The present invention generally relates to a needle hiding feature in an injector, and more specifically to a needle hiding feature forming part of an injector, in particular a reusable, computerized injector, adapted for administration of medication to a patient.
Many injectors, in particular reusable injectors and more particularly computerized injectors adapted for administration of medication to a patient are known. It is known that many users have a needle-phobia. Thus, it is advantageous to hide the needle at all times during the manipulation of the injector.
The invention relates more particularly to an injector comprising a housing arranged along a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a medicament cartridge; an injection drive mechanism for driving a piston, the piston forming part of the medicament cartridge, the injection drive mechanism injecting a medicament when the piston is forwardly displaced; and a needle hiding element, which is slidably attached to the housing.
In reusable injectors of this type, the user typically needs to attach a needle at the distal end of the injector before proceeding to the injection and also detach the needle after use. This operation is rendered rather difficult due to the presence of the needle hiding element as the user needs to retract the needle hiding element and maintain it in a retracted position against the action of a biasing spring, while attaching the needle. Similar handling is required to detach the needle.
An object of the invention is to facilitate the operations of attaching and detaching the needle.
The present invention seeks to provide an injector with a needle hiding element, that is easy to handle for attaching or detaching a needle.
There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention an injector, comprising a housing arranged along a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a medicament cartridge; an injection drive mechanism for driving a piston, the piston forming part of the medicament cartridge, the injection drive mechanism injecting a medicament when the piston is forwardly displaced; and a needle hiding element, which is slidably attached to the housing and positionable in at least one of an extended orientation and a retracted orientation, wherein in the extended orientation the needle hiding element protrudes forwardly from the housing and in the retracted orientation, the needle hiding element is locked relative to the housing.
The user can thus selectively place the needle hiding element, by manually acting thereon, either in a retracted stable position, such that a needle can be easily attached or detached, or in fully extended position, such that the device is ready for use when a needle is attached.
Preferably, in the extended orientation the needle hiding element is slidable relative to the housing and in the retracted orientation the needle hiding element does not protrude forwardly from the housing or protrudes to a lesser extent than in the extended orientation.
Further preferably, the needle hiding element is also positionable in a partially retracted orientation, in which the needle hiding element protrudes forwardly from the housing to a greater extent than in the retracted orientation and is slidably moveable relative to the housing.
Still further preferably, the needle hiding element is biased to be displaced forwardly under the urge of at least one biasing element, which is supported between the housing and the needle hiding element.
According to a preferred embodiment, the needle hiding element includes at least a flexible arm, extending axially and comprising a snap-fit locking feature that can be engaged in a corresponding feature provided on the housing and a racially protruding button that can be handled by a user for deflecting the arm and axially moving the needle hiding element, whereby the user can position the needle hiding element in one of said extended and retracted orientations.
Preferably, the snap-fit locking feature of the flexible arm and the corresponding feature of the housing are designed to provide the locked retracted orientation of the needle hiding element, that can be unlocked by the user by pressing on the button whereby the locking feature of the arm is disengaged from the corresponding feature of the housing.
Still further preferably, the needle hiding element includes a pair of opposing flexible arms, each provided with a snap-fit locking feature and a button, whereby the locked retracted orientation of the needle hiding element can be unlocked by the user by simultaneously pressing on the buttons for simultaneous deflection of the arms.
The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
An injector according to the invention and illustrated on the Figures comprises a housing arranged along a longitudinal axis and configured to receive a medicament cartridge; an injection drive mechanism for driving a piston, forming part of the medicament cartridge, for injecting a medicament. The injector also comprises a needle hiding element, forming part of the injector. The needle hiding element is biased to an extended orientation, in which the needle is covered, and being selectively lockable in a retracted orientation, in which the needle is exposed. It is noted that the drive mechanism can be either one of manual, mechanical or electrical and the injector preferably includes a computer-controlled motor.
In the present description, the term “orientation” relating to the needle hiding element, for example in the expressions “[retracted or extended] orientation” or “operative orientation”, shall be understood as referring to the axial position of the needle hiding element.
Reference is now made to
An injector for cartridge insertion 100 is seen in
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It is a particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention that a selectively lockable needle hiding element 140 is mounted to the forward (or distal) end of the injector 100 and is at least partially inserted into the enclosure volume formed between the top housing portion 106 and the bottom housing portion 104. It is noted that the needle hiding element 140 is slidably moveable with respect to the housing portions 104 and 106 and is selectively lockable in a rearward (or proximal) position in some of the operative orientations as described in detail hereinbelow.
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It is noted that a piston 174 is disposed within the medicament cartridge 102 and confines a medicament within the medicament cartridge 102. The plunger rod 170 is configured to displace the piston 174 within the medicament cartridge 102 following receipt of a suitable signal from the CPU of the injector 100 to effect ejection of medication therefrom.
