The present invention relates generally to a needle protection device for a syringe. The needle protection device comprises syringe centring features and/or a disassembly lock configured to prevent spontaneous or accidental disassembly of the device. The invention also relates to assembled injection devices comprising a pre-filled syringe and a needle protection device. Associated methods of centring a syringe in a safety device and/or preventing accidental disassembly of the device are also provided.
To prevent needle stick injuries after completion of an injection, safety devices that act to cover the needle of a syringe or injection device after use have been developed. Such safety devices may consist of an accessory into which a pre-filled syringe may be inserted, which is configured to either retract the syringe into the housing, such that an injection end of the needle is not exposed, or advance a sleeve over the needle, optionally locking the sleeve in the advanced position to prevent subsequent retraction of the sleeve and exposure of the needle after injection.
An example of a needle safety device that extends a sleeve over the needle after completion of an injection process is described in WO2012/166527. The needle safety device described in this document comprises a protector support into which a pre-filled syringe can be inserted, and a needle sleeve that is advanced by a spring over the needle of the syringe once an injection has been completed.
In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a safety device for a syringe, the safety device comprising: a syringe housing having a main body comprising a generally cylindrical portion configured to receive a syringe and a flange support configured to support a flange of the syringe. The flange support is configured to prevent or limit movement of the syringe relative to the syringe housing once the syringe has been inserted into the housing. In at least some embodiments, said flange support comprising a first abutment surface to limit proximal movement of the syringe relative to the housing, and a second abutment surface, configured to limit distal movement of the syringe relative to the housing. The device further comprises a needle shield comprising a sleeve telescopically arranged with respect to the syringe housing, wherein an inner diameter of the needle shield is larger than an outer diameter of the housing such that the needle shield can slide over the syringe housing between a retracted position in which the needle tip is exposed and an extended position in which a needle tip of the syringe is covered by the needle shield. Preferably, the safety device further comprises a locking mechanism to lock the needle shield in the extended position after injection. The syringe housing further comprises a plurality of resiliently deformable arms, each biased towards a first position in which an inner contact surface of the arm is positioned radially inwards of an inner surface of the generally cylindrical portion. This arrangement is configured to form a constriction within the syringe housing between the arms. The arms are configured to be deflected radially outwardly from the first position by the syringe when the syringe is inserted into the syringe housing. The inner contact surfaces of the arms are located at an intermediate position between proximal and distal ends of the syringe housing. The intermediate position of the arms may allow the arms to center the syringe body.
In at least some embodiments, the constriction formed between the arms is positioned in a proximal half or a proximal third of the syringe housing, distal of the flange support.
In some embodiments, each of the arms can comprise a cantilever arm extending from a fixed end connected to the housing body to a free end. In one example, the fixed end of the cantilever arm is located distal of the free end of the arm. This configuration can be particularly advantageous in facilitating removal of a moulded syringe housing from a mould. In other embodiments, the fixed end of each arm may be located proximal of the free end.
Optionally, the generally cylindrical body can comprise a plurality of windows or cut-outs formed in a wall of the cylindrical body, and wherein each of the arms is positioned in a window or cut-out.
In some embodiments, the safety device can comprise two diametrically opposed arms. However, three or more arms may be provided.
Optionally, the cantilever arms can comprise a curved longitudinal cross-sectional profile in which each arm curves inwardly towards a longitudinal axis of the housing in a first portion, and curves outwardly away from the longitudinal axis in a second portion, and wherein the contact surface of each arm is located at an inflection point of the curve. In other words, the arms may comprise a substantially S-shaped portion.
The safety device is adapted for use with conventional manual syringes, or similar syringes. Accordingly, the safety device may further comprise a manually activated plunger.
Optionally, a biasing element may be provided, and configured to bias the needle shield into the extended position with respect to the syringe housing. The biasing element may be arranged between first and second opposing support surfaces provided on the syringe housing and the needle shield respectively.
