Safety pen needle assembly
Inventors
Ruan, Tieming • Banik, Robert • Zaiken, Eliot • Quinn, Michael Vincent • Searle, Gary
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11369751-B2
Publication Date
2022-06-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
In one aspect, a safety pen needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub with a needle fixed to the hub, the needle having a distal end, formed for insertion into a patient, and a proximal end. The assembly further includes a shield and a biasing member disposed between the hub and the shield configured to urge the shield distally. A protrusion extends from at least one of the hub and the shield with a channel being formed in at least the other of the hub and the shield. The channel is formed to accommodate the protrusion. The shield is movable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the shield is spaced from the distal end of the needle such that the distal end of the needle is exposed. In the second position, the shield covers the distal end of the needle. The channel guides the protrusion as the shield moves from the first position to the second position. With this arrangement, a shield may be directed to move in a desired path with stability. In addition, the distal end of the needle may be initially exposed to permit visual confirmation of priming, while allowing the shield to cover a majority of the needle to minimize any needle-related anxiety.
Core Innovation
The safety pen needle assembly comprises a hub, a needle fixed to the hub, an axially-displaceable shield for covering the distal end of the needle, and a safety member. The shield has an angled engagement surface, and the safety member has a detent with a ramped surface in axial alignment with that surface. A biasing means is disposed to urge the safety member proximally and the shield distally.
Sufficient proximal movement of the shield causes the engagement surface to engage the ramped surface and displace the detent, releasing the safety member from a first state and allowing the biasing means to urge it proximally. The safety member includes a plurality of elongated locking arms, with the detent on one arm and a locking tab on another. At a second position, the detent and locking tab sandwich a hub bulkhead to lock the safety member in an extended position.
Claims Coverage
The provided relevant claims identify one independent claim, claim 1, covering a safety pen needle assembly with five inventive features concerning shield-actuated release of a biased safety member and locking that member in an extended position.
Shield with an angled engagement surface
The axially-displaceable shield covers the distal end of the needle and has an angled engagement surface.
Detent with a ramped surface
The safety member has at least one detent with a ramped surface in axial alignment with the shield's angled engagement surface. The detent releasably retains the safety member in a first state with the proximal end of the needle exposed.
Biasing means for the safety member and shield
A biasing means is disposed to urge the safety member proximally and the shield distally.
Shield-actuated release of the safety member
With sufficient proximal movement of the shield, its engagement surface engages the detent's ramped surface and displaces the detent, releasing the safety member from the first state and allowing the biasing means to urge it proximally.
Locking the safety member at an extended position
The safety member includes a plurality of elongated locking arms, with the detent on one arm and a locking tab on another. Upon the safety member reaching a second position, the detent and locking tab sandwich a hub bulkhead between them to lock the safety member in an extended position.
Claim 1 covers the shield-driven release of a biased safety member and its subsequent locking in an extended position by sandwiching a hub bulkhead between the detent and a locking tab.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
A safety pen needle assembly with a needle formed for insertion into a patient and a shield for covering the needle's distal end.
A safety pen needle assembly comprising a secondary shield that moves to cover the hub's proximal end.
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