Device for making threaded connections, including Luer lock connections
A device comprising an outer part and an inner part accommodated in the outer part wherein longitudinal grooves are provided within the inner part so as to receive longitudinal ribs of an injection needle. Protrusions that are disposed on the outer part and recesses which are arranged within the inner part allow the inner part to be twisted only in one direction relative to the outer part while putting up resistance to said twisting movement. A spring tenses the outer part and the inner part counter to each other in an axial direction.
This application is a continuation of International Patent Application No. PCT/CH2003/000759, filed on Nov. 17, 2003, which claims priority to Swiss Application No. 1988/02, filed on Nov. 25, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to devices and methods for attaching, coupling or making connections, including threaded connections, and, more particularly, to a device for screwing together medium-guiding threaded connections, particularly Luer-lock connections.
Such connections may comprise an outer part and an inner part that is rotatably accommodated therein, which inner part has available means to accommodate a thread-bearing connection part or an additional part rotationally secured to the former, and impeding means being available that allow a rotation of the inner part in only one direction relative to the outer part and that oppose a resistance to this rotation.
Luer-lock fastenings are frequently used in the area of medical technology, in order to connect together parts in the interior of which a medium flows, especially a fluid. For example, infusion containers and associated tubes or injection syringes and associated needles frequently use such fastenings or connections. So that such connections are tight and do not loosen, they must be tightened with a certain torque. On the other hand, most of the threaded parts, particularly those made of plastic, must not be tightened too strongly because otherwise they can break.
SUMMARYOne object of the present invention is to provide a device and method for making and/or tightening fluid-guiding threaded connections, including Luer-lock type connections, wherein the device can be produced simply and cost effectively, is simple to operate, and reliably limits, above and below, the torque in the tightening of the threaded connection.
The present invention addresses this object by providing that the resistance when rotating increases up to a maximum load and subsequently falls off sharply. The resistance may be derived from a suitably shaped surface, such as a surface shaped in the manner of saw teeth, where the sharp fall-off or decrease of the torque of the device can be discerned tactilely and/or acoustically by the operator, and it is signaled to the operator that the desired torque for screwing on the threaded connection has been achieved.
In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a device comprising an outer part and an inner part accommodated in the outer part wherein longitudinal grooves are provided within the inner part so as to receive longitudinal ribs of an injection needle. Protrusions that are disposed on the outer part and recesses which are arranged within the inner part allow the inner part to be twisted only in one direction relative to the outer part while putting up resistance to said twisting movement. A spring tenses the outer part and the inner part counter to each other in an axial direction.
In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a device including an outer part and an inner part, wherein the outer and inner parts are complementary so that the inner part can be moved in one direction relative to the outer part against resistance.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means for accommodation consist of a bore in the inner part having longitudinal grooves arranged axially therein. These longitudinal grooves accommodate longitudinal ribs on a conventional needle carrier of the Luer-lock type or on a supplementary part and, thus, ensure a reliable transfer of the tightening torque. In one embodiment, the supplementary part is preferably a needle protective cap placed on the connection part.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the impeding means exhibit generally axially-directed protrusions arranged in an outer part which work in conjunction with generally axially-directed recesses arranged on an inner part, and spring means that press the outer part and the inner part against each other in the axial direction. These protrusions and recesses can advantageously effect a tactile and visible periodic axial displacement of the inner part with respect to the outer part. It is understood that a kinematic reversal of this principle is also possible, where the recesses are arranged in the outer part and the protrusions are arranged on the inner part.
