Needle protection device intended for a carpule and injection device comprising a carpule and this protection device

• US 7,097,636 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tech Group Europe Limited (West Pharmaceutical Services Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SEDAT Co.
• Inventors: Pessin, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOUCHELLE, LAURA A
• Application Number:
  US10/995,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20050119623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 604/187, 604/192, 604/197, 604/198, 604/110
• US Class Current: 604/187
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• 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 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position

Abstract

The auxiliary device (2) for protecting a needle (30) comprises:

• • a protector support (20) which delimits a chamber (27) for receiving a reservoir (1) of fluid to be injected, which reservoir is provided with a piston (8) and which support (20) is provided with means (31) for being fixedly joined to the reservoir (1);
  • a needle protector (22) which can be moved relative to the support (20) between a retracted position and a deployed position for protecting the needle (30).

The support (20) comprises the needle (30) along the axis of the chamber (27). The joining means (31) comprise hooks (32) which protrude in the chamber (27) and which delimit, around the needle (30), a cage (31) for resiliently latching around the neck (10) of a carpule (1) which forms the reservoir.

Claims

1. An auxiliary needle protection device comprising:

a protector support which delimits a chamber extending along an axis for receiving a carpule containing fluid to be injected, having a neck at an extremity, closed by a cap, and provided at an opposed extremity with a piston, the support comprising an end for introducing the carpule into the chamber along the axis of the chamber;

a needle carried by the protector support in the axis of the chamber and having an injection end which protrudes from the chamber and a perforation end which protrudes into the chamber;

joining means provided on the support for fixedly joining the carpule to the support, the joining means comprising hooks which protrude in the chamber and which delimit, around the needle, a cage for resiliently latching around the neck of the carpule;

whereby upon axial insertion of the carpule into the chamber through the introduction end, the hooks engage the neck of the carpule to axially immobilise the carpule relative to the support, and the cap of the carpule is perforated by the perforation end of the needle;

a collar provided on the support at the end for introducing the carpule into the chamber;

a needle protector which can be moved relative to the protector support between a retracted position and a deployed position for protecting the needle;

a spring which is interposed between the collar of the protector support and the needle protector, which spring is initially compressed and can urge the needle protector towards the deployed position thereof.

2. Needle protection device according to claim 1, wherein the needle protector comprises an outer collar which allows the fingers of the practitioner to be supported in order to carry out an injection.

3. Needle protection device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a push-button which is initially connected to the protector support or the protector, which push-button delimits a cavity for initially receiving the injection end of the needle and comprises an end for connecting to a moveable piston of the carpule.

4. Needle protection device according to claim 2, wherein it comprises a push-button which is initially connected to the protector support or the protector, which push-button delimits a cavity for initially receiving the injection end of the needle and comprises an end for connecting to a moveable piston of the carpule.

5. Needle protection device according to claim 3, wherein the push-button is integral with the needle protector.

6. Needle protection device according to claim 4, wherein the push-button is integral with the needle protector.

7. Device according to claim 3, wherein the push-button is fitted to the protector support.

8. Device according to claim 4, wherein the push-button is fitted to the protector support.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the protector support and the needle protector comprise complementary resilient latching means which can bring about the retention of the needle protector in the deployed position thereof.

10. Injection device comprising, on the one hand, a carpule which comprises a tubular body which has a narrow neck which delimits a shoulder and which is provided with a perforatable closing cap and an injection piston which is mounted so as to be able to slide in the body and, on the other hand, a needle protection device according to claim 1.