(19)
(11)EP 2 742 960 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
03.08.2022 Bulletin 2022/31

(21)Application number: 13197024.6

(22)Date of filing:  12.12.2013
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61M 5/00(2006.01)
(52)Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
A61B 17/06128; A61B 2017/00526; A61B 2090/037; A61B 2050/0053; A61B 2050/0083; A61M 5/002

(54)

Low cost medical needle container and manufacturing methods therefor

Kostengünstiger medizinischer Nadelbehälter und Herstellungsverfahren dafür

Récipient d'aiguille médicale à faible coût et procédés de fabrication associés


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 13.12.2012 US 201213714044

(43)Date of publication of application:
18.06.2014 Bulletin 2014/25

(60)Divisional application:
17207633.3 / 3323445

(73)Proprietor: Embecta Corp.
Andover, MA 01810 (US)

(72)Inventor:
  • Banik, Robert
    Edgewater, New Jersey 07020 (US)

(74)Representative: dompatent von Kreisler Selting Werner - Partnerschaft von Patent- und Rechtsanwälten mbB 
Deichmannhaus am Dom Bahnhofsvorplatz 1
50667 Köln
50667 Köln (DE)


(56)References cited: : 
EP-A1- 1 323 444
US-A1- 2012 051 967
GB-A- 920 341
US-A1- 2012 061 274
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Background of the Invention


    1. Field of the Invention



    [0001] The present invention generally relates to needles for a medical injection device, and more particularly, to packaging for dispensing and storing needles for a pen injection device.

    2. Description of the Related Art



    [0002] Medication delivery pens are used for self-injection of precisely measured doses of medication. Pens are widely used, for example, by diabetics to self-inject insulin. Atypical medication delivery pen includes a cartridge which contains a volume of liquid medication sufficient for several doses. Using a pen needle attached to the pen device, the dose is injected into a tissue area, such as the intramuscular tissue layer, the subcutaneous tissue layer, or the intradermal tissue layer.

    [0003] The assembly and operation of a typical pen injection device is described in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent No. 7,645,264, and a typical pen needle is described in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent No. 5,941,857.

    [0004] Pen injection devices, such as the exemplary pen injector 50 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, typically comprise a dose knob/button 24, an outer sleeve 13, and a cap 21. The dose knob/button 24 allows a user to set the dosage of medication to be injected. The outer sleeve 13 is gripped by the user when injecting medication. The cap 21 is employed by the user to securely hold the pen injector 50 in a shirt pocket, purse, or other suitable location.

    [0005] Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the exemplary drug delivery pen 50 shown in Fig. 1. The dose knob/button 24 has a dual purpose and is used to both set the dosage of the medication to be injected and to inject the dosed medicament via a lead screw 7 and stopper 15 from a medicament cartridge 12, which is attached to the drug delivery pen within a lower housing 17. The medicament cartridge 12 is typically a glass tube sealed at one end with a septum 16 and at the other end with the stopper 15. In standard drug delivery pens, the dosing and delivery mechanisms are all found within the outer sleeve 13. Those mechanisms are not described in greater detail herein as they are understood by those knowledgeable of the art.

    [0006] A pen needle assembly 10 includes a hub 20, a patient needle 11 extending from a patient end of the pen needle assembly, and a septum-penetrating needle cannula 18 disposed within the hub 20 on a non-patient side thereof. The septum-penetrating needle cannula 18 is in fluid communication with the patient needle 11. The hub 20 is preferably screwed onto the lower housing 17, although other attachment means can be used such as attaching directly to the medicament cartridge 12. In attaching the hub 20 to the lower housing 17 or medicament cartridge 12, the septum-penetrating cannula 18 pierces the septum 16, but the septum 16 does not move with respect to the medicament cartridge 12. The stopper 15, however, is axially displaceable within the medicament cartridge 12 while maintaining a fluid-tight seal. The distal movement of the plunger or stopper 15 within the medicament cartridge 12 (due to advancement of the lead screw 7) causes medication to be forced into the patient needle 11 of the hub 20.

    [0007] To protect a user, or anyone who handles the pen injector 50, a rigid outer shield 29 that attaches to the hub 20, covers the hub 20. The outer shield 29 can also be used as a handle or grip to screw hub 20 onto or off of pen injector 50. Typically, a teardrop-shaped cover or label (not shown), attached to a top flange of the outer shield 29 and having a tab for a handle, provides a sterility barrier for the contents of the outer shield 29. An inner shield or needle cover 28 covers the patient needle 11 within the outer shield 29. The inner shield 28 can be secured to the hub 20 to cover the patient needle 11 by any suitable means, such as an interference fit or a snap fit. The outer shield 29 and inner shield 28 are removed prior to use. The cap 21 fits snugly against outer sleeve 13 to allow a user to securely carry the pen injection device 50.