Components of the safety device may be formed of a polymeric material and may advantageously be injection moulded. In at least some examples, the housing and the arms are formed as a single moulded part.
The arms may be configured to centre a syringe barrel within the housing by biasing the syringe barrel into a position in which a longitudinal axis of the syringe barrel is coincident with a longitudinal axis of the housing.
In some embodiments, a locking mechanism is provided, which is configured to lock the needle shield in the extended position. A further releasable locking mechanism may be provided to maintain the needle shield in the retracted position relative to the syringe housing until an injection has been completed and the user releases the locking mechanism.
By providing a plurality of resilient arms as described herein, aspects of the present disclosure may provide a safety device to be able to securely accommodate syringes for which an outer diameter of the syringe (or syringe assembly components) may vary, due to manufacturing tolerances or design choices
In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an injection apparatus comprising the safety device as described with reference to any of the embodiments above, and further comprising a syringe inserted into the syringe housing. In some embodiments, the syringe further comprises a needle cap covering a needle of the syringe. The needle cap may be a rigid needle shield. In at least some embodiments, the outer diameter of the needle cap is larger than or equal to an outer diameter of the syringe barrel.
In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing or assembly of a safety device. The method comprises providing, optionally by moulding, a first part comprising: a main housing body comprising a generally cylindrical portion configured to at least partially surround the barrel of a syringe inserted into the housing; a flange support configured to support a flange of the syringe; and a plurality of resiliently deformable arms biased towards a first position in which an inner contact surface of the arms is positioned radially inwards of the inner surface of the generally cylindrical portion to form a constriction within the housing, wherein the arms are configured to be deflected radially outwardly from the first position by a syringe inserted into the housing, and wherein the inner contact surfaces of the arms are located at an intermediate position between proximal and distal ends of the housing. The method further comprises: providing, optionally by moulding, a second part comprising a needle shield comprising a sleeve having an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the housing. The method also includes assembling the needle shield on the housing such that the sleeve is telescopically arranged with respect to the housing such that the needle shield can slide over the housing between an extended position and a retracted position; arranging biasing means between the needle shield and the syringe housing to bias the needle shield into the extended position; and releasably securing the needle shield in the retracted position.
Optionally, each of the arms may comprise a cantilever arm extending from a fixed end connected to the housing body to a free end. In at least some embodiments, the method further comprises inserting a syringe into the housing; deflecting the arms outwardly from the first position into a second position during insertion of the syringe.
In some embodiments, the syringe may comprise a syringe barrel having a flange, a needle, and a needle cap covering the needle. The needle cap can comprise a rigid needle shield. Optionally, an outer diameter of the needle cap is larger than an outer diameter of the syringe barrel.
The method may further comprise deflecting, with the needle cap, the arms in a radially outward direction to a second position during insertion of the syringe into the housing, and wherein arms return to the first position or an intermediate position, between the first position and the second position, as the syringe is seated in a final position within the housing, with the flange confined between the first and second abutment surfaces.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of assembling a safety device and centering a syringe therein. According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the method comprises providing a syringe housing comprising a main housing body having a generally cylindrical portion configured to at least partially surround the barrel of a syringe inserted into the housing; a flange support configured to support a flange of the syringe; and a plurality of resiliently deformable arms biased towards a first position in which an inner contact surface of the arms is positioned radially inwards of the inner surface of the generally cylindrical portion to form a constriction within the housing, wherein the arms are configured to be deflected radially outwardly from the first position by a syringe inserted into the housing, and wherein the inner contact surfaces of the arms are located at an intermediate position between proximal and distal ends of the housing. Inserting a syringe into the syringe housing to deflect the cantilever arms radially outwardly; and securing the syringe within the syringe housing.
