Abstract: A pen needle hub and cover for a pen needle assembly that provides tactile and/or audible indicia of proper attachment between the hub of the pen needle and the pen is provided. Such indicia substantially prevent under- and over-torquing of the pen needle. The tactile indicia may include a user sensing a wave of a torque of peak value followed by a torque of lesser value.

Abstract: A lancing mechanism is adapted to move between a resting, cocking and a puncture position. The lancing mechanism comprises a lancet holder adapted to receive a lancet, a shaft attached to the lancet holder, at least one drive spring and at least one damping spring. The drive spring surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and drives the lancing mechanism from the cocking position to the puncture position. The damping spring moves the lancing mechanism from the puncture position to the resting position. The drive spring is located at least partially within the damping spring.

Abstract: A safety pen needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub and a needle fixed to the hub. Further, a first shield is provided, along with a second shield which has a biasing element disposed to urge the second shield proximally towards a proximal end of the needle. The assembly further includes a releasable retaining assembly for releasably retaining the second shield in an initial position against the force of the biasing element. A predetermined extent of movement of the first shield causes the retaining assembly to release the second shield, and, wherein, with the second shield being released, the second shield is urged proximally by the biasing element to a second position where the second shield covers the proximal end of the needle. Advantageously, with the subject invention, an assembly is provided which allows for passive activation of a shield on a non-patient end of a pen needle assembly by a patient-end shield.

Abstract: A lancing mechanism is adapted to move between a resting, cocking and a puncture position. The lancing mechanism comprises a lancet holder adapted to receive a lancet, a shaft attached to the lancet holder, at least one drive spring and at least one damping spring. The drive spring surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and drives the lancing mechanism from the cocking position to the puncture position. The damping spring moves the lancing mechanism from the puncture position to the resting position. The drive spring is located at least partially within the damping spring.

Abstract: A lancing mechanism is adapted to move between resting, cocking and puncture positions and comprises a lancet holder, a shaft, at least one spring and a mass. The shaft is attached to the lancet holder and has an enlarged end opposite the lancet holder. The spring surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and has first and second portions. The second portion of the spring is attached to the lancet holder. The spring drives the lancing mechanism between the cocking and puncture positions. The mass is located along the spring with the first and second portions of the spring extending on opposite sides of the mass. The mass is distinct from the lancet holder. The first portion dampens the lancing mechanism when moving from the puncture position to the resting position.

Abstract: A lancing device comprises a housing, a trigger button, a drive spring and a protective cap. The housing forms an aperture and an opening opposite thereof. A lancet partially extends through the aperture. The trigger button is located near the opening. At least a portion of the trigger button is external to the housing. The drive spring is attached to and connects the lancet and the trigger button. The drive spring moves the lancet from the cocked position to the puncture position. The protective cap is removeably attached to the lancet opposite the drive spring and engages the housing when the cap is removeably attached to the lancet. The cap prevents the drive spring from moving the lancet to the puncture position prior to removing the cap from the lancet.

Abstract: A lancing mechanism is adapted to move between resting, cocking and puncture positions and comprises a lancet holder, a shaft, at least one spring and a mass. The shaft is attached to the lancet holder and has an enlarged end opposite the lancet holder. The spring surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and has first and second portions. The second portion of the spring is attached to the lancet holder. The spring drives the lancing mechanism between the cocking and puncture positions. The mass is located along the spring with the first and second portions of the spring extending on opposite sides of the mass. The mass is distinct from the lancet holder. The first portion dampens the lancing mechanism when moving from the puncture position to the resting position.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly is provided herein having a hub; a needle fixed to the hub; a shield; a tab; a spring disposed between the shield and the hub configured to bias the shield distally; and, a clip disposed between the hub and the shield, the clip having a notch formed thereon shaped to permit passage therethrough of the tab. The clip and the tab releasably retain the shield in a first locked state against the biasing force of the spring thereby limiting distal movement of the shield relative to the hub; yet, in the first locked state, the shield is movable proximally relative to the hub. In the first locked state, the notch is spaced from the tab. The clip and the tab are relatively displaceable so as to align the notch with the tab and release the shield from the first locked state thereby allowing the shield to move distally, relative to the hub, to a second shielded state. In the second shielded state, the distal end of the needle is covered by the shield.

Abstract: A pen needle (521) for a drug delivery device (100) includes a hub (511) and a needle (502) fixedly connected to the hub (511). An outer cover (501) removably receives the hub (511) and the needle (502). A locking member (505) locks the hub (511) and the needle (502) in the outer cover (501). The hub (625) may have a colored portion (629) visible to the user to indicate that the needle (623) has been used.

Abstract: This invention relates to a test sensor cartridge assembly that dispenses test sensors individually while shortening the distance of the lateral movement required to eject the sensor. A stationary gear rack is affixed to a surface with a moveable gear rack positioned parallel to the stationary gear rack. The moveable gear rack is adapted to engage the test sensor. A gear is positioned between and contacts the stationary gear rack and the moveable gear rack. The lateral movement of the gear in a first direction generates rotational movement by the gear. Both the lateral and rotational movement move the moveable gear rack laterally in the first direction. The lateral movement of the gear rack in the first direction ejects a test sensor from a test sensor cartridge.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub; a needle fixed to the hub, the needle having a distal end, formed for insertion into a patient, and a proximal end; a first shield having a tubular body at least partially encircling a portion of the needle, wherein in an initial state, the first shield extends from the hub; a second shield having a tubular body at least partially encircling a portion of the needle; a biasing element disposed to urge the second shield distally towards the distal end of the needle; and, a releasable retaining arrangement for releasably retaining the second shield in a first state. Upon a predetermined extent of proximal movement of the first shield relative to the hub, the second shield is released thereby allowing the biasing element to urge the second shield to a second state in which the distal end of the needle is covered.

