Pen needle to facilitate manipulation by users having physical or visual impairment

Abstract

A pen needle (501) includes a hub (531) and a needle (521) fixedly connected to the hub (531). An outer cover (511) removably receives the hub (531) and the needle (521). The outer cover (511) has a first gripping member (515) to facilitate removal of the outer cover (511) from the hub (511). A sealing member (541) is removably connected to the outer cover (511). The sealing member (541) has a second gripping member (543) to facilitate removal of the sealing member (541) from the outer cover (511). The first and second gripping members facilitate manipulation of the pen needle by a user with reduced dexterity or a physical or visual impairment.

Claims

1. A pen needle, comprising: a hub; a needle fixedly connected to said hub; an outer cover having an open end and an outer surface forming a widest portion of said outer cover, said open end configured for removably receiving said hub and said needle, said outer cover having a first gripping member extending outwardly a distance wider than said widest portion of said outer cover to facilitate removal of said outer cover from said hub; and a sealing member removably connected to said open end of said outer cover to seal said needle and said hub within said outer cover, said sealing member having a second gripping member to facilitate removal of said sealing member from said outer cover, said second gripping member comprising a first wing and a second wing extending outwardly from said sealing member a distance greater than said widest portion of said outer cover; wherein said first gripping member comprises a plurality of projections on said outer surface of said outer cover, each of said plurality of projections extending outwardly a distance greater than said widest portion of said outer cover; and wherein said plurality of projections are spaced apart from one another along a circumference of said outer surface of said outer cover.

2. The pen needle according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of projections are disposed proximal said open end of said outer cover that receives said hub, and where said plurality of projections extend radially outward from said widest portion of said outer cover.

3. The pen needle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second wings are diametrically opposed.

4. The pen needle according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of projections comprise first and second wings extending outwardly from said outer surface of said outer cover at said widest portion of said outer cover.

5. The pen needle according to claim 4, wherein said first and second wings of said plurality of projections are disposed proximal an end of said outer cover that receives said hub.

6. The pen needle according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of projections comprise first and second wings disposed proximal a first end of said outer cover spaced from a second end that receives said hub.

7. The pen needle according to claim 1, wherein said sealing member comprises a cap.

8. The pen needle according to claim 1, wherein said second gripping member is spaced from and extends away from said outer cover when said sealing member is connected to said outer cover.

9. A pen needle, comprising: a hub; a needle fixedly connected to said hub; an outer cover for removably receiving said hub and said needle, said outer cover having a first gripping member extending wider than a widest portion of an outer surface of said outer cover to facilitate removal of said outer cover from said hub, wherein said first gripping member comprises an overmolded rubber member disposed over said widest portion of said outer surface of said outer cover, said overmolded rubber member forming an annular recess around said outer cover for gripping said outer cover; and a sealing member removably connected to said widest portion of said outer cover to seal said needle and said hub within said outer cover, said sealing member having a second gripping member to facilitate removal of said sealing member from said outer cover.

10. The pen needle according to claim 9, wherein said sealing member comprises a cap.

11. The pen needle according to claim 10, wherein said second gripping member comprises a ring-shaped member extending axially outwardly from said cap.

12. The pen needle according to claim 10, wherein said second gripping member comprises a base extending outwardly from said cap.

13. The pen needle according to claim 9, wherein said overmolded member is disposed proximal an end of said outer cover that receives said hub.

14. A pen needle, comprising: a hub; a needle fixedly connected to said hub; an outer cover having an open end, a closed end, and an outer surface forming a widest portion of said outer cover at said open end, said open end configured for removably receiving said hub and said needle, said outer cover having a first gripping member extending radially outwardly, said first gripping member including a first wing extending radially outward from said closed end of said outer cover and a second wing extending radially outward from said closed end of said outer cover, said first wing and said second wing extending radially outward a distance wider than said closed end and said widest portion of said outer cover to facilitate removal of said outer cover from said hub; and a sealing member having a body with an annular skirt extending from a first end of said body and removably connected to said open end of said outer cover to seal said needle and said hub within said outer cover, said sealing member having a ring-shaped second gripping member to facilitate removal of said sealing member from said outer cover, said ring-shaped second gripping member extending axially from a second end of said body of said sealing member and having a radial width extending outwardly from said body of said sealing member a distance greater than said widest portion of said outer cover, and said first wing and said second wing extending radially outward a distance wider than said body of said sealing member.

