WO2006061170A1

WO2006061170A1 - Integrated light cover shield for a syringe device

Info

Publication number: WO2006061170A1
Application number: PCT/EP2005/013003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bo Radmer; Nadya Arnaout; Søren PETERSEN
Original assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
Priority date: 2004-12-08
Filing date: 2005-12-05
Publication date: 2006-06-15

Abstract

The present invention relates to a syringe device comprising a first part adapted to accommodate an ejection assisting system for providing an ejection force for assisting an operator of the device in forcing a piston in the distal direction of the syringe device so as to eject a dose of medicament, and a second part adapted to accommodate a cartridge, the cartridge, when accommodated in the second part of the syringe device, being visible through at least one slot in the second part. The syringe device further comprises an integrated and movable light cover shield adapted to cover at least part of the at least one slot in the second part of the syringe device so as to shield the content of the cartridge against radiation during storage and transportation of the syringe device.

Description

INTEGRATED LIGHT COVER SHIELD FOR A SYRINGE DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a syringe device having an integrated cover shield for covering at least part of a cartridge holding a medicament to be ejected from the syringe device. In particular, the present invention relates to a syringe device having a rotatably or translational mounted integrated cover shield.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protective caps (cover shields) for preventing UV-exposure of content of cartridges, such as insulin, have been reported several places in the literature. Such UV-exposure, which may be caused by natural sunlight, may, over time, deteriorate the content of the cartridge.

US 6,562,011 discloses a medication delivery device having a protective cap removably mounted over a cartridge assembly and/or injection needle. The protective cap needs to be removed from the medication delivery device before the medicament in the cartridge can be ejected from the delivery device. The protection cap further ensures that the medicament in the cartridge is protected against UV-exposure, such as UV-exposure from natural sunlight.

It is a disadvantage that the protective cap of US 6,562,011 is a separate component. As already mentioned the cap needs to be detached before ejection is possible. While the cap is detached it may be lost leaving the operator of the medication delivery device with a medication delivery device with an unprotected injection needle. This unprotected needle is very vulnerable, and furthermore, it may cause accidental injury to its surroundings - in particular the user of the medication delivery device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device having a non-detachable UV-shield so that the risk of loosing the protective cap is eliminated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device having a non-detachable UV-shield so that the user of the mediation delivery device is not brought in a position where he or she has to decide where to put the UV-shield while an ejection is prepared and executed.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a device facilitating easy and quick covering of the cartridge holding the medicament to be ejected from the device. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned objects are complied with by providing, in a first aspect, a syringe device comprising

- a first part adapted to accommodate an ejection assisting system for providing an ejection force for assisting an operator of the device in forcing a piston in the distal direction of the syringe device so as to eject a dose of medicament, and wherein

- a second part adapted to accommodate a cartridge, the cartridge, when accommodated in the second part of the syringe device, being visible through at least one slot in the second part,

wherein the syringe device further comprises an integrated and movable light cover shield adapted to cover at least part of the at least one slot in the second part of the syringe device so as to shield the content of the cartridge against radiation during storage and transportation of the syringe device. Preferably, the light cover shield should be capable of shielding the content of the cartridge against UV radiation.

The first and second parts may be arranged as upper and lower parts, respectively. In such a configuration the upper part will be an extension of the lower part. Alternatively, the first and second parts may be arranged in a side-by-side configuration.

The syringe device may be any kind of medication or injection delivery device such as for example pen-like medication or injection delivery device. The medicament to be ejected from the medication or injection delivery device may for example be insulin.

The light cover shield may, in one embodiment of the present invention, be arranged to undergo a translational displacement in the distal direction - e.g. in the direction towards the needle of the syringe device - in order to cover at least part of the at least one slot. In a second embodiment, the light cover shield may be arranged to undergo a rotational movement in order to cover at least part of the at least one slot in the second part of the device. Alternative arrangement may also be arranged, such as for example a light cover shield hinged at one of its ends to the syringe device leaving the other end of the light cover shield movable. In such an arrangement, the light cover shield may be tilted away from the body of the syringe device whereby the user of the syringe device may inspect the medicament to be ejected from the syringe device. The syringe device may further comprise needle activation means for moving an injection needle between a detached position and a parked position, the movement of the injection needle being in an axial direction of the syringe device. The needle activation means may be adapted to be activated by an operator of the syringe device by rotating the needle activation means. The needle activation means may be operatively connected to the light cover shield in such a way that the injection needle is brought into its parked position when the light cover shield is brought into its covering position.

