GB2408255A

GB2408255A - Container system for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection

Info

Publication number: GB2408255A
Application number: GB0326789A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Frederick Marston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-18
Filing date: 2003-11-18
Publication date: 2005-05-25
Also published as: WO2005049114B1; WO2005049114A3; EP1684827A2; GB0326789D0; WO2005049114A2

Abstract

A container system, for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection, comprises a container (10) having a plurality of locations each for holding a hypodermic needle pack (44) for insulin injection, and a set of members (32A-C), any selected one of which can be united with the container. At least some of the members of the set are arranged, when united with the container, to blank-off different numbers of the locations and/or to label the locations with different labels (56) to suit different injection regimens. Alternatively, a set of members each having a different number of locations for holding needle packs may be provided.

Description

TITLE

Container system for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to a container and a container system for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection and to a method of construction of such a container.

Many people suffer from diabetes mellitus and need treatment by selfinjection of insulin to help control their blood sugar level. Proper control is important. In the short-term, too high a blood sugar level (hyperglycaemia) causes a general feeling of being unwell, and too low a blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia) can cause collapse. In the longer term, improperly controlled blood sugar levels can lead to microvascular and macrovascular damage, retinopathy (eye disease), neuropathy (disease of the nervous system) and nephropathy (kidney disease). A typical regimen involves injection of long-acting insulin at regular intervals and of a dose that may be constant, varied in a predetermined manner, or varied in dependence upon measured blood sugar level. The regularity and timing of injection is important. Some sufferers require only one injection of insulin per day; others require two injections per day, for example before their breakfast and evening meal; some require three injections per day, for example before their breakfast, lunch, and tea; and others require four injections per day, for example before their breakfast, lunch, tea and bedtime. Some sufferers complement their routine injections of insulin with occasional injections of short-acting insulin, for example if they eat a meal that is particularly high in sugar or sugar-producing constituents.

With modern self-injection systems, the process of self-injection can be very simple and quick. Many people with diabetes use an injection pen, which contains a supply of insulin, and disposable single-use hypodermic needles that are supplied in individual sterile needle packs and which are unpacked and fitted to the injection pen immediately before use of the pen. Because self-injection is so simple and quick, it is a problem that sometimes (for example mid-morning) a diabetic will forget whether they took their last-scheduled dose of insulin (for example before breakfast). The person is then faced with the dilemma of whether to take a dose of insulin, in which case if they did, in fact, take their last- scheduled dose they will decrease their blood sugar level unnecessarily and possibly become hypoglycaemic, or whether to wait until their next- scheduled dose, in which case if they did not, in fact, take their last- scheduled dose their blood sugar level will increase. - 2

The present invention is concerned with this problem and seeks to provide a way in which people with diabetes can readily ascertain whether they are on schedule with their insulin infections.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a container system for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection, the system comprising a container having a plurality of locations each for holding a hypodermic needle pack for insulin injection, a set of members, and means for uniting any selected one of the members with the container, at least some of the members of the set each being arranged, when united with the container, to blank off different numbers of the locations and/or to label the locations with different labels.

The different members of the set can therefore be used to blank-off different numbers of locations and/or to label the locations differently so that the number of locations that are not blanked-off and/or the location labelling is/are particularly suited for a particular injection regimen. In use, it is intended that the user would fill the available locations, or the locations that are appropriately marked, with needle packs at a predetermined time. The user would then take a needle pack, or the appropriately labelled needle pack, from the container for each injection. The user can therefore determine, from the number of locations occupied by needle packs in the container and/or from the labelling of the occupied locations, whether they did in fact take their last- scheduled dose.

Providing a common container that can be used with a member, selected from a set, for a particular injection regimen, rather than providing different complete containers for different injection regimens, simplifies manufacturing and can lead to a reduction in tooling-up costs.

In one embodiment, the locations are each provided by a respective hole in a plate. In another embodiment, the locations are each provided by a respective recess in a tray.

Preferably, there are at least six such locations. When six locations are available, they may be marked with the names of six of the days of the week, for example "Monday" to "Saturday", and the container can be used by a diabetic on a one injection per day regimen. The intention is that, when the diabetic injects themself on Sunday and the container is empty, they also fill all six locations with needle packs, and, during the following week, each day they use the appropriately labelled needle pack. If, on Sunday, they are unsure whether they have taken their insulin, they can therefore tell, depending on whether or not the container is full. On any other day, they can tell, depending upon whether or not the location for that particular day is full.

There may even be at least seven such locations. When all seven locations are available, six of the locations may be labelled as described above, and the seventh location may be employed for a needle pack to be used for injection of quick-acting insulin. Alternatively, the seventh location may be labelled "Sunday".