The syringe may be secured within the syringe housing by engaging a flange of the syringe with a flange support provided at a distal end of the syringe housing.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided: a safety device for a syringe, the safety device comprising: a syringe housing having a main body comprising a generally cylindrical portion configured to receive a syringe and a flange support configured to support a flange of the syringe inserted into the syringe housing and limit axial movement of the syringe relative to the housing. The safety device also comprises a needle shield comprising a sleeve telescopically arranged with respect to the syringe housing, wherein an inner diameter of the needle shield is larger than an outer diameter of the housing such that the needle shield can slide over the housing between a retracted position in which a needle tip of the syringe is exposed, and an extended position in which the needle tip of the syringe is covered. In a first embodiment, the main body includes a track comprising a cut-out or groove in the main body and the needle shield comprises a pin configured to be received in the track and to move along the track from a first end of the track to a second end of the track as the needle shield moves between the retracted and extended positions. In other embodiments, the location of the pin and the track may be switched. For example, the pin may be provided on the syringe housing and the track may be provided on the syringe housing.
The main body further comprises a locking recess comprising a proximal latching surface and a distal latching surface. The needle shield further comprises a latch arm configured to engage the recess and having a proximal stop surface and a distal stop surface.
The device is configured such that when the needle shield is in an extended position, the latch arm engages the locking recess such that proximal movement of the needle shield relative to the syringe housing is limited (or prevented) by abutment of the proximal stop surface and the proximal latching surface, and distal movement of the needle shield relative to the syringe housing is limited or prevented by abutment of the distal stop surface and the distal latching surface. It will be appreciated that the distance between the proximal and distal stop surfaces may be substantially equal to the distance between the proximal and distal edge surfaces of the recess such that the latch arm fits tightly within the recess and axial movement of the syringe housing relative to the needle shield is prevented. In other embodiments, the distance between the proximal and distal edge surfaces may be larger than the distance between the proximal and distal latch surfaces such that movement of the syringe housing relative to the needle shield is permitted (e.g. to a small degree) but limited, for example, such that the needle of a syringe mounted in the syringe housing cannot be re-exposed after use.
By providing proximal and distal latching surfaces and proximal and distal stops on a latch arm, embodiments of the present invention may prevent accidental or spontaneous disassembly of the device by distal movement of the needle shield with respect to the housing.
In some embodiments, the distal stop surface can be angled with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the syringe housing, wherein an obtuse angle is formed between the distal stop surface and the longitudinal axis.
The distal latching surface may be angled with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the syringe housing, and wherein an acute angle is formed between the distal latching surface and the longitudinal axis.
An angle between the distal latch surface and an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis may be between 10 and 20 degrees, for example approximately 15 degrees. An angle between the distal stop surface and an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis may be between 10 and 20 degrees, for example approximately 15 degrees.
The angle of the distal latch surface and the distal stop surface may be corresponding. That is, the distal latch surface and the distal stop surface may extend in parallel planes.
Additionally or alternatively, the proximal stop surface may be angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the syringe housing, wherein an obtuse angle is formed between the proximal stop surface and a central longitudinal axis of the syringe housing.
The proximal latching surface may be angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the syringe housing, wherein an acute angle is formed between the proximal latching surface and the longitudinal axis.
An angle between the proximal latch surface and an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis may be between 10 and 20 degrees, for example approximately 15 degrees. An angle between the proximal stop surface and an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis may be between 10 and 20 degrees, for example approximately 15 degrees.
The angle of the proximal latch surface and the proximal stop surface may be corresponding. That is, the proximal latch surface and the proximal stop surface may extend in parallel planes.
In some embodiments, the pin may comprise an undercut, e.g. between the pin and a wall of the needle shield. Optionally, the undercut can be formed by providing a distal surface of the pin that is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein an obtuse angle is formed between the distal surface of the pin and the longitudinal axis.
Additionally or alternatively, the track can comprise a distal end wall, said distal end wall facing in a proximal direction, and wherein the distal end wall is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein an acute angle is formed between the distal end wall and the longitudinal axis.
