| 摘要 |
To be used with a double-ended needle assembly and to prevent the accidental pricking of user, or others, in a first embodiment of the present invention, a container holder mated with the needle assembly has a protective housing integrally and flexibly connected thereto. To prevent a contaminated needle from posing a risk to the user and others, the housing connected to the container holder is pivoted into alignment with the contaminated needle such that the needle is retained by at least one locking mechanism integral of the housing. The container holder, along with the contaminated needle assembly, can then be disposed of. If the container holder were to be reused, a second embodiment of the present invention provides for the connection of a protective housing to the hub of a double-ended needle assembly. For this embodiment, after use, the contaminated needle assembly, after having been properly retained in the protective housing, is removed from the reusable container housing and disposed of. Another embodiment of the invention relates to integrally and flexible connecting a protective housing to an adapter, which is interposed between the double-ended needle assembly and the container holder. Variants of the invention include a collapsible housing having a sealer therein which may be used to sealingly secure the tip of the contaminated needle and a collapsible hinge which likewise is used to effect the securing of the tip of the contaminated needle in a sealer adapted to the distal end portion of the housing. |
