U.S. patent application number 11/132146 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for device for making threaded connections, including luer lock connections.
Invention is credited to Lehmann, Hans-Ulrich.
Application Number | 20050271465 11/132146 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32331830 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050271465 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lehmann, Hans-Ulrich |
December 8, 2005 |
Device for making threaded connections, including Luer lock
connections
Abstract
A device comprising an outer part and an inner part accommodated
in the outer part wherein longitudinal grooves are provided within
the inner part so as to receive longitudinal ribs of an injection
needle. Protrusions that are disposed on the outer part and
recesses which are arranged within the inner part allow the inner
part to be twisted only in one direction relative to the outer part
while putting up resistance to said twisting movement. A spring
tenses the outer part and the inner part counter to each other in
an axial direction.
Inventors: |
Lehmann, Hans-Ulrich;
(Bellmund, CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
50 SOUTH SIXTH STREET
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-1498
US
|
Family ID: |
32331830 |
Appl. No.: |
11/132146 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11132146 |
May 18, 2005 |
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PCT/CH03/00759 |
Nov 17, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
403/204 ;
403/299 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B 23/141 20130101;
A61M 2205/581 20130101; A61M 5/003 20130101; A61M 5/347 20130101;
Y10T 403/56 20150115; Y10T 403/41 20150115; B25B 13/466 20130101;
A61M 5/3213 20130101; B25B 13/462 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/204 ;
403/299 |
International
Class: |
E21B 019/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 25, 2002 |
CH |
1988/02 |
Claims
1. A device comprising an outer part and an inner part, wherein the
outer and inner parts are complementary and the inner part is
moveable in one direction relative to the outer part against
resistance.
2. A device comprising an outer part and an inner part accommodated
in the outer part wherein longitudinal grooves are provided within
the inner part to receive longitudinal ribs of an injection needle,
wherein protrusions are disposed on the outer part and recesses are
arranged within the inner part to allow the inner part to be
twisted only in one direction relative to the outer part while
putting up resistance to said twisting, and wherein a spring tenses
the outer part and the inner part counter to each other in an axial
direction.
3. A device for making threaded connections comprising an outer
part and an inner part rotatably accommodated therein, the inner
part having means for accommodating a thread-bearing connection
part or an additional part that is rotationally secured to the
connection part, impeding means for permitting rotation of the
inner part relative to the outer part in one rotational direction
only and for providing resistance to the rotation, wherein the
resistance increases during the rotation up to a maximum load and
subsequently falls off sharply.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the means for
accommodating comprises a bore in the inner part, said bore having
longitudinal grooves arranged axially therein.
5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the impeding means
exhibits generally axially-directed protrusions arranged in the
outer part, said protrusions working in conjunction with generally
axially-directed recesses arranged in the inner part, further
comprising spring means being present that press the outer part and
the inner part against each other in an axial direction.
6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the impeding means
exhibits generally axially-directed recesses arranged in the outer
part, the recesses working in conjunction with generally
axially-directed protrusions arranged in the inner part, further
comprising spring means for pressing the outer part and the inner
part against each other in an axial direction.
7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the impeding means
exhibits generally axially-directed protrusions arranged in the
outer part, said protrusions working in conjunction with generally
tangentially-directed blades arranged on the inner part, the blades
being designed to be elastic in a generally radial direction.
8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the impeding means
exhibits generally axially directed protrusions arranged on the
inner part, the protrusions working in conjunction with generally
tangentially directed blades arranged in the inner part, the blades
being designed to be elastic in generally radial direction.
9. The device according to claim 3, further comprising a needle
protective cap placed onto the connection part.
10. A loading station for the preparation of an injection device,
said loading station comprising a device for making threaded
connections comprising an outer part and an inner part rotatably
accommodated therein, the inner part having means for accommodating
a thread-bearing connection part or an additional part that is
rotationally secured to the connection part, impeding means for
permitting rotation of the inner part relative to the outer part in
one rotational direction only and for providing resistance to the
rotation, wherein the resistance increases during the rotation up
to a maximum load and subsequently falls off sharply.
11. The loading station according to claim 10, wherein the device
is removeably accommodated in the loading station.
12. Loading station according to claim 11, wherein the loading
station is designed as a container for storage of parts of an
injection device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of International Patent
Application No. PCT/CH2003/000759, filed on Nov. 17, 2003, which
claims priority to Swiss Application No. 1988/02, filed on Nov. 25,
2002, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety by
reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to devices and methods for
attaching, coupling or making connections, including threaded
connections, and, more particularly, to a device for screwing
together medium-guiding threaded connections, particularly
Luer-lock connections.
[0003] Such connections may comprise an outer part and an inner
part that is rotatably accommodated therein, which inner part has
available means to accommodate a thread-bearing connection part or
an additional part rotationally secured to the former, and impeding
means being available that allow a rotation of the inner part in
only one direction relative to the outer part and that oppose a
resistance to this rotation.
