Automatic injection devices having overmolded gripping surfaces

• US 9,265,887 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. (Puerto Rico) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. (Puerto Rico) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Julian, Joseph F., Li, Chuan, Eiger, Aaron B., Kurth, Mark, Katz, Sabrina, Callif, Adam, Stango, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, QUYNH-NHU HOANG
• Application Number:
  US13/357,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 604 68- 72, 604/181, 604183-184, 604187-188, 604192-199, 604/110, 604/171, 604/243, 604/263, 128/919, 294/28, 427/402
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150259 Improved gripping, e.g. with high friction pattern or projections on the housing surface or an ergonometric shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150274 Manufacture or production processes or steps for blood sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/586 Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• 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 5/3137 Specially designed finger grip means, e.g. for easy manipulation of the syringe rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide automatic injection devices, housing components for automatic injection devices and methods for fabricating the same. An exemplary housing of an automatic injection device may be overmolded with one or more gripping surfaces to facilitate gripping and manipulation of the automatic injection device by a user when performing an injection. In an exemplary embodiment, an overmolded left gripping surface may extend along a left side of the housing and an overmolded right gripping surface may extend along a right side of the housing opposite to the left side.

Claims

1. An automatic injection device, comprising:

a housing enclosing a cavity for accommodating a container, a proximal portion of the housing having a tapered tubular structure with a substantially oval cross-section;

a first overmolded gripping surface extending longitudinally along a portion of the housing on a first exterior surface of the housing;

a second overmolded gripping surface extending longitudinally along a portion of the housing on a second exterior surface of the housing, the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface located on opposing sides of the housing;

a first concave portion disposed in the first exterior surface of the housing between the first overmolded gripping surface and a proximal terminal end of the housing; and

a second concave portion disposed in the second exterior surface of the housing between the second overmolded gripping surface and the proximal terminal end of the housing.

2. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces on the housing include one or more grooves or ridges for facilitating gripping and manipulation of the automatic injection device.

3. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a first material having a first touch perception, and non-gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a second material having a second touch perception.

4. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a first material having a first hardness, and non-gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a second material having a second, higher hardness.

5. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces on the housing have a different color than non-gripping surfaces on the housing.

6. The automatic injection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a removable distal cap for protectively covering an injection needle couplable to the container, an exterior surface of the distal cap including an overmolded gripping surface for facilitating gripping and removal of the distal cap.

7. The automatic injection device of claim 6, wherein the exterior surface of the distal cap includes one or more grooves or ridges for facilitating gripping and removal of the distal cap.

8. The automatic injection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a firing button protruding from an aperture in the housing and including an overmolded contact surface for facilitating actuation of the firing button by a user.

9. The automatic injection device of claim 8, wherein the firing button is positioned along a transverse axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device.

10. The automatic injection device of claim 9, further comprising:

a recessed surface provided adjacent to the firing button.

11. The automatic injection device of claim 10, wherein the recessed surface is provided surrounding the firing button.

12. The automatic injection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a proximal terminal end for covering a proximal end of the automatic injection device, the proximal terminal end having an overmolded exterior surface.

13. The automatic injection device of claim 12, wherein a top surface of the proximal terminal end includes a recessed surface for directing and facilitating gripping of the automatic injection device.

14. The automatic injection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transparent inspection window disposed in the housing to allow inspection of the contents of the container.

15. The automatic injection device of claim 14, wherein, at the end of an injection, the inspection window is filled with a visual indicator.

16. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the device has a shape in which a front face and an opposite back face are planar and in which first and second side faces are convex, for ergonomic and reliable gripping of the proximal portion by a user'"'"'s hand.

17. The automatic injection device of claim 16, wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces are disposed at the proximal portion of the device and extend across portions of the first and second side faces.

18. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing components cooperatively engaged to define the cavity therein.

19. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein the container holds a dose of a TNF inhibitor.

20. The automatic injection device of claim 19, wherein the TNF inhibitor is adalimumab.

21. The automatic injection device of claim 1, wherein a width of the housing at the proximal portion of the housing is larger than a distal portion of the housing.

22. A method for assembling an automatic injection device, the method comprising:

providing a housing enclosing a cavity for accommodating a container, a proximal portion of the housing having a tapered tubular structure with a substantially oval cross-section;

overmolding, on the housing, a first gripping surface extending longitudinally along a portion of the housing on a first exterior surface of the housing;

overmolding, on the housing, a second gripping surface extending longitudinally along a portion of the housing on a second exterior surface of the housing opposite to the first exterior surface;

providing a first concave portion disposed in the first exterior surface of the housing between the first overmolded gripping surface and a proximal terminal end of the housing; and

providing a second concave portion disposed in the second exterior surface of the housing between the second overmolded gripping surface and the proximal terminal end of the housing.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second gripping surfaces on the housing include one or more grooves or ridges for facilitating gripping and manipulation of the automatic injection device.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a first material having a first touch perception, and non-gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a second material having a second touch perception.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the first and second gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a first material having a first hardness, and non-gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a second material having a second, higher hardness.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

overmolding a gripping surface on an exterior surface of a distal cap to facilitate gripping and removal of the distal cap; and

coupling the distal cap to a distal end of the housing for protectively covering an injection needle.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the exterior surface of the distal cap includes one or more grooves or ridges for facilitating gripping and removal of the distal cap.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

overmolding a gripping surface on a firing button to facilitate activation of the firing button; and

providing the firing button within the cavity so that part of the firing button protrudes from an aperture in the housing.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the firing button is positioned along a transverse axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

forming a recessed surface abutting the firing button.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the recessed surface is provided surrounding the firing button.

32. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

overmolding a gripping surface on an exterior surface of a proximal terminal end; and

coupling the proximal terminal end to a proximal end of the housing.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein a top surface of the proximal terminal end includes a recessed surface for facilitating gripping of the automatic injection device.

34. An automatic injection device, comprising:

a housing enclosing a cavity for accommodating a container, the housing comprising;

a first overmolded gripping region,

a second overmolded gripping region, and

a recessed region between and in contact with both the first and second overmolded gripping regions.

35. The automatic injection device of claim 34, wherein a width of the housing at the recessed region is smaller than a width of the housing at the first overmolded gripping region and a width of the housing at the second overmolded gripping region.

36. The automatic injection device of claim 34, wherein the recessed region of the housing lacks a gripping surface.

37. The automatic injection device of claim 34, wherein the first overmolded gripping region is formed by a proximal terminal end of the housing having an exterior surface that is overmolded with a gripping surface.

38. The automatic injection device of claim 34, wherein the second overmolded gripping region of the housing has a tapered tubular structure.