Abstract: A safety pen needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub and a needle fixed to the hub. Further, a first shield is provided, along with a second shield which has a biasing element disposed to urge the second shield proximally towards a proximal end of the needle. The assembly further includes a releasable retaining assembly for releasably retaining the second shield in an initial position against the force of the biasing element. A predetermined extent of movement of the first shield causes the retaining assembly to release the second shield, and, wherein, with the second shield being released, the second shield is urged proximally by the biasing element to a second position where the second shield covers the proximal end of the needle. Advantageously, with the subject invention, an assembly is provided which allows for passive activation of a shield on a non-patient end of a pen needle assembly by a patient-end shield.

Abstract: A safety pen needle assembly is provided herein which includes a tubular carrier (12) having a distal end, a proximal end and a transverse engagement wall (30) located between the proximal and distal ends. The engagement wall includes an aperture (32). A needle (16) is further provided having a distal end, for injection into a patient, and a proximal end, along with a needle hub (14). The needle is fixed to the needle hub so as to move therewith, and the needle hub is disposed in the carrier distally of the engagement wall. The assembly also includes a shield (18) for selectively covering the distal end of the needle. A first biasing element (20) is provided for urging the needle hub from a first hub position where the needle extends through the aperture of the engagement wall to a second hub position where the proximal end of the needle is located distally of the proximally-facing outer surface of the engagement wall.

Abstract: In one aspect, a safety pen needle assembly is provided herein which includes a hub with a needle fixed to the hub, the needle having a distal end, formed for insertion into a patient, and a proximal end. The assembly further includes a shield and a biasing member disposed between the hub and the shield configured to urge the shield distally. A protrusion extends from at least one of the hub and the shield with a channel being formed in at least the other of the hub and the shield. The channel is formed to accommodate the protrusion. The shield is movable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the shield is spaced from the distal end of the needle such that the distal end of the needle is exposed. In the second position, the shield covers the distal end of the needle. The channel guides the protrusion as the shield moves from the first position to the second position. With this arrangement, a shield may be directed to move in a desired path with stability.

Abstract: A lancing mechanism is adapted to move between a resting, cocking and a puncture position. The lancing mechanism comprises a lancet holder adapted to receive a lancet, a shaft attached to the lancet holder, at least one drive spring and at least one damping spring. The drive spring surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and drives the lancing mechanism from the cocking position to the puncture position. The damping spring moves the lancing mechanism from the puncture position to the resting position. The drive spring is located at least partially within the damping spring.

Abstract: A safety needle assembly for an injector is provided herein which, in a first aspect of the subject invention, includes a needle having a distal end formed for injection, a carrier for supporting the needle, and a shield for selectively covering the distal end of the needle. The shield includes at least one through aperture formed therein, wherein the through aperture is superimposed over the distal end of the needle in an initial state prior to injection. In a further aspect of the subject invention, a safety needle assembly is provided which includes a needle having a distal end formed for injection, a earner for supporting the needle, and a shield for selectively covering the distal end of the needle. The shield includes a proximal and, a distal end and a sidewall extending therebetween.

Abstract: A lancing mechanism is adapted to move between resting, cocking and puncture positions and comprises a lancet holder, a shaft, at least one spring and a mass. The shaft is attached to the lancet holder and has an enlarged end opposite the lancet holder. The spring surrounds at least a portion of the shaft and has first and second portions. The second portion of the spring is attached to the lancet holder. The spring drives the lancing mechanism between the cocking and puncture positions. The mass is located along the spring with the first and second portions of the spring extending on opposite sides of the mass. The mass is distinct from the lancet holder. The first portion dampens the lancing mechanism when moving from the puncture position to the resting position.

Abstract: A lancing device comprises a housing, a trigger button, a drive spring and a protective cap. The housing forms an aperture and an opening opposite thereof. A lancet partially extends through the aperture. The trigger button is located near the opening. At least a portion of the trigger button is external to the housing. The drive spring is attached to and connects the lancet and the trigger button. The drive spring moves the lancet from the cocked position to the puncture position. The protective cap is removeably attached to the lancet opposite the drive spring and engages the housing when the cap is removeably attached to the lancet. The cap prevents the drive spring from moving the lancet to the puncture position prior to removing the cap from the lancet.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism is adapted to eject a test sensor from a cartridge opening formed in a cartridge containing test sensors. The dispensing mechanism comprises a gear rack, a gear, and a wheel. The gear rack includes a first portion and a second portion located generally parallel to one another. The second portion of the gear rack includes a first plurality of teeth. The gear includes a second plurality of teeth that are adapted to be engaged by the first plurality of teeth upon movement of the gear rack. The wheel is operatively engaged by the gear and is adapted to dispense the test sensor from the cartridge opening and to seal the cartridge opening. The movement of the gear rack in a first direction causes the gear to rotate causing the wheel to rotate. The rotation of the wheel dispenses the test sensor through the cartridge opening.

Abstract: A dispensing mechanism is adapted to eject a test sensor from a cartridge opening formed in a cartridge containing test sensors. The dispensing mechanism comprises a gear rack, a gear, and a wheel. The gear rack includes a first portion and a second portion located generally parallel to one another. The second portion of the gear rack includes a first plurality of teeth. The gear includes a second plurality of teeth that are adapted to be engaged by the first plurality of teeth upon movement of the gear rack. The wheel is operatively engaged by the gear and is adapted to dispense the test sensor from the cartridge opening and to seal the cartridge opening. The movement of the gear rack in a first direction causes the gear to rotate causing the wheel to rotate. The rotation of the wheel dispenses the test sensor through the cartridge opening.