[0004] Luer-lock fastenings are frequently used in the area of
medical technology, in order to connect together parts in the
interior of which a medium flows, especially a fluid. For example,
infusion containers and associated tubes or injection syringes and
associated needles frequently use such fastenings or connections.
So that such connections are tight and do not loosen, they must be
tightened with a certain torque. On the other hand, most of the
threaded parts, particularly those made of plastic, must not be
tightened too strongly because otherwise they can break.
SUMMARY
[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a device
and method for making and/or tightening fluid-guiding threaded
connections, including Luer-lock type connections, wherein the
device can be produced simply and cost effectively, is simple to
operate, and reliably limits, above and below, the torque in the
tightening of the threaded connection.
[0006] The present invention addresses this object by providing
that the resistance when rotating increases up to a maximum load
and subsequently falls off sharply. The resistance may be derived
from a suitably shaped surface, such as a surface shaped in the
manner of saw teeth, where the sharp fall-off or decrease of the
torque of the device can be discerned tactilely and/or acoustically
by the operator, and it is signaled to the operator that the
desired torque for screwing on the threaded connection has been
achieved.
[0007] In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a device
comprising an outer part and an inner part accommodated in the
outer part wherein longitudinal grooves are provided within the
inner part so as to receive longitudinal ribs of an injection
needle. Protrusions that are disposed on the outer part and
recesses which are arranged within the inner part allow the inner
part to be twisted only in one direction relative to the outer part
while putting up resistance to said twisting movement. A spring
tenses the outer part and the inner part counter to each other in
an axial direction.
[0008] In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a device
including an outer part and an inner part, wherein the outer and
inner parts are complementary so that the inner part can be moved
in one direction relative to the outer part against resistance.
[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the means for accommodation consist of a bore in the
inner part having longitudinal grooves arranged axially therein.
These longitudinal grooves accommodate longitudinal ribs on a
conventional needle carrier of the Luer-lock type or on a
supplementary part and, thus, ensure a reliable transfer of the
tightening torque. In one embodiment, the supplementary part is
preferably a needle protective cap placed on the connection
part.
[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the impeding means exhibit generally axially-directed protrusions
arranged in an outer part which work in conjunction with generally
axially-directed recesses arranged on an inner part, and spring
means that press the outer part and the inner part against each
other in the axial direction. These protrusions and recesses can
advantageously effect a tactile and visible periodic axial
displacement of the inner part with respect to the outer part. It
is understood that a kinematic reversal of this principle is also
possible, where the recesses are arranged in the outer part and the
protrusions are arranged on the inner part.
[0011] Another embodiment of the present invention provides for the
impeding means to exhibit essentially radially-directed protrusions
arranged in the outer part that work in conjunction with
essentially tangentially directed blades arranged on the inner
part, wherein the blades are formed so as to be resilient in an
essentially radial direction. This allows a simple realization of
the device with only two parts. Naturally, here also the kinematic
reversal is possible, the protrusions being arranged on the inner
part and the blades in the outer part.
[0012] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a loading
station for the preparation of an injection device that contains a
device according to the invention. The loading station can contain
other functional elements that serve the preparation of an
injection device, in particular an autoinjector. The device
according to the present invention is preferably removably
accommodated in the loading station. In one embodiment, the loading
station is designed as a container for storage of the parts of an
injector device. This makes it possible for the user of an
injection device to carry the necessary individual parts with him
and to store them in clear view.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an injection needle with a
Luer-lock connection;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view, obliquely from above,
of an embodiment of the device according to the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view, obliquely from below,
of the embodiment according to FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the embodiment
according to FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a view, obliquely from below, of another
embodiment of a device according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section through the embodiment
according to FIG. 5; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a loading station for an
injection device, with a device for screwing on or making a
threaded connection.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows an example of an injection needle 1 with a
needle carrier 2 made of plastic, into which is cast a cannula 3
made of metal. The needle carrier 2 exhibits two tabs 17 on its
upper edge, the tabs assuming the function of an outer thread that
can be screwed into a corresponding inner thread in order to
connect the injection needle with a syringe. Formed outside on the
needle carrier 2 are ribs 4, which are accommodated by the
corresponding longitudinal grooves in a needle protective cap 18
and thus form a rotationally-fixed connection with the cap. The
needle protective cap 18, for its part, exhibits external ribs 19,
which likewise serve to transfer torque. The embodiments described
below of a device and method according to the present invention for
screwing on fluid-guiding threaded connections are intended for,
among other uses, injection needles of this kind.
