Technical Field

This invention relates to a device for aiding in the positioning of needles for injecting medication into a human body and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to such a device to aid a user in being accurate when self-injecting of a medication.

Background

Many humans are required to self-inject a medication on a regular basis. One example of this is the need for diabetics to self-inject with insulin to enable them to live as normal a life as possible.

However, the accurate location of the needle can be difficult and can cause pain, incorrect needle penetration as well as increasing risks. It can be difficult to pinch the skin and operate the syringe or pen-type. This is especially so for children, the elderly and those who are overweight.

Definitions

Throughout this specification a reference to an injector is to be taken as including syringes including one-off use disposable syringes with integrated needle, disposable syringes with detachable needles, re-useable syringes with interchangeable needles, injection pens such as, for example, Epi Pens, diabetes pens and insulin pens, durable pens with replaceable insulin cartridges, and disposable, prefilled insulin pens, and so forth.

Brief Description of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for aiding in the positioning of needles for injecting medication into a human body. The device comprises a hollow sleeve for releasably receiving therein an injector. There is also a base having a central opening therethrough longitudinally axially aligned with the hollow sleeve. The base may be of a diameter substantially greater than the central opening diameter and being of a thickness less than a longitudinal axial length of a needle of the injector. The central opening may have a shoulder intermediate its length to form a portion of reduced diameter adjacent a lower surface of the base. The hollow sleeve may be integral with the base or may be releasably attachable to the base and may further be perpendicular to the base The central opening may be of a size and shape to match a lead end of the injector. Brief Description of the Drawings

in order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, there shall now be described preferred embodiments incorporating the details of the invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows 2 - 2 on Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a verti ca! cross-sectional view of a second embodiment;

Figure 4 is a verti cal cross-sectional view of a third embodiment; and

Figure 5 is a verti cal cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

To refer first to Figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a first embodiment of a device 10 for aiding in the positioning of needles for injecting medication into a human body. The device 10 has a blank, hollow sleeve 12 for releasabiy receiving therein an injector 14 which, in this case, is of the pen type. It is preferable, but not essential, that the sleeve 12 has an internal protrusion 16 extending radially inwardly so that when the injector 14 is inserted nto the sleeve 12 t engages with the protrusion 16 in the manner of a snap fit. In this way the injector s releasabiy held n the sleeve 12 and is accurately located axialfy with respect to the sleeve 12 yet s relatively easily nserted and removed. Pen-type injectors 14 usually have a similar protrusion or recess for releasabiy receiving a cap in the manner of a snap fit, so the protrusion 16 can align with the existing protrusion or recess of the pen-type injector. Alternatively, the sleeve 12 has a recess and the injector 14 the protrusion 16.

The sleeve 12 is centrally mounted and longitudinally axially aligned relative to a base 18. It may be securely yet releasabiy attached to the base 18 or may be integral with the base 18. If the sleeve 12 is securely yet releasabiy attached to the base 18 it may be by using any suitable but known attachment such as, for example, threaded engagement, snap fit, bayonet fitting, and so forth. The base 18 may be circular, square, pentagonal, octagonal, elliptical, ovular, or any other suitable shape, but circular is preferred. The sleeve 12 is shown as being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 17. It may be at any other angle if required or desired. The base 18 has a centrally-located opening 20 therethrough that is longitudinally axially aligned with the sleeve 12. The opening 20 is for the passage therethrough of the needle of the pen-type injector 14 so that the needle projects beyond the lower surface 22 of the base 18 by a distance sufficient for the needle to penetrate the skin a sufficient or desirable depth for the effective and efficient delivery of the medication to the patient. To have the needle extending beyond the lower surface 22 of the base 8, the base 18 should be of a thickness less than the length of the needle by an amount equal to or larger than the sufficient or desirable depth. Intermediate its length the opening 20 is stepped by a reduction in diameter to form a shoulder 24 against which the front surface of the pen-type injector 14 can locate with the needle extending through the portion 26 of reduced diameter. As can be seen, the size and shape of the opening 20 matches the size and shape of the front portion 15 of the injector 14.

The base 18 should be of a diameter significantly greater than the diameter of the opening 20, particularly the portion 26 of reduced diameter. This is desirable as when the injector 14 is inserted into the sleeve 12 and the lower surface 22 of base 18 pressed firmly against the skin, the skin under the opening portion 26 stretches in the same manner as if pinched so the needle can penetrate the skin to the sufficient or desirable depth with little or no pain to the patient. By way of example only, the base 18 may have a diameter of 60mm; the external diameter of the injector 14 may be 20mm, and the portion 26 of reduced diameter may be 10mm. The base may be 10mm thick with the shoulder 24 being 5mm from the lower surface 22, and the sleeve 2 extending 30mm above the base 8. In this way the base 18 is of a diameter that is 6 times the diameter of the portion 26 of reduced diameter.

As shown in Figure 3, the sleeve 12 is of greater axial length and has an additional shoulder 28. The device 10 of Figure 3 is intended to be used with a disposable syringe and thus the longitudinal axial length of the sleeve 24 is greater than in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 to allow for the longer needles used than with a pen-type injector. This form may also be used with the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

Figures 4 and 5 show further variations due to different shapes, sizes and/or forms of injectors 14.

To use the device 10, the lower surface 22 of the base 18 is pressed firmly against the skin by pressure applied to the base 18 or the sleeve 12. The injector 14 is then inserted until it engages in the sleeve 12 with a snap fit. It is then releasably locked in position and the needle projects beyond the lower surface 22 and into the skin by the sufficient or desirable depth. Because the skin is taut under the base 18, the penetration of the needle into the skin should be substantially pain free. As only one hand is required to hold the device 10 in position, the other hand can be used to operate the injector 14. Once operating is concluded, the assembled device 10 and injector 14 can be removed then the device and injector separated. If re-useable, the device 10 can then be cleaned and prepared for use.

Whilst there has been described In the foregoing description an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those in the technical field that many variations or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the present invention.