NEEDLE COVER WITH UNDERCUT

Abstract

A needle cover for protecting a needle mounted on a tip of a barrel of a medical injection device, may include an inner shield, and an outer shield surrounding at least partially the inner shield, and fixed to said inner shield, wherein the needle cover may include an outer shield including a body including a first open end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end, the body defining a cavity to receive an inner shield therein, a first undercut defined adjacent the first open end of the body.

Claims

1. A needle cover (100) for protecting a needle (14) mounted on a tip (35) of a barrel (18) of a medical injection device (10), wherein the tip (35) extends from a distal end (34) of the barrel (18), the needle cover (100), comprising: an inner shield (30) extending along a longitudinal axis (Z), comprising an inner proximal connection element configured to sealingly contact the tip (35) of the barrel (18), and an outer shield (101) surrounding at least partially the inner shield (30), and fixed to said inner shield (30), the needle cover (100) being characterized in that: the outer shield (101) comprises: a body (102) including a first open end (104), a second end (106), and a sidewall extending between the first end (104) and the second end (106), the body defining a cavity (108) to receive the inner shield (30) therein; a first undercut (120) defined adjacent the first open end (104) of the body (102), and a second undercut (122) defined adjacent the first open end (104) of the body (102), wherein a longitudinal length of the first undercut (120) extending from the first open end (104) towards the second end (106) is less than a longitudinal length of the second undercut (122) extending from the first open end (104) towards the second end (106).

2. The needle cover of claim 1, wherein a distance from the first open end (104) to a proximal edge (124) of the first undercut (120) is greater than a distance from the first open end (104) to a proximal edge (128) of the second undercut (122).

3. The needle cover of claim 1, further comprising: a first latching tab (132) that extends from an inner surface of the body (102) proximate the first undercut (120); and a second latching tab (134) that extends from the inner surface of the body (102) proximate the second undercut (122).

4. The needle cover of claim 3, wherein the first latching tab (132) has a circumferential width that is greater than a circumferential width of the second latching tab (134).

5. The needle cover of claim 3, wherein the first and second latching tabs (132, 134) comprise a proximal angled surface (136).

6. The needle cover of claim 1, wherein a difference between a distance from the first open end (104) to a proximal edge (124) of the first undercut (120) and a distance from the first open end (104) to a proximal edge (128) of the second undercut (122) is at least 1 millimeter.

7. The needle cover of claim 1, wherein the first and second undercuts (120, 122) are diametrically opposed from one another.

8. The needle cover of claim 1, wherein the first and second undercuts (120, 122) are rectangular in shape.

9. The needle cover of claim 1, wherein the body (102) defines at least one U-shaped groove (116) on an outer surface thereof.

10. The needle cover of claim 9, wherein the U-shaped groove (116) comprises a distal wall (118) and a proximal wall (119) that extend radially from the body (102).

11. The needle cover of claim 1, wherein a distance from the first open end (104) to a distal edge (126) of the first undercut (120) is equal to a distance from the first open end (104) to a distal edge (130) of the second undercut (122).

12. The needle cover of claim 1, wherein the outer shield (101) is fixed to the inner shield (30) by a snap-fit connection, the inner proximal connection element (140) of the inner shield is inserted in the first and second undercuts of the outer shield to form the snap-fit connection so that, when a pulling force is applied to the outer shield in a distal direction, the inner shield makes a first contact with end surface of the first undercut (120) and then with an end surface of the second undercut (122), thereby flexing the inner shield (30) in a radial direction to assist disengagement of the inner shield from the tip (35).

13. A medical assembly, comprising: a medical injection device (10), comprising: a barrel (18) defining a reservoir (20) adapted to contain a medical composition; a tip (35) extending from a distal face (34) of the barrel (18), defining a fluid path extending through the tip (35) and in fluid communication with the reservoir, a needle (14) in communication with the reservoir (20); and a needle cover (100) according to any of claims 1 to 13 adapted to cover the needle (14); characterized in that: the needle cover (100) comprises: an inner shield (30) extending along a longitudinal axis (Z), comprising an inner proximal connection element (140) configured to sealingly contact the tip (35) of the barrel (18); and an outer shield (101) covering at least a portion of the inner shield (30), the outer shield (101) comprising: a body (102) including a first open end (104), a second end (106), and a sidewall extending between the first end (104) and the second end (106), the body (102) defining a cavity (108) to receive the inner shield (30) therein; a first undercut (120) defined adjacent the first open end (104) of the body (102); and a second undercut (122) defined adjacent the first open end (104) of the body (102), wherein a longitudinal length of the first undercut (120) extending from the first open end (104) towards the second end (106) is less than a longitudinal length of the second undercut (122) extending from the first open end (104) towards the second end (106).

