Piercing member protection device

• US 8,287,513 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carmel Pharma AB (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carmel Pharma AB (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Ellstrom, Anna, Rosenquist, Tobias
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARCETICH, ADAM M
• Application Number:
  US11/853,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 604/82, 604/86, 604/87, 604/88, 604/89, 604/187, 604/246, 604/403, 604/411, 604/412, 604/414, 604/415, 604/905, 141/27, 141/97, 141/286, 141/319, 141/329, 141/346, 141/369, 141/372, 141/373, 141/383, 141/386, 141/387, 215/247, 215/316, 215/DIG.8, D24/127
• US Class Current: 604/415
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2065 having aligning and guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1016 Unlocking means providing a secure or comfortable disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1027 Quick-acting type connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1033 Swivel nut connectors, e.g. threaded connectors, bayonet-connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1044 Verifying the connection, e.g. audible feedback, tactile feedback, visual feedback, using external light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1066 having protection means, e.g. sliding sleeve to protect connector itself, shrouds to protect a needle present in the connector, protective housing, isolating sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1077 Adapters, e.g. couplings adapting a connector to one or several other connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/10 Tube connectors; Tube couplings A61M39/02 takes precedence; connecting needles to syringes or hubs A61M5/34; connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/1011 Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties A61M39/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/14 for connecting tubes having sealed ends needle sets A61M5/162; having valves closing automatically on disconnection of line A61M39/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/162 Needle sets, i.e. connections by puncture between reservoir and tube ; Connections between reservoir and tube in jet-action syringes A61M5/30; connectors for tubes having sealed ends and a needle for piercing them A61M39/14

Abstract

A female piercing member protection device for connection with a male connection part, and a method for connecting the device to a male connection part. The device includes an outer casing and a connection member at least partly enclosed in the outer casing. The outer casing is moveable between first and second positions. In the first position, the connection member is substantially locked from movement along the longitudinal axis A, and in the second position the connection member is able to move along the longitudinal axis A. The device also has an activated position and an inactivated position. When the outer casing is in the second position, a deformable locking device is prevented from deformation by the outer casing to prevent disengagement of the male connection part. A secure piercing member protection device significantly minimizes the risk for a user to be exposed to contaminants and the piercing member itself.

Claims

1. A female piercing member protection device, having a longitudinal axis (A), for connection with a male connection part, said female piercing member protection device comprising:

a piercing member;

an outer casing having a first and a second end and an inner and an outer side, a connection member having a first and a second end, said connection member arranged to be rotatable between an activated position and an inactivated position, and at least partly enclosed in, said outer casing,

further said outer casing arranged to be moved between a first and a second position,

wherein when said outer casing is in its first position, the connection member is substantially locked from movement with respect to said outer casing and said piercing member, to said activated position along the longitudinal axis A and when said outer casing is in its second position the connection member is able to move with respect to said outer casing and said piercing member, to said activated position along the longitudinal axis A; and

wherein the connection member comprises a deformable locking device that selectively engages said male connection part, wherein when said outer casing is in said second position, said deformable locking device is prevented from deformation by said outer casing so as to prevent disengagement of said male connection part, and wherein when said outer casing is in said first position, said deformable locking device is permitted to disengage with said male connection part.

2. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 1, wherein said connection member is arranged between said first and second end of said outer casing.

3. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 2, wherein said deformable locking device comprises at least one deformable locking flange.

4. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 3, wherein said deformable locking flange is an integrated part of the connection member.

5. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said outer casing comprises at least one aperture, and when said casing is in said first position, said aperture and said deformable locking flange is substantially aligned, so that said deformable locking flange can deform into said aperture during connection with said male connection part.

6. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 5, wherein when said outer casing is in said second position, said deformable locking flange is displaced from said aperture in said outer casing, so that said deformable locking flange is substantially unable to disengage from said male connection part.

7. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 5, wherein said connection member comprises at least two opposing deformable flanges.

8. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 7, wherein said connection member comprises at least four opposing deformable flanges.

9. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said inner side of said outer casing comprises a cavity, and when said casing is in said first position, said cavity and said deformable locking flange is substantially aligned, so that said deformable locking flange can deform into said cavity during connection with said male connector.

10. The female piercing member protection device according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said female piercing member protection device comprises a second locking device which can substantially lock said connection member from movement along said longitudinal axis (A), when said connection member is in said activated position.

11. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 10, wherein said second locking device comprises a locked position in which said connection member is substantially unable to slide along said longitudinal axis (A), and an unlocked position in which said connection member is substantially able to slide along said longitudinal axis (A).

12. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 11, wherein said second locking device comprises a manually locking device or an automatic locking device.

13. The female piercing member protection device according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said connection member comprises at least one barrier member.

14. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 13, wherein said connection member comprises two barrier members.

15. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 14, wherein two barrier members are arranged substantially parallel with respect each other and so as to intersect the longitudinal axis (A).

16. The female piercing member protection device according to claim 15, wherein said two barrier members are arranged so as to form a piercing tip protection chamber therebetween.

17. A method for connecting a female piercing member protection device according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, with a male connection part, said method comprising the steps of:

connecting said connection member to said male connection by means of said deformable locking device, moving said outer casing with respect to said connection member from a first position, in which said female piercing member protection device is in an inactivated state and in which said connection member is substantially unable to slide to an activated position along said longitudinal axis (A), to a second position, in which said female piercing member protection device is in an inactivated state and in which said connection member is substantially able to slide along said longitudinal axis (A), to said activated state wherein when said outer casing is in said second position, said male connection part is substantially unable to disengage from said piercing member protection device, wherein said female piercing member protection device is thereafter activated by moving said connection member to said activated position relative to the outer casing and with respect to the piercing member.

18. The method for connecting a female piercing member protection device with a male connection part according to claim 17, wherein said connection member can be substantially locked in said activated position by means of a locking ring arranged around the outer casing.

19. The method for connecting a female piercing member protection device with a male connection part according to claim 17, wherein said deformable flange provides a snap-on connection.