Needle protection injection devices

• US 6,183,446 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Disetronic Licensing Ag (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Jeanbourquin, Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US09/208,078
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 604/198, 604/192, 604/110, 604/197, 604/263, 128/919
• 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 5/3257 Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3272 having projections following labyrinth paths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3287 Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion A61M5/20, A61M5/31525 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a needle protector for use with an injection device, wherein the needle protector includes a first sleeve, a second sleeve that can at least partially be slid into or over the first sleeve and a force element functioning between the two sleeves, wherein a pressure or trigger point has to be overcome to displace the second sleeve.

Claims

1. A needle protector for use on an injection device and comprising a first sleeve, a second sleeve axially slidable relative to the first sleeve and a force element between the two sleeves whereby a trigger pressure must be overcome to unexpectedly axially displace the second sleeve.

2. The needle protector according to claim 1, wherein the second sleeve can be coupled to the injection device.

3. The needle protector according to claim 1, wherein the first sleeve can be coupled to the injection device.

4. The needle protector according to claim 3, wherein the connection of the first sleeve with the injection device prevents any displacement and rotation of the first sleeve.

5. The needle protector according to claim 1, wherein said trigger pressure is created substantially by a cam and path arrangement operable generally between the first sleeve and the second sleeve.

6. The needle protector according to claim 5, wherein one of the sleeves has a plurality of cams slidably received in corresponding paths carried by the other sleeve.

7. The needle protector according to claim 6, wherein the protector has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein a cam gliding in the proximal direction passes through at least two generally straight areas in the corresponding path, one proximal area extending in the displacement direction of the second sleeve and another area that relative to the displacement direction is distal and angled.

8. The needle protector according to claim 7, further comprising another area in the corresponding path, said another area extending generally in the displacement direction of the second sleeve, connected to the angled area and extending therefrom in a generally distal direction.

9. The needle protector according to claim 8, wherein said another area comprises a reset area.

10. The needle protector according to claim 8, wherein the angle between the proximal area and the another area creates the trigger pressure.

11. The needle protector according to claim 10, wherein changing the angle changes the force required for overcoming the trigger pressure.

12. The needle protector according to claim 11, wherein the angled area contains a guide edge for the cam slidable therein that is at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 30 degrees relative to the displacement direction of the second sleeve.

13. The needle protector according to claim 1, wherein one of the sleeves is provided with at least one cam which glides in a corresponding path of the other sleeve.

14. The needle protector according to claim 1, wherein the protector has a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein the trigger pressure is created by a cam and movement of the cam in an associated path, said cam urged in a distal direction as a result of the axial pressure of a spring, said cam movable through two straight areas in the associated path, one area extending in a distal direction adjacent to and at a proximal end point of the path and an angled area generally at the distal end point of the path and extending generally trasversely with respect to said one area.

15. The needle protector according to claim 1, wherein the force element is a spring.

16. The needle protector according to claim 1, further comprising a cam carried by one of said sleeves and a path carried by the other of said sleeves for receiving said cam, wherein said path comprises two generally straight areas, one of said areas extending at an angle relative to the other.

17. The needle protector according to claim 16, said straight areas comprising a first straight area extending in a distal direction adjacent to a proximal end point of the path and a second straight area generally at the distal end point of the path and extending generally transversely with respect to said first area.

18. The needle protector according to claim 17, wherein the angle between the straight areas is determinative of the trigger pressure.

19. A needle protector having a proximal end, a distal end and an axis extending generally therebetween, said needle protector comprising a first sleeve and a second sleeve, one of said sleeves axially slidable with respect to the other sleeve, and a force element operably coupling the two sleeves, whereby a pressure must be overcome to slidably displace the slidable sleeve toward the proximal end, said force element comprising at least one cam member carried by one sleeve and an associated path carried by the other sleeve for operably receiving the cam member, said path comprising a first straight region extending generally in the direction of slidable displacement and a second straight region angled with respect to the first region, and a spring operably coupled to said sleeves and urging the slidable sleeve generally toward the distal end.

20. A needle protector for use on an injection device, said needle protector having an axial length, and comprising a first sleeve and a second sleeve, one of said sleeves axially slidable with respect to the other sleeve, and a force operably coupling the two sleeves, whereby a pressure must be overcome to accomplish an injection, said force element comprising at least one cam member carried by one sleeve and an associated path carried by the other sleeve for operably receiving the cam member, said path comprising a first straight region extending generally in the direction of the slidable movement and a second straight region angled with respect to the first region, and a spring operably coupled to said sleeves and urging the needle protector to the axial length.