True Safety Syringe--Not Just a Re-Capping Means

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 18,000 health care workers per year become infected bvirus and 1,800 become carriers, resulting in 300 deaths per year. Thirty-two health care workers haOver 80,000 accidental sticks are reported each year costing more than $500 per stick. Safety syringinto universal usage by Congress. Existing safety syringe devices merely provide an improved means oneedle after its use. The goal of the Phase I is to provide a small simple part that is attachable twill significantly reduce the chance that an accidental needle stick will occur. This simple devicesituations as would a normal syringe. It could be operated without complicated directions and wouldfrom needle sticks, before, during, and after use. The prototype device will be evaluated by twenty-professionals based on fifteen safety and market/ergonomic factors and by four plastic injection molbased on three manufacturing/production factors. The Phase I project will involve the designing andprototype, testing of the prototype, evaluation of the prototype by health-care professionals and plon the eighteen criteria identified, and modifying the design, if necessary, based on the results of