US7544189B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Needle and hub assembly for automatic injector
Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 2004-03-11
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Granted: 2009-06-09
•
Expires: 2024-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A needle and hub assembly for an automatic injector and a method for making the needle and hub assembly. The needle and hub assembly comprises a cap or skirt, a forward surface of which is interposed between and reinforced by first and second engaged hub portions. A needle is received in a contiguous channel formed in the two hub portions. The method for making the assembly comprises molding the first hub portion, placing the cap over the first hub portion, inserting the needle into a channel in the first hub portion, and then overmolding or otherwise forming the second hub portion on the exterior of the cap such that it is engaged with the first hub portion. An assembly created by this “two-shot” process can be used to seal a relatively large opening, and supports the needle more effectively than a conventional assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven M. Griffiths
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:20
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/31; A61M5/3145; A61M5/20; A61M5/2066; A61M5/28; A61M5/32; A61M5/34; A61M5/343; A61M5/348; A61M5/24; A61M5/2455; A61M5/2459; A61M2005/2462; A61M5/3129; A61M2005/3132; A61M5/2033; A61M5/206; A61M5/284; A61M5/285; A61M5/286; A61M5/3293; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/4984; Y10T29/49947
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A needle and hub assembly for an injection device, the assembly comprising: a cap having an engaging portion adapted to engage an exterior surface of a cartridge, and a needle-supporting portion having a wall that includes an opening therein, the wall defining interior and exterior surfaces opposite each other; a first hub portion having a forward section extending through the opening in the wall and defining a needle-receiving channel through the opening in the wall and having a section that extends along and contacts the interior surface of the wall; a needle mounted in the needle-receiving channel and extending outwardly therefrom; and a second hub portion mounted over the first hub portion and receiving at least a portion of the needle, the second hub portion having reinforcing structures which extend outwardly along and contact the exterior surface of the wall, the second hub portion further having a supporting portion that extends beyond the first hub portion in the direction of the needle and that contacts the needle; wherein the wall of the needle-supporting portion of the cap is adjoined on the exterior surface by the second hub portion and on the interior surface directly opposite the adjoined exterior surface in the same direction as a longitudinal axis of the needle by the first hub portion forming a contiguous, mutually reinforcing sandwiched structure of the second hub portion, the wall, and the first hub portion that extends around the opening in the wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
A needle and hub assembly for an injection device, the assembly comprising: a cap having an engaging portion adapted to engage an exterior surface of a cartridge, and a needle-supporting portion having a wall that includes an opening therein, the wall defining interior and exterior surfaces opposite each other; a first hub portion having a forward section extending through the opening in the wall and defining a needle-receiving channel through the opening in the wall and having a section that extends along and contacts the interior surface of the wall; a needle mounted in the needle-receiving channel and extending outwardly therefrom; and a second hub portion mounted over the first hub portion and receiving at least a portion of the needle, the second hub portion having reinforcing structures which extend outwardly along and contact the exterior surface of the wall, the second hub portion further having a supporting portion that extends beyond the first hub portion in the direction of the needle and that contacts the needle; wherein the wall of the needle-supporting portion of the cap is adjoined on the exterior surface by the second hub portion and on the interior surface directly opposite the adjoined exterior surface in the same direction as a longitudinal axis of the needle by the first hub portion forming a contiguous, mutually reinforcing sandwiched structure of the second hub portion, the wall, and the first hub portion that extends around the opening in the wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The needle and hub assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second hub portions are fused.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The needle and hub assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second hub portions are comprised of a plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The needle and hub assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first and second hub portions are comprised of the same plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The needle and hub assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cap is comprised of a metal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The needle and hub assembly of claim 5 , wherein the cap is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The needle and hub assembly of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing structures are radially-extending ribs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The needle and hub assembly of claim 1 , wherein the needle-receiving channel provides a continuous flow pathway from the inside of the cap to the outside of the cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The needle and hub assembly of claim 1 wherein the needle-receiving channel has a stop formed therein to limit the insertion depth of the needle within the first hub portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
