ADMINISTERING DEVICE WITH A MULTI-COMPONENT INJECTION-MOLDED HOUSING

• US 20120153534A1
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Published: 06/21/2012
• 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: Etter, Philip, De Polo, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 8,652,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/254
• 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 mold a housing shell serving as a case for components of the administering device in a multi-component injection molding process at least one pre-molded, transparent insert part made from a first plastic material is inserted in an injection mold molded to a shape matching the shape of the housing shell, a dimensionally stable, curable second plastic material is injected into the injection mold around the insert part 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. 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 molded in a multi-component injection molding process, the method comprising:

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

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

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

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one filler is placed in the injection mold 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.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third plastic material is injected into the same injection mold.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the injection mold is opened after injecting round the insert part, the filler is removed, the injection mold is closed again, and the third plastic material is injected to take the place of the filler.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising molding, in another injection mold, 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.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, 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.

7. 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 molding process comprising:

placing in an injection mold at least one pre-molded, 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 mold 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.

8. A method of producing an administering device for infusion or injecting a product, comprising:

providing an injection mold which defines a first housing shell, which forms a receiver for the product and accommodates a conveying mechanism and a control element, wherein the first housing shell defines a first opening, a second opening for the control element, and a third opening through which components can be inserted in the first housing shell when the administering device is assembled, and a seal gap which extends around the third opening;

providing to the injection mold, a pre-molded insert part which forms a transparent, watertight wall region made from a first plastic material;

injecting into the injection mold a different, second plastic material so that the first plastic material and the second plastic material are joined to together along an edge of the first opening in a watertight fit by an injection mold formed seal, wherein the first opening is closed by the pre-molded insert part and the second plastic material forms side walls of the first housing shell;

injecting into the injection mold onto the second plastic material a different, third plastic material so that the third plastic material and the second plastic material are joined together along an edge of the second opening in a watertight fit by an injection mold formed seal, wherein the third plastic material forms a flexible, watertight wall region which closes the second opening and overlaps the control element;

providing a support structure having an anchoring element; and

providing a second housing shell to close the third opening by molding over both the support structure and anchoring element and into the seal gap of the first housing shell to form a seal therebetween with a formed sealing lip, via thermoplastic elastomer injection, such that the first and second housing shells are connected in a watertight fit.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprises providing the first and second housing shells in a generally oval in cross-section.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprises providing the flexible wall region as a three-dimensional structure adapted to a shape of the control element.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprises providing the flexible wall region with an indentation into which the control element projects.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprises molding the flexible wall region from a thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the insert part is generally tubular and said method comprises providing a shell region of the insert part forming the transparent wall region.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprises providing the transparent wall region as a display window or an external wall of the receiver for the product.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first 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 said method comprises providing the wall regions as respectively watertight insert parts around which the first plastic material is injected.

17. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprises joining the seal in a form fit and material join onto a shell structure.

18. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprises joining the support structure and a holder in a form and non-positive fit.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the conveying mechanism comprises a drive member which is supported on the holder in a forward drive direction and transversely thereto in a radial direction.

20. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprises providing in the seal gap the sealing lip which establishes a pressing contact with each oppositely lying, mutually facing side walls of the seal gap.

12. The method as claimed in 11, further comprises providing the control element as a push button.