15. The pen needle of claim 14, wherein said sealing member comprises a car.

16. A pen needle, comprising: a hub; a needle fixedly connected to said hub; an outer cover having an open end, a closed end, and an outer surface forming a widest portion of said outer cover at said open end, said open end configured for removably receiving said hub and said needle, said outer cover having a first gripping member, said first gripping member including a first wing extending radially outward from said outer cover at said open end of said outer cover and a second wing extending radially outward from said outer cover at said open end of said outer cover, said first wing and said second wing extending radially outward a distance wider than said open end and said widest portion of said outer cover to facilitate removal of said outer cover from said hub; and a sealing member having a planar configuration attached to said open end of said outer cover to seal said needle and said hub within said outer cover, said sealing member lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of said outer cover and having a ring-shaped second gripping member to facilitate removal of said sealing member from said outer cover, said ring-shaped second gripping member extending radially outward from said axis of said outer cover a distance greater than said open end and said widest portion of said outer cover, and wherein said ring-shaped second gripping member has a plane configuration and lies in a plane parallel to said sealing member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The above benefits and other advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention and from the accompanying drawing figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled drug delivery pen;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the drug delivery pen of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a pen needle of the drug delivery pen of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a pen needle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which an outer cover has a cut lip and a cap having wings is connected to the outer cover;

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a pen needle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which an outer cover has wings and a cap having a ring is connected to the outer cover;

(7) FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a pen needle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which an outer cover has wings and a label seal having an opening is connected to the outer cover; and

(8) FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a pen needle assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which an outer cover has an overmolded ring and a cap having a gripping base is connected to the outer cover.

(9) Throughout the drawings, like reference numbers will be understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(10) The following description and details of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, while generally disclosed in a typical drug delivery pen, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, could more broadly apply to a needle and hub assembly for use in conjunction with, or incorporated onto, other injection devices, such as syringes, autoinjectors and infusion devices.

(11) In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, a pen needle 501 includes an outer cover 511, a needle 521, a hub 531 and a sealing member or cap 541. The hub 531 is disposed within the outer cover 511, such as by a friction fit, thereby shielding the needle 521. The cap 541 is connected to an end 513 of the outer cover 511 to seal the needle 521 and hub 531 within the outer cover. The cap 541 has a rim or skirt 547 that fits either inside or outside the outer cover 511 with a friction fit. Preferably, the skirt 547 fits over the outside of the outer cover 511 to avoid interfering with the hub 531 disposed inside the outer cover. To provide a tamper-evident seal between the cap 541 and the cover 511, an adhesive label, heat sealing or heat staking may be used across the joint between the cap 541 and the cover 511.

(12) The cap 541 is preferably made of a plastic material. Wings 543 and 545 extend outwardly from the cap 541 to facilitate removal of the cap from the outer cover 511. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the wings 543 and 545 extend in substantially opposite directions from each other.

(13) A plurality of projections 515 are circumferentially disposed on an outer surface 517 of the outer cover 511 proximal the end 513 thereof. The projections 515 facilitate gripping the outer cover 511 during installation and removal of the pen needle assembly 501 (without the cap 541) from the drug delivery pen.

