Revolving needle magazine

Abstract

A needle magazine (1, 100) attachable to an injection device containing a liquid drug and which magazine (1, 100) comprises a main part (10, 110) and revolving part (20, 120) which can be rotated to bring a selected needle cannula (35, 135) into an injection position. The magazine (1, 100) is provided with a centrally located tube (13, 113) for penetrating into the injection device and has an internal conduit (14, 114, 115) for guiding the liquid drug from the tube (13, 113) and to a peripheral area of the magazine (1, 100). In this peripheral area a plurality of needle cannulae (35, 135) are provided which needle cannulae (35, 135) successively can be brought into liquid communication with the liquid drug in the conduit (14, 114, 115) by axial movement of the revolving part (20, 120).

Claims

1. A needle magazine attachable to an injection device containing a liquid drug, which magazine comprises: A main part attachable to the injection device, A revolving part which is rotatably mounted in relation to the main part, The main part comprising at least one proximal pointing tube, which at least one proximal pointing tube is adapted to penetrate the injection device and create a liquid flow communication for the liquid drug contained in the injection device, The revolving part comprising a distal section provided with a plurality of needle cannulae in a circular alignment, each individual needle cannula comprising a distal pointed end adapted to penetrate the skin of a subject, and wherein each individual needle cannula has a first position in which the distal pointed end is retracted relative to the distal end of the magazine, and a second position in which the distal pointed end projects from a distal end of the magazine, wherein the at least one proximal pointing tube is provided co-axial to a centre line (X) of the magazine, and the plurality of needle cannulae are provided in a peripheral area of the revolving part of the magazine, wherein the magazine further comprises a conduit in liquid flow communication with the at least one proximal pointing tube and adapted to establish liquid flow communication between the at least one proximal pointing tube and each individual needle cannula in the plurality, and wherein rotation of the revolving part causes each individual needle cannula to in turn be successively aligned with the conduit whereupon axial movement of each individual needle cannula from the first position to the second position creates a liquid flow communication from the conduit and into each individual needle cannula.

2. A needle magazine according to claim 1, wherein the conduit terminates in a direction perpendicular to the each individual needle cannula.

3. A needle magazine according to claim 2, wherein each individual needle cannula is mounted in a hub which hub is closed at its proximal end and provided with a side opening.

4. A needle magazine according to claim 3, wherein the side opening in the hub is brought into communication with a termination of the conduit when the hub is moved axially.

5. A needle magazine according to claim 2, wherein a part of the conduit is provided in the revolving part of the magazine.

6. A needle magazine according to claim 1, wherein the conduit terminates in a direction co-axially aligned with a selected individual needle cannula.

7. A needle magazine according to claim 6, wherein the conduit terminates in a septum.

8. A needle magazine according to claim 7, wherein the selected needle cannula penetrates the septum when moved axially.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained more fully below in connection with a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 show a cross sectional view of the needle magazine with the needle cannulae in the retracted position.

(3) FIG. 2 show a cross sectional view of the needle magazine with the selected needle cannula in the injectable position.

(4) FIG. 3 show an exploded view of the needle magazine disclosed in FIG. 1-2.

(5) FIG. 4 show a cross sectional view through the line A-A in FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 5 show a cross sectional view of a needle magazine with the needle cannulae in a retracted position.

(7) FIG. 6 show a cross sectional view of a needle magazine with the selected needle cannula in injectable position.

(8) FIG. 7 show an exploded view of the needle magazine disclosed in FIG. 5-6

(9) FIG. 8 show a cross sectional view through the line A-A in FIG. 6.

(10) The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just show details, which are essential to the understanding of the invention, while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for identical or corresponding parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

(11) When in the following terms as upper and lower, right and left, horizontal and vertical, clockwise and counter clockwise or similar relative expressions are used, these only refer to the appended figures and not to an actual situation of use. The shown figures are schematic representations for which reason the configuration of the different structures as well as there relative dimensions are intended to serve illustrative purposes only.

(12) In that context it may be convenient to define that the term distal end when referring to a needle magazine containing a number of needle cannulae, is meant to refer to the end of the individual needle cannula penetrating the patient whereas the term proximal end is meant to refer to the opposite end pointing away from the patient in a situation of use. In the appended figures these terms are used to the needle magazine as well.

(13) FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 discloses an embodiment of a needle magazine 1. The needle magazine 1 comprises a main part 10 and a revolving part 20. The revolving part 20 is rotatable mounted to the main part 10 such that the main part 20 and the revolving part 20 can rotate relatively to each other.

(14) The main part 10 is provided with a proximal located opening 11 having coupling means 12 for attaching the main part 10 to a non-shown injection device. The main part 10 is further provided with a tube 13 which can penetrate into the injection device when the magazine 1 is attached to the injection device. This attachment creates liquid flow communication with the liquid drug contained in the injection device, such that the liquid drug can flow from the injection device and into the tube 13.

(15) The main part 10 is further provided with a conduit 14 which at its proximal end is co-axial with the tube 13 such that the liquid can flow from the injection device through the tube 13 and into the conduit 14.

(16) The distal end of the conduit 14 terminates in a drug chamber 15 distally covered by a septum 16. This drug chamber 15 is located in a periphery extension 17 of the main part 10 as best seen in FIG. 3. With the needle magazine 1 attached to a well-known injection device the liquid drug will flow through the tube 13, into the conduit 14 and be present at the drug chamber 15 proximally to the septum 16.

(17) The main part 10 of the needle magazine 1 is further provided with an extension 18 which terminates in a thread carrying a locking nut 19. Together this extension 18 and the locking nut 19 secure the revolving part 20 rotatable to the main part 10. The extension 18 is located co-axial with the centre line X of the needle magazine 1.

