Abstract:
Described is a needle assembly storage device. The storage device includes a container, a pocket formed in the container adapted to receive a needle assembly, and a pull linkage connecting the needle assembly to the container. The pull linkage disengages the needle assembly when sufficient rotational force has been applied to the needle assembly in a first direction. A projection on the needle assembly prevents rotation of the needle assembly in the pocket in a second rotation direction opposite to the first direction.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a U.S. National Phase Application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2012/054102 filed Mar. 9, 2012, which claims priority to European Patent Application No. 11158262.3 filed Mar. 15, 2011. The entire disclosure contents of these applications are herewith incorporated by reference into the present application. 
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a storage device for needle assemblies. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional injection device include a distal end for receiving single-use needle assemblies. Typically, a user will attach a needle assembly to the injection device (e.g., by a threaded connection) and remove the needle assembly after an injection has been administered. Removal of the needle assembly from the injection device bears the risk of injury (e.g., needle-stick) to the user. Therefore, various devices have been proposed to reduce this risk of injury. 
     Further, when attaching the needle assembly to the injection device, an appropriate amount of torque is necessary. However, application of torque beyond the appropriate amount may result in overtightening (preventing removal of the needle assembly), fracture of the needle assembly and/or injection device, and/or injury to the user. 
     EP 1567209 B1 discusses a device for removing and replacing a needle cover. EP 1567215 B1 discusses a device for making and/or tightening fluid-guiding threaded connections, including Luer-lock type connections, 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved needle assembly storage device. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a needle assembly storage device comprises a container and a pocket formed in the container for receiving a needle assembly. The needle assembly may comprise a needle and a housing for receiving an injection device. The device further comprises a pull linkage connecting the needle assembly to the container. The pull linkage disengages the needle assembly when sufficient rotational force has been applied to the needle assembly in a first direction. A projection on the needle assembly prevents rotation of the needle assembly in the pocket in a second rotation direction opposite to the first direction. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the needle assembly includes a screw thread for coupling to the injection device. The screw thread may be an internal thread on an inner surface of the needle assembly. The projection may prevent rotation of the needle assembly within the pocket in the second direction when the projection abuts the pull linkage. The projection may have a first leg extending perpendicular to a tangent of an outer border of the needle assembly and a second leg as a sloped surface between the first leg and the outer border. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a peelable film may cover an opening of the needle assembly when the needle assembly is in the pocket. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the needle assembly comprises an annular collar to bear on a surface of the container. The pull linkage may include a sloped surface having a first end and a second end. Rotation of the needle assembly in the first direction generates resistance when the projection abuts the pull linkage. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile feedback is provided when the projection bypasses the pull linkage when the needle assembly is rotated in the first direction. A second tactile feedback may be provided when the projection abuts the pull linkage when the needle assembly is rotated in the second direction. 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings wherein 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of a needle assembly within a pocket of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of a needle assembly within a pocket of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a top view of a needle assembly within a pocket of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  shows a top view of a needle assembly within a pocket of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show a top view and a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly storage device  1  for needle assemblies  5 , respectively. The storage device  1  comprises a container  3  with one or more pockets  4 . Each pocket  4  may be sized and shaped to receive a needle assembly  5 . In the exemplary embodiments shown in  FIG. 1 , needle assemblies  5  are received in each of the pockets  4 . Those of skill in the art will understand that the container  3  may be any size and/or shape (e.g., linear, box, etc.) and contain any number of pockets  4 . Prior to use, when the needle assembly  5  is received in one of the pockets  4 , the pocket  4  may be covered with a peelable film (not shown) or other device for maintaining a sterility of the needle assembly  5 . The peelable film may cover an opening of the needle assembly  5  into which the injection device will be inserted for coupling thereto. The peelable film may be coupled to the pocket  4  by, for example, an adhesive. 
     Each needle assembly  5  is sized and shaped to be received in one of the pockets  4 . In an exemplary embodiment, the needle assembly includes a cylindrical housing having an inner threaded surface  7  for engaging a threaded end of an injection device and a double-pointed needle  2 . In an exemplary embodiment, the needle assembly  5  has the shape of a cylindrical brimmed hat, with a top cover which the needle  2  protrudes through along a longitudinal axis of the needle assembly  5 , and with a brim formed as an annular collar  6 . In an exemplary embodiment, the threaded surface  7  is right-handed, although in other embodiments, the threaded surface  7  may be left-handed. 
     Each pocket  4  of the container  3  has a cylindrical wall  8  with a container-sided end defining the contour of a circular opening  9  in a surface  10  of the container  3 . The inner diameter of the cylindrical wall  8  extends slightly the outer diameter of the cylindrical part of the needle assembly  5  so that the pocket  4  can receive a needle assembly  5 . Furthermore the outer diameter of the annular collar  6  extends the diameter of the circular opening  9  so that the annular collar  6  of a needle assembly  5  received in the pocket  4  bears on a surface surrounding the circular opening  9 . 
