Limited depth penetration needle housing

• US 6,213,977 B1
• Filed: 11/18/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pharmacia AB (Pharmacia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Pharmacia AB (Pharmacia Corp.)
• Inventors: Hertig, Guido, Hjertman, Birger, Pavlu, Bohdan, Cseke, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/195,213
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 604/117, 604/192, 604/198
• US Class Current: 604/117
• 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 5/3272 having projections following labyrinth paths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and means for facilitating injection which enable a correct penetration depth of the needle. These improvements are obtainable by using a needle covering device comprising an axially displaceable first tubular sleeve (30) arranged around the front part of said injection apparatus which at its foremost part surrounds the needle (11) over its entire length, and while overcoming a spring force, is axially displaceable rearwards to expose a predetermined length of the needle, said device further comprises a stationary outer tubular sleeve (40) releasably attached to the injection apparatus and fitted around the front part of said injection apparatus and an inner adjustable tubular stopping sleeve (20) which is axially displaceable between at least two predetermined positions while performing a sliding, helical motion around said front part of said injection apparatus when setting the distance between the foremost part of said stopping sleeve and a stopping flange (31) arranged on the inside of the axially displaceable first sleeve.

Claims

1. A method for administering a drug by subcutaneous injection with a needle into a subcutaneous fat layer at an injection site, comprising:

a) attaching a needle covering device, in the form of a sleeve, to a front end of an injection apparatus, in a position to cover said needle, and in an axially moveable relationship to said injection apparatus;

b) estimating the depth of the subcutaneous fat layer at the injection site;

c) axially adjusting the position of the needle covering device relative to the injection apparatus in a predetermined manner to permit a needle penetration depth less than the estimated value of the depth of the subcutaneous fat layer; and

d) while overcoming a spring force, pressing the needle out of said covering device and into the subcutaneous fat layer, and thereby administering the drug into said fat layer through said penetrated needle;

wherein the needle covering device comprises, in combination, an outer stationary sleeve, an axially displaceable needle covering sleeve and a stopping sleeve; and

wherein said method further comprises;

axially adjusting said needle covering device by axially moving said stopping sleeve between at least two predetermined positions and thereby setting a distance between a part of said stopping sleeve and said needle covering sleeve which distance corresponds to one of at least two different needle length protrusions from the front of said needle covering sleeve.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

helically sliding said stopping sleeve around the front part of the injection apparatus in order to set a selected penetration depth for said needle.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising slidingly moving said stopping sleeve in relation to said outer sleeve such that at least one protrusions on the stopping sleeve engages with axially spaced slits in the outer sleeve.

4. A kit for subcutaneous injection with a needle comprising:

an injection apparatus containing at least one dose of a subcutaneously injectable preparation; and

a needle covering device, comprising;

a) means for releasingly attaching a tubular sleeve formed needle covering device to said injection apparatus; and

b) a spring which has a spring force that must be overcome when expressing the needle from the covering device into an injection site;

wherein the needle covering device comprises, in combination, a stationary sleeve, an axially displaceable needle covering sleeve and a stopping sleeve; and

wherein said needle covering device is adjustable for adjusting the penetration depth of the needle into a subcutaneous fat layer by axially moving said stopping sleeve between at least two predetermined positions and thereby setting the distance between a part of said stopping sleeve and the front of said needle covering sleeve, which distance corresponds to one of at least two different needle length protrusions from the front of said needle covering sleeve.

5. A kit according to claim 4, wherein the stopping sleeve is adapted to helically slide around a front part of the injection device in order to axially move said stopping sleeve in relation to said outer stationary sleeve and to thereby set a selected penetration depth with the stopping sleeve.

6. A kit according to claim 5, wherein the selected penetration depth is adapted to be set by slidingly moving said stopping sleeve such that protrusions on the stopping sleeve engage stepwise arranged slits in the outer sleeve.

7. In a movable cover for controlling a penetration depth of a needle connected to a front end of an injection apparatus, said cover comprising:

a) an attachment sleeve adapted for stationary attachment to a front end of an injection apparatus,

b) a tubular sleeve having a front end and a rear end, defining front and rear directions, with a needle receiving cavity between the front end and the rear end, wherein the tubular sleeve is movably disposed in an axially telescoping manner with respect to the attachment sleeve,

c) a compression spring disposed between the attachment sleeve and the tubular sleeve, which spring is adapted to bias the tubular sleeve to its frontmost position relative the attachment sleeve;

the improvement comprising;

an adjustable sleeve movably disposed, with respect to the attachment sleeve and the tubular sleeve, between at least two axially distinct positions, wherein at least a front part of the adjustable sleeve is movable into the needle receiving cavity of the tubular sleeve; and

at least one surface adapted to stop rearward movement of the tubular sleeve, disposed on the adjustable sleeve, to thereby limit relative movement between the adjustable sleeve and the tubular sleeve.

8. The improved cover of claim 7 wherein the spring is disposed between the tubular sleeve and the adjustable sleeve.

9. In a movable cover for adjusting a penetration depth of a needle connected to a front of an injection apparatus, said cover comprising:

a) an attachment sleeve adapted for stationary attachment to an injection apparatus front,

b) a tubular sleeve having a front end and a rear end, defining front and rear directions, with a needle receiving cavity between the front end and the rear end, wherein the tubular sleeve is movably disposed in an axially telescoping manner with respect to the attachment sleeve, and

c) a compression spring disposed between the attachment sleeve and the tubular sleeve, which spring is adapted to bias the tubular sleeve to its frontmost position relative the attachment sleeve,

the improvement comprising;

an adjustment sleeve, disposed substantially co-axially with, and rotatable relative to, at least the attachment sleeve, said adjustment sleeve being is axially movable with respect to said attachment sleeve in a telescoping manner, wherein rotation of the adjustment sleeve is adapted to move a stop surface for the tubular sleeve between at least two axially distinct positions.

10. The cover of claim 9 wherein the spring is disposed between the tubular sleeve and the adjustment sleeve.