    [0008] Pen needle assemblies are usually provided individually packaged inside a plastic cover (such as outer shield 29) with a label covering the opening in the cover to provide a sterility barrier, as described above. These individually packaged pen needle assemblies are often sold packed loosely in a container, such as a box. Boxes of various sizes are used for various quantities of the individually packaged pen needle assemblies (for example, a 50-count box or a 100-count box).

    [0009] US 2012/0051967 A1 discloses a protective container for medical devices, having a base and a cap for protecting needles and/or catheters during transport. GB920341 discloses a protective packaging for a medical needle according to the preamble of claim 1.

    Summary of Embodiments of the Invention



    [0010] It is an aspect of the present invention, which is defined in the independent claim 1, to provide packaging for storing and dispensing medical needles, such as pen needles. More specifically, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide packaging for dispensing and storing medical needles prior to their use as well as subsequent to their use. A further aspect of the present invention, which is defined in the independent method claim 11, to provide a method of opening packaging of a medical needle. Additionally, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a method of packaging medical needles.

    [0011] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing packaging for a medical needle having a hub with patient end of the needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging including a tube having a first closed end into which the patient end of the medical needle is inserted so that the hub contacts an interior of the tube, a second closed end enclosing a proximal end of the hub, and a circumferential region disposed between the proximal end of the hub and the second closed end for opening the package to expose the proximal end of the hub.

    [0012] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a method opening packaging for a medical needle having a hub with patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof. The method includes grasping the packaging on opposing axial sides of a substantially circumferential visual indicator, and rotating one of the axial sides relative to the other about an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the packaging to expose a proximal end of the medical needle hub.

    [0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a method of packaging a medical needle having a hub with patient end of the needle protruding from a distal end thereof. The method includes forming a substantially cylindrical tube, sealing a first end of the tube, inserting the distal end of the needle into the sealed first end of the tube, and sealing a second end of the tube opposite to the first end.

    [0014] Additional and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

    Brief Description of the Drawings



    [0015] The above and/or other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

    Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary drug delivery pen;

    Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the exemplary drug delivery pen of Fig. 1;

    Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a pen needle assembly that can be used in embodiments of the present invention;

    Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pen needle container in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

    Fig. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the container of Fig. 5;

    Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the container of Fig. 5 after being opened;

    Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an extruded tube for manufacturing the container of Fig. 5;

    Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating insertion of the pen needle assembly of Fig. 3 into an unfinished container of Fig. 5;

    Fig. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a process of creating a plastic coating on paper;

    Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a process of cutting the paper into strips;

    Fig. 12 is a perspective cutaway view of the paper of Fig. 11; and

    Fig. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a container in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.


    Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention



    [0016] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments described herein exemplify, but do not limit, the present invention by referring to the drawings. As will be understood by one skilled in the art, terms such as up, down, bottom, and top are relative, and are employed to aid illustration, but are not limiting.

    [0017] Figs. 3 and 4 are perspective views of a pen needle assembly 60 that can be used with embodiments of the present invention. For brevity, the phrase "pen needle 60" will be used hereinafter instead of "pen needle assembly 60." Notably, the pen needle 10 of Fig. 2 can also be used with embodiments of the present invention, as can other types of medical needles. Like pen needle 10, pen needle 60 includes a hub 64, a patient needle (or patient end of the needle) 68 extending from a patient end of the pen needle 60, and a septum-penetrating needle cannula 72 disposed within the hub 64 on a non-patient side thereof.

    [0018] As shown in Fig. 3, the plastic hub 64 is disposed at a non-patient end of the pen needle 60. The hub 64 includes a plurality of ribs or splines 76 for engagement with anti-rotation/retaining structures and/or surfaces that will be described in greater detail below. In addition, protrusion 80 extends from a patient end of the hub 64 and the patient needle 68 extends from the protrusion 80. Optionally, a needle shield 84 (best shown in Fig. 6) can be fitted onto the protrusion 80. The septum-penetrating metal needle cannula 72 (best shown in Fig. 4) disposed within the non-patient end of the hub 64 fluidly communicates with the patient needle 68. The hub 64 also includes a circumferential rim 88 at a proximal end thereof. According to one embodiment, the rim 88 has a larger outer diameter than the splines 76.

