Self-Sealing Pad for a Needle-Based Infusion Set

Abstract

A safety needle assembly of an infusion set is disclosed. The needle assembly is configured to prevent fluid/vapor escape therefrom so as to reduce or prevent fluid exposure to a clinician using the needle assembly. In one embodiment, the needle assembly comprises a handle portion including a needle extending therefrom, the needle defining a lumen for passage of a fluid therethrough. The needle assembly also includes a safety assembly defining a needle hole through which the needle initially extends. The safety assembly is selectively and axially slidable along the needle in order to shield a distal tip of the needle and prevent user contact therewith. A fluid isolation component is included in the safety assembly for isolating fluid escape from the needle. In one embodiment, the fluid isolation component includes a self-sealing pad that prevents needle leakage when the distal tip is shielded by the safety assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A needle assembly, comprising:
 a first needle assembly portion;   a hollow needle included with the first needle assembly portion, the needle suitable for passing fluids therethrough;   a second needle assembly portion selectively extensible from the first needle assembly portion between a first position and a second position, wherein a distal tip of the needle extends through the second needle assembly when in the first position and wherein the distal tip of the needle is shielded by the second needle assembly when in the second position; and   a self-sealing pad included on the second needle assembly portion, wherein the distal tip of the needle extends through the pad when the second needle assembly is in the first position and wherein the distal tip of the needle retracts from at least a surface of the pad when the second needle assembly portion is extended to the second position, the self-sealing pad preventing fluids that leak from the needle from escaping through the pad after retraction of the needle from the pad.   
     
     
         2 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first needle assembly portion includes a handle portion and wherein the second needle assembly portion includes a base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the base portion includes a needle safety assembly for shielding the distal tip of the needle. 
     
     
         4 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the pad is interposed between the base portion and the skin of a patient during use of the needle assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the pad further includes a groove that receives a protruding surface of the base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an extensible shroud that interconnects the first and second needle assembly portions and shrouds the needle to prevent escape of fluids from the needle assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the shroud includes a corrugated configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pad includes an elastomer. 
     
     
         9 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the pad includes silicone. 
     
     
         10 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the pad includes a raised portion through which the needle initially passes, the raised portion compressively received within a hole defined by the second needle assembly portion. 
     
     
         11 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the distal tip of the needle is fully retracted from the pad when the second needle assembly portion is extended to the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the body of the pad includes a generally flattened shape. 
     
     
         13 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a bottom skin-contacting surface of the pad is smooth. 
     
     
         14 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a bottom skin-contacting surface of the pad includes a textured surface. 
     
     
         15 . A method for using a needle assembly, the method comprising:
 providing a needle assembly as defined in  claim 1 ;   inserting the needle into a patient body while the second needle assembly portion is in the first position; and   retracting the needle from the patient body via moving the second needle assembly portion into the second position, wherein movement of the second needle assembly portion into the second position retracts the needle from the self-sealing pad so as prevent any fluids that leak from the needle from escaping the needle assembly through the pad.   
     
     
         16 . The method for using as defined in  claim 15 , wherein retracting the second needle assembly portion into the second portion causes a safety assembly included with the second needle assembly portion to shield the distal tip of the needle and prevent user contact therewith. 
     
     
         17 . The method for using as defined in  claim 15 , wherein providing the needle assembly further includes adding an antimicrobial component to the self-sealing pad. 
     
     
         18 . The method for using as defined in  claim 15 , wherein inserting the needle further includes temporarily adhering the self-sealing pad of the second needle assembly to the skin of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . A needle assembly, comprising:
 a handle portion including a hollow needle;   a base portion through which the needle initially extends, the base portion being selectively and axially slidable along the needle and including a safety assembly to shield a distal tip of the needle;   an extensible shroud extending between the handle portion and the base portion so as to enclose a substantial portion of the needle when the base portion is slid to shield the distal tip of the needle; and   a self-sealing pad disposed on a bottom surface of the base portion, the needle initially extending through the pad, the needle retracting from the pad when the base portion is slid to shield the distal tip of the needle, the pad sealing when the needle is retracted therefrom so as to prevent fluids that escape from the needle from escaping through the pad.   
     
     
         20 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the needle assembly is part of an infusion set and wherein the shroud and the pad prevent escape of fluids passed through the needle from escaping the needle assembly when the distal tip of the needle is shielded. 
     
     
         21 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the pad is interposed between the base portion and the skin of a patient during use of the needle assembly. 
     
     
         22 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the shroud includes a corrugated configuration. 
     
     
         23 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 22 , wherein the pad includes silicone. 
     
     
         24 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 23 , wherein the pad includes a raised portion through which the needle initially passes, the raised portion compressively disposed within a hole defined by the base portion. 
     
     
         25 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the distal tip of the needle is fully retracted from the pad when the second needle assembly portion is extended to the second position. 
     
     
         26 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 19 , wherein at least a bottom surface of the pad includes an antimicrobial component. 
     
     
         27 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 19 , wherein a bottom surface of the pad includes an adhesive. 
     
     
         28 . The needle assembly as defined in  claim 19 , wherein a bottom skin-contacting surface of the pad includes a textured surface of a plurality of dimples. 
     
     
         29 . A needle assembly, comprising:
 at least one needle assembly portion;   a hollow needle included with the at least one needle assembly portion, the needle suitable for passing fluids therethrough; and   a self-sealing pad included with the at least one needle assembly portion, wherein a distal tip of the needle extends through the pad in a first needle position and wherein the distal tip of the needle at least partially retracts from the pad in a second needle position, the self-sealing pad preventing fluids that leak from the needle from escaping through the pad when in the second needle position.