VARIABLE-LENGTH NEEDLE COVERING DEVICE OF AN INJECTION DEVICE

• US 20070293824A1
• Filed: 06/19/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• 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: Brand, Andreas, Steiner, Remo
• Granted Patent: US 7,566,322 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. An injection device comprising:

a casing for enclosing a reservoir for a fluid product and an injection needle; and

a needle covering device, wherein the needle covering device comprises;

a rear section for attaching the needle covering device to the injection device;

a retractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to the rear 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 and the front section is moveable through the range of motion generally freely; and

an electrical contact for activating the automatic delivery of the fluid product, the electrical contact coupled to the retractable front section, wherein the electrical contact extends through the rear section into the casing when the retractable front section is in the retracted position to activate the injection device.

2. The injection device of claim 1, wherein the retractable front section is axially rigid.

3. The injection device of claim 1, wherein the retractable front section and the rear section are telescopic with respect to one another.

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

5. The injection device of claim 3, wherein the front section and the rear section are prevented from rotating with respect to one another.

6. The injection device of claim 1, further comprising a guiding body wherein the front section is slide-guided in a straight line on the casing by the guiding body.

7. The injection device of claim 1, wherein the retractable front section includes a spring, and the retractable front section is urged to the extended position by force of the spring.

8. An injection device comprising:

a casing for enclosing a reservoir for a fluid product and an injection needle; and

a needle covering device, wherein the needle covering device comprises;

a rear section for attaching the needle covering device to the injection device;

a retractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to the rear 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 and the front section is moveable through the range of motion generally freely; and

a mechanical contact for activating the automatic delivery of the fluid product, the mechanical contact coupled to the retractable front section, wherein the mechanical contact extends through the rear section into the casing when the retractable front section is in the retracted position to activate the injection device.

9. The injection device of claim 8, wherein the front section is axially rigid.

10. The injection device of claim 8, wherein the front section and the rear section are telescopic with respect to one another.

11. The injection device of claim 10, further comprising a guide bar coupled to the needle covering device and a receptacle connected to the casing, wherein the receptacle forms a guide for the guide bar.

12. The injection device of claim 10, wherein the front section and the rear section are prevented from rotating with respect to one another.

13. The injection device of claim 8, further comprising a guiding body wherein the front section is slide-guided in a straight line on the casing by the guiding body.

14. The injection device of claim 8, wherein the retractable front section includes a spring, and the retractable front section is urged to the extended position by force of the spring.

15. An injection device, comprising:

a casing for enclosing a reservoir for a fluid product and an injection needle; and

a needle covering device, wherein the needle covering device comprises;

a rear section for attaching the needle covering device to the injection device;

a retractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to the rear 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 and the front section is moveable through the range of motion generally freely; and

a contact for activating the automatic delivery of the fluid product, the contact coupled to the retractable front section, wherein the contact extends through the rear section into the casing when the retractable front section is in the retracted position to activate the injection device.

16. The injection device of claim 15, wherein the retractable front section extends from and retracts into the rear section by telescoping motion.

17. The injection device of claim 15, wherein the retractable front section has a first end fixedly attached to the rear section and a second end that is movable between the extended position and the retracted position.

18. An injection device comprising:

a casing for enclosing a reservoir for a fluid product and an injection needle; and

a needle covering device, wherein the needle covering device comprises;

(a) a rear section for attaching the needle covering device to the injection device;

(b) a retractable front section nondetachably coupled to the rear section and linearly and axially moveable through a range of motion relative to the rear section so as to define an extended position that substantially surrounds the injection needle;

(c) a retracted position that exposes the injection needle, wherein a portion of the front section may be abutted against a surface to be injected and the front section is moveable through the range of motion generally freely, and wherein the front section in the retracted position presses against a switch that lies opposite a placing area on the injection needle; and

(d) a contact for activating the automatic delivery of the fluid product, the contact connected to the retractable front section, wherein the contact extends through the rear section into the casing when the retractable front section is in the retracted position to activate the injection device.

19. The injection device of claim 18, wherein the contact is electrical.

20. The injection device of claim 18, wherein the contact is mechanical.