    [0019] Additionally, as shown in Fig. 4, the interior of the non-patient end of the hub 64 includes threads 92 for connection with an injection device, such as the pen injector 50 of Fig. 1. For brevity, hereinafter, the pen injector 50 will be employed as an exemplary injection device. One skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that other types of injection devices may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, one skilled in the art will appreciate that although pen needles are shown in the exemplary embodiments, embodiments of the present invention can be used with other needles, such as a hypodermic needle with a hub and a patient end of a needle protruding from the hub, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

    [0020] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pen needle packaging or container 100 (hereinafter packaging 100 or container 100 for brevity) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the container 100. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the container 100 includes a tube 104 with a first closed end 108 into which the patient end of the needle 68 is inserted so that the hub 64 contacts an interior of the tube 104. Additionally, the container has a second closed end 112 enclosing a proximal end of the hub 64, and a circumferential region 116 disposed between the proximal end of the hub 64 and the second closed end 112 for opening the package 100 to expose the proximal end of the hub 64.

    [0021] In the circumferential region 116, the stress on the container 100 is not resisted by the hub 64, thus creating a circumferential "tearing" or "popping" line. As shown in Fig. 7, after applying stress to the container 100, for example, by bending the first and second closed ends 108 and 112 in opposite directions, the container 100 opens at the circumferential region, thereby exposing the proximal end of the hub 64. In other words, according to one embodiment, a patient can grasp the container 100 on opposing axial sides of the circumferential region 116, and can expose the proximal end of the needle hub 64 by rotating one of the axial sides relative to the other about an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container 100 and "popping" open the container 100 along the circumferential region 116. According to another embodiment, the patient can rotate one of the axial sides relative to the other about an axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 100 and "tear" open the container along the circumferential region 116.

    [0022] According to one embodiment, and as shown in Figs. 5-7, the circumferential region 116 preferably includes a visual indicator 120 (such as a printed color band) on the exterior of the container 100 denoting the location of the circumferential region 116. If the patient opened the container using one of the above-described methods, the visual indicator 120 would serve as a guide for grasping the container 100 on opposing sides of the circumferential region 116.

    [0023] According to one embodiment, the circumferential region 116 preferably includes a weakened area to reduce the effort required to circumferentially open the container 100. One manner of creating the weakened area is to score at least a portion of the exterior of the container, for example, at the visual indicator 120 in embodiments that include the visual indicator 120. Another manner of creating the weakened area is to perforate the visual indicator 120. Yet another manner of creating the weakened area is to emboss a portion of the container 100. According to one embodiment described in greater detail below, the weakened area is formed on the interior of the container 100.

    [0024] According to one embodiment the container 100 includes an insertion depth stop feature for limiting the insertion depth of the needle 60 into the first end 108 of the container 100. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, for example, the insertion depth stop feature includes the first closed end 108 that interferes with the needle sleeve 84 covering the patient end 68 of the needle. The insertion depth stop feature positions the inserted pen needle 60 within the container 100 to aid positioning of the circumferential region 116, the visual indicator 120, and/or the weakened area.

    [0025] According to one embodiment not covered by the invention, the tube 104 can be formed by extrusion. Fig. 8 illustrates a plurality of tubes 104 extruded as a single tube. The individual tubes 104 can be subsequently cut to unit length using conventional methods. After the first end 108 of the individual tube 104 is closed, as shown in Fig. 9, the distal end of pen needle 60 is inserted into the tube 104. The ends 108 and 112 can be closed, for example, by using an adhesive or by pinching and heat-sealing. Subsequent to the pen needle insertion, the second the second end 112 of the tube 104 is closed.

    [0026] According to this embodiment, the tube 104 is extruded plastic, such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). According to another embodiment, the tube 104 is plastic coextruded over paper, paperboard, or cardboard. For example, the plastic may be on the interior of the tube and the paper may be on the exterior of the tube 104. The use of plastic, such as PE or PP, lends itself to crimping or pinching and heat-sealing the ends 108 and 112 of the container 100. According to one embodiment, the manufacturer forms plastic only on the interior of the paper tube 104. According to another embodiment, the manufacturer forms plastic on both the interior and the exterior of the paper tube 104. According to yet another embodiment, the manufacturer forms plastic on the inside of the paper tube 104 and forms a water-resistant wax coating on the exterior of the tube 104. In contrast to having paper on the exterior of the tube 104, such exterior coatings (wax and/or plastic) are very clean, i.e., the wax and/or plastic does not shed or generate particulate matter.

