PROTECTIVE CAP FOR ATTACHMENT TO A NEEDLE STICK PROTECTION DEVICE FOR A SYRINGE, SYRINGE SAFETY SYSTEM AND SYRINGE SYSTEM

Abstract

A protective cap for attachment to a needle stick protection device (20) for a syringe includes a sleeve-shaped cap body configured to enclose a needle guard of the syringe. The protective cap further includes at least one coupling member coupled to the cap body and configured to couple the cap body to an outer housing of the needle stick protection device and to secure the protective cap to the needle stick protection device.

Claims

1. A protective cap (10) for attachment to a needle stick protection device (20) for a syringe (100), comprising: a sleeve-shaped cap body (13) adapted to enclose a needle guard (110) of the syringe (100), and at least one coupling member (11, 12, 18, 19, 30) coupled to the cap body (13) and adapted to couple the cap body (13) to an outer housing (25) of the needle stick protection device (20) and to secure the protective cap (10) to the needle stick protection device (20).

2. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, comprising: at least one cap arm (14, 15) connected to the cap body (13), wherein at least one coupling element (11, 12, 18, 19, 30) is coupled to the cap arm (14, 15) and is configured to couple the cap body (13) by means of the cap arm (14, 15) to the outer housing (25) of the needle stick protection device (20) and to fasten the protective cap (10) to the needle stick protection device (20).

3. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one coupling element is formed as an engagement element (11, 12) and is configured to engage in a recess (22) of the needle stick protection device (20).

4. The protective cap (10) according to claim 3, wherein the recess (22) of the needle stick protection device (20) is delimited in a predetermined manner by the outer housing (25) and wherein an outer contour of the engagement element (11, 12) is formed in coordination with a contour delimiting the recess (22) of the needle stick protection device (20).

5. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one coupling element is formed as a clasping element (19) and is configured to clasp a portion of the needle stick protection device (20).

6. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one coupling element is formed as an adhesive surface (18) and is configured to form an adhesive coupling with the outer housing (25) of the needle stick protection device (20).

7. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one coupling element is formed as a label (30) and is configured to connect the cap body (13) to the needle stick protection device (20).

8. The protective cap (10) according to claim 7, wherein the label (30) comprises a perforation (31) along which the label (30) is predeterminedly severable and a label portion (33) is removable together with the cap body (13) from the needle stick protection device (20).

9. The protective cap (10) according to claim 2, comprising: a predetermined breaking point (17) formed between the cap body (13) and the at least one cap arm (14, 15) such that the protective cap (10) is predeterminedly severable and the cap body (13) is removable from the cap arm (14, 15).

10. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, comprising: an interlocking structure formed on an inner surface of the cap body (13) and configured to interlock with an outer surface of the needle guard (110) of a syringe (100) when the protective cap (10) is attached to the syringe (100).

11. The protective cap (10) of claim 1, comprising: a penetrating recess (16) formed on the cap body (13) and/or the cap arm (14, 15).

12. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, comprising: a predetermined weakening structure (17, 31) arranged such that, with respect to a condition arranged on the needle stick protection device (20), an irreversible geometrical change of the protective cap (10) is formed during a removal operation.

13. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, wherein an outer contour of the protective cap (10) is formed in coordination with an outer contour of the outer housing (25) of the needle stick protection device (20), so that a flush transition between the protective cap (10) and the outer housing (25) of the needle stick protection device (20) can be established with respect to a state arranged on the needle stick protection device (20).

14. The protective cap (10) according to claim 1, comprising: an RFID chip and an antenna structure coupled to each other and arranged on or in the cap body (13) of the protective cap (10).

15. A syringe safety system (1) comprising: a needle stick protection device (20) for a syringe (100), and a protective cap (10) according to claim 1, which is attached to the needle stick protection device (20) by means of the at least one coupling element (11, 12, 18, 19, 30).

16. A syringe system comprising: a syringe (100) having a syringe housing (150), a syringe needle (120), and a needle guard (110) enclosing the syringe needle (120); and a syringe safety system (1) according to claim 15, which is coupled to the syringe housing (150) by means of a syringe coupling (21) of the needle stick protection device (20), such that the protective cap (10) encloses the needle guard (110).