14. The medical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the barrel (18) and the tip (35) of the medical injection device (10) are made of glass

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following descriptions of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medical injection device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the medical injection device of FIG. 1 with a needle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 3 is a front view of a needle cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] FIG. 4 is an isolated perspective view of the needle cover of FIG. 3;

[0036] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a proximal portion of the needle cover of FIG. 3;

[0037] FIG. 6 is an isolated perspective view of the proximal portion of the needle cover of FIG. 3; and

[0038] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an inner shield in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The following description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the described embodiments contemplated for carrying out the invention. Various modifications, equivalents, variations, and alternatives, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Any and all such modifications, variations, equivalents, and alternatives are intended to fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0040] For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting.

[0041] In the following discussion, “distal” refers to a direction generally toward an end of a medical injection device adapted for contact with a patient's skin, and “proximal” refers to the opposite direction of distal, i.e., away from the end of a medical injection device. In other words, the “distal direction” is to be understood as meaning the direction of injection. The distal direction corresponds to the travel direction of the plunger during the injection, the medical composition contained initially in the barrel being expelled from the latter. The “proximal direction” is to be understood as meaning the opposite direction to said direction of injection. For purposes of this disclosure, the above-mentioned references are used in the description of the components of a medical injection device in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 1, the medical injection device 10 includes a barrel 18 extending along a longitudinal axis X from a proximal face 36 to a distal face 34, defining a reservoir 20 for a medical composition such as a liquid medicament. The medical injection device 10 may also include a stopper (not shown), and a plunger rod 26 having a flange 68 and translationally movable inside the barrel 18 from a proximal position to a distal position for injecting the composition.

[0043] The medical injection device 10 further includes a distal tip 35 extending along the axis X from the distal face 34 of the barrel 18. The distal tip 35 is at least partially hollow so as to form a fluid path in fluidic communication with the barrel 18. A needle 14 may be attached to the distal tip 35 of the injection device 10 and is in fluid communication with the fluid path. It is noted herein that the distal face 34 of the barrel 18 is proximate the shoulder of the medical injection device.

[0044] The medical injection device 10 is preferably made of glass, and more preferably is a glass syringe. Such glass syringes are largely used in hospital environments and readily sterilizable. The medical injection device 10 is preferably a prefilled syringe. The medical injection device 10 is more preferably a syringe with a staked needle.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 2, the medical injection device further includes a needle cover 100. The needle cover 100 shields and covers the needle 14. The needle cover 100 may include an outer shield 101 and an inner shield 30 that covers the needle 14 and is covered by the outer shield 101.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 3, the outer shield 101 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described in greater detail. The outer shield 101 is preferably made in a rigid material, such as rigid plastic. The outer shield 101 may be made of a medical grade plastic. The rigid material confers rigidity to the outer shield 101, which allows said outer shield 101 to better protect the needle cover 100 from shocks. The structural integrity of the needle cover 100 is thereby improved.

[0047] The outer shield 101 includes a body 102 having a proximal end 104 and a distal end 106. Said body 102 extends along a longitudinal axis Y. Said axis Y coincides with the axis X when the needle cover 100 is mounted on the tip 35 of the medical injection device 10.

[0048] In one example, the body 102 may be substantially cylindrical in shape. The body 102 may define an inner cavity 108 (see FIG. 6) that at least partially receives the inner shield 30 of the medical injection device 10. A collar 110 may be formed on the proximal end 104 of the outer shield 101. The collar 110 may have a larger diameter than the remaining portion of the body 102. In one example, a plurality of ribs and grooves 112, 114 may be defined on the body 102 of the outer shield 101. The ribs and grooves 112, 114 may be provided adjacent the distal end 106 of the outer shield 101. The ribs and grooves 112, 114 provide a gripping surface for a user to use when pulling the outer shield 101 away from the medical injection device 10.

[0049] In another example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a U-shaped groove 116 may be formed in a side surface of the body 102 to create another feature to assist a user in pulling the outer shield 101 away from the medical injection device 10. The U-shaped groove 116 includes a distal wall 118 and a proximal wall 119. The distal wall 118 of the U-shaped groove 116 allows a user to apply pressure against the outer shield 101 to create a greater pulling force to pull the outer shield 101 away from the medical injection device 10. The plurality of ribs and grooves 112, 114 may be provided along said U-shaped groove 116.

