Automatic injection devices having overmolded gripping surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9265887-B2
Application number	US-201213357507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2012
Priority date	Jan 24, 2011
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide automatic injection devices, housing components for automatic injection devices and methods for fabricating the same. An exemplary housing of an automatic injection device may be overmolded with one or more gripping surfaces to facilitate gripping and manipulation of the automatic injection device by a user when performing an injection. In an exemplary embodiment, an overmolded left gripping surface may extend along a left side of the housing and an overmolded right gripping surface may extend along a right side of the housing opposite to the left side.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic injection device, comprising:
a housing enclosing a cavity for accommodating a container, a proximal portion of the housing having a tapered tubular structure with a substantially oval cross-section;
a first overmolded gripping surface extending longitudinally along a portion of the housing on a first exterior surface of the housing;
a second overmolded gripping surface extending longitudinally along a portion of the housing on a second exterior surface of the housing, the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface located on opposing sides of the housing;
a first concave portion disposed in the first exterior surface of the housing between the first overmolded gripping surface and a proximal terminal end of the housing; and
a second concave portion disposed in the second exterior surface of the housing between the second overmolded gripping surface and the proximal terminal end of the housing.

2. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces on the housing include one or more grooves or ridges for facilitating gripping and manipulation of the automatic injection device.

3. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a first material having a first touch perception, and non-gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a second material having a second touch perception.

4. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a first material having a first hardness, and non-gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a second material having a second, higher hardness.

5. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces on the housing have a different color than non-gripping surfaces on the housing.

6. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a removable distal cap for protectively covering an injection needle couplable to the container, an exterior surface of the distal cap including an overmolded gripping surface for facilitating gripping and removal of the distal cap.

7. The automatic injection device of claim 6 , wherein the exterior surface of the distal cap includes one or more grooves or ridges for facilitating gripping and removal of the distal cap.

8. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a firing button protruding from an aperture in the housing and including an overmolded contact surface for facilitating actuation of the firing button by a user.

9. The automatic injection device of claim 8 , wherein the firing button is positioned along a transverse axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device.

10. The automatic injection device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a recessed surface provided adjacent to the firing button.

11. The automatic injection device of claim 10 , wherein the recessed surface is provided surrounding the firing button.

12. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a proximal terminal end for covering a proximal end of the automatic injection device, the proximal terminal end having an overmolded exterior surface.

13. The automatic injection device of claim 12 , wherein a top surface of the proximal terminal end includes a recessed surface for directing and facilitating gripping of the automatic injection device.

14. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transparent inspection window disposed in the housing to allow inspection of the contents of the container.

15. The automatic injection device of claim 14 , wherein, at the end of an injection, the inspection window is filled with a visual indicator.

16. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the device has a shape in which a front face and an opposite back face are planar and in which first and second side faces are convex, for ergonomic and reliable gripping of the proximal portion by a user's hand.

17. The automatic injection device of claim 16 , wherein the first and second overmolded gripping surfaces are disposed at the proximal portion of the device and extend across portions of the first and second side faces.

18. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing components cooperatively engaged to define the cavity therein.

19. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , wherein the container holds a dose of a TNF inhibitor.

20. The automatic injection device of claim 19 , wherein the TNF inhibitor is adalimumab.

21. The automatic injection device of claim 1 , wherein a width of the housing at the proximal portion of the housing is larger than a distal portion of the housing.

22. A method for assembling an automatic injection device, the method comprising:
providing a housing enclosing a cavity for accommodating a container, a proximal portion of the housing having a tapered tubular structure with a substantially oval cross-section;
overmolding, on the housing, a first gripping surface extending longitudinally along a portion of the housing on a first exterior surface of the housing;
overmolding, on the housing, a second gripping surface extending longitudinally along a portion of the housing on a second exterior surface of the housing opposite to the first exterior surface;
providing a first concave portion disposed in the first exterior surface of the housing between the first overmolded gripping surface and a proximal terminal end of the housing; and
providing a second concave portion disposed in the second exterior surface of the housing between the second overmolded gripping surface and the proximal terminal end of the housing.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the first and second gripping surfaces on the housing include one or more grooves or ridges for facilitating gripping and manipulation of the automatic injection device.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the first and second gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a first material having a first touch perception, and non-gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a second material having a second touch perception.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the first and second gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a first material having a first hardness, and non-gripping surfaces on the housing are formed of a second material having a second, higher hardness.

26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
overmolding a gripping surface on an exterior surface of a distal cap to facilitate gripping and removal of the distal cap; and
coupling the distal cap to a distal end of the housing for protectively covering an injection needle.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the exterior surface of the distal cap includes one or more grooves or ridges for facilitating gripping and removal of the distal cap.

28. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
overmolding a gripping surface on a firing button to facilitate activation of the firing button; and
providing the firing button within the cavity so that part of the firing button protrudes from an aperture in the housing.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the firing button is position

Assignees

• Julian Joseph F
• Li Chuan
• Eiger Aaron B
• Kurth Mark
• Katz Sabrina
• Callif Adam
• Stango James C
• Abbvie Biotechnology Ltd

Inventors

• Julian Joseph F
• Li Chuan
• Eiger Aaron B
• Kurth Mark
• Katz Sabrina
• Callif Adam
• Stango James C

Classifications

• A61M2005/3125

  specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting · CPC title

• A61M5/3157

  Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed (A61M5/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M5/3202

  Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61B5/150274

  Manufacture or production processes or steps for blood sampling devices · CPC title

• A61M2205/584

  having a color code · CPC title