Description

[0039] In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

[0040] FIGS. 1-5 various embodiments of a protective cap for attachment to a needle stick protection device for a syringe,

[0041] FIGS. 6-9 further embodiments of the protective cap for attachment to a needle stick protection device for a syringe,

[0042] FIGS. 10-12 further embodiments of the protective cap for attachment to a needle stick protection device for a syringe,

[0043] FIGS. 13-15 a further embodiment of the protective cap for attachment to a needle stick protection device for a syringe,

[0044] FIG. 16 a further embodiment of the protective cap for attachment to a needle stick protection device for a syringe, and

[0045] FIG. 17 a schematic of a conventional syringe.

[0046] Elements or features of the same construction or function are marked with the same reference signs throughout the figures. For reasons of clarity, possibly not all elements or features shown in all figures are marked with the corresponding reference signs.

[0047] FIGS. 1 to 5 each shows a schematic illustration of embodiments of a protective cap 10 which is designed to be attached to a needle stick protection device 20 for a syringe 100. As will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 17, the protective cap 10 can be used to provide reliable protection for a syringe 100 provided with the needle stick protection device 20 in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0048] A schematic construction of a conventional syringe 100 is illustrated in FIG. 17. The syringe 100 has a syringe housing 150 which defines a syringe cavity 130 in which, for example, a liquid to be administered is contained. Attached to the syringe housing 150 is a syringe needle 120 surrounded by a needle guard 110. The needle guard 110 comprises, for example, an elastomer element which is attached to the syringe needle 120 as a kind of rubber sheath. Further, a syringe plunger 140 is provided for propelling the contents in the syringe cavity 130 out of the syringe 100 through the syringe needle 120.

[0049] The needle stick protection device 20 is arranged on the syringe 100, which is coupled to the syringe housing 150 by means of a syringe coupling 21. The syringe coupling 21 implements a holding mechanism of the needle stick protection device 20 to the syringe 100. The needle stick protection device 20 serves to provide reliable protection from the syringe needle 120 after a use of the syringe 100.

[0050] The needle stick protection device 20 is biased with a spring element 26, which realizes a trigger mechanism of the needle stick protection device 20. In a non-triggered state, the needle stick protection device 20 substantially surrounds the syringe plunger 140 and the syringe cavity 130 so that the syringe needle 120 and the needle guard 110 disposed thereon are freely accessible or not surrounded by the needle stick protection device 20. In a triggered state, for example after use of the syringe 100, the spring force of the spring element 26 drives a part of the needle stick protection device 20 towards the syringe needle 120, so that after advancement of this part of the needle stick protection device 20, the syringe needle 120 is surrounded and unwanted contact with the syringe needle 120 is prevented.

[0051] It is a finding in connection with the present invention that the needle guard 110 of a pre-filled syringe 100 with inserted syringe needle 120, which are embedded in the needle stick protection device 20, are susceptible to impact effects. When impacted, for example by dropping and striking the syringe 100, a force is applied to the needle guard 110 which may result in damage to the syringe needle 120, for example bending or damage to the ground finish of the syringe needle 120 due to relative movement of the elastomer of the needle guard 110 relative to the syringe needle 120. Further, an unintentionally applied force may cause the needle guard mechanism to disengage or the retaining mechanism of the needle stick protection device 20 to disengage, causing the syringe 100 to slip out of the needle stick protection device 20.

[0052] By means of the protective cap 10, additional protection of the syringe 100 and in particular the syringe needle 120 can be contributed to. The protective cap 10 comprises a sleeve-shaped cap body 13 configured to enclose the needle guard 110 of the syringe 100. The protective cap 10 further comprises a cap arm 14, 15 connected to the cap body 13 (for example illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10). Further, the protective cap 10 comprises at least one coupling member 11, 12, 18, 19, 30 coupled to the cap arm and configured to couple the cap body 13 to an outer housing 25 of the needle stick protection device 20 and to secure the protective cap 10 to the needle stick protection device 20.

