Apparatus for facilitating needle siliconization with controlled positive pressure gas flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018071767-A1
Application number	US-201715822327-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 27, 2017
Priority date	Jan 23, 2014
Publication date	Mar 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A process and apparatus for applying a needle lubricant to a syringe. The interface forces between the needle lubricant and the syringe at the tip of the needle are balanced by optimizing the flow rate of a positively pressurized gas that is delivered to the syringe. Such optimization prevents the formation of bubbles in the needle lubricant that is applied to the syringe, thereby providing a confluent, uniform and smooth lubricant coating on the exterior wall of the needle and prevents lubricant from contaminating inner portions of the syringe. The smooth and uniform lubricant coating may minimize dilation and glide forces and pain associated with the insertion of the needle into a patient's tissue. Additionally, a gas pulse may blow off the droplet of needle lubricant from the tip of the needle to further minimize dilation forces and associated patient pain.

First claim

1 . A lubrication stand for dip coating a needle of a syringe with a needle lubricant, the lubrication stand comprising:
one or more supports extending from a base; a support plate movably connected to the one or more supports, the support plate configured to receive the removable placement of a retention plate, the retention plate configured to receive the placement of one or more syringes; a reservoir configured to contain the needle lubricant, the reservoir further configured to receive the removable placement of the needle in the needle lubricant; a gas manifold assembly including a manifold plate and a manifold, the gas manifold assembly configured to deliver a positively pressurized gas to the one or more syringes placed in the retention plate; and
one or more clamps configured for a compressive engagement between at least a portion of the gas manifold assembly and a proximal end of the one or more syringes that are placed in the retention plate.

2 . The lubrication stand of claim 1 , wherein the gas manifold assembly includes a seal configured to provide a relatively air-tight engagement between the gas manifold assembly and the proximal end of the one or more syringes.

3 . The lubrication stand of claim 2 , wherein the seal is one or more compressible O-ring seals.

4 . The lubrication stand of claim 1 , wherein the manifold plate and the manifold are part of a unitary construction.

5 . The lubrication stand of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the manifold is housed in an inner region of the manifold plate, the inner region being closed by the removable placement of a cover.

6 . The lubrication stand of claim 1 , wherein the manifold plate is configured to receive a flow rate of the positively pressurized gas through the needle based on at least one of the following: a needle property, a needle lubricant property, and/or a coating condition.

7 . The lubrication stand of claim 6 , wherein the flow rate of the positively pressurized gas is about 0.25 to 0.8 pounds per square inch.

8 . The lubrication stand of claim 6 , wherein the flow rate of the positively pressurized gas is about 0.4 to 0.6 pounds per square inch.

9 . The lubrication stand of claim 6 , wherein the flow rate of the positively pressurized gas is nominally 0.5 pounds per square inch.

Assignees

• Sio2 Medical Products Inc

Inventors

• Belfance John
• Alt Jonathan Carleton
• Gross Renato
• Freeman Zachary Dean
• Hunt Benjamin
• Ferguson John

Classifications

• B05C3/09

  for treating separate articles · CPC title

• A61L2400/10

  Materials for lubricating medical devices · CPC title

• A61M5/32

  Needles; Details of needles pertaining to their connection with syringe or hub (infusion needles A61M5/158); Accessories for bringing the needle into, or holding the needle on, the body {(A61M5/42, A61M5/46 take precedence; guide needles for catheters A61M25/065)}; Devices for protection of needles {(apparatus specially adapted for cleaning or sterilising needles A61M5/001)} · CPC title

• A61L31/08 Primary

  Materials for coatings · CPC title

• A61M2207/00

  Methods of manufacture, assembly or production · CPC title