Needle mounting system and a method for mounting a needle assembly

• US 7,762,994 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Jensen, Jens Moller, Smedegaard, Jorgen K, Radmer, Jim, Nielsen, Jan Frank, Jensen, Peter Moller, Klint, Henrik Sonderskov
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schell; Laura C
• Application Number:
  US11/778,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20080015519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 604/240, 604/241, 604/242, 604/243, 604/93.01, 604/181, 604/187, 604/188, 604/272, 604533-535, 604/538
• US Class Current: 604/240
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/347 rotatable, e.g. bayonet or screw A61M5/344 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A needle mounting system and methods for mounting a needle assembly on a needle mount are disclosed. The needle mounting system includes a needle hub having protrusions extending radially inward. A needle mount has a plurality of slots to receive the protrusions. The slots have a first portion that defines a passageway substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the needle mount and a second portion substantially perpendicular to the axis. The needle hub and mount provide a method wherein a needle assembly may be mounted on an injection device without completely rotating the needle hub relative to the needle mount.

Claims

1. A mounting system for mounting two different needle arrangements, the mounting system comprising:

a generally cylindrical shaped body having a distal end;

a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism, wherein the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism are separate and at the same end segment,

the first coupling mechanism comprising a plurality of grooves disposed in a cylindrical outer wall on the generally cylindrically shaped body and defining a passageway that is generally parallel to a cylindrical axis of the generally cylindrical body, and wherein at least one groove of the first coupling mechanism comprises a first portion and a second portion oriented at an angle to the first portion, wherein the first portion and second portion do not form a part of the second coupling mechanism and wherein protrusions of a needle hub when present interact with the grooves to form a bayonet coupling, and

the second coupling mechanism comprising male threads disposed on the distal end suitable for threadedly connecting and matingly fitting a threaded needle assembly to the needle mount,

thereby allowing either a threaded needle hub to be mounted or dismounted onto the needle mount via the second coupling mechanism, or a bayonet needle hub to be mounted or dismounted onto the needle mount via the first coupling mechanism.

2. The mounting system according to claim 1, wherein the angle between the first portion and the second portion is 90 degrees or less.

3. The mounting system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion being widest at the top end forms an entrance.

4. The needle mount according to claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion form a substantially L-shaped groove.

5. A mounting system for mounting two different needle arrangements on a generally cylindrically shaped injection device that contains a cartridge from which medication is to be injected into a subject,

wherein a first type of double point needle arrangement comprises a double point hollow needle located within a tubular member having a cylindrical inner wall containing one or more protrusions that extends radially inward from the inner wall, and

a second type of needle arrangement comprises a second hollow needle fixed in a conventional pen needle hub, the hub being generally cylindrical and having an interior adapted for being screwed on or off of a male threaded needle mounting surface on the injection device, the needle mount system comprising:

a first coupling mechanism and a second coupling mechanism, wherein the first coupling mechanism and the second coupling mechanism are at the same end segment,

the first coupling mechanism comprising a bayonet coupling which comprises a plurality of grooves disposed on an outer cylindrical surface of the injection device, the grooves having a first longitudinal portion extending in substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the injection device and having a second portion that extends at an angle from the first portion;

the second coupling mechanism being generally cylindrical in shape and comprising an external male thread for creating a screwed arrangement between the conventional pen needle hub and the injection device which thereby allows the conventional pen needle to be screwed on or off of the injection device;

whereby the needle mount system allows a first needle arrangement to be secured to the injection device via the first coupling mechanism and allows the needle to be removed by less than a full rotation of the bayonet coupling and whereby a second needle arrangement can be mounted on the second coupling mechanism and be removed by threadedly unscrewing the needle from the device.

6. The mounting system of claim 5, wherein the first needle arrangement may be removed from the device by rotating the tubular member less than one revolution.

7. The mounting system of claim 6, wherein the second needle is removed by rotating the second needle multiple revolutions.

8. A mounting system for mounting two different needle arrangements onto the same end segment of an injection device that contains a container from which medication is to be injected into a patient;

the system comprising two independent coupling mechanisms for securing the different needle arrangements to the device,

the first coupling comprising longitudinal groove in an outer cylindrical wall of the device wherein the grooves comprise a first portion substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the device and further comprise a second portion oriented at an angle to the first portion, wherein the first coupling is adapted for mounting a cylindrical member surrounding a hollow needle to the device, wherein the cylindrical member comprises an inner wall having protrusions that extend radially inward and engage the first portion of the groove as the cylinder is displaced axially and then engage the second portion of the groove as the cylinder is rotated;

the second coupling comprising a male thread located at the distal end of the injection device that engages an inner wall of a cylindrical pen needle hub, wherein the engagement allows the needle hub to be screwed onto or off of the male thread;

thereby allowing a first needle to be placed on the injection device and to be removed by less than a full rotation of device relative to the first needle arrangement and allows a second needle then be secured to the device via an engagement between the pen needle hub and the male thread.