In some embodiments, the needle shield can comprise a plurality of latch arms, each configured to engage a corresponding locking recess. For example, the plurality of latch arms may comprise two diametrically opposed latch arms.
Optionally, each latch arm is configured to engage the corresponding locking recess when the pin is located at the second end of the track.
In at least some embodiments, each latch arm can be resiliently deformable, and wherein the latch arm is initially configured to engage a proximal recess in the housing and is configured to be deflected by the housing (optionally a ramped surface on the housing) as the needle shield moves from the retracted to the extended position.
The safety device is adapted for use with conventional manual syringes, or similar syringes. Accordingly, the safety device may further comprise a manually activated plunger.
Optionally, the safety device may comprise a biasing element configured to bias the needle shield into the extended position.
Advantageously, the safety device described above may further comprise a plurality of deformable cantilever arms configured to centre a syringe body within the syringe housing. The cantilever arms may take the form of the cantilever arms described above with reference to the first aspect of the invention.
In a sixth aspect of the invention, the safety device may form part of an assembled injection apparatus. According to a sixth embodiment of the invention, there is provided an injection apparatus comprising any of the needle safety device embodiments described above, and further comprising a syringe inserted into the syringe housing.
In some embodiments, the syringe further comprises a needle cap covering a needle of the syringe. The needle cap may be a rigid needle shield. In at least some embodiments, the outer diameter of the needle cap is larger than or equal to an outer diameter of the syringe barrel.
In a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of securing an injection safety device against disassembly, wherein the method comprises: advancing a needle shield in a distal direction with respect to a syringe housing to an extended position in which the needle shield covers a needle of a syringe mounted in the syringe housing. The method further comprises: moving, by advancement of the needle shield to the extended position, a flexible latch arm provided on the needle shield into engagement with a locking recess in the syringe housing, the flexible latch arm comprising a proximal stop surface and a distal stop surface, the locking recess comprising a proximal latching surface and a distal latching surface. The method also includes: moving, by advancement of the needle shield to the extended position, a pin provided on the needle shield along a track provided on the syringe housing to bring the pin to a distal end of the track; limiting proximal movement of the needle shield relative to the syringe housing by abutment of the proximal stop surface and the proximal latching surface; and limiting distal movement of the needle shield relative to the syringe housing by abutment of the distal stop surface and the distal latching surface when the needle shield is in the extended position. Optionally, the method may further comprise the step of engaging the pin with an end wall of the track, for example by engaging an undercut formed in the pin with an end wall of the track.
In an eighth aspect of the invention, there is provided: a method of manufacturing a safety device for a syringe, the method comprising: moulding a first part comprising: a syringe housing having a main body configured to receive a syringe, and a flange support configured to support a flange of the syringe to limit axial movement of syringe relative to the housing; forming, in the main body, a track configured to receive a pin and a locking recess comprising a proximal latching surface and a distal latching surface; moulding a second part comprising a needle shield comprising a sleeve having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the main body, and forming, in the second part, a pin configured to be received in the track and a latch arm comprising a proximal stop surface and a distal stop surface; biasing the latch arm towards an extended position in which the latch arm moves into engagement with the locking recess, such that proximal movement of the needle shield relative to the syringe housing is limited by abutment of the proximal stop surface and the proximal latching surface and distal movement of the needle shield relative to the syringe housing is limited by abutment of the distal stop surface and the distal latching surface; assembling the needle shield onto the syringe housing such that the needle shield is telescopically arranged with respect to the housing and can slide over the syringe housing between a retracted position and the extended position, and wherein the pin is seated within the track; arranging a biasing element between the syringe housing and the needle shield to bias the needle shield into the extended position; and compressing the biasing element and securing the needle shield in a retracted position.
