Protective cap for an insertion device and other insertion device features

Abstract

A protective cap having finger grips, a window, and port. The protective cap may also have one or more clips (or snaps), one or more relief slots, and/or one or more guides. Protective cap 200 may also have a fill indicator and/or a material relief. An insertion system having a handpiece, a pushrod assembly, a cartridge, and a cap with a window and a port. The cap is configured and dimensioned to couple with the distal end of the cartridge. The insertion system may also have a pushrod with a plunger having a marker configured and dimensioned to indicate axially translation of the pushrod assembly within the handpiece.

1 . A cap, comprising:
 a body having a distal end and a proximal end;   a window; and   a port located at the distal end of the cap;
 wherein the cap is configured and dimensioned to couple with a distal end of an insertion system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the window comprises a fill indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the window is located on a bottom of the cap and wherein the window runs along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the cap. 
     
     
         4 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises an internal bevel inside the cap at the distal end, wherein the internal bevel is configured and dimensioned to couple with a bevel at the distal end of an insertion system. 
     
     
         5 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises at least two finger grips along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the cap and wherein the finger grips are located on opposite sides of the cap. 
     
     
         6 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the port comprises a funnel shape and is configured and dimensioned to couple with a lumen at a distal end of an insertion system to enable insertion of a fluid into the lumen of the insertion system. 
     
     
         7 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the cap comprises a material relief to prevent distortion of a tip at a distal end of the cap during manufacturing of the cap. 
     
     
         8 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein one or more internal walls of the cap comprise one or more internal guides that run along at least a portion of a longitudinal axis of the cap, wherein the one or more internal guides are configured and dimensioned to couple with features on an outer portion of an insertion device. 
     
     
         9 . The cap of  claim 8 , wherein the cap comprises two substantially parallel internal guides. 
     
     
         10 . The cap of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises one or more clips, wherein the one or more clips are configured and dimensioned to couple with a distal end of an insertion device to secure the cap to the insertion device. 
     
     
         11 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more clips are configured and dimensioned to act as a cantilever snap and couple with one or more wings of a cartridge. 
     
     
         12 . The cap of  claim 10 , wherein the cap is made of a clear or translucent material. 
     
     
         13 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An insertion system, comprising:
 a handpiece having a longitudinal axis, a distal end, and a proximal end,   a pushrod assembly having a distal end and a proximal end,
 wherein the push rod assembly comprises a pushrod and a plunger; 
 wherein the pushrod assembly couples with the handpiece along the longitudinal axis; 
 wherein the pushrod is coupled with the plunger and the pushrod is located on the distal end of the push rod assembly and the plunger is located on the proximal end of the pushrod assembly; 
 wherein the plunger comprises a marker configured and dimensioned to indicate axially translation of the pushrod assembly within the handpiece; and 
   a cartridge comprising a delivery tube at a distal end;   wherein the cartridge is configured and dimensioned to couple with the distal end of the handpiece.   
     
     
         24 . The insertion system of  claim 23 , wherein the marker is configured and dimensioned to indicate a location of a detent when the pushrod assembly is advanced toward the distal end of the handpiece. 
     
     
         25 . The insertion system of claim  22 , wherein the handpiece is made of a clear or translucent material.