Retractable sleeve for pen needle assembly
Inventors
Gartner, Jeremy • FAM, Maryann S. • GIRGIS, Peter A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11452822-B2
Publication Date
2022-09-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
A needle hub assembly for a pen needle includes a needle hub, a cannula or needle coupled to the needle hub, a retractable and compressible sleeve covering at least one end of the cannula, and an outer cover. The outer cover encloses the needle hub and the retractable sleeve. The retractable sleeve is coupled to the hub to cover the end of the cannula where the sleeve can pass through or can be pierced by the cannula and the sleeve retracts axially on the cannula. The sleeve is resilient and returns to an original configuration when an insertion force is released. The needle hub can have a first sleeve to cover a patient end of the cannula, and second sleeve to cover a non-patient end of the cannula where the sleeves retract onto the cannula or hub and expand to the original configuration to cover the ends of the cannula.
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to a retractable, resilient sleeve pen-needle assembly having a needle hub coupled to a cannula and an outer sterile cover. The needle hub holds a double-ended cannula in which a distal patient end is enclosed by a retractable distal sleeve and a proximal end is configured to engage a delivery-device septum. The sleeves are compressible and foldable such that sleeve material retracts during cannula insertion or hub attachment and then re-expands after those events.
The resilient first sleeve encloses the first end of the cannula and is coupled to the distal end of the needle hub. When the cannula first end is inserted into the patient, the resilient first sleeve retracts in a longitudinal direction with respect to the cannula, and the end wall diameter and thickness conform to a skin surface when the sleeve end wall contacts the skin surface. A distal post extending from the distal end of the needle hub provides a coupling surface for the resilient first sleeve.
The resilient second sleeve encloses the second end of the cannula and is coupled to the proximal end of the needle hub so that the second sleeve retracts in a longitudinal direction with respect to the cannula when the needle hub is threaded onto the delivery device. The distal post axial face includes skin shaping surfaces that include a convex surface with a continuous radius of curvature, and geometric features such as raised inner and outer rings and a recess to shape and control penetration depth.
Claims Coverage
The provided material contains two independent claims. Each independent claim centers on a needle hub carrying a cannula, together with two compressible, foldable resilient sleeves that retract in different coupling or insertion states, plus a distal post that includes a skin-conforming or skin-shaping surface.
Two resilient sleeves retract during insertion and hub coupling
A resilient first sleeve with an end wall and an open end, coupled to the distal end of the needle hub and enclosing a first end of the cannula, where the cannula passes through the end wall and the resilient first sleeve retracts in a longitudinal direction when the first end of the cannula is inserted into the patient. A resilient second sleeve with an end wall and an open end, coupled to the proximal end of the needle hub and covering a second end of the cannula, where the cannula passes through the end wall and the resilient second sleeve retracts in a longitudinal direction when the needle hub is threaded onto the delivery device.
Distal post provides foldable coupling surface and skin conformation
A distal post extending from the distal end of the needle hub and having a side surface spaced inwardly from the side wall of the needle hub, where the resilient first sleeve is coupled to the side surface of the distal post, and where the resilient first sleeve is compressible and foldable onto the distal post such that the end wall of the resilient first sleeve contacts and conforms to an axial face of the distal post.
Distal post axial face with raised ring features
A distal post extending from an end wall of the needle hub, where the outer axial face has an outer dimension less than an outer dimension of the side wall, and the outer axial face has a raised outer ring at an outer edge and a raised inner ring at a center portion, defining a skin shaping surface and defining a recess between the inner ring and the outer ring. The outer ring, the inner ring, and the recess define a convex surface having a continuous radius of curvature.
Proximal post and cannula positioned for septum piercing
A proximal post extending from an inner surface of the end wall of the needle hub and extending toward the proximal open end of the needle hub, and a cannula having a first end extending from a distal end of the distal post and a second end extending from the proximal post for piercing a septum on the delivery device and positioned in a cavity defined by the side wall. A resilient first sleeve encloses the first end of the cannula and conforms to the convex surface of the distal post, and a resilient second sleeve encloses the second end of the cannula and is compressible and foldable onto the proximal post when the needle hub is connected to the delivery device.
Across the independent claims, the key claim coverage is directed to a pen needle in which a cannula passes through end walls of two resilient sleeves that retract in distinct coupling and insertion states, combined with a distal post that provides a foldable, compressible coupling surface and includes skin shaping geometry.
Stated Advantages
Reduces needle-stick risk by enclosing patient-side and hub/cannula ends with retractable sleeves that re-expand after insertion or detachment.
Documented Applications
Pen needle for coupling with a delivery device and introducing medication to a patient by piercing a septum of the delivery device.
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