[0053] FIGS. 1 to 5 show embodiments of the protective cap 10 in which the at least one coupling element is in the form of an engagement element 11, 12. The protective cap 10 has at least one cap arm 14, 15 on which an engagement element 11, 12 is formed that engages in a guide groove 22 of the needle stick protection device 20. The guide groove 22 is implemented by a recess on the outer housing 25 and serves to guide a guide element 23 of the needle stick protection device 20 for the controlled execution of the release mechanism.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a syringe safety system 1 for the syringe 100, which comprises the needle stick protection device 20 and the protective cap 10 arranged thereon. The needle stick protection device 20 forms a syringe cover which is intended to cover the syringe needle 120, in particular after use of the syringe 100. The protective cap 10 provides additional protection for the syringe 100, in particular for the syringe needle 120.

[0055] According to the embodiment example shown in FIG. 2, the protective cap 10 has an engagement element 11 with a triangular contour on each of the cap arms 14 and 15, which engage in the respective guide groove 22 at a front end 24 with respect to a longitudinal axis L of the needle stick protection device 20 or of the protective cap 10. The needle stick protection device 20 has a respective guide channel 22 on opposite sides. The schematically illustrated structure is therefore to be understood as mirror symmetrical with respect to a central axis of the syringe safety system 1. If the protective cap 10 has two opposing cap arms 14 and 15, the respective illustrated design is to be applied to both cap arms 14 and 15.

[0056] The triangular contour of the engagement element 11 creates a locking engagement in the outer housing 25 of the needle stick protection device 20 in the elongated guide groove 22. The engagement element 11 is arranged between a front end of the needle stick protection device 20 and the guide element 23 in the guide groove 22 or is designed to engage in this position. The contour of the engagement element 11 is designed to correspond in particular to the predetermined limiting contour of the guide groove 22. The locking contour of the respective engagement element 11 does not interfere with the critical release mechanism of the needle-stick protection device 20.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the protective cap 10 in which the engagement element 11 has a rectangular or square contour and engages in the guide groove 22 behind the guide element 23. In other words, the engagement element 11 engages in the guide groove 22 on an opposite side with respect to the guide element 23 and the front end 24. The predetermined outer contour of the protective cap 10 creates a latching engagement in the outer housing 25 of the needle stick protection device 20 in the elongated guide groove 22, which is commonly provided in conventional needle stick protection devices. The engagement element 11 engages behind the guide element 23 of the needle-stick protection device 20, thus preventing the guide pin or guide element 23 from being blocked and the needle-stick protection mechanism from being triggered unintentionally.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the protective cap 10 in which the cap arm or arms 14, 15 each comprise two engagement elements 11 and 12, one of which engages in the guide groove 22 in front of the guide element 23 and one of which engages in the guide groove 22 behind the guide element 23, with respect to the longitudinal axis L. This embodiment thus represents a combination of the embodiment examples according to FIGS. 2 and 3. Such an embodiment of the protective cap 10 is particularly stable and provides a reliable hold on the needle stick protection device 20. Any load that occurs is absorbed by the protective cap 10 and the outer housing 25. Thus, a locking block of the guide element 23 is not or only slightly mechanically stressed.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the protective cap 10 in which the one or more cap arms 14, 15 each have an elongated engagement element 11. The elongate engaging contour may beneficially affect a retention of the protective cap 10 on the needle stick protection device 20 and a stability of the syringe safety system 1. In that the elongated engaging element is additionally supported at a rear end or a rear side of the inner contour of the guide groove 22 of the needle stick protection device 20, a defined, stable blocking of the release mechanism of the needle stick protection device 20 is realized. In addition, the extension of the protective cap 10 or the cap arms 14, 15 creates a larger outer surface for additional application possibilities. This can be used in particular for applying one or more labels.

