Pen needle and safety shield system

• US 20050283115A1
• Filed: 12/07/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Giambattista, Lucio, DeSalvo, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,666,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 7/00 Devices or methods for introducing solid, liquid, or gaseous remedies or other materials into or onto the bodies of animals for reproduction or fertilisation A61D19/00 ; devices for implanting pellets, radon seeds or the like A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3104 Caps for syringes without needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3267 Biased sleeves where the needle is uncovered by insertion of the needle into a patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3205 Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/347 rotatable, e.g. bayonet or screw A61M5/344 takes precedence

Abstract

A safety shield system for a needle cannula of a pen needle injector or similar device, wherein the safety shield may be retracted from a first position enclosing the needle to a second position exposing the needle for injection. The safety shield system permits retraction of the safety shield during use, but extends the shield enclosing the needle in a locked position following use. The shield system is utilized with a pen needle injector having a double ended needle cannula mounted in a hub received on the open end of the pen needle injector. The assembly is disposed of by removing the assembly and needle cannula hub and storing the assembly in the cup-shaped cap enclosing the exposed end of the needle cannula within the cap. The cap includes internal radial ribs preventing retraction of the shield prior to removing the cap preventing inadvertently piercing the cap during assembly.

Claims

1. A safety shield system for a needle cannula of a pen injector, said safety shield system comprising:

a mount for removably securing said safety shield system to the pen injector;

a shield movably secured to said mount, said shield being movable between a first position, in which at least part of the needle cannula is surrounded by said shield, and a second position, in which at least part of the needle cannula is not surrounded by said shield, and a third position, in which the needle cannula is completely surrounded by said shield;

a spring positioned between said mount and said shield for biasing said shield axially to said first and said third positions;

a lock secured to said mount and in operative engagement with said shield to permit one-time movement of said shield from said first position to said second position, and one-time movement of said shield from said second position to said third position, said lock securing said shield in said third position following movement of said shield from said second position to said third position, said lock being non-depressible by a user so as to prevent subsequent movement of said shield out of said third position thereby locking said shield in said third position following movement of said shield from said second position to said third position.

2. A safety shield system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a needle cannula secured to said mount.

3. A safety shield system as recited by claim 1, wherein said shield has a track defined on an inside surface thereof, said track having an opening defined through a sidewall of said shield, said track being sized and shaped to receive said lock, said lock moving in said track as said shield is moved between said first position and said second position, and between said second position and said third position.

4. A safety shield system as recited by claim 3, wherein said lock comprises a resilient finger having a free end portion that passes freely over said opening defined through said sidewall of said shield as said shield is first moved from said first position to said second position, and wherein said free end portion of said resilient finger passes into said opening when said shield is moved from said second position to said third position so as to lock said shield in said third position following movement of said shield from said second position to said third position.

5. A safety shield system as recited by claim 1, wherein said first position and said third position are the same.

6. A safety shield system as recited by claim 1, wherein said shield has a slot defined in a sidewall thereof, said slot extending over a longitudinal length of said shield.

7. A safety shield system as recited by claim 6, wherein said mount has a rib defined thereon that is sized and shaped to ride in said slot as said shield is moved between said first, said second, and said third positions.

8. A safety shield system as recited by claim 1, further comprising a removable cup-shaped cap initially received over said shield.

9. A safety shield system as recited by claim 8, wherein said cup-shaped cap is configured to receive and retain said mount after use, thereby providing for safe disposal of said safety shield system and needle cannula.

10. A safety shield system as recited by claim 4, wherein said lock has a tubular body portion and wherein said finger includes a U-shaped portion connected to said tubular body portion.

11. A safety shield system as recited by claim 1, wherein said spring is a coil spring.

12. A safety shield system as recited by claim 1, wherein said shield is generally cup-shaped having an open end disposed around said mount and a generally closed end having a central opening defined therethrough and through which needle cannula may freely pass as said shield is moved between said first, said second and said third positions.

13. A pen injector and safety shield assembly, comprising:

a pen injector having a generally tubular body portion including an open end;

a safety shield assembly removably securable to said open end of said generally tubular body of said pen injector, said safety shield assembly comprising;

a mount for removably securing said safety shield system to the pen injector;

a needle cannula secured to said mount and having a first end extending into the pen injector body, and a second end extending away from the pen injector body;

a shield movably secured to said mount, said shield being movable between a first position, in which at least part of said needle cannula is surrounded by said shield, and a second position, in which said second end of the needle cannula is not surrounded by said shield, and a third position, in which said second end of said needle cannula is completely surrounded by said shield;

a spring positioned between said mount and said shield for biasing said shield axially to said first position;

a lock secured to said mount and in operative engagement with said shield to permit one-time movement of said shield from said first position to said second position, and one-time movement of said shield from said second position to said third position, said lock securing said shield in said third position following movement of said shield from said second position to said third position, said lock being non-depressible by a user so as to prevent subsequent movement of said shield out of said third position thereby locking said shield in said third position following movement of said shield from said second position to said third position.

14. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 13, wherein said shield has a track defined on an inside surface thereof, said track having an opening defined through a sidewall of said shield, said track being sized and shaped to receive said lock, said lock moving in said track as said shield is moved between said first position and said second position, and between said second position and said third position.

15. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 14, wherein said lock comprises a resilient finger having a free end portion that passes freely over said opening defined through said sidewall of said shield as said shield is first moved from said first position to said second position, and wherein said free end portion of said resilient finger passes into said opening when said shield is moved from said second position to said third position so as to lock said shield in said third position following movement of said shield from said second position to said third position.

16. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 13, wherein said first position and said third position are the same.

17. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 13, wherein said shield has a slot defined in a sidewall thereof, said slot extending over a longitudinal length of said shield.

18. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 17, wherein said mount has a rib defined thereon that is sized and shaped to ride in said slot as said shield is moved between said first, said second, and said third positions.

19. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 13, further comprising a removable cup-shaped cap initially received over said shield.

20. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 19, wherein said cup-shaped cap is configured to receive and retain said mount after use, thereby providing for safe disposal of said safety shield system and needle cannula.

21. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 15, wherein said lock has a tubular body portion and wherein said finger includes a U-shaped portion connected to said tubular body portion.

22. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 13, wherein said spring is a coil spring.

23. A pen injector and safety shield assembly as recited by claim 13, wherein said shield is generally cup-shaped having an open end disposed around said mount and a generally closed end having a central opening defined therethrough and through which needle cannula may freely pass as said shield is moved between said first, said second and said third positions.

24. A single-use safety shield system for a needle, said safety shield system comprising:

a clip having a resilient finger that is non-depressible by a user, said clip being removably attachable to a pen injector;

a shield surrounding said clip and having a first opening through which said needle may pass and a second opening defined in a sidewall thereof, said shield being movable from a first position, in which said shield at least partially surrounds said needle and said resilient finger is visible through said second opening and contained within said shield, a second position, in which said needle extends through said first opening, and a third position in which said shield completely surrounds said needle;

said finger freely passing over said second opening as said shield is moved from said first position to said second position, and said finger extending into said second opening when said shield is moved from said second position to said third position to thereby lock said shield in said third position so as to prevent re-use of said single-use safety shield system.

25. A single-use safety shield system as recited by claim 24, further comprising a spring for biasing said shield toward said first and said third positions.

26. A single-use safety shield system as recited by claim 24, wherein said resilient finger comprises a visual indicator depicting a pre-use state of said safety shield system, and a post-use state of said safety shield system.