Protective sheath for winged needle with keyhole for releasably retaining tubing and packaging incorporating same

Abstract

A protective sheath for a winged needle has a hilt with a keyhole for releasably receiving a length of tubing. Methods of the invention include forming a U-shaped bend in the tubing and inserting it into the keyhole prior to packaging.

1 . A winged needle set, comprising: 
 a winged needle,    a length of flexible tubing having first and second ends, said first end coupled to said needle, and    a protective sheath slidably disposed on said tubing, said sheath having a hilt, said hilt having a keyhole dimensioned to releasably retain said tubing.    
   
   
       2 . A winged needle set according to  claim 1 , additionally including a connector coupled to said second end of said flexible tubing.  
   
   
       3 . A winged needle set according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said hilt has two keyholes, each on opposite sides of said hilt.    
   
   
       4 . A winged needle set according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said sheath comprising a hollow generally tubular body having a forward end oriented toward the needle and a rearward end oriented away from the needle, said body having at least two fingers defining slots through which said flexible wings slide.    
   
   
       5 . A winged needle set according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 at least one of said wings slides into a locked position.    
   
   
       6 . A winged needle set according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said tubular body has four fingers and four slots, each of said slots being provided with a Z-bend.    
   
   
       7 . A winged needle set according to  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the forward end of said fingers are V-shaped and tapered to facilitate the passage of said wings into the slots.    
   
   
       8 . A winged needle set according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said sheath includes means for locking the sheath in a position covering the needle to prevent needlesticks from the needle.    
   
   
       9 . A method of packaging a flexible tubing coupled to a winged needle having a protective sheath slidably mounted on said tubing having a hilt with a keyhole, comprising the steps of: 
 forming a U-shaped bend in the length of flexible tubing, and    inserting a section of the flexible tubing into the keyhole of the protective sheath so as to maintain the U-shaped bend.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said U-shaped bend is formed at the approximate midpoint of the tubing.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of positioning said sheath adjacent to said U-shaped bend.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of placing the tubing, needle, and sheath into a package.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 sealing the package.    
   
   
       14 . A protective sheath for a winged needle, said sheath comprising: 
 a hollow generally tubular body having a forward end oriented toward the needle and a rearward end oriented away from the needle, said body having at least two fingers defining slots, and    a hilt at the rearward end of said body, said hilt defining at least one keyhole adapted to releasably receive a length of flexible tubing.    
   
   
       15 . A sheath according to  claim 14 , wherein said sheath has means for locking said winged needle within said tubular body of said sheath.  
   
   
       16 . A sheath according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said tubular body has four fingers and four slots, each of said slots being provided with a Z-shaped bend.    
   
   
       17 . A sheath according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the forward end of said fingers are V-shaped and tapered to facilitate the passage of said wings into the slots.    
   
   
       18 . A sheath according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said sheath includes means for locking the sheath in a position covering the needle to prevent needlesticks from the needle.    
   
   
       19 . A sheath according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said tubing is made of medical grade plastic tubing.