BULK HANDLING FEATURE

Abstract

A support element for a component that has at least two elongated members directed generally in a common direction and having free ends, wherein the support element is arranged to connect and support the at least two elongated members.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A support element for a component of a medical delivery device that comprises at least two elongated members directed generally in a common direction and having free ends, wherein the support element is configured to connect and support the at least two elongated members, where the support element is detachable prior to final assembly of the medical delivery device.

12. The support element according to claim 11, wherein the support element is arranged adjacent the free ends of the at least two elongated members.

13. The support element according to claim 11, wherein the support element is integrated with the elongated members when the component is manufactured.

14. The support element according to claim 13, wherein the support element is molded in one piece with the component.

15. The support element according to claim 11, further provided with detachment areas adjacent the elongated members.

16. The support element according to claim 15, wherein the detachment areas are arranged with lesser structural material than the rest of the support element.

17. A component of a medical delivery device comprising the support element according to claim 11.

18. A method of manufacturing a component of a medical delivery device comprising: fabricating the component while integrating the support element according to claim 11 to be a removable portion of the component; and removing the support element prior to final assembly of the medical delivery device.

19. 1A process of assembling a medical delivery device comprising: providing a component of the medical delivery device comprising the support element according to claim 11; detaching from the component the support element prior to final assembly of the medical delivery device; removing the detached support element from the process of medical delivery device.

20. The process according to claim 19, wherein the step of detaching the support element comprises cutting, snapping, breaking, sawing, melting, bending, twisting of a detachment area that connects the support element to the component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] In the following detailed description of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, of which

[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 show state of the art medicament delivery devices provided with components that are difficult to handle in bulk,

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a component comprised in a power unit of a medicament delivery device arranged with a support element to improve bulk handling,

[0017] FIG. 4 shows the component with the support element detached, and

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a needle shield of a medicament delivery device also arranged with a support element to improve bulk handling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] FIG. 3 shows one example of a component that is difficult to handle in bulk. In the shown example, the component is a plunger rod holder 22 that is used in a power pack 14 of a medicament delivery device. The plunger rod holder 22 is arranged with two arms 30 extending in a distal direction, wherein the arms are designed to run on opposite sides of a plunger rod 24.

[0020] When the component 22 is molded, a connecting support element 32 is integrated with the free ends of the arms 30. This will prevent the arms 30 from entangling in other components when placed together in bulk. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support element 32 is provided with thinner areas 34 adjacent the ends of the arms 30. When the components 22 have been sorted by an appropriate machine and are ready for assembly, the support element 32 will be detached from the arms 30, as seen in FIG. 4. This may be done by different techniques and equipment 36 such as blade cutting, sawing, or heating by laser for instance. The thinner areas 34 will then facilitate the detaching operation. It is however to be understood that this is not necessary to have thinner areas for the detachment.

[0021] For instance, FIG. 5 shows another component that is problematic to handle in bulk. In this case, a needle shield 10 is provided having two elongated arms 16. The free ends of the arms 16 are arranged with a connecting support element 42 that in the embodiment shown has a plate-shape. Here no thinned areas are arranged. Instead, an appropriate cut is made at the distal end of the arms 16, detaching the support element 42 from the component 10.

[0022] With the above, it is apparent that the support elements may have a number of different designs in order to provide the desired support for the components to be handled in bulk.

[0023] It is to be understood that the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings are only to be regarded as non-limiting examples, and that the present application may be modified in many ways within the scope of the patent claims.