In a ninth aspect of the invention, there is provided: a safety device for a syringe, the safety device comprising: a syringe housing having a main body comprising a generally cylindrical portion configured to receive a syringe and a flange support configured to support a flange of the syringe inserted into the syringe housing and limit axial movement of the syringe relative to the housing. The safety device also comprises a needle shield comprising a sleeve telescopically arranged with respect to the syringe housing, wherein an inner diameter of the needle shield is larger than an outer diameter of the housing such that the needle shield can slide over the housing between a retracted position in which a needle tip of the syringe is exposed, and an extended position in which the needle tip of the syringe is covered. In a first embodiment, the main body includes a track comprising a cut-out or groove in the main body and the needle shield comprises a pin configured to be received in the track and to move along the track from a first end of the track to a second end of the track as the needle shield moves between the retracted and extended positions. In other embodiments, the location of the pin and the track may be switched. For example, the pin may be provided on the syringe housing and the track may be provided on the syringe housing.
The main body further comprises a locking recess comprising a proximal latching surface and the needle shield further comprises a latch arm configured to engage the recess and having a proximal stop surface configured to engage the proximal latching surface. The pin further comprises an undercut configured to allow it to engage (e.g. in a hook relationship) a distal end wall of the track when the needle shield is in the extended position. By providing an undercut on the pin, the likelihood of the pin becoming disengaged from the track is reduced This may be particularly advantageous because disengagement of the pin from the track may allow disassembly of the device and exposure of a used needle.
Other advantages that may be provided by at least some embodiments of the present invention will also be apparent to the skilled person in light of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
The following detailed description of the disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings. It should be understood that the following drawings are non-limiting, illustrative examples of ways in which the invention may be put into effect. However, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. In the drawings:
It will be understood that certain terminology is used in the following detailed description for convenience and is not limiting. The terms ‘upper’, ‘lower’, ‘inner’, ‘outer’, ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ may be used to designate directions in the drawings and relative positions of components parts or surfaces. Similarly, the terms ‘inwardly’, ‘outwardly’, ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ may be used to refer to directions that apply when the systems and methods are in use. The terms ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’ should be read as meaning ‘at least one’. The ‘distal’ direction herein is towards the needle of a conventional system mounted in the device. The ‘proximal’ direction is away from the needle of a conventional syringe, towards the flanged end of a conventional syringe mounted in the device.
The term ‘comprising’ will be understood to mean ‘including but not limited to’ such that systems or method comprising a particular feature or step are not limited to only those features or steps listed, but may also comprise features or steps not listed.
It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments described herein without departing from the invention. Structural features of systems and apparatuses described herein may be replaced with functionally equivalent parts. Moreover, it will be appreciated that features from the embodiments may be combined with each other without departing from the disclosure.
Turning now to
The syringe body 4 preferably includes a flange 16 at the proximal end thereof. The flange 16 may be circumferential or may comprise two or more opposing projections that provide a surface against which the fingers may bear during manipulation of the syringe and injection of the medicament contained therein. The piston 8 generally comprises a rod 10 and push-surface 14 at the proximal end thereof against which the user can press a thumb to advance the piston 8 to deliver the injection. The needle of the syringe is advantageously covered before injection by a needle cap 19. The needle cap 19 may be a rigid needle shield (RNS). The rigid needle shield may be of the type described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/813,590, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference. However, other needle caps are possible.
As shown in
The needle shield 22 comprises a generally tubular body having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the syringe housing 120, such that the syringe housing 120 can be arranged within the needle shield 22. The needle shield 22 comprises an opening 60 at its distal end through which the needle of a syringe can extend. The needle shield 22 may optionally comprise a flange 50 at is proximal end. The flange 50 extends radially outwardly from the main body of the needle shield 22 and can comprise a bearing surface against which the user's fingers can rest during manipulation of the device, similar to the manner in which a user's fingers rest against the flange 16 of a conventional syringe.
