NEEDLE TIP STORAGE AND REMOVAL DEVICE

Abstract

A needle tip storage and removal device comprises a storage compartment having a splined socket which engages the complementary splines on a needle tip collar, a compartment being sealed by a peelable foil. Alongside the storage compartment is a removal compartment having a drive socket of similar configuration. The device assists safe removal and disposal of a used needle prior to fitting a new needle.

Claims

1. A needle tip storage device, comprising: first and second ends defined on opposite sides of the device; a storage compartment defined in the device and configured to receive a needle tip, the storage compartment comprising an internal surface defining a splined socket extending from an opening defined in the first end of the device to a shroud at a distal end located towards the second end of the device, wherein a part of the device surrounding the splined socket of the storage compartment is of larger outside dimensions than a part of the device surrounding the shroud of the storage compartment; a removal compartment defined in the device configured to receive the needle tip, the removal compartment comprising an internal surface defining a splined socket extending from an opening defined in the second end of the device to a shroud at a distal end located towards the first end of the device, wherein the part of the device surrounding the splined socket of a disposal compartment is of larger outside dimensions than the part of the device surrounding the shroud of the storage compartment; and the needle tip received in the storage compartment, the needle tip comprising a threaded collar having splines formed in an external surface thereof, a double-ended needle located in the threaded collar such that a forward part of the double-ended needle projects from a forward part of the threaded collar, and a rearward part of the double-ended needle extends towards a rearward part of the threaded collar such that the rearward part of the double-ended needle does not project beyond a rearward surface of the threaded collar, such that the forward part of the double-ended needle is positioned within the shroud of the storage compartment; wherein the splined socket of the storage compartment and the splined socket of the disposal compartment are complementary to the splines of the needle tip.

2. A needle tip storage device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a removable sealing element disposed on the first end of the device and configured to seal the storage compartment.

3. A needle tip storage device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a snap lock in the removal compartment configured to permanently capture the needle tip received in the disposal compartment.

4. A device for storing a needle tip comprising a threaded collar having splines formed in an external surface thereof, a double-ended needle located in the threaded collar such that a forward part of the double-ended needle projects from a forward part of the threaded collar, and a rearward part of the double-ended needle extends towards a rearward part of the threaded collar such that the rearward part of the double-ended needle does not project beyond a rearward surface of the threaded collar, the device comprising: first and second ends defined on opposite sides of the device; a storage compartment defined in the device and configured to receive a needle tip, the storage compartment comprising an internal surface defining a splined socket extending from an opening defined in the first end of the device to a shroud at a distal end located towards the second end of the device, wherein the part of the device surrounding the splined socket of the storage compartment is of larger outside dimensions than the part of the device surrounding the shroud of the storage compartment; and a removal compartment defined in the device configured to receive the needle tip, the removal compartment comprising an internal surface defining a splined socket extending from an opening defined in the second end of the device to a shroud at a distal end located towards the first end of the device, wherein the part of the device surrounding the splined socket of a disposal compartment is of larger outside dimensions than the part of the device surrounding the shroud of the storage compartment; wherein the splined socket of the storage compartment and the splined socket of the disposal compartment are complementary to the splines of the needle tip.

5. A needle tip storage device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a removable sealing element disposed on the first end and configured to seal the storage compartment.

6. A needle tip storage device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a snap lock in the removal compartment configured to permanently capture the needle tip in received in the disposal compartment.

7. A method of changing a needle tip on a pen injector, comprising: providing a pen injector comprising: a first removable needle tip comprising a threaded collar having splines formed in an external surface thereof, a double-ended needle located in the threaded collar such that a forward part of the double-ended needle projects from a forward part of the threaded collar, and a rearward part of the double-ended needle extends towards a rearward part of the threaded collar such that the rearward part of the double-ended needle does not project beyond a rearward surface of the threaded collar; providing a device comprising: first and second ends defined on opposite sides of the device; a storage compartment defined in the device and configured to receive a needle tip, the storage compartment comprising an internal surface defining a splined socket extending from an opening defined in the first end of the device to a shroud at a distal end located towards the second end of the device, wherein the part of the device surrounding the splined socket of the storage compartment is of larger outside dimensions than the part of the device surrounding the shroud of the storage compartment; a removal compartment defined in the device configured to receive the first removable needle tip, the removal compartment comprising an internal surface defining a splined socket extending from an opening defined in the second end of the device to a shroud at a distal end located towards the first end of the device, wherein the part of the device surrounding the splined socket of a disposal compartment is of larger outside dimensions than the part of the device surrounding the shroud of the storage compartment; and a second needle tip received in the storage compartment such that the forward part of the double-ended needle is positioned within the shroud of the storage compartment, the second needle tip corresponding to the first removable needle tip of an injection device; wherein the splined socket of the storage compartment and the splined socket of the disposal compartment are complementary to the splines of the first removable needle tip and the second needle tip; sliding the disposal compartment over the first removable needle tip on the pen injector so that the splines on the threaded collar of the first removable needle tip engage with the splined socket; turning the pen injector and device to unscrew the first removable needle tip from the injector device so that is remains in the removal compartment; inserting the pen injector into the second needle tip in the storage compartment; turning the pen injector and device to screw the second needle tip onto the injector device; and withdrawing the second needle tip from the storage compartment when screwed onto the pen injector.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the storage compartment is sealed by a removable sealing element, the method further comprising removing the removable sealing element before inserting the pen injector into the second needle tip in the storage compartment.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising permanently capturing a first disposable needle tip in the disposal compartment after it is unscrewed from the injector device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above, or in the following description or claims.

[0012] The invention may be performed in various ways, and an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a needle tip storage and removal device in accordance with this invention, and

[0014] FIG. 2 is a general perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with a used needle tip in the removal compartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The device illustrated in the Figures is intended to store a needle tip 10 for being screwed onto the end of a pen injector type device, and to remove the needle tip after use and to shield the forward part of the needle after use.

[0016] The needle tip may be a Unifine? pen tip. The pen tip comprises a threaded collar 12 having an internally threaded portion 13 and external splines 14 with a double ended needle 16 having a forward part 16 projecting forwardly of the collar 18 and a rearward part 16 extending rearwardly but not projecting beyond the rearward surface of the collar. The device in this embodiment includes a storage compartment 20 having a complementarily splined sockets 22 into which the drive collar can be slid with the needle guarded by the distal end of the compartment 20. The storage compartment 20 is sealed by a peelable sealing foil element 24. Alongside the storage compartment 20 is a removal compartment 26 which also has a complementarily splined socket 22 and a needle shrouding portion and is generally similar to the configuration of the storage compartment, although the removal compartment may be designed to have snap lock means or the like to permanently capture the used needle tip.

[0017] In use, assuming that the pen injector already has a used needle attached, the removal compartment 26 is slid over the used needle and turned to unscrew the needle tip and to leave it in the removal compartment, with the used exposed needle shrouded by the compartment. Having done this, the foil 24 may be peeled off the storage compartment 20 and the new needle tip 10 screwed onto the device. The needle tip storage and removal device can then be discarded.