It is seen in
The medicament cartridge 102 has a generally cylindrical barrel 178 with a forward end including a resilient septum 180. A medicament is contained within the cylindrical barrel 178 and is sealed therewithin by piston 174. The cylindrical barrel 102 is arranged along the longitudinal axis 107.
It is noted that any type of medicament container may be employed as part of an embodiment of the present invention, such as for example, pre-filled cartridges containing a liquid medication, dual-chamber cartridges containing a powder drug preparation and a solvent or any other suitable medicament cartridge 102.
It is further noted that the particular spatial relationships between the various components of the injector 100 are preferably similar to the spatial relationships as described in PCT patent application PCT/IL2017/050607, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
It is a particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention that the needle hiding element 140 is biased forwardly under the urge of springs 190, which are supported between the needle hiding element 140 and the housing portions 104 and 106.
Reference is now made to
The top housing portion 106 is an integrally formed element arranged along longitudinal axis 107 and having display portion 108 and opening 132 for mounting of the cartridge enclosure assembly 130 therethrough. The top housing portion 108 has a forward end 200 and a rearward end 202. An opening 203 is formed at the forward end 200.
It is seen specifically in
Reference is now made to
The bottom housing portion 104 is an integrally formed element arranged along longitudinal axis 107 and having a forward end 220 and a rearward end 222. An opening 223 is formed at the forward end 220.
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The bottom housing portion 104 defines a generally concave back wall 240 joined with two side walls 242 on two opposite sides thereof.
It is seen in
It is noted that alternatively, a single cut-out, equivalent to cut-out 250 may be formed on the back wall 240 of the bottom housing portion 104 and a relatively small snap cut-out, equivalent to snap cut-out 252 may be formed rearwardly thereof on the back wall 240. Further alternatively, any other number of such cut-outs may be formed at any other location on the bottom housing portion 104.
Reference is now made to
The needle hiding element 140 is an integrally formed element arranged along longitudinal axis 107. The needle hiding element 140 has a base wall portion 260 defining a rearwardly facing surface 262 and a forwardly facing surface 264. The base wall portion 260 also has a substantially cylindrical section, axially extending between the rearwardly and forwardly facing surfaces 262, 264, and is designed to at least partially enclose a needle attached to the cartridge 102, in particular to hide and prevent access to the tip of the needle. An opening 266 is formed through the base wall portion 260. The opening 266 has a cylindrical portion 268 extending forwardly from the rearwardly facing surface 262 and a forwardly tapered conical portion 270 extending forwardly of the cylindrical portion 268 and up to the forwardly facing surface 264. A forwardly facing shoulder 272 is formed between the cylindrical portion 268 and the conical portion 270.
Typically, two guiding pins 276 extend rearwardly from the rearwardly facing surface 262 and are disposed generally diagonally with respect to each other.
Typically, two mounting arms 280 mutually facing each other, extend axially and rearwardly from the base wall portion 260 and define an inwardly facing surface 282 and an outwardly facing surface 284. A button 290 is formed on the outwardly facing surface 284 of each of the mounting arms 280 and a snap protrusion 292 is also formed on the outwardly facing surface 284 and is slightly rearwardly spaced from button 290. The buttons 290 preferably define an outer surface with an array of small protrusions or a like to assist with gripping by the user. The axially extending arms 280 are spaced from the axis 107 and provided at opposing locations with respect to the axis. Each one of the opposing arms 280 is flexible and can be resiliently deflected by exerting a radial pressure thereon. Each snap protrusion 292 defines a snap-fit locking feature that can be engaged in a corresponding feature, the snap cut-out 252, provided on the housing. Each button 290 is radially protruding and can be handled by a user for deflecting the arm 280 and for axially moving the needle hiding element 140 with respect to the housing 104, 106, whereby the user can position the needle hiding element 140 in an extended or in a retracted position with respect to the housing.
It is noted that alternatively a single mounting arm or any other number of mounting arms may be formed as part of the needle hiding element 140, all according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Reference is now made to
The assembled injector 100 is seen in
The guiding pins 276 of the needle hiding element 140 are axially aligned with protrusion 206 of the upper housing portion 106 and protrusion 226 of the bottom housing portion 104. One of the biasing springs 190 is mounted onto one of the guiding pins 276 and is supported against the closed end 208 of protrusion 206 of the upper housing portion 106. The other biasing spring 190 is mounted onto another one of the guiding pins 276 and is supported against the closed end 228 of protrusion 226 of the bottom housing portion 104.
It is noted that alternatively, any other number of biasing springs 190 supported in any other suitable manner may be employed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
It is noted that the forward portion of the injector is cut-out in two different plane to clarify the position of both biasing springs 190, since the springs 190 are disposed diagonally with respect to each other and thus lay in two different planes.