    [0027] According to one embodiment, the tube 104 can be slightly undersized relative to the hub 64, so that after inserting the pen needle 60, the fit between the tube 104 and the pen needle 60 is sufficiently tight to transmit torque, and thereby facilitate attachment of the pen needle 60 to the pen injector 50 while the pen needle 60 is retained in the first end 108 of the container 100. According to another embodiment, the splines 76 of the hub 64 can engage the interior surface of the tube 104 to resist rotation and facilitate attachment of the pen needle 60 to the pen injector 50. According to yet another embodiment the tube 104 can be sufficiently flexible that a user can grasp the container 100 to prevent rotation of the pen needle 60 during attachment of the pen injector 50.

    [0028] By extruding the tube 104, an anti-rotation feature can be formed on an interior of the tube 104 during the extrusion. For example, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the tube 104 includes a plurality of axial splines 124. The axial splines 124 engage the hub 64 and prevent rotation of the pen needle 60, thereby facilitating attachment of the pen needle 60 to the pen injector 50 while the pen needle 60 is retained in the first end 108 of the container 100. After injection of a medicament, the patient can re-insert the pen needle 60 into the first end 108 and use the anti-rotation of the splines 124 to remove the pen needle 60 from the pen injector 50. Subsequently, the patient can safely dispose of the pen needle 60.

    [0029] According to one embodiment in accordance with the invention, the tube 104 includes spiral-wrapped paper, paperboard, or cardboard. Spiral-wrapped paper has been used for packaging paper towels, wrapping paper, and food, such as biscuits. Typically, to make plastic-coated spiral-wrapped paper, a wide roll of raw paper is unrolled and then coated with the plastic. The coated paper then passes under a smooth pressure roller to control the thickness of the layer of plastic. Subsequently, the paper is cut into long strips that are fed into paper tube forming machines, where an adhesive is applied and the strips are formed into tubes with a spiral seam.

    [0030] By adding texture to the pressure roller, however, a textured pattern or patterns can be formed in the plastic coating. For example, as shown in Figs. 10-13, by employing a texture on the pressure roller that has an angle relative to the rotational axis of the pressure roller, and accounting for the angle of the spiral seam, a textured pattern can be formed in the plastic layer that results in a circumferential feature or features in the finished spiral tube.

    [0031] More specifically, in Fig. 10, as a roll of paper 132 unwinds, an extrusion coater 136 coats the paper 132 with a layer of plastic, such as PE or PP. A textured pressure roller 140 then controls the thickness of the layer of plastic and imprints a directional pattern in the plastic layer to form textured paper 144. Optionally, the paper 132 can have a coating on the other side as well. Preferably, such an additional coating, such as plastic or wax, is applied prior to or at the same time as the application of the textured pressure roller 140. As shown in Fig. 11, slitters 148 cut the textured paper 144 into textured strips 152, which are subsequently fed into conventional paper tube forming machines. After forming the long spiral tubes, the spiral tubes are cut to a unit length to form the tube 104. As previously described, the first end 108 is subsequently sealed, the pen needle 60 is inserted into the first end 108, and the second end 112 is sealed to form the container 100.

    [0032] Fig. 12 is a perspective cutaway view of the textured paper 144. The textured paper 144 includes the paper layer 132 and the plastic layer 156 applied by the extrusion coater 136. Preferably, the textured paper 144 also includes an additional coating 160, such as plastic or wax, on the other side of the paper 132. According to one embodiment, because of the textured roller 140, the plastic layer 156 includes a raised feature 164 and a recessed feature 168 that are formed at an angle to the direction of travel of the textured paper 144.

    [0033] As shown in Fig. 13, once a spiral seam 172 is formed by the spiral wrapping and the tube 104 is cut to unit size, the raised feature 164 has become a circumferential depth stop or stop ledge 164 on the interior of the tube 104 for engaging the rim 88 of the inserted pen needle 60. In addition to functioning as the insertion depth stop, the raised feature 164 can also serve as an anti-rotation feature by engaging the splines or crush ribs 76 of the hub 64. In such an embodiment, the rim 88 has a greater outer diameter than the splines 76. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the axial thickness of the circumferential depth stop 164 can be adjusted to provide the desired anti-rotation performance while maintaining the desired ease of patient withdrawal of the pen needle 60 from the container 100. According to another embodiment, not shown, by altering the textured pattern on the textured pressure roller 140, the interior of the tube 104 can include the insertion depth stop 164 and anti-rotation axial splines, such as the axial splines 124 shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

    [0034] In addition, as shown in Fig. 13, the recessed feature 168 has become a circumferential weakened area on the interior of the tube 104 to ease the circumferential opening of the container 100. One skilled in the art will appreciate that although the depth stop and the weakened area are shown as being circumferential, such features may be circumferentially discontinuous without departing from the scope of the present invention.