Furthermore, the needle activation means may be adapted to be activated by an operator of the syringe device by rotating the needle activation means. Via its operatively connection to the light cover shield, rotation of the needle activation may move the light cover shield in such a way that the injection needle is brought into its detached position when the light cover shield is brought into its viewing position.

The operatively connection between the needle activation member and the light cover shield may be provided by mechanical means, such as a mechanical connection between the needle activation member and the light cover shield. Alternative, the light cover shield and the needle activation member may be integrated in one single mechanism. Finally, the light cover shield and the needle activation member may be implemented as separate mechanisms which are to activated separately.

The needle activation means may further comprise a first locking mechanism for maintaining the needle in its parked position, and for maintaining the light cover shield in its covering position. In addition, the needle activation means may further comprise a second locking mechanism for maintaining the needle in its detached position, and for maintaining the light cover shield in its viewing position.

In a preferred embodiment, the light cover shield is arranged to rotate around a centre axis of the syringe device. The light cover shield may in principle have any form, but preferably, the form of the light cover shield matches the form the body of the syringe device. For most practical applications, the form of the light cover shield will be at least partly cylindrical. Preferably, the at least partly cylindrical light cover shield is arranged coaxially with the syringe device. Alternatively, the light cover shield may take the form of a curved portion of a cylinder. The curved portion may be hinged at one of its ends in a tiltable manner.

In case of a rotatably mounted light cover shield, a dose setting member adapted to set a dose to be ejected from the syringe device may be operatively connected to the light cover shield. The dose setting member is a rotatably mounted and user accessible member being operatively connected to the light cover shield in such a way that the light cover shield is rotated from its covering position to its viewing position when the dose setting member is rotated in order to set a dose.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a syringe device comprising

- a first part adapted to accommodate an ejection assisting system for providing an ejection force for assisting an operator of the device in forcing a piston in the distal direction of the syringe device so as to eject a dose of medicament,

- a second part adapted to accommodate a cartridge containing the medicament, and

- needle activation means adapted for moving an injection needle between a detached position and a parked position, the movement of the injection needle being in an axial direction of the syringe device.

The needle activation means may be adapted to be activated by an operator of the syringe device by rotating the needle activation means. The needle activation means may further comprise a locking mechanism for maintaining the needle in its parked position, and a locking mechanism for maintaining the needle in its detached position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be explained in further details with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein

Fig. 1 shows a rotational cover shield in its viewing position,

Fig. 2 shows a rotational cover shield in its covering position,

Fig. 3 shows an axial cover shield in its viewing position,

Fig. 4 shows an axial cover shield in its covering position, and

Fig. 5 shows a rotational cover shield adapted to be activated by a needle activation member.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In its most general aspect, the present invention relates to a syringe device, such as a medication delivery device, having an integrated cover shield. The cover shield is adapted to protect the content of the medicament holding cartridge against UV-exposure while the syringe device is not in use. As it will be described, the integrated cover shield may be rotational or translational mounted.

In a first embodiment, the cover shield 6 is adapted to be brought into its covering position by rotating the shield around a centre axis defined by the syringe device. As seen in Fig. 1 the syringe device has a first part 1 and a second part 2. The syringe device further has a dose setting member 3 for setting the dose to be ejected from the syringe device. In Fig. 1 the cover shield is in a viewing position allowing inspection of the cartridge holding the medicament. The possibility of allowing inspection of the medicament must be provided in order for the user of the syringe device to control/inspect the content of the cartridge. Viewing of the content of the cartridge may be provided via two oppositely arranged slots 5 in the second part of the syringe device. As shown in Fig. 1 the cover shield is also provided with openings 4. These openings may be formed as through-going openings or as transparent areas defined by a transparent material, such as transparent plastic or glass. When these openings and/or transparent areas 4 are aligned with the slots 5 of the second part of the syringe device the content of the cartridge may be inspected by the operator of the syringe device. In principle, the second part of the syringe device may be provided with an arbitrary number of slots, and similarly, the cover shield may be provided with an arbitrary number of opening and/or transparent areas. The only needed requirement in allowing inspection of the content of the cartridge is that an opening and/or transparent area of the cover shield is aligned with a slot in the second part of the syringe device.