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a container system for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection, the system comprising a container, a set of members, and means for uniting any selected one of the members with the container, at least some of the members of the set each having a different number of locations each for holding a hypodermic needle pack for insulin injection.

Each member may comprises a plate, with the locations being provided by holes in the plate. Alternatively, each member may comprise a tray, with the locations being provided by recesses in the tray. Again, at least one of the members preferably has at least six such locations, and may even have at least seven such locations.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of construction of a container for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection, the method comprising: providing a system according to the first or second aspect of the invention; selecting one of the members; and uniting the selected member with the container.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection, the container being constructed according to the method of the third aspect of the invention.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a container for a plurality of hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection, the container having a plurality of locations each for holding a respective needle pack, each location being labelled according to a particular injection regimen.

In the container system or container of the first, second, fourth or fifth aspect of the invention, the container may also provide a location for an insulin injection pen.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a container of a first embodiment of the invention with two cover plates of the container shown in their open positions; Figure 2 is a cross-sectioned side view of the container of Figure 1, with the cover plates shown closed; Figure 3 is an isometric view of a needle holder plate used in the container of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an isometric view of one type of fascia plate that may be used in the container of Figure 1; Figures SA is plan view of the fascia plate of Figure 4; Figures 5B-D are plan views of other types of fascia plate that may be used in the container of Figure 1, Figure 5C also showing the container and three needle packs; Figure 6 is an isometric view of such a needle pack; Figure 7 is a plan view of a container of a second embodiment of the invention with a lid of the container shown in its open position; Figure 8 is an edge view of a fascia plate that may be used with the container of Figure Figures 9A-9D are face views of various types of fascia plates that may be used with the container of Figure 7, Figure 9C also showing the container and three needle packs.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, in the first embodiment of the invention, a container 10 has a cylindrical body 12. The ends of the cylindrical body can be closed by a top cover plate 14 and a bottom cover plate 16, each of which is disc shaped and is attached to the body 12 by a respective hinge pin 18 that is fixed into the wall of the body 12 and about which the respective cover plate 14,16 can pivot. A detent (not shown) may be provided releasably to hold each cover plate 14,16 in its closed position.

A needle holder plate 20 (see particularly Figure 3) has the form of a disc 22 with an upturned lip 24 around its periphery. The needle holder plate 20 is glued into the top of the body 12, the latter having a rabbet 26 to receive the plate so that the top of the lip 24 is flush with the top of the cylindrical body 12. The disc 22 of the needle holder plate 20 has a central through-hole 28 and six through-holes 30 symmetrically arranged around the central hole 28. - s -

Any of a number of different types of fascia plate 32A-C (see particularly Figures 4 to 5D) can be fitted to the needle holder plate 20. Each fascia plate 32A-C has the form of a disc 34 that has a number of through-holes 36 that can be aligned with some, or all, of the holes 28,30 in the needle holder plate 20. The inwardly facing surface of the lip 24 of the needle holder plate 20 is formed with a ridge 38, and the diameter and thickness of the disc 34 of each fascia plate 32A-C is such that the fascia plate 32A-C can be snap-fitted into the needle holder plate 20. The edge of the disc 34 of each fascia plate 32A-C may be formed with a lug 40 that engages in a corresponding notch 42 in the ridge 38 on the lip 24 of the needle holder plate 20 so that each fascia plate 32A-C may only be fitted one-way-round into the needle holder plate 20.

As shown in Figure 6, a typical needle pack 44 comprises a body having an upper cylindrical portion 46, a tapering mid-portion 48 and a lower cylindrical portion SO that is closed at its lower end. The upper end of the upper portion 46 has a flange 52. The needle pack 44 contains a hypodermic needle (not shown) for fitting to an insulin injection pen, and the IS needle is sealed in the pack 44 by a tear-off seal 54. The diameter of the holes 28,30,36 in the needle holder plate 20 and the fascia plates 32A-C is such that the holes 28,30,36 can snugly receive the upper portions 46 of such needle packs 44. The container 10 is dimensioned such that, when a needle pack 44 is fitted into a pair of aligned holes 28,30,36 in the needle holder plate 20 and one of the fascia plates 32A-C with the underside of the flange 52 of the needle pack 44 against the upper surface of the fascia plate 32A-C, the needle pack 44 fouls neither the top cover plate 14 nor the bottom cover plate 16.

In order to fill the container 10 with needle packs 44, the top cover 14 is pivoted open, and the needle packs 44 are inserted into the empty holes 36. In order to remove a needle pack 44 from the container 10, both the top cover 14 and the bottom cover 16 are pivoted open. The 2s lower end of the required needle pack 44 is then pressed upwardly by a user's finger inserted into the bottom of the container 10, and the needle pack 44 is then grasped from above and completely withdrawn from the container 10.