     As shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 , in an exemplary embodiment, each needle assembly  5  is connected to the container  3  by one or more pull linkages  11 . A first end of each pull linkage  11  is connected to (or formed integrally with) the container  3 , and a second end of each pull linkage  11  comprises a first end portion  12  which is connected to a needle assembly  5  and defines a predetermined breaking point between the pull linkage  11  and the needle assembly  5 . A second end portion  13  of the second end of each pull linkage  11  adjoins the first end portion  12  and is angled radially away from a circumference of the needle assembly  5 . Along the contour of the circular opening  9 , the first and second end portions  12 ,  13  of the pull linkages  11  alternate so that the first end portion  12  of each pull linkage  11  faces the second end portion  13  of a neighbouring pull linkage  11 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the outer border  14  of the annular collar  6  of the needle assembly  5  includes at least one projection  15 . In an exemplary embodiment in which there are multiple projections  15 , the projections  15  may be placed at equal distances along the outer border  14  and correspond to the number of pull linkages  11  connected to the respective needle assembly  5 . The projection  15  may have a shape of a triangle with a first leg  16  formed perpendicular to a tangent of the outer border  14  and a second leg  17  having a sloped decline into the outer border  14 . In the exemplary embodiment, when the needle assembly  5  is turned in a first direction within the pocket  4 , the first end  12  of the pull linkage  11  may follow (e.g., in contact) along the outer border  14 , and resistance may be felt as the second leg  17  comes into contact with the first end  12  and second end  13  of the pull linkage  11 . The resistance may increase until the projection  15  bypasses the first end  12  of the pull linkage  11 , at which point the user may be provided with a tactile feedback, e.g., a sudden decrease in the resistance. 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  show an exemplary embodiment of a needle assembly  5  in its initial position within the pocket  4  before a distal end of an injection device is coupled to the needle assembly  5 . When the distal end of the injection device is inserted into the needle assembly  5 , the injection device may be rotated in a first direction, e.g., clockwise, to secure the needle assembly  5  thereto. The pull linkages  11  prevent the needle assembly  5  from rotating within the pocket  4  as it is being secured to the injection device. When the needle assembly  5  has been properly secured to the injection device, further rotation in the first direction of the needle assembly  5  may result in a disengagement of the pull linkages  11  from the outer border  14  of the needle assembly  5 . Thus, further rotation of the injection device in the first direction will not result in further tightening of the needle assembly  5  thereto. Also, the disengagement of the pull linkage  11  may provide a tactile (and/or audible) feedback to the user. That is, while securing the injection device to the needle assembly  5 , the user may feel resistance while the pull linkages  11  secure the container  3  to the needle assembly  5 . When a sufficient amount of torque is applied and the needle assembly  5  disengages from the pull linkages  11 , the user may feel a sudden decrease in resistance to further rotation of the injection device. 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show an exemplary embodiment of the storage device  1  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  after the injection device has been secured to the needle assembly  5  and the pull linkages  11  have been disengaged. In this state, the needle assembly  5  is mounted on the injection device can be rotated freely (e.g., in the first direction) in the pocket  4  and removed from the pocket  4  so that the injection device with the needle assembly  5  mounted on it is ready for use. 
       FIG. 6  shows in more detail a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the needle assembly  5  within the pocket  4  in this state. The arrow in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  shows a first direction (clockwise in the figure) in which the needle assembly  5  may freely rotate within the pocket  4  without further tightening the needle assembly  5  to the injection device. However, in an exemplary embodiment, further rotation of the needle assembly  5  in the first direction may cause the user to feel resistance as the second leg  17  of the projection  15  abuts the first and second ends  12 ,  13  of the pull linkage  11 . The resistance may increase as the needle assembly  5  is rotated until the projection  15  bypasses the first end  12  of the pull linkage  11 . 
     After administering an injection, the needle assembly  5  mounted on the injection device may be reinserted into the pocket  4 . 
       FIGS. 7 to 9  show how the needle assembly  5  may be removed from the injection device after the injection has been administered. In an exemplary embodiment, the needle assembly  5  is reinserted into the pocket  4  (not necessarily the same pocket  4  from which it was removed). To remove the needle assembly  5  from the injection device, the injection device (and thus the needle assembly  5  secured thereto) is turned in a second direction (e.g., counter-clockwise). When the first leg  16  of the projection  15  abuts the first end  12  of the pull linkage  11 , further rotation of the needle assembly  5  in the second direction is prevented. However, the injection device may continue to rotate in the second direction until it disengages the needle assembly  5 . 
     After a needle assembly  5  has been separated from the container and reinserted into a pocket  4 , it may difficult to remount that needle assembly  5  on the injection device, because the needle assembly  5  will be free to rotate within the pocket  4  as the injection device attempts to engage the needle assembly  5 . Such a configuration may discourage reuse of previously used needle assemblies  5 . 
     Those of skill in the art will understand that other exemplary embodiments of the invention use different numbers, geometries, alignments and/or orientations of the pull linkages  11  and/or the projections  15 . Furthermore, one may use left-handed in place of right-handed screw threads  7  and correspondingly amended embodiments of projections  15  which prevent clockwise turnings of a needle assembly  5  within a pocket  4 .