that the elastic element covers a substantial portion of a space between the jaws to prevent the needle tip from protruding sideways out of the needle safety device.

2. The needle safety device of claim 1 , wherein the axial length of the elastic element ranges from about one fifth of the length of the jaws to about three quarters of the length of the jaws.

3. The needle safety device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic element is made from a material having elastic properties or an elastic material.

4. The needle safety device of claim 1 , wherein the elastic element comprises a tension ring completely surrounding the jaws, or a clamp or bracket.

5. The needle safety device of claim 1 , wherein the jaws are connected to each other by at least one link in a region between the base portion and the head portions.

6. The needle safety device of claim 5 , wherein the link is arranged in the region of the elastic element.

7. The needle safety device of claim 5 , wherein the link is provided on only one side of the jaws.

8. The needle safety device of claim 5 , wherein first and second links are provided on opposite sides of the jaws.

9. The needle safety device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one link is formed to have spring-like properties such that the jaws can be spread apart against a restoring force of the link.

10. The needle safety device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one link has a curved shape.

11. The needle safety device of claim 1 , wherein the base portion, the jaws, and a link connecting the jaws, are integrally formed.

12. The needle safety device of claim 1 , wherein the base portion, the jaws and a link connecting the jaws each comprise a different material or combination of materials.

13. The needle safety device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the jaws has an angled end section at its free end, which extends towards the other one of the jaws in a direction generally perpendicular to the axial direction.

14. The needle safety device of claim 13 , wherein the length of the angled end section is selected such that the angled end section is supported on the needle when the needle extends all the way through the needle safety device, thereby spreading the jaws apart far enough for the shoulder of the head portion of the jaw having the angled end section to engage with the housing of the medical device for securing the needle safety device in the housing.

15. A needle for a medical device, the needle comprising an inner profile, a principal outer profile and a needle tip, the needle further comprising an enlargement in the region of the needle tip, wherein the enlargement is formed from an increase of the outer profile of the needle in at least one direction, whereas the inner profile remains substantially unchanged.

16. The needle of claim 15 , wherein the enlargement is formed by subjecting the needle to concentrated heat at a localized area using, for example, a welding process such as a laser welding process, with or without addition of additional material.

17. The needle of claim 15 , wherein the enlargement is formed from additional material dispensed onto the outer surface of the needle.

18. The needle in accordance with of claim 17 , wherein the additional material is selected from at least one of a plastic material, an adhesive, a resin and a metal material.

19. An intravenous catheter apparatus comprising:

a needle having an inner profile, a principal outer profile and a needle tip, the needle further comprising an enlargement in the region of the needle tip, wherein the enlargement is formed from an increase of the outer profile of the needle in at least one direction so that the inner profile remains substantially unchanged;

a needle safety device slidably arranged on the needle for protecting the needle tip, the needle safety device comprising:

a base portion having a bore extending in an axial direction therethrough for receiving the needle, the bore being adapted to the principal outer profile of the needle;

two opposing jaws extending from the base portion generally in the axial direction and each having a head portion in the region of its free end, wherein at least one of the head portions forms a locking shoulder for securing the needle safety device in a housing of the medical device; and

an elastic element surrounding the jaws in a region between the base portion and the locking shoulder, wherein the elastic element and the jaws are configured such that the jaws can be spread apart against a restoring force of the elastic element in order to allow the needle received in the bore to extend all the way through the needle safety device, and wherein the elastic element has an axial length such that the elastic element covers a substantial portion of a space between the jaws to prevent the needle tip from protruding sideways out of the needle safety device.

20. The intravenous catheter apparatus of claim 19 , wherein a locking protrusion for engaging with the needle safety device is formed on an inner surface of a catheter hub of the intravenous catheter apparatus.

21. The intravenous catheter apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the locking protrusion has a substantially rectangular profile with rounded edges or a rounded profile similar to a Gaussian curve or a semi-sinusoidal curve.

22. The intravenous catheter apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the enlargement is formed by subjecting the needle to concentrated heat at a localized area.

23. The intravenous catheter apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the enlargement is formed from additional material dispensed onto the outer surface of the needle.

24. The intravenous catheter apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the additional material is selected from at least one of a plastic material, an adhesive, a resin and a metal material.

25. The needle safety device of claim 2 , wherein the axial length of the elastic element is in the range of about one-third of the length of the jaws.

26. The needle safety device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one link has an S-like or Z-like shape.

27. The needle safety device of claim 5 , wherein the at least one link has a substantially straight shape.