RADMER, Bo (Aavang 40, Hilleroed, DK-3400, DK)
| CLAIMS
1. An injection device for injection of a drug, the device comprising; a reservoir for containing the drug and being connected to an infusion outlet, - an injection needle in fluid connection to said outlet, and storage means for storing and protecting at least part of the injection needle after the needle has been used.
2. An injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the needle is a butterfly needle with a tube connected to the outlet, the butterfly needle comprising means for attaching it to the device, to allow for fluid but not rigid connection between said needle and the injection device.
3. An injection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage means comprises a cavity provided on the device for storing and protecting at least a part of the needle.
4. An injection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage means comprises attachment means provided on the device and to which the needle can be attached.
5. An injection device according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the storage means covers at least the tip of the needle when storing the needle.
6. An injection device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the attachment means comprises glue means or Velcro.
7. An injection device according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the storage means comprises pincushion-like means for covering at least the tip of the needle.
8. An injection device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drug is a mixture of dry drug and liquid, the device further comprising a mixing unit for mixing said dry drug contained in a vial with a liquid contained in a container, such as said reservoir, said storage means being provided on a part of said mixing unit.
9. An injection device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the needle is fixed connected or releasable connected to the infusion outlet.
10. A method of injecting a drug by use of an injection device comprising;
a reservoir for containing the drug and being connected to an infusion outlet, an injection needle being connected to said outlet via a tube having injection stop in- dicator(s) indicating for the user a predetermined liquid level in the tube for terminating injection, the method comprising o inserting the needle into the skin or vein of the patient o injecting the drug pulling out the needle from the skin or vein and storing the used needle in storage means provided on said device.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the injection device comprises an injection device according to any of claims 1-9. |
INJECTION DEVICE WITH STORING MEANS FOR A NEEDLE
The present invention relates to an injection device for injection of a drug. In particular, the invention relates to an injection device with storing means for an injection needle, such as a butterfly needle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a patient has been injected with a drug, the injection needle is contaminated with blood. To avoid people from being infected with blood from the used needle and to help the user getting off with the needle in a safe way, the needle must be discarded securely in a needle disposal box or this like. However, such as box is not always at present for the user, e.g. if a haemophilic patient suddenly needs to inject herself/himself while being on a travel and only has got a life-saving injection kit without any additional equipment such as a disposal box. In that case, the user often puts the used needle into the injection syringe by putting it in along or around the piston of the syringe, which can be difficult and increases the risk of getting infected by the used needle.
When infusing a drug via a tube and butterfly needle, the user manual describes to stop the infusion when the liquid level reaches a last line on the injection device, e.g. the syringe, in order to ensure not the inject air in the vein. Thus, there is normally a large amount of drug left in the tube, which often is very expensive drug.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It's an object of the present invention to provide an injection device which is easier to handle and store after use.
It's an object of the present invention to provide an injection device in which the risk of contamination after use is reduced in relation to prior art devices.
The objects are achieved by an injection device according to the invention, said injection device for injection of a drug comprising;
a reservoir for containing the drug and being connected to an infusion outlet, - an injection needle being connected to said outlet, and storage means for storing and protecting at least a part of the injection needle after the needle has been used.
The storage means may comprise a cavity provided on the device, inside or outside, for storing and protecting at least a part of the needle. Said cavity may be an openable box forming part of the device, such as a part of e.g. a lid of the device, or it may be a pocket.
Alternatively, the storage means may comprise attachment means provided on the device and to which the needle can be attached. The attachment means may for example be a snap-connection like glue to which the needle can be adhered, or the needle may comprise a tape, such as a double-sided tape, for attaching it to the device after use. The double-sided tape may be attached to the device, so that the user can remove a cover of the tape and at- tach the needle to the tape.
The attachment means may also be Velcro®, where the hooks are provided on the needle and the loops on the device, or vice versa.