Fig. 2 shows the cover shield 6 in its covering position. Compared to Fig. 1, the cover shield 6 in Fig. 2 is rotated approximately 90 degrees so that the openings of the cover shield 4 are rotated away from the slots of the second part of the syringe devices whereby inspection of the content of the cartridge is no longer possible. As a consequence, the cover shield prevents, in its covering position, UV-exposure of the content of the cartridge through the slots of the second part of the syringe device. In this first embodiment of the present invention, the inner diameter of the cover shield is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the second part of the syringe device. However, in order for the cover shield to be rotatable, the inner diameter of the cover shield needs to be slightly bigger than the outer diameter of the second part of the syringe device. Typically, the inner diameter of the cover shield exceeds the outer diameter of the second part of the syringe device by a few tens of millimetres. This inner diameter would typically be in the range between 10 and 20 mm, such as around 15 mm. The length of the cover shield would normally be in the range between 5 and 10 cm, such as around 7 cm. Preferably, the outer diameter of the cover shield approximately matches the outer diameter of the first part of the syringe device. By matching the outer diameter of the first part of the syringe device with the outer diameter of the cover shield a syringe device having essentially the same outer diameter over its entire length is provided.

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. As seen from Figs. 3 and 4, the cover shield is adapted to undergo a translational movement in the axial direction of the syringe device in order to be displaced from its covering position (Fig. 3) to its viewing position (Fig. 4). The translational movement is illustrated by the arrows on the cover shield. Viewing of the content of the cartridge is provided through one or more slots in the second part of the syringe device. Thus, the second part of the syringe device in this second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the second part of the syringe device according to first aspect of the present invention. The cover shield needs to have an inner diameter sufficient to house the first part of the syringe device. Otherwise, the cover shield would not be able to move into its viewing position as illustrated in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1-4 the cover shield is illustrated as having substantially cylindrical sidewalls. However, the cover shield may in principle take any forms such as quadratic, rectangular or elliptical shapes. For practical reasons, however, it is advantageous that the cover shield takes approximately the same form, but not necessarily the same dimensions, as the syringe device.

The integrated cover shield according to the present invention is provided with a locking mechanism adapted to keep the cover shield in its viewing or covering position. This locking mechanism may be implemented in various ways. For example, the cover shield may be provided with a protrusion on its inner sidewalls which engages with two indentations or grooves formed in the outer surface of the syringe device - one indentation or groove defining the position of the cover shield in its covering position, and another indentation of groove defining the position of the cover shield in its viewing position. This principle will apply equally well for both translational and rotational cover shields. In case of a rotatably mounted cover shield as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, rotation of the shield from e.g. its viewing position to its covering position may be linked to a rotation of a needle activation member. The needle activation member is accessible to the user of the syringe device. When rotating the needle activation member in one direction, the needle of the syringe device may become detached from the housing of the syringe device, and the syringe device is thereby ready for use. Alternatively, the needle is not detached from the housing of the syringe device, but instead the needle activation member becomes movable in the axial direction of the syringe device whereby the needle will penetrate a sealing member of the needle activation member when the needle activation member is pushed against the body to receive a dose.

When the needle activation member is rotated in the opposite direction, the needle is fully retracted into the syringe device whereby the needle is protected by the housing of the syringe device. Alternatively, and in case the needle is not detached from the housing of the syringe device, rotation of the needle activation member in the opposite direction may bring the needle activation member into a locked state where movement in the axial direction of the syringe device is no longer possible.

Rotation of the cover shield may be accomplished by rotating the cover shield with the needle activation member so that when the needle activation member is rotated to detach the needle or to allow the needle activation member to move in the axial direction of the syringe device, the cover shield is rotated from its covering position to its viewing position. In this position the syringe device is ready for use.

