Safety Device for a Pre-Filled Syringe and Injection Device

• US 20130324923A1
• Filed: 06/21/2011
• Published: 12/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Roberts, Gareth, Ward, Chris, Ekman, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,352,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/110
• 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 5/28 Syringe ampoules or carpules, i.e. ampoules or carpules provided with a needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3204 Needle cap remover, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices
• 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 5/3272 having projections following labyrinth paths

Abstract

According to the invention, a safety device for a pre-filled syringe comprises a hollow support body for mounting the pre-filled syringe therein, a hollow needle shield that is slidable relative to the support body and guiding means for guiding the movement of the needle shield relative to the support body. The guiding means comprise a flexible arm with a guide pin, a guide track and a separating wall. The guide pin extends from the flexible arm in a radial direction, and protrudes into the guide track. The separating wall extends into the guide track in a direction parallel to a central axis of the safety device. When the needle shield is slid relative to the support body the guide pin moves along the guide track to deflect the flexible arm in a lateral direction perpendicular to the central axis and the movement of the guide pin along the guide track is guided by the interplay of the flexible arm and the separating wall.

Claims

1. A safety device for a pre-filled syringe comprising

a hollow support body for mounting the pre-filled syringe therein,

a hollow needle shield that is slidable relative to the support body,

and guiding means for guiding the movement of the needle shield relative to the support body, wherein the guiding means comprise

a flexible arm with a guide pin extending from the flexible arm in a radial direction,

a guide track, wherein the guide pin protrudes into the guide track and

a separating wall that extends into the guide track in a direction parallel to a central axis of the safety device and

wherein, when the needle shield is slid relative to the support body, the guide pin moves along the guide track to deflect the flexible arm in a lateral direction perpendicular to the central axis and the movement of the guide pin along the guide track is guided by the interplay of the flexible arm and the separating wall, and wherein the safety device comprises means for preventing relative rotation between the support body the needle shield.

2. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible arm is connected to one of the needle shield or the support body and the guide track is formed into the other of the needle shield or the support body.

3. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating wall extends into a widened section of the guide track that extends parallel to the central axis of the safety device.

4. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating wall has an axial dimension extending parallel to the central axis that defines substantially a minimal axial distance that the needle shield has to be moved with respect to the support body until the safety device is prevented from re-usage.

5. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that an audible feedback is generated when the needle shield is retracted with respect to the support body by a distance that matches or exceeds the minimal axial distance.

6. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the separating wall prevents the guide pin to access an end position within the guide track from one of the distal direction or the proximal direction, whereas guide pin is allowed to enter the end position from the other of the distal direction or the proximal direction.

7. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide track is formed into a surface of the support body or into a surface of the needle shield as a recess.

8. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide track forms an aperture in one of the needle shield or the support body.

9. A safety device according to claim 8, characterized in that the separating wall is flexible and the guide pin moves along the guide track to deflect the separating wall, whereby the deflection of the flexible separating wall depends on the deflection of the flexible arm.

10. A safety device according to claim 8, characterized in that an elasticity of the separating wall is adapted to an elasticity of the flexible arm, so that the separating wall is deflectable by the deflected flexible arm.

11. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide pin is biased in the lateral direction by the deflected flexible arm.

12. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible arm in a rest position extends essentially parallel to the central axis.

13. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide track comprises an inclined section oriented at an angle with respect to the central axis.

14. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the needle shield is retained in an initial position by the guide pin being retained in a start position within the inclined section of the guide track, whereas the needle shield in the initial position protrudes the support body in a distal direction.

15. A safety device according to claim 10, characterized in that the safety device comprises a compression spring arranged in a non-energized state when the needle shield is in the initial position.

16. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the needle shield is movable from the initial position to a refracted position and further to an advanced position, whereas the needle shield protrudes the support body in the initial position and in the advanced position.

17. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for preventing relative rotation between the support body and the needle shield comprise a first longitudinal and a first longitudinal tongue.

18. An injection device comprising a safety device according to claim 1 and a pre-filled syringe with a hypodermic needle attached to a distal end of the pre-filled syringe, wherein the safety device comprises

a hollow support body for mounting the pre-filled syringe therein,

a hollow needle shield that is slidable relative to the support body,

and guiding means for guiding the movement of the needle shield relative to the support body, wherein the guiding means comprise

a flexible arm with a guide pin extending from the flexible arm in a radial direction,

a guide track, wherein the guide pin protrudes into the guide track and

a separating wall that extends into the guide track in a direction parallel to a central axis of the safety device

and wherein, when the needle shield is slid relative to the support body, the guide pin moves along the guide track to deflect the flexible arm in a lateral direction perpendicular to the central axis and the movement of the guide pin along the guide track is guided by the interplay of the flexible arm and the separating wall and wherein the pre-filled syringe is retained within the support body of the safety device, so that the hypodermic needle protrudes the distal end of the support body, whereas the hypodermic needle is surrounded by the needle shield in the initial position and in the advanced position and exposed in the retracted position.