Pen Needle Assembly For Preventing Under-Torquing and Over-Torquing Of Pen Needle

• US 20090069753A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Embecta Corporation
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Ruan, Tieming, Gold, Adam, Raj, Abhijitsinh S., Horvath, Joshua David
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3254 Shielding of proximal needles, e.g. for pen needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• 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 5/3213 Caps placed axially onto the needle, e.g. equipped with finger protection guards axially-extensible protective sleeves A61M5/3243
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3293 characterised by features of the needle hub
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/343 Connection of needle cannula to needle hub, or directly to syringe nozzle without a needle hub A61M5/322 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/347 rotatable, e.g. bayonet or screw A61M5/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/5086 for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile

Abstract

A pen needle hub and cover for a pen needle assembly that provides tactile and/or audible indicia of proper attachment between the hub of the pen needle and the pen is provided. Such indicia substantially prevent under- and over-torquing of the pen needle. The tactile indicia may include a user sensing a wave of a torque of peak value followed by a torque of lesser value.

Claims

1. A hub assembly for an injection apparatus, comprising:

a cover having outer and inner surfaces;

a hub disposed in said cover and having first and second ends and outer and inner surfaces, an opening being formed at said first end and threads being formed on said inner surface proximal said second end to facilitate connecting said hub assembly to a cartridge of said injection apparatus;

a plurality of protrusions formed on said outer surface of said hub; and

at least one rib formed on said inner surface of said cover such that said at least one rib is disposed between adjacent protrusions when said hub is disposed in said cover;

wherein said at least one rib moves over said plurality of protrusions when said hub assembly is properly connected with the cartridge, thereby indicating to the user that said hub assembly and the cartridge are properly connected.

2. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

each of said plurality of protrusions and said at least one rib have mating sloped surfaces, thereby facilitating movement of said at least one rib over said plurality of protrusions.

3. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a first tooth is formed on each of said sloped surfaces of said plurality of protrusions;

and

a second tooth is formed on said sloped surface of said at least one rib, such that an audible indicia is generated when said second tooth of said at least one rib passes over said first tooth of said plurality of protrusions.

4. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said plurality of protrusions are inwardly extending grooves.

5. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

a projection extends outwardly from said second end of said hub and received by said cover;

a second plurality of grooves are formed in an outer surface of said projection; and

a second plurality of protrusions are formed on an inner surface of said cover that engage said second plurality of grooves such that audible indicia is generated when said hub assembly and the cartridge are properly connected.

6. A hub assembly for an injection apparatus, comprising:

a cover having outer and inner surfaces;

a hub disposed in said cover and having first and second ends and outer and inner surfaces, an opening being formed at said first end and threads being formed on said inner surface proximal said second end to facilitate connecting said hub assembly to a cartridge of said injection apparatus;

at least one protrusion formed on said outer surface of said hub proximal said first end;

at least one cut-out portion formed in said inner surface of said cover; and

a cantilever hook formed in each of said at least one cut-out portions of said cover, said cantilever hook having an arm and a projection such that when said hub is disposed in said cover said at least one protrusion engages said arm of said at least one cantilever hook such that an interference fit is formed between said hub and said cover;

wherein said at least one protrusion moves along said at least one cantilever hook when said hub assembly is being connected with the cartridge, and when said hub assembly is properly connected said at least one protrusion slides over said projection of said cantilever arm into said cut-out portion thereby indicating to the user that said hub assembly and cartridge are properly connected.

7. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

further rotation of said hub assembly is prevented when said at least one protrusion is disposed in said at least one cut-out portion.

8. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

said projection has a first ramped surface and a second ramped surface, said first ramped surface being closer to said arm and being steeper than said second ramped surface.

9. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

at least one tab is disposed on an inner surface of said cover and adapted to engage said at least one protrusion when said hub assembly is being disengaged from the cartridge.

10. A hub assembly for an injection apparatus, comprising:

a cover;

a hub disposed in said cover and having first and second ends and outer and inner surfaces, an opening being formed at said first end and threads being formed on said inner surface proximal said second end to facilitate connecting said hub assembly to a cartridge of said injection apparatus; and

a ring assembly disposed inside said hub;

wherein said ring assembly creates audible indicia with said threads when said hub assembly and the cartridge are properly connected.

11. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

at least one tab extending outwardly from said ring assembly and engaging said threads.

12. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said ring assembly includes

a first ring disposed proximal said second end of said second end of said hub;

a second ring; and

a plurality of living hinges connecting said upper ring to said lower ring;

wherein when said hub assembly is properly connected to the cartridge said first ring moves to a position proximal said second end of said hub and said second ring moves to a position proximal the cartridge, thereby generating the audible indicia.

13. A hub assembly for an injection apparatus, comprising:

a cover having outer and inner surfaces;

a hub disposed in said cover and having first and second ends and outer and inner surfaces, an opening being formed at said first end and threads being formed on said inner surface proximal said second end to facilitate connecting said hub assembly to a cartridge of said injection apparatus;

a plurality of cavities formed in said inner surface of said cover; and

at least one projection formed on said outer surface of said hub;

wherein said plurality of cavities move over said at least one projection when said hub assembly is properly connected with the cartridge, thereby indicating to the user that said hub assembly and cartridge are properly connected.

14. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

said plurality of cavities are evenly spaced around a circumference of said inner surface of said cover.

15. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

said at least one projection is formed on a flexible arm to facilitate movement of said at least one projection in and out of said plurality of cavities.

16. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 13, wherein

said at least one projection extends outwardly from said outer surface of said hub in a radial direction.

17. A hub assembly for an injection apparatus, comprising:

a cover having outer and inner surfaces;

a hub disposed in said cover and having a base and a side wall extending outwardly from said base, threads being formed on an inner surface of said side wall to facilitate connecting said hub assembly to a cartridge of said injection apparatus;

a first projection formed on said inner surface of said side wall; and

a second projection formed on an inner surface of said base, said second projection contacting said first projection;

wherein said second projection is moved over said first projection by said cartridge when said hub assembly is properly connected with the cartridge, thereby creating audible indicia to the user that said hub assembly and the cartridge are properly connected.

18. A hub assembly for an injection apparatus, comprising:

a cover having outer and inner surfaces;

a hub disposed in said cover and having a base and a side wall extending outwardly from said base, threads being formed on an inner surface of said side wall to facilitate connecting said hub assembly to a cartridge of said injection apparatus;

a projection formed on said hub; and

a membrane formed on said cover;

wherein said projection punctures said membrane when said hub assembly is properly connected with the cartridge, thereby creating audible indicia to the user that said hub assembly and the cartridge are properly connected.

19. A hub assembly for an injection apparatus, comprising:

a cover having outer and inner surfaces;

a hub disposed in said cover and having first and second ends and outer and inner surfaces, an opening being formed at said first end and threads being formed on said inner surface proximal said second end to facilitate connecting said hub assembly to a cartridge of said injection apparatus; and

means for generating indicia when said hub assembly is properly connected with the cartridge, thereby indicating to the user that said hub assembly and the cartridge are properly connected.

20. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

said indicia is audible.

21. The hub assembly for an injection apparatus according to claim 19, wherein

said indicia is tactile.