The springs 190 are configured to bias the needle housing element 140 forwardly along longitudinal axis 107, relative to the housing portions 104 and 106.
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Reference is now made to
The injector 100 is seen in storage in
It is seen in
It is a particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention that the needle hiding element 140 is non-releasably slidably mounted onto the housing portions 104 and 106 and is slidably displaceable with respect thereto. Particularly, buttons 290 and the snap protrusions 292 of the needle hiding element 140 are seated within cut-outs 250 of the bottom housing portion 104 in the storage operative orientation, before the attachment of the needle assembly 300 to the injector 100.
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It is seen that in this storage operative orientation, the biasing springs 190 are disposed in their non-stressed operative orientation, thus biasing the needle hiding element 140 to its forward position, in which the needle hiding element 140 extends forwardly from the forward end 200 and 220 of the upper and bottom housing portions respectively, such that the forwardly facing surface 264 of the needle hiding element 140 is forwardly spaced from the forward ends 200 and 220.
It is particularly seen that the buttons 290 of the needle hiding element 140 are disposed at the forward end of the cut-outs 250 of the bottom housing portion 104 and the snap protrusions 292 are forwardly spaced from the snap cut-outs 252 in the bottom housing portion 104.
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Reference is now made to
The injector 100 is seen in needle attached operative orientation in
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It is a particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention that the needle 302 in this needle attached operative orientation is covered by the internal needle cap 304 and the outer needle cap 306 and the needle hiding element 140 is disposed in a retracted locked orientation, which is the rearwardmost position of the needle hiding element 140. It is specifically seen in
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It will be appreciated that, during the operation of attaching the needle, the temporary locking of the needle hiding element 140 in the retracted position, caused by the engagement of the snap protrusions 292 with the corresponding snap cut-outs 252, facilitates the completion of the operation as the user does not need to maintain the needle hiding element against the biasing force of the springs 190. While the operation of attaching the needle that has been described involves a step of pushing the needle hiding element 140 backwards with the outer needle cap 306, the user may alternatively act on the buttons 290 to manually move the needle hiding element 140 to the locked retracted position prior to engaging the needle assembly 300.
Reference is now made to
The injector 100 is seen in needle exposure operative orientation in
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In this needle exposure operative orientation, the needle 302 is exposed and the needle hiding element 140 is disposed in a retracted locked orientation, which is the rearwardmost position of the needle hiding element 140. It is specifically seen in
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Reference is now made to
The injector 100 is seen in needle hiding operative orientation in
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It is particularly seen in
It is seen that in this needle hiding operative orientation that the biasing springs 190 are disposed in their non-stressed operative orientation, thus biasing the needle hiding element 140 to an extended position, which is the forwardmost position of the needle hiding element 140, in which the needle hiding element 140 extends forwardly from the forward end 200 and 220 of the upper and bottom housing portions respectively, such that the forwardly facing surface 264 of the needle hiding element 140 is forwardly spaced from the forward ends 200 and 220 and the needle 302 is hidden within the opening 266 of the needle hiding element 140 and thus hidden from view of the user.
It is particularly seen that the buttons 290 of the needle hiding element 140 are disposed at the forward end of the cut-outs 250 of the bottom housing portion 104 and the snap protrusions 292 are forwardly spaced from the snap cut-outs 252 in the bottom housing portion 104 in this needle hiding operative orientation.
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Reference is now made to
The injector 100 is seen in injection operative orientation in
It is a particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention that is this injection operative orientation, the needle hiding element 140 is rearwardly displaced until the forwardly facing surface 264 thereof is generally aligned with the forward ends 200 and 220 of the housing portions 106 and 104 respectively. In this injection operative orientation, the needle hiding element 140 is disposed in a partially retracted orientation, in which the needle hiding element 140 is positioned in an intermediate position, which is disposed forwardly of its retracted position and rearwardly of its extended position.
It is a further particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention that the needle hiding element 140 is not locked in this partially retracted orientation and thus enabled to be slidably biased forwardly relative to the housing portions 104 and 106 upon removal of pressure that is applied thereon by the user.
It is seen in
It is seen in this injection operative orientation that the biasing springs 190 are disposed in their partially-compressed operative orientation. The needle 302 in this injection operative orientation extends forwardly from the needle hiding element 140 and the housing portions 104 and 106, thus penetrates the skin of the user.
It is also seen in
Reference is now made to
The injector 100 is seen just prior to attachment of the outer needle cap 306 to the needle 302 in
Upon release of the injector 100 from the skin, the needle hiding element 140 is biased to be displaced forwardly relative to the housing portions 104 and 106 to its extended orientation under the urge of biasing springs 190.
