Administering device with a multi-component injection-moulded housing

• US 20070176322A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: De Polo, Marco, Etter, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 8,147,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/255
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part

Abstract

Method of producing an administering device for infusing or injecting a product, whereby in order to mould a housing shell (1) serving as a case for components of the administering device in a multi-component injection moulding process at least one pre-moulded, transparent insert part (22, 23) made from a first plastic material is inserted in an injection mould moulded to a shape matching the shape of the housing shell (1), a dimensionally stable, curable second plastic material is injected into the injection mould around the insert part (22, 23) to render it watertight and an opening left free in the second plastic material is closed to render it watertight by injecting on an elastomeric third plastic material.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A method of producing an administering device for infusing or injecting a product, wherein a housing shell serving as a case for components of the administering device is moulded in a multi-component injection moulding process, comprising the steps of:

a) inserting at least one pre-moulded, transparent insert part made from a first plastic material into an injection mould formed to correspond to the shape of the housing shell,

b) injecting a dimensionally stable, curable second plastic material into the injection mould around the insert part to render it watertight; and

c) closing an opening left free in the second plastic material to render it watertight by injecting an elastomeric third plastic material.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one filler is placed in the injection mould to form the opening, the filler removed after the second plastic material has set and the resultant opening is closed to render it watertight by injecting on the third plastic material.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the third plastic material is injected into the same injection mould.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the injection mould is opened after injecting round the insert part, the filler is removed, the injection mould is closed again, and the third plastic material is injected to take the place of the filler.

22. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of moulding, in another injection mould, a support structure from a dimensionally stable, curable plastic material, and the step of injecting a seal of a thermoplastic elastomer onto the support structure, and the support structure and the injected-on seal forming a base for being connected to the housing shell in a watertight fit.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the housing shell comprises a seal gap and the seal comprises a sealing lip, and the sealing lip is pressed into the seal gap so that the base and the housing shell are connected to one another in a watertight fit.

24. A method of producing an administering device comprising a housing shell serving as a case for components of the device, the method comprising a multi-component injection moulding process comprising the steps of:

placing in an injection mould at least one pre-moulded, transparent insert part made from a first plastic material and at least one filler formed to correspond to the shape of the housing shell,

injecting a dimensionally stable, curable second plastic material into the injection mould onto the insert part to render it watertight and removing the filler; and

closing an opening produced by the filler to render it watertight by injecting an elastomeric plastic material.

25. An administering device for infusing or injecting a product, comprising:

a) a receiver for the product,

b) a conveying mechanism for conveying the product,

c) a control element, and

d) a housing shell, which forms the receiver for the product and accommodates the conveying mechanism and the control element, the housing shell comprising;

e) a transparent, watertight wall region made from a first plastic material,

f) a dimensionally stable shell structure made in an injection mould from a different, second plastic material, which forms the side walls of the housing shell and incorporates a first opening closed by the transparent wall region and a second opening for the control element, and

g) a flexible, watertight wall region, which closes the second opening and overlaps the control element, wherein

h) a pre-moulded insert part forms the transparent wall region and the second plastic material is injected along an edge of the first opening so that the first plastic material and the second plastic material are joined along the edge in a watertight fit by means of at least one of a material join, a non-positive fit and a form fit of only the first and the second plastic material, and wherein

i) the flexible wall region is injection moulded onto the first plastic material in the injection mould using yet another, third plastic material, so that the third plastic material and the first plastic material are joined to one another in a watertight fit along an edge of the second opening by at least one of a material join, non-positive fit and form fit of only the first and the third plastic material.

26. The administering device as claimed claim 25, wherein the housing shell is generally oval in cross-section.

27. The administering device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the flexible wall region is a three-dimensional structure adapted to a shape of the control element.

28. The administering device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the flexible wall region comprises an indentation into which the control element projects.

31. The administering device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the insert part is generally tubular and a shell region of the insert part forms the transparent wall region.

32. The administering device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the transparent wall region is a display window or an external wall of the receiver for the product.

33. The administering device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the housing shell comprises several transparent wall regions, one of which is the display window and another of which forms the external wall of the receiver for the product, and the wall regions comprise respectively watertight insert parts around which the first plastic material is injected.

34. The administering device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the housing shell has an opening through which the components can be inserted in the housing shell when the administering device is being assembled, a seal gap extends around the opening, the device further comprising another housing shell comprising a dimensionally stable support structure and a sealing lip made from a thermoplastic elastomer injection moulded thereon, the sealing lip receivable in the seal gap, thereby connecting the housing shells in a watertight fit.

29. The administering device as claimed in 28, wherein the control element is a push button.

30. The administering device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the flexible wall region is moulded from a thermoplastic elastomer.