Removal of needle shields from syringes and automatic injection devices

US8708968B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. · BM

Inventors

• Joseph F. Julian · Libertyville, US
• Chuan Li · Warren, US
• Philip D. Anderson · Libertyville, US
• Linas P. Laurusonis · Lake Villa, US
• Lior Raday · Ashkelon, IL
• Ehud Carmel · Kiryat Ono, IL
• Lior Marli · Rehovot, IL
• David Daily · Herzliya, IL
• Guy Keenan · Tel Aviv-Yafo, IL

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 24, 2012
• Grant date: Apr 29, 2014
• Expiry date: Jan 24, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/53
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide a needle shield remover that reliably engages with a distal cap of an automatic injection device and with one or more needle shields coupled to a syringe of the device. When a user removes the distal cap, the needle shield remover reliably removes the needle shields (e.g., a soft needle shield and a rigid needle shield) from the syringe, thereby exposing the injection needle for performing an injection. In an exemplary assembly method, a needle shield remover is engaged to a needle shield coupled to a syringe, prior to insertion of the syringe and needle shield remover assembly into a housing of the device. This exemplary assembly method allows visual inspection, outside the housing of the device, to ensure that the needle shield remover is correctly and reliably engaged to the needle shield before the syringe and needle shield remover assembly is inserted into the housing.