Variable-length needle covering device of an injection device

• US 7,326,185 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Brand, Andreas, Steiner, Remo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lam; Ann Y.
• Application Number:
  US10/233,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 604/110, 604192-199, 604214-219, 604/187, 604/200, 604/264, 604/93.01, 604/164.01, 604/131, 604/118
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• 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 2205/59 Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• 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 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

The invention relates to a needle covering device of an injection device, the injection device including a casing comprising a reservoir, in particular an ampoule, for a product fluid to be administered, and an injection needle for injecting the product fluid from the reservoir, wherein the device surrounds the injection needle in an extended position and exposes the injection needle in a retracted position. The device comprises a passage for the injection needle, a front section via which the device is placed on an injection point, and another section which is nearer to the casing than the front section is, at least in the extended position. The sections can be moved axially relative to the casing and relative to each other, such that the device is variable in its length, the front section being guided in a straight line on the casing.

Claims

1. An injection device comprising:

a casing having a reservoir for a fluid product and an injection needle; and

a needle covering device, wherein the needle covering device comprises;

a rear section for attaching the needle covering device to the injection device;

a retractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to the rear section so as to define an extended position that substantially surrounds the injection needle and a retracted position that exposes the injection needle, wherein a portion of the front section may be abutted against a surface to be injected and the front section is moveable through said range of motion generally freely; and

a magnetic contact for activating the automatic delivery of said fluid product, the magnetic contact coupled to the retractable front section, wherein the magnetic contact extends through the rear section into the casing when the retractable front section is in the retracted position to activate the injection device.

2. The injection device of claim 1, wherein the retractable front section is axially rigid.

3. The injection device of claim 1, wherein said front section and said rear section are telescopic with respect to one another.

4. The injection device of claim 3, further comprising a guide bar coupled to the needle covering device and a receptacle connected to the casing, wherein the receptacle forms a guide for the guide bar.

5. The injection device of claim 3, wherein said front section and said rear section are prevented from rotating with respect to one another.

6. The injection device of claim 1, further comprising a guiding body wherein said front section is slide-guided in a straight line on said casing by the guiding body.

7. The injection device of claim 1, wherein the retractable front section includes a spring, and the retractable front section is urged to the extended position by force of the spring.

8. An injection device comprising:

a casing for enclosing a reservoir for a fluid product and an injection needle; and

a needle covering device, wherein the needle covering device comprises;

a rear section for attaching the needle covering device to the injection device;

a retractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to the rear section so as to define an extended position that substantially surrounds the injection needle and a retracted position that exposes the injection needle, wherein a portion of the front section may be abutted against a surface to be injected and the front section is moveable through said range of motion generally freely; and

a Reed contact for activating the automatic delivery of said fluid product, the Reed contact coupled to the retractable front section, wherein the Reed contact extends through the rear section into the casing when the retractable front section is in the retracted position to activate the injection device.

9. The injection device of claim 8, wherein the Reed contact is an iron-plastic Reed contact.

10. An injection device comprising:

a casing for enclosing a reservoir for a fluid product, an injection needle; and

a needle covering device, wherein the needle covering device comprises;

(a) a rear section for attaching the needle covering device to the injection device;

(b) a retractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to the rear section so as to define an extended position that substantially surrounds the injection needle;

(c) a retracted position that exposes the injection needle, wherein a portion of the front section may be abutted against a surface to be injected and the front section is moveable through said range of motion generally freely, and wherein the front section in the retracted position presses against a switch that lies opposite a placing area on the injection needle; and

(d) a magnetic contact for activating the automatic delivery of the fluid product, the magnetic contact connected to the retractable front section, wherein the magnetic contact extends through the rear section into the casing when the retractable front section is in the retracted position to activate the injection device.