Needle Assemblies

Abstract

A needle assembly includes a needle with the needle having a handle at a proximal end portion thereof. The assembly also includes a guide tube sized to house the needle and handle, with the guide tube including an inwardly-extending projection adjacent a proximal end thereof. The inwardly-extending projection is configured to engage an engagement portion of the handle for retaining the needle within the guide tube such that a distal tip of the needle is positioned within the guide tube and a proximal end portion of the handle extends from the proximal end of the guide tube. The engagement being releasable upon a force applied to the proximal end portion of the handle to extend the distal tip of the needle out of the guide tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A needle assembly comprising:
 a needle having a handle at a proximal end portion thereof; and   a guide tube sized to house the needle and handle, the guide tube comprising an inwardly-extending projection adjacent a proximal end thereof,   wherein the inwardly-extending projection is configured to engage an engagement portion of the handle for retaining the needle within the guide tube such that a distal tip of the needle is positioned within the guide tube and a proximal end portion of the handle extends from the proximal end of the guide tube; and   wherein the engagement being releasable upon a force applied to the proximal end of the handle to extend the distal tip of the needle out of the guide tube.   
     
     
         2 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is secured to the proximal end portion of the needle. 
     
     
         3 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion of the handle comprises a textured anti-slip surface. 
     
     
         4 . The needle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the engagement portion of the handle is etched to define the textured anti-slip surface. 
     
     
         5 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion of the handle is located intermediate distal and proximal end portions of the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the guide tube is manufactured of a translucent polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the needle and handle are metallic. 
     
     
         8 . The needle assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the needle is manufactured of a stainless steel and the handle is manufactured of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         9 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, in the engaged configuration, a distance between the inwardly-extending projection and a proximal end of the handle is between about 5 mm and 8 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the handle is between about 2 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or both of the proximal end portion and a distal end portion of the handle comprises at least one indent for securing the needle to the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The needle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein following release of the engagement due to the force being applied to the handle, the engagement is reinstatable by repositioning the needle such that the inwardly-extending projection re-engages the engagement portion. 
     
     
         13 . The needle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the engagement portion of the handle comprises a textured anti-slip surface and is located intermediate distal and proximal end portions of the handle. 
     
     
         14 . The needle assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the guide tube comprises a translucent polymer, the needle comprises stainless steel, and the handle comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         15 . The needle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a diameter of the handle is between about 2 mm and 2.5 mm, and wherein one or both of the proximal end portion and the distal end portion of the handle comprises at least one indent for securing the needle to the handle. 
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a needle assembly comprising:
 providing a needle having a handle at a proximal end portion thereof, with the handle having a central bore and an engagement portion;   providing a guide tube sized to house the needle and handle, the guide tube comprising an inwardly-extending projection adjacent a proximal end thereof,   inserting the proximal end portion of the needle into the central bore of the handle; and   inserting the needle and handle combination into the guide tube,   wherein the handle is positioned such that the engagement portion of the handle engages the inwardly-extending projection of the guide tube for retaining the needle within the guide tube such that a distal tip of the needle is positioned within the guide tube and the handle at the proximal end portion extends from the proximal end of the guide tube; and   wherein the engagement is releasable upon a force applied to the proximal end of the handle to extend the distal tip of the needle out of the guide tube.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a diameter of the central bore of the handle is between about 0.5 to 1 time the diameter of the proximal end portion of the needle such that the needle is secured in the handle via interference fit. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising providing a plurality of bends in the proximal end portion of the needle prior to inserting the proximal end portion of the needle into the central bore of the handle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising pressing the proximal and/or distal end portion(s) of the handle onto the needle to form at least one indent for securing the needle to the handle. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the inwardly-extending projection is pressed into the guide tube to engage the engagement portion of the handle.