The syringe housing 120 comprises a main body having a generally cylindrical portion configured to at least partially surround the syringe body 4. The syringe housing 120 comprises an opening at its distal end through which a needle of the syringe 1 can extend, and a flange support 130 configured to support a flange 16 of the syringe 1. The flange support 130 is configured to prevent or limit axial movement of the syringe 1 relative to the syringe housing 120. One exemplary embodiment of a flange support 130 will be described in more detail with reference to
The syringe housing 120 is arranged telescopically within the needle shield 22 and the biasing element 24 is arranged between these two parts. In the embodiment shown in
A releasable locking mechanism is provided, which is configured to lock the position of the needle shield 22 with respect to the syringe housing 120 with the spring 24 compressed between the first and second support surfaces. Upon release of the releasable locking mechanism, the spring 24 is configured to urge the syringe housing 120 in a proximal direction with respect to the needle shield 22, such that the needle shield 22 is advanced over the exposed needle.
The syringe housing 120 will now be described in more detail with reference to
The main body 122 of the syringe housing 120 comprises a plurality of resiliently deformable arms 200. Referring now to
The arms 200 are formed of a resiliently deformably material to allow them to be deflected radially outwardly from the position to which they are biased and are configured to centre a syringe 1 in the device. This is particularly useful in cases where the syringe body 4 has an outer diameter that is significantly less than the inner diameter of the syringe housing 120. In such cases, although the syringe would not be secured against transverse movement (with respect to the longitudinal axis) by virtue of a snug fit within the housing 120, the restricted diameter between the arms 200 can be sufficiently small to contact the syringe body 4. Therefore, the arms 200 can act to centre the syringe 1 within the housing 120 (see
Although the restriction provided by the arms 200 may support syringes that would otherwise rattle in the housing 120, because the arms 200 can be deflected from their initial position, the syringe housing 120 is able to accommodate syringes within the syringe housing 120 that have an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the syringe housing 120, but larger than the constriction formed by the arms 200. Upon insertion of a syringe having an outer diameter approaching the inner diameter of the housing 120, the arms 200 can deflect outwardly to accommodate the larger syringe. In such cases, the arms 200 improve the centring of the syringe and further reduce the extent to which the syringe may move in a transverse direction within the housing 120. Such an arrangement therefore provides for an improved syringe housing, adapted to centre and support a syringe within the housing, for a range of syringe diameters. The ability of the arms 200 to flex outwardly from their initial position may also be advantageous to allow a rigid needle shield having a diameter greater than the syringe body 4 to pass through the housing, whilst ensuring that the syringe body 4 is centrally seated once the syringe is fully inserted into the housing 120.
As shown in
However, the skilled person will appreciate that the arms 200 may be provided in alternative configurations, whilst still providing the centring functionality described above. For example, the arms 200 may be oriented with the free end 200b in the distal direction, with the fixed end 200a in the proximal direction. It will also be appreciated that although the arms 200 illustrated in the drawings are configured as cantilever arms, extending from a fixed end to a free end, in some embodiments the arms may be fixed at both ends.
Referring again to
As shown in
Referring now to
Referring again to
Referring to
Returning again to
The flange support 130 also comprises a plurality of clips 131 that provide a second abutment surface (facing in a distal direction), which prevents or limits the flange 16 of a syringe 1 inserted into the device 2 from moving in an axial direction with respect to the housing 120. As shown in
The syringe housing 120 can also comprises one or more recesses 122A in the main portion 122 of the housing 120. The recess 122A may receive a latch arm 250 (shown in
The syringe housing 120 also comprises a track 136 (two tracks on opposing sides of the main body 122 may also be provided, or three or more tracks). The track 136 comprises a rectilinear portion 138, which extends along the main body 122 of the syringe housing 120 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis X-X. Since the rectilinear portion 138 of the track 138 defines the maximum axial travel of the needle shield 22 relative to the housing 120 (as described in further detail with reference to
The syringe housing 120 may further comprise tongues 150, which extend from a distal end of the main housing portion 122. The tongues 150 are connected to the main body 122 of the housing 120 and are angled towards the longitudinal axis X-X of the housing 120 as they extend in the distal direction such that a distance separating the tongues 150 at their distal ends is less than an internal diameter of the main body 122 of the housing 120. The tongues 150 can be configured to be spaced from each other by a distance that is less than or equal to an outer diameter of, for example, a rigid needle shield provided on a syringe 1 inserted into the device. The tongues 150 are configured to flex outwardly from their initial position (shown in
The internal components of the needle shield 22 will now be described further with reference to
The interaction between the syringe housing 120 shown in
Referring now to
As can also been seen from
As shown in
During an attempt to collapse the device 2 after use, the proximal stop surface 252 is brought into contact with the proximal edge surface of the locking recess 152, thereby preventing proximal movement of the needle shield 22 with respect to the syringe housing 120 due to abutment of the surfaces 252, 154. Moreover, due to the complementary inclines of the surfaces 252, 254, as force is applied against the latch arm 250 as it is brought into contact with the proximal edge of the locking recess 152, the force acts to deflect the latch arm radially inwardly, towards the longitudinal axis X-X, thereby wedging the proximal stop surface 252 under the proximal edge surface 154 and ensures that the latch arm 250 does flex radially outward to disengage the latch arm 250 from the locking recess 152.