[0050] With reference to FIG. 5, the collar 110 of the body 102 of the outer shield 101 may define at least one undercut, preferably at least a pair of undercuts 120, 122. In one example, the undercuts 120, 122 are apertures that extend through the outer shield 101. The presence of the undercuts 120, 122 allows reducing the pull-out force required by a user to remove the outer shield 101 from the medical injection device 10, as discussed herein. The undercuts 120, 122 may also be referred to as “windows” that extend through the collar 110. Indeed, thanks to these windows, the user can visually ensure that the inner shield 30 is at least partially enclosed in the outer shield 101.

[0051] In one example, at least one of the undercuts 120, 122, preferably both undercuts 120, 122, may be substantially rectangular in shape. In one example, the undercuts 120, 122 may be diametrically opposed from one another on the collar 110. A longitudinal length A of the first undercut 120 may be less than a longitudinal length B of the second undercut 122. The longitudinal length A may be measured from a proximal surface 124 of the first undercut 120 to a distal surface 126 of the first undercut 120. The longitudinal length B may be measured from a proximal surface 128 of the second undercut 122 to a distal surface 130 of the second undercut 122. In another example, the distance from the proximal end 104 of the body 102 to the distal surface 126 of the first undercut 120 is substantially equal to a distance from the proximal end 104 of the body 102 to the distal surface 130 of the second undercut 122. When the longitudinal lengths A, B of the undercuts 120, 122 are different from one another, the undercuts 120, 122 are considered asymmetric from one another. In another example, a distance from the proximal end 104 of the body 102 to the proximal surface 124 of the first undercut 120 is greater than a distance from the proximal end 104 of the body 102 to the proximal surface 128 of the second undercut 122. In one example, the undercuts 120, 122 are extruded from the collar 110 of the body 102. It is also contemplated that any other manufacturing methods may be used to define the undercuts 120, 122 in the collar 110. Advantageously, the two undercuts 120, 122 are distinct from each other and define two different apertures in the collar 110.

[0052] With reference to FIG. 6, another feature of the outer shield 101 is described in detail. In particular, two latching tabs 132, 134 may inwardly extend from an inner surface of the collar 110 near the proximal end 104 of the body 102. The latching tabs 132, 134 may include an inclined surface 136 that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis Y of the outer shield 101, and a substantially planar surface 138 that extends parallel to a longitudinal axis Y of the outer shield 101. The latching tabs 132, 134 may assist in the insertion of the inner shield 30 into the inner cavity 108 of the outer shield 101. In one example, a circumferential width of one latching tab 134 is greater than a circumferential width of the other latching tab 132.

[0053] With reference to FIG. 7, the inner shield 30 that may be used in the invention is represented. Said inner shield 30 extends along a longitudinal axis Z. Said axis Z coincides with the axis Y when the inner shield 30 is at least partly enclosed in the outer shield 101. The inner shield 30 preferably has a cylindrical shape and a circular cross section. Advantageously, the inner shield 30 includes an inner proximal connection part 140 configured to sealingly engage the tip 35 of the injection device 10, as shown in FIG. 1. The inner proximal connection part 140 has preferably a larger diameter that the rest of the inner shield 30. Said inner proximal connection part 140 may be shaped as a circumferential flange. The inner proximal connection part 140 is thus easier to distinguish from the rest of the body and the fixation of the inner shield 30 to the outer shield 101 is improved as described in the following.

[0054] The inner shield 30 is preferably made in a material with elastomeric properties. In this way, the inner proximal connection part 140 may slightly deform when connecting the inner shield 30 to the injection device 10 so as to match the shape of the tip 35. Meanwhile, the needle tip, or distal part of the needle 14, may penetrate the inner shield 30. This further reduces the risk of leakage of the medical composition via the needle 14 to the external environment. The material with elastomeric properties is preferably a thermoplastic elastomer, an elastomer, or a rubber. Preferably, the material with elastomeric properties is sterilizable.

[0055] In one embodiment, the outer shield 101 surrounds at least partially the inner shield 30. The outer needle shield 101 is fixed to the inner needle shield 30. To this end, the inner proximal connection part 140 of the inner shield 30 is partially inserted in the two undercuts 120, 122, in a snap-fit connection. The inner proximal connection part 140 of the inner shield 30 abuts both the proximal surfaces 124, 128 and the distal surfaces 126, 130 of both the undercuts 120, 122, thereby preventing any translational movement of the inner shield 30 along the axis Y relative to the outer shield 101. Advantageously, the inner proximal connection part 140 also abuts the side surfaces of the undercuts 120, 122, thereby preventing any rotational movement of the inner shield 30 around the axis Y relative to the outer needle shield 101.