290 words
An automatic injector comprising: a housing; a cartridge disposed in the housing, the cartridge having at least one opening therein and containing a medicament, the medicament being rearwardly confined by a plunger; an actuation assembly including a stored energy source that is capable of being released to drive the plunger through the cartridge; a cap having an engaging portion adapted to engage an exterior surface of the cartridge to cover the opening in the cartridge, and a needle-supporting portion having a wall that includes an opening therein, the wall defining interior and exterior surfaces opposite each other; a first hub portion having a forward section extending through the opening in the wall and defining a needle-receiving channel through the opening in the wall and having a section that extends along and contacts the interior surface of the wall; a needle mounted in the needle-receiving channel and extending outwardly therefrom, the needle operative to expel the medicament when the plunger is driven through the cartridge; and a second hub portion engaged with the first hub portion and receiving at least a portion of the needle, the second hub portion having reinforcing structures which extend outwardly along and contact the exterior surface of the wall directly opposite, and in the same direction as a longitudinal axis of the needle, the interior surface of the wall contacted by the first hub portion, the second hub portion further having a supporting portion that extends beyond the first hub portion in the direction of the needle and that contacts the needle; wherein the reinforcing structures are radially-extending ribs, and the second hub portion, the wall, and the first hub portion form a contiguous, mutually reinforcing sandwiched structure that extends around the opening in the wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
290 words
An automatic injector comprising: a housing; a cartridge disposed in the housing, the cartridge having at least one opening therein and containing a medicament, the medicament being rearwardly confined by a plunger; an actuation assembly including a stored energy source that is capable of being released to drive the plunger through the cartridge; a cap having an engaging portion adapted to engage an exterior surface of the cartridge to cover the opening in the cartridge, and a needle-supporting portion having a wall that includes an opening therein, the wall defining interior and exterior surfaces opposite each other; a first hub portion having a forward section extending through the opening in the wall and defining a needle-receiving channel through the opening in the wall and having a section that extends along and contacts the interior surface of the wall; a needle mounted in the needle-receiving channel and extending outwardly therefrom, the needle operative to expel the medicament when the plunger is driven through the cartridge; and a second hub portion engaged with the first hub portion and receiving at least a portion of the needle, the second hub portion having reinforcing structures which extend outwardly along and contact the exterior surface of the wall directly opposite, and in the same direction as a longitudinal axis of the needle, the interior surface of the wall contacted by the first hub portion, the second hub portion further having a supporting portion that extends beyond the first hub portion in the direction of the needle and that contacts the needle; wherein the reinforcing structures are radially-extending ribs, and the second hub portion, the wall, and the first hub portion form a contiguous, mutually reinforcing sandwiched structure that extends around the opening in the wall.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The automatic injector of claim 10 , wherein the first and second hub portions are fused.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The automatic injector of claim 11 , wherein the first and second hub portions are comprised of a plastic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The automatic injector of claim 12 , wherein the first and second hub portions are comprised of the same plastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The automatic injector of claim 10 , wherein the cap is comprised of a metal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The automatic injector of claim 14 , wherein the cap is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The automatic injector of claim 10 , wherein the first hub portion defines a chamber into which the needle-receiving channel opens.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The automatic injector of claim 10 , wherein the needle-receiving channel provides a continuous flow pathway from the inside of the cap to the outside of the cap.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The automatic injector of claim 10 , wherein the cartridge has two medicament compartments.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The automatic injector of claim 18 , wherein one of the medicament compartments is adapted to house a wet medicament component and the other medicament compartment is adapted to house a dry medicament component.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The automatic injector of claim 19 , wherein the at least one opening in the cartridge is in the dry medicament compartment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The automatic injector of claim 10 wherein the needle-receiving channel has a stop formed therein to limit the insertion depth of the needle within the first hub portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2012-06-08 | 2012-12-08 | 2013-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2016-06-08 | 2016-12-08 | 2017-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2020-06-08 | 2020-12-08 | 2021-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |