Variable-length needle covering device of an injection device

• US 20030050606A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Steiner, Remo, Brand, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 7,326,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/197
• 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. A needle covering device for an injection device, said injection device including a casing having a reservoir for a fluid product and an injection needle, wherein said covering device comprises:

a rear section;

a front section linearly and axially moveable relative to the re-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.

2. The needle covering device of claim 1, wherein said front section is axially rigid.

3. The needle covering device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said front section and said rear section are telescopic with respect to one another.

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

5. The needle covering device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said front section and said rear section are prevented from rotating with respect to one another.

6. The needle covering device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said device includes a concertina wall disposed between the front section and the rear section.

7. The needle covering device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said front section is slide-guided in a straight line on said casing by a guiding body.

8. The needle covering device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a contact for automatically delivering said fluid product is activated when said front section is in the retracted position.

9. The needle covering device of claim 8, wherein the contact is a mechanical contact.

10. The needle covering device of claim 8, wherein the contact is an electrical contact.

11. The needle covering device of claim 8, wherein the contact is a magnetic contact.

12. The needle covering device of claim 8, wherein the contact is a Reed contact.

13. The needle covering device of claim 8, wherein the contact is an iron-plastic Reed contact.

14. The needle covering device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said device is held in its extended position by a spring force.

15. A needle covering device for an injection needle, comprising:

a front section disposed positionable around a needle of the injection needle and moveable in a direction parallel to an axis of the needle;

a rear section coupleable to the injection needle, wherein the front section is moveable relative to the rear section so as to define an extended position wherein the needle is substantially covered and a retracted position wherein the needle is exposed.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the front section moves telescopically with respect to the rear section.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising an intermediate section moveably disposed between the front section and the rear section.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the front section and the rear section move axially with respect to one another.

19. The device of claim 18 further comprising an interconnection between the front section and the rear section, wherein the interconnection prevents rotational movement between the front section and the rear section.

20. The device of claim 15 further comprising a bellows section disposed between the front section and the rear section.

21. The device of claim 15 further comprising a guide mechanism to aid the front section in moving linearly relative to the rear section.

22. The device of claim 15 further comprising an actuation mechanism to automatically actuate the injection device when the front section is then retracted position.

23. The device of claim 15 wherein the rear section is coupleable to the injection device by a bayonet mount.

24. The device of claim 15 wherein the rear section is coupleable to the injection device by a friction fit.

25. An needle covering device comprising:

means for coupling the needle covering device to an injection device; and

means for selectively exposing and covering a needle coupled with the injection device.

26. The device of claim 25 further comprising means for guiding the means for selectively exposing and covering a needle.

27. The device of claim 25 further comprising means for preventing rotational movement of the means for selectively exposing and covering a needle.

28. The device of claim 25 further comprising means for actuating the injection device coupled to the means for selectively exposing and covering a needle.

29. An injection device comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir in the housing;

an injection needle coupleable with the housing and the reservoir, wherein when coupled with the housing the needle defines an axis extending outward from the housing;

a cylindrical rear sleeve coupled with the housing and disposed concentrically about the axis;

an cylindrical intermediate sleeve moveably coupled to the rear sleeve and disposed concentrically about the axis, wherein the intermediate sleeve is moveable to a position substantially within the rear sleeve; and

a cylindrical front sleeve moveably coupled to the intermediate sleeve and disposed concentrically about the axis, wherein the front sleeve is moveable to a position substantially within the intermediate sleeve, wherein the rear sleeve, the intermediate sleeve and the front sleeve are linearly moveable with respect to one another to selectively cover and expose the needle.

30. The injection device of claim 29 wherein the rear sleeve is coupled to the housing via a bayonet mount.

31. The injection device of claim 29 wherein the rear sleeve is coupled to the housing via a friction fit.

32. The injection device of claim 29, further comprising an actuator coupled to the front sleeve wherein the actuator trigger the injection device to automatically inject a fluid product when the front sleeve moves to expose the needle.