Systems for administering medication

• US 8,945,067 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2009
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ucb Biopharma Sprl (UCB SA)
• Original Assignee: UCB Pharma SA (UCB SA)
• Inventors: McLoughlin, Martin John, Lee, Alex, Formosa, Dan, Vordenberg, Steven, Vicari, Joern, Freitag, Eric, Kontorvich, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Quynh-Nhu H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Jenna
• Application Number:
  US12/506,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 604/198, 604/192, 604/134
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/312 comprising sealing means, e.g. severable caps, to be removed prior to injection by, e.g. tearing or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3215 Tools enabling the cap placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3134 characterised by constructional features of the distal end, i.e. end closest to the tip of the needle cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3137 Specially designed finger grip means, e.g. for easy manipulation of the syringe rod
• 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 5/3204 Needle cap remover, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3213 Caps placed axially onto the needle, e.g. equipped with finger protection guards axially-extensible protective sleeves A61M5/3243

Abstract

The autoinjector systems disclosed herein provide in part devices for allowing patients with reduced joint strength to more easily administer medicine. Certain exemplary syringe embodiments include a housing, a syringe assembly slidably mounted on the housing, and a needle cap releasably engaged to the housing, where the cap includes a protruding pocket for receiving a needle cap remover.

Claims

1. An autoinjector device comprising:

a housing;

a syringe assembly slidably mounted on the housing, the syringe assembly including a needle and a fluid container;

an auto injector actuator for urging the syringe assembly with respect to the housing from a storage position to a launch position;

a needle cap remover; and

a cap releasably engaged to the housing, the cap having a protruding pocket for receiving the needle cap remover;

the needle cap remover comprising a connector having;

a base;

a plurality of first legs spaced symmetrically away from one another and extending proximally from the base, each first leg having an internally facing barb for receiving and engaging a needle cap that covers the needle of the syringe assembly; and

a plurality of second legs extending proximally from the base, each second leg having an externally facing barb tip that flares outwardly towards the protruding pocket for engaging a lower, interior portion of the protruding pocket near the base, wherein at least one of the second legs is positioned circumferentially between two of the first legs, and wherein the plurality of second legs do not extend proximally from the base as far as the plurality of first legs.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the internally facing barbs include a tip that flares inward and towards the base.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the tip of at least one of the first legs dig into the needle cap.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the internally facing barbs are concaved.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first legs includes an upright and a first pair of internally facing barb tips positioned to a lateral side of the upright and a second pair of internally facing barb tips positioned to a medial side of the upright.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the internally facing barbs extend at an angle with respect to the upright.

7. A device comprising:

a needle cap remover;

a housing having distal and proximal ends, the distal end having an interfacing passage that receives a cap;

wherein the cap releasably engages the housing and has a protruding pocket for receiving the needle cap remover;

a syringe assembly including a needle and a fluid container; and

the needle cap remover comprising a connector having;

a base;

a plurality of first legs spaced symmetrically away from one another and extending proximally from the base, each first leg having an internally facing barb for receiving and engaging a needle cap that covers the needle of the syringe assembly; and

a plurality of second legs extending proximally from the base, each second leg having an externally facing barb tip that flares outwardly towards the protruding pocket for engaging a lower, interior portion of the protruding pocket near the base, wherein at least one of the second legs is positioned circumferentially between two of the first legs, and wherein the plurality of second legs do not extend proximally from the base as far as the plurality first legs.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the cap covers about half of the length of the device.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a corresponding window positioned beneath the clear window of the cap when the cap is engaged to the housing.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the cap includes a clear window disposed between a closed end and an open end.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the cap includes longitudinal ribs extending along the length of the cap.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal ribs extend within the cap.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal ribs are spaced apart so that at least one rib extends on one side of a clear window and at least one rib extends on opposite side of the clear window.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the cap includes a curved interface and the housing includes a corresponding curved interface adapted to mate with the curved interface of the cap.