Another embodiment of the present invention provides for the impeding means to exhibit essentially radially-directed protrusions arranged in the outer part that work in conjunction with essentially tangentially directed blades arranged on the inner part, wherein the blades are formed so as to be resilient in an essentially radial direction. This allows a simple realization of the device with only two parts. Naturally, here also the kinematic reversal is possible, the protrusions being arranged on the inner part and the blades in the outer part.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a loading station for the preparation of an injection device that contains a device according to the invention. The loading station can contain other functional elements that serve the preparation of an injection device, in particular an autoinjector. The device according to the present invention is preferably removably accommodated in the loading station. In one embodiment, the loading station is designed as a container for storage of the parts of an injector device. This makes it possible for the user of an injection device to carry the necessary individual parts with him and to store them in clear view.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The embodiment of the device of the present invention represented in FIGS. 2 to 4 exhibits an outer sleeve 5 that is connected to a base 6 by means of a snap connection 7. So that the sleeve 5 cannot turn relative to the base 6, the two parts are provided with a toothing, or teeth 8. Supported in the sleeve 5 is a rotation part 9 that exhibits an axial opening in which longitudinal grooves 11 are present for accommodating the ribs 19 of the needle protective cap 18. A spring 12, such as a compression spring, is located between the sleeve 5 and the rotation part 9, the spring being supported axially on an upper edge 15 of the sleeve 5 and on a lower flange 10 of the rotation part 9 and pressing the rotation part 9 against the base 6. On this base 6 are arranged a number, in the present example four, of protrusions 13, each of which has a vertical side and an inclined side. Incorporated into the lower front side of the rotation part 9 are recesses 14, which correspond in number and form to the protrusions 13. Now, for example, if an injection needle 1 is introduced into the rotation part 9, the ribs 4 at the needle carrier 2 engage the longitudinal grooves 11 of the rotation part 9, so that the needle carrier 2 cannot turn in the rotation part 9. If the syringe is now turned in the clockwise sense, there occurs at first a relative rotation between the syringe and the needle carrier 2, whereby the thread is tightened. If a predetermined minimal torque is reached, the rotation part 9 begins to turn relative to the sleeve 5. In the process, the recesses 14 of the rotation part slide over the protrusions 13 of the base 6, whereby the rotation part is raised so far against the force of the spring 12, in the present example after a turning angle of 90°, that the recesses 14 are again flush with the protrusions 13. At this moment, the rotation part 9 is thrust downward by the spring 12 and strikes the base 6, whereby, due to the feel as well as the sound, the user is alerted to the fact that the desired torque has been achieved. The longitudinal ribs 16 present on the outer periphery of the sleeve 5 serve, on the one hand, to provide a better hold when the device is held in the hand, and on the other hand serve as a protection against rotation when the device is arranged in a loading station, as is described further below.
In the two exemplary embodiments of the present invention the inner part 9 or, as the case may be, 29, can only be turned in one direction and is blocked in the opposite direction. Thus, a device according to the present invention can also be used for loosening threaded connections.
While exemplary embodiments, including preferred embodiments, of the present invention have been described herein, it is contemplated that various modifications could be made without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be dictated by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A device comprising an outer part and an inner part, wherein the outer and inner parts are complementary and the inner part is moveable in one direction relative to the outer part against resistance.
2. A device comprising an outer part and an inner part accommodated in the outer part wherein longitudinal grooves are provided within the inner part to receive longitudinal ribs of an injection needle, wherein protrusions are disposed on the outer part and recesses are arranged within the inner part to allow the inner part to be twisted only in one direction relative to the outer part while putting up resistance to said twisting, and wherein a spring tenses the outer part and the inner part counter to each other in an axial direction.
3. A device for making threaded connections comprising an outer part and an inner part rotatably accommodated therein, the inner part having means for accommodating a thread-bearing connection part or an additional part that is rotationally secured to the connection part, impeding means for permitting rotation of the inner part relative to the outer part in one rotational direction only and for providing resistance to the rotation, wherein the resistance increases during the rotation up to a maximum load and subsequently falls off sharply.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the means for accommodating comprises a bore in the inner part, said bore having longitudinal grooves arranged axially therein.
5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the impeding means exhibits generally axially-directed protrusions arranged in the outer part, said protrusions working in conjunction with generally axially-directed recesses arranged in the inner part, further comprising spring means being present that press the outer part and the inner part against each other in an axial direction.
6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the impeding means exhibits generally axially-directed recesses arranged in the outer part, the recesses working in conjunction with generally axially-directed protrusions arranged in the inner part, further comprising spring means for pressing the outer part and the inner part against each other in an axial direction.
7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the impeding means exhibits generally axially-directed protrusions arranged in the outer part, said protrusions working in conjunction with generally tangentially-directed blades arranged on the inner part, the blades being designed to be elastic in a generally radial direction.
8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the impeding means exhibits generally axially directed protrusions arranged on the inner part, the protrusions working in conjunction with generally tangentially directed blades arranged in the inner part, the blades being designed to be elastic in generally radial direction.
9. The device according to claim 3, further comprising a needle protective cap placed onto the connection part.
10. A loading station for the preparation of an injection device, said loading station comprising a device for making threaded connections comprising an outer part and an inner part rotatably accommodated therein, the inner part having means for accommodating a thread-bearing connection part or an additional part that is rotationally secured to the connection part, impeding means for permitting rotation of the inner part relative to the outer part in one rotational direction only and for providing resistance to the rotation, wherein the resistance increases during the rotation up to a maximum load and subsequently falls off sharply.
11. The loading station according to claim 10, wherein the device is removeably accommodated in the loading station.
12. Loading station according to claim 11, wherein the loading station is designed as a container for storage of parts of an injection device.
Type: Application
Filed: May 18, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 8, 2005
Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Lehmann (Bellmund)
Application Number: 11/132,146