Administering device with a multi-component injection-molded housing

• US 8,652,387 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Etter, Philip, De Polo, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Del Sole, Joseph S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hohenbrink, Jr., Lawrence D
• Application Number:
  US13/406,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20120153534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 264/254, 264/255, 264/294, 264/271.1, 264/279, 264/279.1, 604/65, 604/48
• US Class Current: 264/294
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14264 with means for compensating influence from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1676 using a soft material and a rigid material, e.g. making articles with a sealing part

Abstract

Method of producing an administering device for infusing or injecting a product, whereby in order to mold a housing shell serving as a case for components of the administering device in a multi-component injection molding process at least one pre-molded, transparent insert part made from a first plastic material is inserted in an injection mold molded to a shape matching the shape of the housing shell, a dimensionally stable, curable second plastic material is injected into the injection mold around the insert part to render it watertight and an opening left free in the second plastic material is closed to render it watertight by injecting on an elastomeric third plastic material.

Claims

1. A method of producing an administering device for infusing or injecting a liquid medicament, comprising:

providing an injection mold which defines a first housing shell, wherein the first housing shell is configured to accommodate components which comprises a receiver for the liquid medicament, a conveying mechanism, and a control element, wherein the first housing shell defines a first opening, a second opening for the control element, a third opening through which the components are inserted in the first housing shell when the administering device is assembled, and a seal gap which extends around the third opening;

providing to the injection mold, a pre-molded insert part which forms a transparent, watertight wall region made from a first plastic material;

injecting into the injection mold a different, second plastic material so that the first plastic material and the second plastic material are joined to together along an edge of the first opening in a watertight fit by an injection mold formed seal, wherein the first opening is closed by the pre-molded insert part and the second plastic material forms side walls of the first housing shell;

providing the components in the first housing shell through the third opening;

injecting into the injection mold onto the second plastic material a different, third plastic material so that the third plastic material and the second plastic material are joined together along an edge of the second opening in a watertight fit by an injection mold formed seal, wherein the third plastic material forms a flexible, watertight wall region which closes the second opening and overlaps the control element;

providing a dimensionally stable support structure having an anchoring element to the third opening of the first housing shell; and

injection molding a thermoplastic elastomer over the dimensionally stable support structure to form a second housing shell which surrounds the anchoring element and into the seal gap of the first housing shell both to close the third opening and form a seal therebetween with a formed sealing lip such that the first housing shell and second housing shell are connected in a watertight fit.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises providing the first housing shell and second housing shell in a generally oval in cross-section.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises providing the flexible wall region as a three-dimensional structure adapted to a shape of the control element.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises providing the flexible wall region with an indentation into which the control element projects.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprises molding the flexible wall region from a thermoplastic elastomer.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insert part is generally tubular and said method comprises providing a shell region of the insert part forming the transparent wall region.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprises providing the transparent wall region as a display window or an external wall of the receiver for the liquid medicament.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first housing shell comprises several transparent wall regions, one of which is the display window and another of which forms the external wall of the receiver for the liquid medicament, and said method comprises providing the wall regions as respectively watertight insert parts around which the first plastic material is injected.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises joining the seal in a form fit and material join onto a shell structure.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises joining the dimensionally stable support structure and a holder in a form and non-positive fit.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the conveying mechanism comprises a drive member which is supported on the holder in a forward drive direction and transversely thereto in a radial direction.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprises providing in the seal gap the sealing lip which establishes a pressing contact with each oppositely lying, mutually facing side walls of the seal gap.

5. The method as claimed in 4, further comprises providing the control element as a push button.

14. A method of producing an administering device for infusing or injecting a liquid medicament, comprising:

providing a first housing shell, wherein the first housing shell comprises;

a receiver for the liquid medicament, wherein the receiver comprises a first opening for receiving the liquid medicament,

a conveying mechanism configured to convey the liquid medicament in a forward drive direction,

a second opening at a terminal end of the first housing shell, and

a seal gap which extends around the second opening at the terminal end of the first housing shell;

providing a dimensionally stable support structure having an anchoring element to the second opening of the first housing shell;

injection molding a thermoplastic elastomer over the dimensionally stable support structure to form a second housing shell which surrounds the anchoring element and into the seal gap of the first housing shell both to close the second opening and form a seal therebetween with a formed sealing lip such that the first housing shell and second housing shell are non-detachably connected in a watertight fit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the seal gap comprises side walls having a gap width narrower than the sealing lip such that when the second housing shell closes the second opening of the first housing shell the sealing lip sits in pressing contact with the side walls of the seal gap.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprises joining the dimensionally stable support structure and a holder in a form and non-positive fit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the conveying mechanism comprises a drive member which is supported on the holder in the forward drive direction and transversely thereto in a radial direction.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the dimensionally stable support structure is a support frame for the seal and axial support for the sealing lip.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the seal further forms a shell region at a bottom face of the second housing shell.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the shell region acts as a damping means and anti-slip means on the bottom face of the second housing shell.