    [0035] Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention as defined in the appended claims .


    Claims

    1. Packaging (100) for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging comprising:
    a tube (104) having:

    a first closed end (108) into which the patient end of the medical needle is inserted so that the hub contacts an interior of the tube;

    a second closed end (112) enclosing a proximal end of the hub; and

    a circumferential region (116) disposed between the proximal end of the hub and the second closed end for opening the package to expose the proximal end of the hub to allow removal of the medical needle;

    characterized in that

    the tube is one of a plurality of tubes cut to unit length from a spiral tube; and

    wherein the circumferential region comprises a weakened area to ease breaking the tube at the circumferential region to allow removal of the medical needle.


     
    2. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator (120) on the exterior of the circumferential region indicating its location.
     
    3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the weakened area comprises external scoring or a perforation.
     
    4. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the weakened area is disposed on the interior of the tube.
     
    5. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising an insertion depth stop feature for limiting the insertion depth of the medical needle into the packaging.
     
    6. The packaging according to claim 5, wherein the insertion depth stop feature comprises the first closed end that interferes with an inner shield covering the patient end of the medical needle.
     
    7. The packaging according to claim 5, wherein the insertion depth stop feature comprises an at least partial circumferential protrusion (164) disposed on the interior of the tube for engaging an outer flange on the hub of the medical needle.
     
    8. The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising axial splines (124) on an interior of the tube for engaging the needle hub to prevent rotation of the medical needle relative to the packaging.
     
    9. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the material comprises spiral-wrapped paper.
     
    10. The packaging according to claim 9, wherein the material comprises a plastic coating on an interior thereof or a coating on an exterior thereof, the exterior coating comprising one of plastic or wax.
     
    11. A method of opening packaging according to any of the preceding claims for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the method comprising:

    grasping the packaging (100) on opposing axial sides of a substantially circumferential visual indicator (120); and

    rotating one of the axial sides relative to the other about an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the packaging to expose a proximal end of the medical needle hub.


     


    Ansprüche

    1. Verpackung (100) für eine medizinische Nadel mit einem Ansatz, wobei ein Patientenende der Nadel von einem distalen Ende desselben absteht, wobei der Verpackung aufweist:
    einen Schlauch (104), der aufweist:

    ein erstes geschlossenes Ende (108), in welches das Patientenende der medizinischen Nadel so eingesetzt ist, dass der Ansatz eine Innenseite des Schlauchs berührt;

    ein zweites geschlossenes Ende (112), das ein proximales Ende des Ansatzes umschließt; und

    einen Umfangsbereich (116), der zwischen dem proximalen Ende des Ansatzes und dem zweiten geschlossenen Ende zum Öffnen der Verpackung angeordnet ist, um das proximale Ende des Ansatzes freizulegen, damit die medizinische Nadel entfernt werden kann;

    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

    der Schlauch einer aus einer Vielzahl von Schläuchen ist, die von einem Spiralschlauch auf Einheitslänge geschnitten sind; und

    wobei der Umfangsbereich einen geschwächten Bereich aufweist, um das Brechen des Schlauchs am Umfangsbereich zu vereinfachen, damit die medizinische Nadel entfernt werden kann.


     
    2. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner eine visuelle Anzeige (120) auf der Außenseite des Umfangsbereichs aufweist, die deren Position anzeigt.
     
    3. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, wobei der geschwächte Bereich eine äußere Einkerbung oder eine Perforation aufweist.
     
    4. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, wobei sich der geschwächte Bereich auf der Innenseite des Schlauchs befindet.
     
    5. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner eine Einsetztiefen-Stoppvorrichtung zur Begrenzung der Einsetztiefe der medizinische Nadel in die Verpackung aufweist.
     
    6. Verpackung nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Einsetztiefen-Stoppvorrichtung das erste geschlossene Ende aufweist, das in eine innere Abschirmung eingreift, die das Patientenende der medizinischen Nadel bedeckt.
     
    7. Verpackung nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Einsetztiefen-Stoppvorrichtung einen zumindest teilweise umlaufenden Vorsprung (164) aufweist, der auf der Innenseite des Schlauchs angeordnet ist, um mit einem äußere Flansch des Ansatzes der medizinischen Nadel zusammenzugreifen.
     
