Fitments for injection devices

• US 4,507,118 A
• Filed: 07/01/1983
• Issued: 03/26/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sterimatic Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Sterimatic Holdings Limited
• Inventors: Dent, Hugh R.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US06/510,752
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 604/198, 604/197, 604/199, 604/263
• US Class Current: 604/198
• 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 5/001 Apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising syringes or needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31581 performed by rotationally moving or pivoting actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection lever or handle
• 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

Abstract

In order to minimize the risk of infection when a large number of animals are injected with the same needle, the injecting gun is provided with a stainless steel sleeve which surrounds the needle. The sleeve comprises a first tube attached to the needle connecting body and a second tube telescopically slidable within the first tube against a spring. A detachable plastics cap incorporating a sterilizing substance is fitted on the free end of the second tube. In use of the gun to inject an animal, the cap is applied to the proposed site of injection and pressure is applied to the gun to cause the tubes to telescope, so that the point of the needle passes through the sterilizing substance and punctures the skin of the animal. On releasing the applied pressure, the point of the needle will be withdrawn from the animal and will pass back through the sterilizing substance under the action of the spring.

Claims

1. A sterilising fitment for an injection device of the kind in which injection liquid is delivered through a hollow needle, the fitment being provided to sterilise the needle prior to its application to the site of injection and again on withdrawal of the needle from the site of injection, which fitment comprises a collapsible sleeve for surrounding the needle, means at one end of the sleeve for attaching the sleeve to a needle support of the injection device, and a sterilising substance holder releasably carried by the other end of the sleeve to close off said other end so as to enclose the needle, the holder comprising an enclosure containing sterilising means, and the two ends of the collapsible sleeve being reciprocable relative to one another in the direction of the length of the needle and being resiliently biased in the extended position, whereby, in use, when an injection is effected by placing said other end of the sleeve against the injection site and applying pressure to the injection device in a direction towards the injection site, the point of the needle moves through the sterilising means within the enclosure into the injection site as the sleeve collapses under the applied pressure and subsequently moves back into the sleeve through the sterilising means as the sleeve reassumes its extended position on release of said pressure, and the holder may subsequently be replaced on said other end of the sleeve by a holder containing fresh sterilising means.

2. A fitment according to claim 1, wherein the sterilising substance holder is an interference fit on said other end of the sleeve.

3. A fitment according to claim 1, wherein said other end of the sleeve is received within an annular recess in the sterilising substance holder.

4. A fitment according to claim 1, wherein the sterilising means comprise a body of absorbent material impregnated with a sterilising substance.

5. A fitment according to claim 1, wherein the sterilising substance holder is disposed adjacent but beyond the pointed end of the needle when the fitment is attached to the injection device, whereby the needle enters and moves through the sterilising means upon said collapse of the sleeve.

6. A fitment according to claim 1, wherein the sterilising substance holder incorporates a weakened portion which may be pierced by the needle.

7. A fitment according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible sleeve comprises two telescoping tubes, one of which incorporates at one end said means for attaching the sleeve to the needle support of the injection device, and the other of which releasably carries the sterilising substance holder.

8. A fitment according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible sleeve comprises a flexible intermediate portion connecting the two ends of the sleeve.

9. A fitment according to claim 8, wherein the flexible intermediate portion comprises a plurality of circumferentially disposed longitudinal strips connecting said two ends, which strips bow outwardly as the two ends are moved towards one another.

10. An injection device comprising a support for a hollow needle, a reservoir for injection liquid, means for delivering injection liquid from the reservoir through the needle, and a fitment for sterilising the needle prior to application of the needle to the site of injection and again on withdrawal of the needle from the site of injection, the fitment comprising a collapsible sleeve for surrounding the needle, one end of the sleeve being attached to the needle support, and a sterilising substance holder releasably carried by the other end of the sleeve to close off said other end so as to enclose the needle, the holder comprising an enclosure containing sterilising means, and the two ends of the collapsible sleeve being reciprocal relative to one another in the direction of the length of the needle and being resiliently biased in the extended position, whereby, when an injection is effected by placing said other end of the sleeve against the injection site and applying pressure to the injection device in a direction towards the injection site, the point of the needle moves through the sterilising means into the injection site as the sleeve collapses under the applied pressure and subsequently moves back into the sleeve through the sterilising means as the sleeve reassumes its extended position on release of said pressure, and the holder may subsequently be replaced on said other end of the sleeve by a holder containing fresh sterilising means.

11. An accessory for use with an injection device of the kind in which injectate is delivered through a hollow needle, the accessory comprising a sterilizing cap which is provided to sterilize the needle and is detachably connectable to one end of a sleeve through which the needle is moved in use, wherein the cap comprises a one piece plastic container which is adapted to be fitted to the end of the sleeve, and an annular wall which is connected to the container and is adapted to surround the end of the sleeve when the cap is fitted to the sleeve, whereby the end of the sleeve is received within the annular wall and is closed off by the cap, the container being such that the needle of the injection device may be passed therethrough and containing sterilizing means, whereby, when the cap is fitted to the sleeve, the point of the needle is sterilized by the sterilizing means as it is passed through the container.

12. An accessory as claimed in claim 11, in combination with a sleeve on which the accessory is mounted and which is disposed within said annular wall.