[0021] The embodiment of the device of the present invention
represented in FIGS. 2 to 4 exhibits an outer sleeve 5 that is
connected to a base 6 by means of a snap connection 7. So that the
sleeve 5 cannot turn relative to the base 6, the two parts are
provided with a toothing, or teeth 8. Supported in the sleeve 5 is
a rotation part 9 that exhibits an axial opening in which
longitudinal grooves 11 are present for accommodating the ribs 19
of the needle protective cap 18. A spring 12, such as a compression
spring, is located between the sleeve 5 and the rotation part 9,
the spring being supported axially on an upper edge 15 of the
sleeve 5 and on a lower flange 10 of the rotation part 9 and
pressing the rotation part 9 against the base 6. On this base 6 are
arranged a number, in the present example four, of protrusions 13,
each of which has a vertical side and an inclined side.
Incorporated into the lower front side of the rotation part 9 are
recesses 14, which correspond in number and form to the protrusions
13. Now, for example, if an injection needle 1 is introduced into
the rotation part 9, the ribs 4 at the needle carrier 2 engage the
longitudinal grooves 11 of the rotation part 9, so that the needle
carrier 2 cannot turn in the rotation part 9. If the syringe is now
turned in the clockwise sense, there occurs at first a relative
rotation between the syringe and the needle carrier 2, whereby the
thread is tightened. If a predetermined minimal torque is reached,
the rotation part 9 begins to turn relative to the sleeve 5. In the
process, the recesses 14 of the rotation part slide over the
protrusions 13 of the base 6, whereby the rotation part is raised
so far against the force of the spring 12, in the present example
after a turning angle of 90.degree., that the recesses 14 are again
flush with the protrusions 13. At this moment, the rotation part 9
is thrust downward by the spring 12 and strikes the base 6,
whereby, due to the feel as well as the sound, the user is alerted
to the fact that the desired torque has been achieved. The
longitudinal ribs 16 present on the outer periphery of the sleeve 5
serve, on the one hand, to provide a better hold when the device is
held in the hand, and on the other hand serve as a protection
against rotation when the device is arranged in a loading station,
as is described further below.
[0022] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of a device according
to the present invention which comprises two parts, namely a sleeve
25 and a rotation part 29 arranged in the sleeve, both of which can
be produced of a mutable material, such as plastic, by the
injection molding process. The rotation part 29 exhibits, in its
lower part, tangentially formed-on blades 33. These blades 33 act
as spiral springs and, upon a turning of the rotation part 9, are
guided past the longitudinal ribs 28 formed inside on the rotation
part, the blades 33 yielding radially in an elastic manner. After
passing the longitudinal ribs 28, the blades 33 again spring
outward, whereby a clicking sound occurs that signals the user that
the desired torque has been achieved. This device is simple to
assemble in that the rotation part 29 is pushed into the sleeve 25
from above, the blades 33 in the upper, slightly conical part of
the sleeve 25 deforming symmetrically inward and, after passing the
step 27 of the sleeve 25, snapping outward. The rotation part is
thus held at the top. At the bottom, the rotation part 29 is held
in the sleeve 25 by means of an upper edge 30 formed on the
rotation part 29, which edge rests against a further step 26 of the
sleeve 25. In this embodiment, also provided at the outer periphery
of the sleeve 25 are longitudinal ribs 36, which serve for better
holding when the device is held in the hand, or serve as rotation
protection when the device is arranged in a loading station, as is
described below.
[0023] In the two exemplary embodiments of the present invention
the inner part 9 or, as the case may be, 29, can only be turned in
one direction and is blocked in the opposite direction. Thus, a
device according to the present invention can also be used for
loosening threaded connections.
[0024] FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a loading station 40 for the
preparation of an autoinjector. Autoinjectors can serve for
self-administration of medications for a patient. Autoinjectors
usually operate through spring force, whereby in an automatic
manner, an injection needle is first inserted and then an agent is
expelled. If an autoinjector is fitted for use with filled
syringes, then the stressing of the spring, the placing of the
injection needle onto the syringe, and the introduction of the
syringe into the autoinjector are part of the preparation process.
Elements that enable this preparation or make it easier can, for
example, include a tension pin 43 which serves the stressing of the
spring, and a receptacle (44) (not shown) can be provided for an
assembly aid, with the help of which the autoinjector can be put
together after the introduction of the syringe. Furthermore, a
loading station 40 can be fitted with storage depressions 40 and
41, which serve for the storing of the autoinjector or its parts
and/or the storing of the mentioned assembly aid. A loading station
can further contain a device 45 such as was described above by way
of the two exemplary embodiments and which serves the tightening of
the threaded connection between the injection needle and the
syringe. In some embodiments, the device 45 is preferably removably
accommodated in and/or complemented by a cylindrical depression of
the loading station, which depression exhibits longitudinal grooves
for receiving the longitudinal ribs 16 or 36 of the device.
[0025] While exemplary embodiments, including preferred
embodiments, of the present invention have been described herein,
it is contemplated that various modifications could be made without
deviating from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it
is intended that the scope of the present invention be dictated by
the appended claims.
* * * * *