Referring again to
It will be appreciated that one latch arm 250 may be provided in engagement with one recess 152 to provide improvements over known systems and methods. However, a plurality of latch arms 250 configured to engage a plurality of locking recesses 152 may further reduce the likelihood of collapse or disassembly of the device after use. In the embodiments shown in the drawings, two diametrically opposed latch arms 250 are provided, configured to engage two diametrically opposed locking recesses 152. Similarly, whilst only one pin 240 is shown in the cross-sectional views of 6A-6C, in at least some exemplary embodiments, the needle shield 22 comprises first and second pins 240 configured to engage respective first and second tracks 136 on the syringe housing 120.
In some embodiments, the latch arm 250 may also be configured to provide audible or tactile feedback to the user that the pin 240 has been moved out of the retaining portion 142 of the track and is in alignment with the rectilinear portion 138 of the track 136. As shown in
As can be seen in
As will be understood by a person skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure, the ramp 125 can be configured with a sufficiently bevelled or inclined surface to aid deflection of the latch arm 250 out of the second portion of recess 122a to allow the needle shield 22 to advance in the distal direction relative to the syringe housing 120. Therefore, the grade of the ramp 125 does not necessarily need to be the same as the grade of the ramp 123.
Referring now to
As shown in
As will be appreciated, although the engagement of the latch arm 250 with the locking recess 152, and the engagement of the pin 240 with the end wall 136a of the track 136 provide advantages over known systems when implemented individually, safety devices combining an undercut on the latch arm 250 (described with reference to
Moreover, although the safety features described with reference to
It will also be appreciated that in addition to the devices described above, the present disclosure provides a number of exemplary methods that may provide improvements over known methods.
As shown schematically in
The disclosure also provides an exemplary method of manufacturing a device that prevents disassembly of the device. As shown schematically in
The disclosure also provides an exemplary method securing a safety device against disassembly. As shown schematically in
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes can be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the invention. In particular, the methods for manufacturing set out above may further include the steps of providing any of the features described in connection with the devices described herein. In other exemplary embodiments falling within the scope of the disclosure, the respective locations of the latch arm(s) 250, pin(s) 240, locking recess(es) 152, recess(es) 122a, and track 136 may be reversed, i.e. the latch arm(s) 250 and pin(s) 240 may be located on the main body 122 of the syringe housing 120 while the locking recess(es) 152, recess(es) 122a, and track 136 may be located on the sleeve of the needle shield 22. Moreover, it will be understood that the features described in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments may be combined with features described in connection with other embodiments. Moreover, components described herein may be substituted for structurally similar or functionally equivalent components. Such modifications will be understood to fall within the scope of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1915938.3 | Nov 2019 | GB | national |
1915939.1 | Nov 2019 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2020/080574 | 10/30/2020 | WO |