Plastic pointed articles and method for their preparation

• US 5,250,066 A
• Filed: 03/19/1990
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Lambert, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Polutta, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US07/495,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 604/239, 604/272, 606/181, 606/182, 606/183, 606/167, 606/222, 606/223
• US Class Current: 606/181
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150282 for piercing elements, e.g. blade, lancet, canula, needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150404 Specific design of proximal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150511 Details of construction of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15105 Purely manual piercing, i.e. the user pierces the skin without the assistance of any driving means or driving devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/0098 shearing of the moulding material, e.g. for obtaining molecular orientation or reducing the viscosity B29C45/0082 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/00 Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor injection blow-moulding B29C49/06
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/261 having tubular mould cavities

Abstract

A plastic article having a sharp point is made of a polymer of high impact strength and high hardness. The article may be a lancet or a needle for skin puncture, suturing or sewing. A method for preparing the article includes shear thinning a melt of a polymer and introducing the shear thinned melt into a mold which includes a sharp point.

Claims

1. A lancet comprising a body portion and a needle portion tapering to a point, said body and needle portions being unitary and molded of a shear-thinned thermoplastic polymer selected from the group consisting of a liquid crystalline polymer and modified acrylic polymer.

2. The lancet of claim 1 wherein said point is beveled.

3. The lancet of claim 1 further comprising a shear thinning additive.

4. A lancet comprising a grasping portion and a needle portion having a point, said grasping and needle portions being unitary and molded of a shear-thinned thermoplastic, modified acrylic polymer having a durometer hardness of at least 70 Shore D and an impact strength of at least 1.0 ft-lbs/in.

5. A lancet prepared by a process comprising heating a thermoplastic modified acrylic polymer having an impact resistance of at least 1.0 foot pound per inch and a Shore D hardness of at least 70 to give a melt, forcing said melt through an orifice of about 0.5 to 2.0 mm diameter at a pressure of 500 to 1,500 pounds per square inch to give a melt of reduced viscosity, directing said melt of reduced viscosity into a mold having a beveled point whereby said melt of reduced viscosity completely fills said mold, and cooling said melt.