[0056] The inner shield 30 and the outer shield 101 may be fixed together by other fixing means than the snap-fit connection of the undercuts 120, 122, and the inner proximal connection part 140 or in addition to said snap-fit connection. When the needle cover 100 is mounted on the injection device 10, the inner shield 30 encloses at least a portion of the tip 35 of the barrel 18, and the proximal connection part 140 firmly contacts a proximal portion of the tip 35. The needle cover 100 is thus tightly and sealingly connected to the tip 35.

[0057] In order to mount the needle cover 100 on the syringe, the outer shield 101 is firstly placed over the inner shield 30, and then the entire needle cover 100 is mounted on the syringe. As previously described, when the inner shield 30 and the outer shield 101 are fixed together, the proximal connection part 140 of the inner shield 30 will be locked into the undercuts 120, 122 defined in the collar 110 of the outer shield 101. Once locked into the undercuts 120, 122, the proximal connection part 140 is prevented from moving in a distal direction due to the distal surfaces 126, 130 of the undercuts 120, 122 and is prevented from moving in a proximal direction due to the proximal surfaces 124, 128 of the undercuts 120, 122.

[0058] After the needle cover 100 has been positioned on the medical injection device 10, the needle cover 100 can be moved in a distal direction to remove it from the medical injection device 10. As a pulling force is applied to the outer shield 101 by a user, the outer shield 101 is moved in the distal direction along with the inner shield 30. As the outer shield 101 is moved in the distal direction, the proximal surface 124 of the first undercut 120 will begin to contact and abut the proximal connection part 140 of the inner shield 30. Once the proximal surface 124 of the undercut 120 contacts the proximal connection part 140, the proximal surface 124 begins to push the proximal connection part 140 in a distal direction. As the proximal connection part 140 is pushed in the distal direction, the proximal connection part 140 begins to flex such that a collar 142 of the inner shield 30 is pulled in a radial direction away from the medical injection device 10.

[0059] As the proximal connection part 140 is pulled away in the radial direction due to contact with the proximal surface 124 of the first undercut 120, the opposing side of the proximal connection part 140 is flexed towards the proximal surface 128 of the second undercut 122. Due to the engagement between the opposing side of the proximal connection part 140 and the proximal surface 128, the second undercut 122 begins to assist in pulling the inner shield 30 off of the syringe tip 35 of the medical injection device 10. Once the outer shield 101 has been pulled a sufficient distance, the inner shield 30 is pulled off of the syringe tip 35 of the medical injection device 10.

[0060] All of the components of the medical injection device 10 may be constructed of any known material, and are desirably constructed of medical-grade polymers.

[0061] While this disclosure has been described as having exemplary designs, the present disclosure can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

[0062] The application will be further described with the non-limited example below.

[0063] Example Measurement of the Pull Out Force

[0064] Measurement of the pull out force.

[0065] Needle covers including an inner shield and an outer shield of the prior art (which the outer shield does not include any undercut) or outer shield of the invention, both being previously mounted onto the tip of a glass syringe, are compared herein. The glass syringes are identical for both the needle covers of the prior art and the needle covers of the invention.

[0066] In these assays, 5 outer shields of the prior art and 5 outer shields of the invention provided with two undercuts as described in the invention are provided.

[0067] Measurements of the force needed to remove the needle cover from the syringe are carried out. The test is performed with a traction bench (500 mm/min). The method includes the steps of: placing the syringe on a holder, holding the needle cover with pneumatic jaws, and pulling the needle cover at a constant displacement rate to remove it. The force needed to pull the needle cover so as to remove it from the tip is recorded. The results are represented in the table here below.

TABLE-US-00001 Pull out force (N) Mean value Prior art needle cover 16.30 17.31 18.30 17.99 17.49 17.48 Invention needle cover 9.82 11.76 13.82 14.14 12.93 12.49

[0068] The force recorded is the maximum value of the force needed to remove the needle cover recorded in function of time. Said force is the pull-out force, named “POF value”. As visible in Table 1, the mean value of the POF recorded for the needle cover of the prior art is 17.48 N and the mean value of the POF recorded for the needle cover of the invention is 12.49. These values of the pull out force clearly show that the needle cover of the invention leads to a strong decrease of the pull out force compared to the known needle covers. The pull out force reduction is about 29%.