Similarly, when the needle activation member is rotated in the opposite direction so as to park the needle inside the housing of the syringe device (or to fixate the needle activation member in the axial direction of the syringe device), the cover shield is rotated from its viewing position to its covering position. In this position the syringe device may be put aside because the needle is parked and protected inside the housing of the syringe device, and the cover shield is in its covering position.

An embodiment wherein the cover shield is activated by the needle activation member is illustrated in Fig. 5. In this embodiment, a separate needle unit is attached to the pen-like syringe device. The needle unit comprises a twistable needle capsule having a septum arranged in the front of the capsule. Upon twisting of the capsule, the capsule is allowed to move along the axial direction of the pen and the needle will penetrate the septum when such axial movement of the capsule is performed. Also linked to the twisting of the capsule is the rotation of the cover shield from its covering position to its viewing position. In an alternative embodiment, activation of the cover shield may be linked to the rotation of a dose setting member. The dose setting member is a rotational arrangement positioned opposite to the needle-end of the syringe device. The user of the syringe device uses the dose setting member to set the dose to the ejected from the syringe device.

Preferably, the cover shield is made of the same material as the housing of the syringe device. Preferably, the cover shield as shown in Figs. 1-5 is made of a polymer or plastic- based material.

Claims

1. A syringe device comprising

- a first part (1) adapted to accommodate an ejection assisting system for providing an ejection force for assisting an operator of the device in forcing a piston in the distal direction of the syringe device so as to eject a dose of medicament, and

- a second part (2) adapted to accommodate a cartridge, the cartridge, when accommodated in the second part of the syringe device, being visible through at least one slot (5) in the second part (2),

wherein the syringe device further comprises an integrated and movable light cover shield (6) adapted to cover at least part of the at least one slot (5) in the second part (2) of the syringe device so as to shield the content of the cartridge against radiation during storage and transportation of the syringe device.

2. A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the light cover shield (6) is arranged to undergo a translational displacement in the distal direction of the syringe device in order to cover at least part of the at least one slot (5).

3. A syringe device according to claim 1, wherein the light cover shield (6) is arranged to undergo a rotational movement in order to cover at least part of the at least one slot (5).

4. A syringe device according to claim 3, further comprising needle activation means for moving an injection needle between a detached position and a parked position, the movement of the injection needle being in an axial direction of the syringe device.

5. A syringe device according to claim 4, wherein the light cover shield (6) is operatively connected to the needle activation means in such a way that the injection needle is brought into its parked position when the light cover shield is brought into its covering position..

6. A syringe device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the light cover shield (6) is operatively connected to the needle activation means in such a way that the injection needle is brought into its detached position when the light cover shield (6) is brought into its viewing position.

7. A syringe device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the needle activation means further comprises a locking mechanism for maintaining the needle in its parked position, and for maintaining the light cover shield (6) in its covering position.

8. A syringe device according to any of claims 5-7, wherein the needle activation means further comprises a locking mechanism for maintaining the needle in its detached position, and for maintaining the light cover shield (6) in its viewing position.

9. A syringe device according to any of claims 3-8, wherein the light cover shield (6) is arranged to rotate around a centre axis of the syringe device.

10. A syringe device according to any of claims 3-9, further comprising a dose setting member adapted to set a dose to be ejected from the syringe device, the dose setting member being a rotatably mounted and user accessible member being operatively connected to the light cover shield (6) in such a way that the light cover shield (6) is rotated from its covering position to its viewing position when the dose setting member is rotated in order to set a dose.

11. A syringe device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the light cover shield (6) has a substantially cylindrical form and is arranged substantially coaxially with the syringe device.

12. A syringe device according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the light cover shield (6) takes the form of a curved portion of a cylinder, the curved portion being hinged at one of its ends and being tiltably mounted in said hinge.

13. A syringe device according to any of claims 1-3, wherein a needle activation mechanism forms an integral part of the light cover shield (6), the needle activation mechanism being adapted to move an injection needle between a detached position and a parked position, the movement of the injection needle being in an axial direction of the syringe device.