[0060] FIGS. 6 to 8 show further embodiments of the protective cap 10 in the form of a clamp or clip component. The protective cap 10 has two cap arms 14 and 15, each of which clasps a portion of the syringe coupling 21 of the needle stick protection device 20 by means of a clamp element 19. The protective cap 10 encloses the outer housing 25 of the needle stick protection device 20 and snaps into place on a rear side of the needle stick protection device 20. Such a large-area or even full-area enclosure of the needle stick protection device 20 can serve, among other things, as UV or light protection in order to shield the contents in the syringe 100 from electromagnetic radiation.

[0061] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the protective cap 10 in the form of a clip cover, which also has a recess 16 on each of the cap arms 14 and 15. The recesses 16 allow a view through and realize a kind of viewing window for visual inspection of the syringe contents.

[0062] FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment example of the protective cap 10 in the form of a clamp sleeve, which by means of the clamp elements 19 respectively clasps a section on an upper side and a lower side of the syringe coupling 21 of the needle stick protection device 20. The clip elements 19 each engage around an edge, a bead or a protruding portion on the syringe coupling 21. The protective cap 10 encloses the outer housing 25 and engages on handle wings of the needle stick protection device 20.

[0063] FIGS. 10 to 12 show further embodiments of the protective cap 10, which have coupling elements 18, 30, which in particular enable adhesive attachment of the protective cap 10 to the needle-stick protection device 20.

[0064] FIG. 11 shows a schematic side view of the protective cap 10 with the cap arms 14 and 15. An adhesive surface 18 is formed on a respective inner side of the cap arms 14, 15, which enable simple and reliable attachment of the protective cap 10 to the needle stick protection device 20. In addition, the protective cap 10 has a predetermined breaking point 17 between each of the cap arms 14 and 15 and the cap body 13, which can further act as a respective hinge.

[0065] Such a protective cap 10 with joint and predetermined breaking point 17 realizes a first-opening protection, which is fixed to the needle stick protection device 20 by means of the adhesive surfaces 18. The predetermined breaking point 17 is irreversibly destroyed by a mechanical movement. The cap body 13 of the protective cap 10 can be removed as a bonnet to expose the syringe needle 120. The cap arms 14 and 15 remain on the needle stick protection device 20 and serve as proof that the syringe 100 or the syringe safety system 1 coupled to the syringe 100 has been opened.

[0066] In FIG. 12, a label 30 implements the coupling element of the protective cap 10 to connect it to the needle stick protection device 20. The label 30 has one or more layers and is attached to the cap body 13 by means of an adhesive surface 32. The adhesive surfaces 32 extend beyond the cap body 13 on an underside of the label 32 or on a side facing the cap body 13 to form the cap arms 14 and 15. Where appropriate, as indicated in FIG. 12, relatively short cap arms 14 and 15 are formed so that a respective portion of the label 30 extending away from the cap body 13 realizes an extension of the cap arms 14 and 15. A respective portion of the adhesive surfaces 32 is thus available for adhering the protective cap 10 to the needle puncture protection device 20.

[0067] The label 30 further comprises a perforation 31 which allows a predetermined severing of the label 30. The perforation 31 forms a kind of hinge and a predetermined breaking point, so that the protective cap 10 realizes a first-opening protection, which is fixed to the needle stick protection device 20 via the adhesive surfaces 32 of the label 30 with perforation 31.

[0068] During an opening process of the syringe 100 or of the syringe safety system 1, the label 30 tears in a predetermined manner along the perforation 31 and the cap body 13 is removed from the needle stick protection device 20 together with a label section 33.

[0069] In an alternative embodiment, a label 30 without perforation may also be provided. During an opening operation, such a label nevertheless tears and a label portion 33 is removed from a part of the label remaining on the needle stick protection device 20.

[0070] Thus, when opened, the label 30 is irreversibly destroyed by a mechanical movement. The cap body 13 can be removed with the label section 33 like a bonnet. The label 30 can also have other functions, such as forgery protection, UV protection or light protection against visible light and/or RFID functionality.