(18) A magazine spring 30 is provided between the main part 10 and the revolving part 20. This spring 30 urges the revolving part 20 axially away from the main part 10 as indicated with the distally pointing arrows 31 in FIG. 1.

(19) The revolving part 20 is provided with a plurality of needle cannulae 35 each of which is individually secured in a hub 36. Each individual needle cannulae 35 is further secured in an individual chamber 21 in the revolving part 20, in which chamber 21 each individual needle cannula 35 can travel axially.

(20) Each chamber 21 has a distal opening 22 and a proximal opening 23. A needle spring 37 mounted in each chamber 21 urges each individual needle cannula 15 in the proximal direction such that the hub 36 abut a partition 24 internally in the chamber 21. This partition 24 is provided in a position in the chamber 21 where the distal end 39 of the needle cannula 35 lies proximally to the opening 22 i.e. the needle cannula 35 is in a retracted position. The distal opening 22 is preferably covered by a membrane 25 through which each needle cannula 15 can penetrate.

(21) In use, when the needle magazine 1 is mounted on a not-shown injection device, the user rotates the revolving part 20 until a selected needle cannula 15 is axially aligned with the periphery extension 17 and thus the drug chamber 15. In this aligned position an injection is performed by pressing the most distal surface 2 of the needle magazine 1 towards the skin of the user. This forces the revolving part 20 to move proximally as indicated with the proximally pointing arrows 32 in FIG. 2. In this proximal position, the proximal end 38 of the selected needle cannula 35 penetrates through the septum 16 and into the drug chamber 15 whereas the distal end 39 of the selected needle cannula 35 penetrates through the membrane 25 and into the skin of the user thereby creating a liquid flow communication between the injection device and the subcutaneous region of the user.

(22) The injection situation is further disclosed in FIG. 4, which is a view along the line A-A of FIG. 2, i.e. during injection with the proximal end 38 of the selected needle cannula 35 (the upper in FIG. 4) penetrated into the drug chamber 15.

(23) As disclosed in FIG. 2, the spring 30 is compressed as the revolving part 20 is moved proximally. The needle spring 37 within the chamber 21 carrying the selected needle cannula 35 actually in use is also compressed. When the user removes the most distal end 2 of the needle magazine 1 from the skin, the magazine spring 30 moves the revolving part 20 to its distal position and the needle spring 37 moves the selected needle cannula 35 to its retracted position.

(24) Alternatively the revolving part 20 can be moved proximally manually by the user prior to performing an injection as it is the case in the embodiment depictured in the FIG. 4 to FIG. 5.

(25) This needle magazine 100 comprises a main part 110 and a rotatable revolving part 120. The main part 110 carries a centrally located tube 113 for penetrating the non-shown injection device to which the needle magazine 1 is to be attached. The proximal opening 111 is provided with coupling means 112 which as shown could be bayonet means.

(26) The tube 113 terminates into a conduit 114 through which the liquid drug flow. This conduit 114 has an axial extending part extending axially from the tube 113 and a perpendicular part 115 extending perpendicular to the axial direction. The perpendicular extending conduit 115 has a first part 115a provided in the extension 118 and a second part 115b extending in the revolving part 120.

(27) The extension 118, as in the first embodiment, secures the revolving part 120 rotatable to the main part 110 by threadedly engaging a not-shown nut member. Further as in the first embodiment, the extension 118 follows the centre line X of the needle magazine 100.

(28) Each individual needle cannulae 135 has a distal end 139 for penetrating the skin of a user and a proximal end 138 which is secured inside the hub 136.

(29) The hub 136 slides axially in the chamber 121 and is provided with a number of sealing surfaces 140, 141 which seals against the inner wall of the chamber 121. Between these sealing surfaces 140, 141, the hub 136 is provided with a through-going bore 142 which bore 142 are in flow communication with the lumen of the needle cannula 135 at its proximal end 138 such that liquid drug flowing into the bore 142 can enter the lumen of the needle cannula 135.

(30) The hub 136 is further connected to a sliding element 143 which can be manually moved axially by a slider 144.

(31) As best seen in FIG. 6, the user can slide the sliding element 143 together with the hub 136 and the needle cannula 135 in the distal direction by moving the slider 144 distally as indicated by the distally pointing arrow 131. By this movement, the through-going bore 142 is moved into radial alignment with the second part 115b of the perpendicular extending conduit 115, thereby creating liquid flow communication from the injection device, through the tube 113, further through the conduit 114, 115 (a+b), through the bore 142 and into the lumen of the needle cannula 135.

(32) When the slider 144 is moved proximally as indicated by the proximally pointing arrow 132 in FIG. 5, the through-going bore 142 is moved out of radial alignment with the second part 115b of the perpendicular conduit 115 thereby shutting off the liquid flow communication.

(33) As can be seen in FIG. 8, the extension 118 has one first part 115a of the perpendicular conduit 115 whereas there is one second part 115b for each individual needle cannula 135. In the shown embodiment this amounts to five second parts 115b.

(34) Further the most distal end 102 of the needle magazine 100 can be made from a membrane 125 through which the needle cannulae 135 penetrates during injection. The membrane 125 is preferably made from a material through which the chambers 121 and the needle cannulae 135 can be sterilized and maintained sterile. Alternatively, each individual needle cannula can be contained in a flexible sterile envelope through which the cannula can penetrate.

(35) Some preferred embodiments have been shown in the foregoing, but it should be stressed that the invention is not limited to these, but may be embodied in other ways within the subject matter defined in the following claims.