| 摘要 |
A universal safety adapter usable with different types of needles and syringes has integral first and second portions and a housing, including an integral compressible section connecting a main body section to an end cap section, flexibly connected to one of the portions. Alternatively, in place of the compressible section, a compressible joint coupling a unitary housing to the base of the adapter may also be used. In the case of the first portion being mated to the hub of a needle assembly, the housing is flexibly connected thereto by a living hinge. The needle assembly is threadedly mated with an internally threaded annular collar surrounding a protrusion which is to be coupled to the hub of the needle assembly. The second portion of the safety adapter, in a first embodiment, includes a female luer that can be mated with different types of syringes, such as a luer slip or a luer lock. Once the needle assembly has been threadedly mated to the first portion of the safety adapter, to ensure that the cannula of the needle assembly is not exposed so as to preclude accidental pricking by the needle, the housing is pivoted to a position whereby it completely envelops the cannula. To provide additional protection, the end cap section, which has adapted thereto an elastomer, is urged longitudinally toward the main body section so that the tip of the needle is completely encased by the elastomer as the compressible section (or joint) collapses under pressure. The dead space volume at the junction where the needle is connected to the syringe can be substantially reduced by a second embodiment of the safety adapter of the present invention which includes a male extension within the female luer.
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