(14) In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, a pen needle 601 includes an outer cover 611, a needle 621, a hub 631 and a sealing member or cap 641. The hub 631 is disposed within the outer cover 611, such as by a friction fit, thereby shielding the needle 621. The cap 641 is disposed over a first end 613 of the outer cover 611 to seal the needle 621 and hub 631 within the outer cover. The cap 641 has a rim or skirt 647 that fits either inside or outside the outer cover 611 with a friction fit. The interior of the rim or skirt 647 is closed by an end wall 649 to define a closed cavity for sealing the outer cover 611. Preferably, the skirt 647 fits over the outside of the outer cover 611 to avoid interfering with the hub 631 disposed inside the outer cover.

(15) The cap 641 is preferably made of a plastic material. A ring-like projection 643 extends outwardly from the cap 641 to facilitate removal of the cap from the outer cover 611. The ring-like projection 643 has an opening 645 therein to facilitate gripping the ring-like projection. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the ring-like projection extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the needle 621.

(16) Wings 615 and 617 extend outwardly from the narrow nose portion 618 of the outer cover 611 proximal a second end 614 thereof. The wings 615 and 617 facilitate gripping the outer cover 611 during installation and removal of the pen needle assembly 601 (without the cap 641) from the drug delivery pen, thereby reducing the force required to be exerted by the user. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the wings 615 and 617 extend in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the needle 621.

(17) In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 6, a pen needle 701 includes an outer cover 711, a needle 721, a hub 731 and a sealing member or label 741. The hub 731 is disposed within the outer cover 711, such as by a friction fit, thereby shielding the needle 721. The label 741 is disposed over a first end 713 of the outer cover 711 to seal the needle 721 and hub 731 within the outer cover 711.

(18) The label 741 extends substantially perpendicular to an axis of the needle 721. An opening 743 in a tab 745 of the label 741 facilitates removal of the cap from the outer cover 711. The opening 743 in the tab 745 allows a user to firmly grip the tab 745, thereby facilitating removal of the label 741 by a user with limited dexterity.

(19) Wings 715 and 717 extend outwardly from the wider body portion 718 of the outer cover 711 distal the first end 713 thereof. The wings 715 and 717 facilitate gripping the outer cover 711 during installation and removal of the pen needle 701 (without the label 741) from the drug delivery pen (FIG. 2), thereby reducing the force required to be exerted by the user.

(20) In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7, a pen needle assembly 801 includes an outer cover 811, a needle 821, a hub 831 and a sealing member or cap 841. The hub 831 is disposed within the outer cover 811, such as by a friction fit, thereby shielding the needle 821. The cap 841 is disposed over a first end of the outer cover 811 to seal the needle 821 and hub 831 within the outer cover. The cap 841 has a rim or skirt 847 that fits either inside or outside the outer cover 811 with a friction fit. The interior of the rim or skirt 847 is closed by an end wall 849 to define a closed cavity for sealing the outer cover 811. Preferably, the skirt 847 fits over the outside of the outer cover 811 to avoid interfering with the hub 831 disposed inside the outer cover 811.

(21) The cap 841 is preferably made of a plastic material. A base 843 of the cap 841 extends outwardly from the outer cover 811 to facilitate removal of the cap from the outer cover 811 to facilitate gripping of the cap. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 7, the base 843 of the cap 841 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the needle 821 and beyond the widest portion of the outer cover 811.

(22) A rubber overmold 851 is disposed on an outer surface 813 distal the first end 815 of the outer cover 811, as shown in FIG. 7. The overmold 851 facilitates gripping the outer cover 811 during installation and removal of the pen needle 801 (without the cap 841) from the drug delivery pen (FIG. 2), thereby reducing the force required to be exerted by the user. Preferably, the overmold 851 is disposed over the widest portion of the outer cover 811. The overmold 851 preferably is contoured, such as with a valley 853, to further facilitate gripping the outer cover 811.

(23) As shown in FIGS. 4-7, an inner shield is preferably not used because the inner shield is a relatively small part that is difficult for many users to manipulate. Accordingly, an inner shield (59 in FIG. 3) is preferably not used with these exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

(24) The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. The description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications, alternatives and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.