It is particularly seen in
It is seen that in this operative orientation the biasing springs 190 are disposed in their non-stressed operative orientation, thus biasing the needle hiding element 140 to an extended position, which is the forwardmost position of the needle hiding element 140, in which the needle hiding element 140 extends forwardly from the forward end 200 and 220 of the upper and bottom housing portions respectively, such that the forwardly facing surface 264 of the needle hiding element 140 is forwardly spaced from the forward ends 200 and 220 and the needle 302 is hidden within the opening 266 of the needle hiding element 140 and thus hidden from view of the user.
It is particularly seen that the buttons 290 of the needle hiding element 140 are disposed at the forward end of the cut-outs 250 of the bottom housing portion 104 and the snap protrusions 292 are forwardly spaced from the snap cut-outs 252 in the bottom housing portion 104 in this operative orientation.
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Reference is now made to
The injector 100 is seen in needle cover attached operative orientation in
Preferably, the outer needle cap 306 is now mounted over the needle 302 and the needle hub.
It is seen particularly in
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It is a particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention that the needle 302 in this needle attached operative orientation is covered by the outer needle cap 306 and the needle hiding element 140 is disposed in a retracted locked orientation, which is the rearwardmost position of the needle hiding element 140. It is specifically seen that in this retracted locked orientation of the needle hiding element 140, the snap protrusions 252 are rearwardly displaced relative to the housing portions 104 and 106 and are now inserted into snap cut-outs 292 of the bottom housing portion 104 and the buttons 290 are positioned adjacent the rearward ends of the cut-outs 250. The needle hiding element 140 is temporarily locked in its retracted position and is restrained from forward longitudinal displacement along longitudinal axis 107 by means of engagement between snap protrusions 292 with snap cut-outs 252. The locking of the snap protrusions 292 with snap cut-outs 252 is enabled due to temporary inward deflection of the mounting arms 280 of the needle hiding element 140.
It is also noted that the biasing springs 190 are now disposed in their compressed operative orientation, but are prevented from displacing the needle hiding element 140 forwardly due to the locking engagement of the snap protrusions 292 with the snap cut-outs 252.
It is particularly seen that buttons 290 of the needle hiding element 140 are rearwardly spaced from the forward end of cut-outs 250 of the bottom housing portion 104.
It is appreciated that if medicament still remains within the medicament container 102 and the user wishes to perform injection of an additional dose of medication while hiding the needle 302 during needle penetration into the skin and needle retraction from the skin, the user has to press buttons 290 of the needle hiding element 140 inwardly towards the longitudinal axis 107 in order to unlock the needle hiding element 140 from the housing portions 104 and 106.
It is a particular feature of an embodiment of the present invention that the injector 100 includes a needle hiding element 140 that is displaceable relative to the housing portions 104 and 106 of the injector 100 and positionable in an extended orientation exposing the needle, a retracted orientation, in which the needle hiding element 140 is locked relative to the housing portions 104 and 106 and in a partially retracted orientation during injection of the medicament from the medicament cartridge 102.
It is appreciated that alternatively, instead of the illustrated two mounting arms 280 of the needle hiding element 140, any other number or configuration of such mounting arms of the needle hiding element 140 which enables locking/unlocking of the needle hiding element 140 from the housing portions 104 and 106 in certain operative orientations is considered to be within the scope of embodiments of the present invention. For example, a single mounting arm 280 which engages a cut-out formed on the back wall 240 of the bottom housing portion 104, rather than on the side walls 242 thereof may be employed as part of the present invention.
It is noted that alternative medicament cartridge insertion methods into the injector 100 are considered to be within the scope of the present invention, such as for example providing an opening at the forward end of the housing of the injector 100 and rotatably inserting the medicament cartridge 102 therethrough. Other methods of medicament cartridge insertion into the injector 100 are also considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of various features described herein and improvements and variations which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.
Reference is hereby made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/423,834, filed Sep. 3, 2013, which has published as US20150202367 and entitled “ELECTRONIC AUTO-INJECTION DEVICE”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Reference is hereby additionally made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/345,897, filed Jun. 6, 2016 and entitled “Electronic auto-injection device for drugs in cartridges”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Reference is hereby made to a PCT Patent Application PCT/IL2017/050607, filed Jun. 1, 2017, which has published as WO2017212473 and entitled “Multiple use computerized injector”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Reference is hereby additionally made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/977,748, filed Feb. 18, 2020 and entitled “Multiple use computerized injector”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Reference is hereby additionally made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/052,562, filed Jul. 16, 2020 and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFORMATION MANAGEMENT IN COMPUTERIZED INJECTORS”, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2021/060507 | 11/12/2021 | WO |