    8. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, die ferner axiale Keilverzahnungen (124) auf einer Innenseite des Schlauchs zum Eingriff mit dem Nadelansatz aufweist, um eine Drehung der medizinischen Nadel relativ zu der Verpackung zu verhindern.
     
    9. Verpackung nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Material spiralgewickeltes Papier aufweist.
     
    10. Verpackung nach Anspruch 9, wobei das Material eine Kunststoffbeschichtung auf einer Innenseite desselben oder eine Beschichtung auf einer Außenseite desselben aufweist, wobei die Außenbeschichtung aus Kunststoff oder Wachs besteht.
     
    11. Verfahren zum Öffnen der Verpackung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche für eine medizinische Nadel mit einem Ansatz, wobei ein Patientenende der Nadel von einem distalen Ende desselben absteht, wobei das Verfahren umfasst:

    Greifen der Verpackung (100) an entgegengesetzten axialen Seite einer im Wesentlichen umlaufenden visuellen Anzeige (120); und

    Drehen einer der axialen Seiten relativ zu der anderen um eine Achse im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu einer Längsachse der Verpackung, um ein proximales Ende des medizinischen Nadelansatzes freizulegen.


     


    Revendications

    1. Emballage (100) pour une aiguille médicale ayant un raccord avec une extrémité côté patient de l'aiguille médicale faisant saillie d'une extrémité distale de celui-ci, l'emballage comprenant :
    un tube (104) ayant :

    une première extrémité fermée (108) dans laquelle l'extrémité côté patient de l'aiguille médicale est insérée de sorte que le raccord entre en contact avec un intérieur du tube ;

    une deuxième extrémité fermée (112) renfermant une extrémité proximale du raccord ; et

    une région circonférentielle (116) disposée entre l'extrémité proximale du raccord et la deuxième extrémité fermée pour ouvrir l'emballage afin d'exposer l'extrémité proximale du raccord pour permettre le retrait de l'aiguille médicale ;

    caractérisé en ce que

    le tube est l'un d'une pluralité de tubes coupés à longueur unitaire à partir d'un tube en spirale ; et

    dans lequel la région circonférentielle comprend une zone affaiblie pour faciliter la rupture du tube au niveau de la région circonférentielle afin de permettre le retrait de l'aiguille médicale.


     
    2. Emballage selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un indicateur visuel (120) à l'extérieur de la région circonférentielle indiquant son emplacement.
     
    3. Emballage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la zone affaiblie comprend une entaille ou une perforation externe.
     
    4. Emballage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la zone affaiblie est disposée à l'intérieur du tube.
     
    5. Emballage selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un élément de butée de profondeur d'insertion pour limiter la profondeur d'insertion de l'aiguille médicale dans l'emballage.
     
    6. Emballage selon la revendication 5, dans lequel l'élément de butée de profondeur d'insertion comprend la première extrémité fermée qui interfère avec une gaine interne recouvrant l'extrémité côté patient de l'aiguille médicale.
     
    7. Emballage selon la revendication 5, dans lequel l'élément de butée de profondeur d'insertion comprend une protubérance circonférentielle au moins partielle (164) disposée à l'intérieur du tube pour venir en prise avec une bride externe sur le raccord de l'aiguille médicale.
     
    8. Emballage selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre des cannelures axiales (124) à l'intérieur du tube pour venir en prise avec le raccord d'aiguille afin d'empêcher la rotation de l'aiguille médicale par rapport à l'emballage.
     
    9. Emballage selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le matériau comprend du papier enroulé en spirale.
     
    10. Emballage selon la revendication 9, dans lequel le matériau comprend un revêtement plastique à l'intérieur de celui-ci ou un revêtement à l'extérieur de celui-ci, le revêtement extérieur comprenant l'un du plastique ou de la cire.
     
    11. Procédé d'ouverture d'emballage selon l'une des revendications précédentes pour une aiguille médicale ayant un raccord avec une extrémité côté patient de l'aiguille faisant saillie d'une extrémité distale de celui-ci, le procédé comprenant :

    la saisie de l'emballage (100) sur des côtés axiaux opposés d'un indicateur visuel sensiblement circonférentiel (120) ; et

    le fait de faire tourner l'un des côtés axiaux par rapport à l'autre autour d'un axe sensiblement perpendiculaire à un axe longitudinal de l'emballage pour exposer une extrémité proximale du raccord d'aiguille médicale.


     




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    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



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    Patent documents cited in the description