Pen needle container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021069406-A1
Application number	US-201917046194-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 11, 2019
Priority date	Apr 19, 2018
Publication date	Mar 11, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A container ( 10 ) for storing new and used pen needles ( 20,30 ), the container ( 10 ) comprising a housing ( 12 ) including a first compartment ( 50 ) configured to store one or mom new pen needles ( 20 ), and a second compartment ( 52 ) configured to store one or more used pen needles ( 30 ), wherein the first and second compartments ( 50,52 ) are inversely adjustable in size to accommodate various combinations of new and used pen needles ( 20, 30 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A container for storing new and used pen needles, the container comprising:
a housing including:
a first compartment configured to store one or more new pen needles; and
a second compartment configured to store one or more used pen needles; wherein
the first and second compartments are adjustable in size to accommodate various combinations of new and used pen needles.

2 . The container according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second compartments are configured to change in size inversely while maintaining the same total size of the container.

3 . The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a flexible separator that separates the first compartment from the second compartment.

4 . The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a flexible separator that moves to accommodate the various combinations of new and used pen needles.

5 . The container according to claim 4 , further comprising one or more pins that fix ends of the flexible separator to the housing.

6 . The container according to claim 4 , further comprising a protective sheath fixed to the flexible separator and within the first compartment to reduce contamination.

7 . The container according to claim 6 , wherein the protective sheath includes end flanges that are fixed to inner side surfaces of the housing.

8 . The container according to claim 6 , wherein the protective sheath includes a top surface and a bottom surface that are compressed and sealed to a top and bottom inner surface of the housing.

9 . The container according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second compartments are capable of occupying a same space.

10 . The container according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second compartments are separately enclosed without mixing the new and used pen needles.

11 . The container according to claim 1 , wherein the various combinations include a plurality of new pen needles and no used pen needles.

12 . The container according to claim 1 , wherein the various combinations include a plurality of used pen needles and no new pen needles.

13 . The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a door to access and remove the one or more new pen needles from the housing.

14 . The container according to claim 13 , further comprising:
an opening to dispose the one or more used pen needles into the housing; wherein the opening is disposed on an outer surface of the housing opposite the door.

15 . The container according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second compartments includes a plastic bag.

16 . The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a needle bending feature that is configured to bend a needle of the one or more used pen needles.

17 . The container according to claim 16 , wherein the needle bending feature includes a curved surface fixed adjacent to an opening.

18 . The container according to claim 16 , wherein when one of the one or more used pen needles is disposed into an opening and engages the needle bending feature, the needle of the used pen needle is bent before disengaging the needle bending feature and fully entering the second compartment.

19 . The container according to claim 16 , wherein the needle bending feature is integral to the housing.

20 . The container according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a separator that separates the first compartment from the second compartment; and two or more pins that fix the separator to the housing; wherein the two or more pins move along grooves of the housing to adjust the size of the first and second compartments.

21 . The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a movable separator that separates the first compartment from the second compartment.

22 . The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a rigid separator that separates the first compartment from the second compartment.

23 . The container according to claim 21 , further comprising
a first pin that rotatably fixes one end of the movable separator to the housing; and a second pin that fixes another end of the movable separator to a groove on the housing, wherein the second pin moves on the groove to move the separator to adjust the size of the first and second compartments.

24 . The container according to claim 1 , further comprising a flexible separator having several segments that telescope over each other to change in length and shape during movement to adjust the size of the first and second compartments.

Assignees

• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Politis Victor
• Bowen Mark

Classifications

• A61M5/002 Primary

  Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics (needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61M5/1723

  using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure (measurement of body parameters A61B5/00) · CPC title

• A61B50/362

  for sharps · CPC title

• A61B50/30 Primary

  Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments (for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40) · CPC title

• A61M5/3205

  Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles (for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00) · CPC title