The fascia plate 32A of Figure SA is for use by a diabetic who routinely requires one injection of long-acting insulin per day. The fascia plate 32A has seven holes 36, which align with the seven holes 28,30 of the needle holder plate 20 when the fascia plate 32A is fitted thereto. Each hole 36 has a label 56 designating a respective day of the week.

The fascia plate 32B of Figure SB is for use by a diabetic who routinely requires four injections of long-acting insulin per day. The fascia plate 32B has four holes 36, which align with four of the holes 30 of the needle holder plate 20 when the fascia plate 32B is fitted thereto, and the disk 34 of the fascia plate 32B blanks-off the other three holes 28, 30 of the needle holder plate 20. Each hole 36 has a label 56 designating a respective time of day. Figure 5C shows the fascia plate 32B fitted to the container 10 and with three of the four holes 36 occupied by needle packs 44.

The fascia plate 32C of Figure 5D is for use by a diabetic who routinely requires two injections of long-acting insulin per day. The fascia plate 32C has two holes 36, which align with two of the holes 30 of the needle holder plate 20 when the fascia plate 32C is fitted thereto, and the disk 34 of the fascia plate 32C blanks-off the other five holes 28,30 of the needle holder plate 20. Each hole 36 has a label 56 designating a respective time of day.

It will be appreciated that fascia plates with different numbers of holes 36 or different labels 56 may also be provided.

Each container 10 may be supplied with a set of different fascia plates 32A-C, or such fascia plates 32A-C may be supplied separately. One of the fascia plates 32A-C is selected of a type in dependence upon the user's requirements and is fitted into the needle holder plate 20 of the container 10. In typical use of the container 10 when fitted with the fascia plate 32A, the user would fill the container 10 with needle packs 44 at a pre-decided time each week. Each day, they would then use the appropriately labelled needle pack 44. If they were unsure whether they had taken their insulin on a particular day, inspection of the needle packs 44 remaining in the container 10 would resolve the issue. If they forgot to fill the container 10 at the pre-decided time each week, this would be readily apparent the next time they went to take a needle pack 44 from the container 10, and the container 10 could then be filled, except for the needle pack 44 for the day in question. Similar considerations apply to the other fascia plates 32B,32C, but on a daily, rather than weekly, basis.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 9D, in the second embodiment of the invention, a container 60 has a clam-shell form (similar to an oldfashioned spectacles case) with a lower half 62 and upper half 64 hinged together at 66 along one longitudinal edge. The lower half 62 of the container 60 is fitted with an insert tray 68 that is moulded to provide a recess 70 for receiving an insulin injection pen 72 and a series of seven recesses 74 each for receiving a respective needle pack 44. The insert tray 68 also has two lines of fixing holes 76.

Any of a number of different types of fascia plate 78A-C (see particularly Figures 8 to 9D) can be fitted over the portion of the tray 68 having the needle recesses 74. Each fascia plate 78A-C comprises a strip 79 with an outline shape similar to that of the tray 68 over about two thirds of its width. Referring in particular to Figure 8, the bottom face of the strip 79 is formed with two lines of pegs 80 each of which is a tight fit into a respective one of the holes 76 in the tray 68. Each of the fascia plates 78A-C has a number of through holes 82 in its strip 79, each having an outline similar in shape to and of a slightly larger size than the profile of a needle packs 44, and each being arranged to align with a respective one of the needle recesses 74 when the fascia plate 78A-C is fitted to the tray 68.

The fascia plate 78A of Figure 9A is for use by a diabetic who routinely requires one injection of long-acting insulin per day. The fascia plate 78A has seven holes 82, which align with the seven needle recesses 74 in the tray 68 when the fascia plate 78A is fitted thereto. Each hole 82 has a label 56 designating a respective day of the week.

The fascia plate 78B of Figure 9B is for use by a diabetic who routinely requires four injections of long-acting insulin per day. The fascia plate 78B has four holes 82, which align with four of the needle recesses 74 in the tray 68 when the fascia plate 78B is fitted thereto, and the strip 79 of the fascia plate 78B blanks-off the other three needle recesses 74. Each hole 82 has a label 56 designating a respective time of day. Figure 9C shows the fascia plate 78B fitted to the container 60 and with three of the four holes 82 occupied by needle packs 44.

The fascia plate 78C of Figure 9D is for use by a diabetic who routinely requires two injections of long-acting insulin per day. The fascia plate 78C has two holes 82, which align with two of the needle recesses 74 in the tray 68 when the fascia plate 78C is fitted thereto, and the strip 79 of the fascia plate 78C blanks-off the other five recesses 74. Each hole 82 has a label 56 designating a respective time of day.