[0071] The mechanical movement for opening the syringe safety system 1 may be a pulling movement or a rotating movement. Further, opening may be by a folding motion, in which case preferably an upper side or outer side of the protective cap 10 is exposed so that the syringe needle 120 is not blocked by the protective cover of the protective cap 10.

[0072] In a case the protective cap 10 has two separate cap arms 14 and 15, the respective illustrated embodiment is to be applied to both cap arms 14 and 15. In addition, it is possible that, for example, the first cap arm 14 comprises an engagement element 11, 12, while the second cap arm 15 is connectable to the needle stick protection device 20 by means of an adhesive surface 18, a label 30 and/or a clip element 19.

[0073] FIGS. 13 to 16 show further embodiments of the protective cap 10, which comprises coupling elements in the form of engaging or interlocking elements 11, 12 that can interlock with an outer surface of the needle guard 110. The interlocking elements 11 and 12 are, for example, in the form of elongate cuboid shaped projections extending on opposite sides relative to the longitudinal axis L on an inner wall of a cap channel 132. The protective cap 10 further comprises a cap opening 131 which forms an entrance into the cap channel 132 and allows the protective cap 10 to be placed on or over the needle guard 110.

[0074] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the protective cap 10 shown in FIG. 13. The protective cap 10 has a total of four tapered cap arms 14, 15 which extend from the cap body 13. FIG. 15 shows a view from above or in view of the direction of the cap opening 131 or into the cap channel 132.

[0075] FIG. 16 illustrates a further embodiment of the protective cap in a schematic perspective view. The protective cap 10 is comparable to the embodiment example according to FIGS. 13 to 15, but in contrast thereto has no cap arms. The coupling elements 11 and 12 are formed on the inner wall delimiting the cap channel 132 and enable interlocking with the needle guard 110.

[0076] By means of the protective cap 10, additional protection is provided for the needle guard 110 and the syringe needle 120. The protective cap 10 is preferably configured to take up or continue a contour of the needle stick protection device 20 and to couple flush with the needle stick protection device 20. Such an embodiment contributes to a useful labelling capability of the syringe safety system 1, so that the protective cap 10 can be easily and reliably connected to the needle stick protection device 20 by means of one or more adhesive labels. When the protective cap 10 is removed to expose the syringe needle 120 during use, irreversible damage to the label 30 and/or the protective cap 1 is preferably purposefully set up so that a proof of first opening can be displayed.

[0077] The protective cap 10 for the needle stick protection device 20 provides improved protection for the syringe 100 without having to modify a conventional needle stick protection device. The protective cap 10 avoids transmission of forces acting on the needle stick protection device 20 due to an impact, which may result in bending of the syringe needle 120, damage to a ground section of the syringe needle 120, inadvertent triggering of the needle protection mechanism, or loosening of the holding mechanism of the needle stick protection device 20. The protective cap 10 may further be mechanically interlocked with the needle guard 110 or decoupled from the needle guard 110.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0078] 1 syringe safety system [0079] 10 protective cap [0080] 11 first engagement element of the protective cap [0081] 12 second engagement element of the protective cap [0082] 13 sleeve-shaped cap body of the protective cap [0083] 131 cap opening [0084] 132 cap channel [0085] 14 first cap arm of the protective cap [0086] 15 second cap arm of the protective cap [0087] 16 recess of the cap body [0088] 17 hinge/breaking point of the protective cap [0089] 18 adhesive surface of the protective cap [0090] 19 clamp element of the protective cap [0091] 20 needle stick protection device [0092] 21 syringe coupling of the needle stick protection device [0093] 22 guide groove of the needle stick protection device [0094] 23 guide element of the needle stick protection device [0095] 24 front end of the guide channel [0096] 25 outer housing of the needle stick protection device [0097] 26 spring element of the needle stick protection device [0098] 30 label [0099] 31 perforation of the label [0100] 32 adhesive surface of the label [0101] 33 removable label section [0102] 100 syringe [0103] 110 needle guard [0104] 120 syringe needle [0105] 130 syringe cavity [0106] 140 syringe plunger [0107] 150 syringe housing [0108] L longitudinal axis of the protective cap/needle guard