Alternatively or additionally, the storage means may comprise pincushion-like means wherein the needle can be stuck for covering at least the tip of the needle.
The storage means may covers at least the tip of the needle when storing the needle, but it may also cover the entire needle or even the entire needle and infusion tube connected to the needle. Thus, the user will not be able to touch the used needle tip and thereby be infected.
The drug may be a mixture of dry drug and a liquid, and in that case the device may further comprise a mixing unit for mixing dry drug contained in a vial with a liquid contained in a Nq- uid container, which container preferably is the reservoir, and the storage means may in that case be provided on a part of said mixing unit.
The needle may be fixed connected or releasable connected to the infusion outlet.
The needle may be fluidly but not fixed and rigid connected to the infusion outlet, for instance by means of a flexible tube such that the fluid connection is assured, but the user has a wide handling freedom of the device whilst the needle is safely secured to the users body.
The needle may be is a butterfly needle with a tube connected to the outlet, the butterfly needle comprising means for attaching it to the device.
When infusing with a butterfly needle, there is normally a large amount of drug in the tube, as the user manual describes to the infusion when the liquid level reaches a last line on the injection device, e.g. the syringe. This procedure leaves an amount of expensive drug in the butterfly tube. Thus, it's an object of the present invention to provide an injection device making it easier for the user to terminate injection with a minimum of drug left in the injection tube after injection.
In order to solve that problem, the tube of the butterfly needle according to the invention may be provided with a residual scale for indication of the remaining volume in the tube, and the scale may comprise injection stop indicator(s) indicating for the user a predetermined liquid level in the tube for terminating injection. Thus, it is easier for the user to see when to terminate injection so that no air is injected into the vein, while still injecting as much drug as possible.
Furthermore, the inner diameter of the tube may be increased in the distal end in order to decrease the flow velocity in the tube, and thereby make it even easier for the user to control the termination of injection while still injecting as much drug as possible without the risk of injecting air into the vein.
According to another aspect, the present invention relates to an injection tube for an injection kit, said injection tube comprising injection stop indicator(s) indicating for the user a predetermined liquid level in the tube for terminating injection.
According to another aspect, the present invention relates a method of injecting a drug by use of an injection device comprising;
a reservoir for containing the drug and being connected to an infusion outlet, an injection needle being connected to said outlet via a tube having injection stop indicators) indicating for the user a predetermined liquid level in the tube for terminat- ing injection, the method comprising o inserting the needle into the skin or vein of the patient o injecting the drug o terminating injection when the liquid level in the tube has reached said stop indicator(s).
The method may further comprise pulling out the needle from the skin or vein and storing the used needle in storage means provided on said device.
Said injection device may be an injection device according to the invention as described above.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in details with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an injection device according to the invention, and
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an injection device with a butterfly needle and tube according to the invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an injection device 1 for injection of a drug. The device 1 com- prises a mixing unit with a vial 2 containing dry drug and a reservoir 3 for liquid and for a solution of drug and liquid. The dry drug and liquid may be mixed together via fluid connections provided inside the housing 4. An infusion outlet 5 is connected to the reservoir 3 and a butterfly needle 6 for injection of the solution is connected to the outlet 5.
The device comprises storage means 7 in the form of tape having a removable 8 cover. After removing the cover 8, the needle 6 can be attached to the surface 7, which may comprise e.g. glue or Velcro, for storing the injection needle there after use. The cover 8 may be attached to the surface again over the needle to cover at least the tip of the needle 6.
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an injection device 1 in the form of a syringe with a butterfly needle 6 and tube 9. The tube 9 comprises injection stop indicator(s) 10 indicating for the user 11 a predetermined liquid level in the tube for terminating injection. Thus, it is easier for the user 1 1 to see when to terminate injection so that no air is injected into the vein and still injecting as much drug as possible. The tube 9 may comprise one or more indicator(s) which may be provided at any location along the tube 9, preferably close to the needle 6 in order to inject as much drug as possible.