It will be appreciated that fascia plates with different numbers of holes 82 or different labels 56 may also be provided.

Similarly to the first embodiment, each container 60 may be supplied with a set of different fascia plates 78A-C, or such fascia plates 78A-C may be supplied separately. One of the fascia plates 78A-C is selected of a type in dependence upon the user's requirements and is fitted onto the tray 68 of the container 60. In typical use of the container 60 when fitted with the fascia plate 78A, the user would fill the container 60 with needle packs 44 at a pre-decided time each week. Each day, they would then use the appropriately labelled needle pack 44. If they were unsure whether they had taken their insulin on a particular day, inspection of the needle packs 44 remaining in the container 60 would resolve the issue. If they forgot to fill the - 8 container 60 at the pre- decided time each week, this would be readily apparent the next time they went to take a needle pack 44 from the container 60, and the container 60 could then be filled, except for the needle pack 44 for the day in question. Similar considerations apply to the other fascia plates 78B,78C, but on a daily, rather than weekly, basis.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and developments may be made to the embodiments of the invention described above. For example, in both embodiments, the fascia plates 32A-C,78A-C are shown in the drawings to have substantial thickness. They may, however, be thinner and fabricated from card, or laminated card, and a complete set of fascia plates 32A-C,78A-C may be supplied as a pre-perforated sheet, which may have a self-adhesive backing so that the selected fascia plate 32A-C,78AC may be stuck to the needle holder plate or insert tray 68. In the first embodiment, the needle holder plate 20 may be omitted, and the fascia plate 32A-C may be arranged to be a snap-fit directly into the body 12 of the container 10. Furthermore, the fascia plates 32A-C may be integrally or permanently formed with the body 12 of the container 10, and different types of container 10 may therefore be supplied in accordance with the required number of holes 36 and labelling. The container 10 may be arranged so that the needle packs 44 are not so deeply inserted into the holes 30, in which case the bottom of the container 10 may be permanently closed. In the second embodiment, the use of a fascia plate 78A-C may be omitted, and instead different type of trays 68 with different numbers of needle recesses 74 and/or different markings, as required. In the case of users who take antidiabetic drugs in tablet form as well as by subcutaneous injection, the containers 10,60 may be provided with locations for holding the tablets, and provision may be made for blanking-off locations that are not required and marking the locations in a similar way to the blanking-off of and marking of the locations for holding the needle packs 44.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention has been described above purely by way of example and that many modifications and developments may be made thereto within the scope of the present invention. - 9 -

Claims

The reference numerals in the claims are not intended to limit the protection sought or granted 1. A container system for hypodermic needle packs (44) for insulin injection, the system comprising a container (10; 60) having a plurality of locations (28,30; 74) each for holding a hypodermic needle pack for insulin injection, a set of members (32A-C; 78A-C), and means (24,38; 76,80) for uniting any selected one of the members with the container, at least some of the members of the set each being arranged, when united with the container, to blank-off different numbers of the locations and/or to label the locations with different labels (56).
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the members of the set are each arranged, when united with the container, to blank- off different numbers of the locations.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least some of the members of the set are each arranged, when united with the container, to label the locations with different labels.
4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locations are each provided by a respective hole (28,30) in a plate (20).
5. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the locations are each provided by a respective recess (74) in a tray (68).
6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are at least six such locations.
7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are at least seven such locations.
8. A container system for hypodermic needle packs (44) for insulin injection, the system comprising a container (10; 60), a set of members (32A-C; 78A-C), and means (24,38; 76,80) for uniting any selected one of the members with the container, at least some of the members of the set each having a different number of locations (36; 82) each for holding a hypodermic needle pack for insulin injection.
9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each member comprises a plate (34), and the locations are provided by holes (36) in the plate. -
10. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein each member comprises a tray, and the locations are provided by recesses in the tray.
11. A system as claimed in any of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one (32A; 78A) of the members has at least six such locations.
12. A system as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11, wherein at least one (32A; 78A) of the members has at least seven such locations.
13. A method of construction of a container for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection, the method comprising: providing a system as claimed in any preceding claim; selecting one of the members; and uniting the selected member with the container.
14. A container for hypodermic needle packs for insulin injection, the container being constructed according to a method as claimed in claim 13.
15. A container (10; 60) for a plurality of hypodermic needle packs (44) for insulin injection, the container having a plurality of locations (36; 82) each for holding a respective needle pack, each location being labelled according to a particular injection regimen.
16. A container system or container as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, 14 and 15, wherein the container also provides a location (70) for an insulin injection pen (72).
17. A container, container system or method of construction of a container, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.