Removal of needle shield from syringes and automatic injection devices

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide a needle shield remover that reliably engages with a distal cap of an automatic injection device and with one or more needle shields coupled to a syringe of the device. When a user removes the distal cap, the needle shield remover reliably removes the needle shields (e.g., a soft needle shield and a rigid needle shield) from the syringe, thereby exposing the injection needle for performing an injection. In an exemplary assembly method, a needle shield remover is engaged to a needle shield coupled to a syringe, prior to insertion of the syringe and needle shield remover assembly into a housing of the device. This exemplary assembly method allows visual inspection, outside the housing of the device, to ensure that the needle shield remover is correctly and reliably engaged to the needle shield before the syringe and needle shield remover assembly is inserted into the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for removing a needle shield from a syringe, comprising:
 a tubular member for enclosing the needle shield coupled to the syringe;   one or more cap engagement mechanisms provided at a distal end of the tubular member and configured for engagement with a distal cap provided for covering a distal end of the syringe; and   one or more shield engagement mechanisms provided at a proximal end of the tubular member and configured for engagement with the needle shield;   wherein, when the apparatus is pulled away from the syringe, the one or more shield engagement mechanisms exert force against the needle shield to remove the needle shield from the syringe.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal cap comprises an aperture and a flanged portion provided in the aperture, and wherein the one or more cap engagement mechanisms are configured to fit within the aperture in the distal cap and wherein the flanged portion of the distal cap is accommodated in a gap under the one or more cap engagement mechanisms. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises two apertures, and wherein two shield engagement mechanisms are provided in the apertures. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular member comprises three apertures, and wherein three shield engagement mechanisms are provided in the apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more shield engagement mechanisms are configured for engagement with a gap between the needle shield and the syringe. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the needle shield comprises a soft inner portion and a rigid outer portion. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured for engagement with the needle shield coupled to the syringe before the syringe is inserted into a housing of an automatic injection device. 
     
     
         8 . An automatic injection device, comprising:
 a syringe;   a needle shield coupled to a distal end of the syringe;   a distal cap for covering the needle shield; and   a needle shield remover disposed between the needle shield and the distal cap, the needle shield comprising:
 a tubular member for enclosing the needle shield coupled to the syringe, 
 one or more cap engagement mechanisms provided at a distal end of the tubular member and engaged with the distal cap, and 
 one or more shield engagement mechanisms provided at a proximal end of the tubular member and engaged with the needle shield; 
   wherein, when the needle shield remover is pulled away from the syringe, the one or more shield engagement mechanisms exert force against the needle shield to remove the needle shield from the syringe.   
     
     
         9 . The automatic injection device of  claim 8 , wherein the distal cap comprises an aperture and a flanged portion provided in the aperture, and wherein the one or more cap engagement mechanisms are configured to fit within the aperture in the distal cap and wherein the flanged portion of the distal cap is accommodated in a gap under the one or more cap engagement mechanisms. 
     
     
         10 . The automatic injection device of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular member comprises two apertures, and wherein two shield engagement mechanisms are provided in the apertures. 
     
     
         11 . The automatic injection device of  claim 8 , wherein the tubular member comprises three apertures, and wherein three shield engagement mechanisms are provided in the apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The automatic injection device of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more shield engagement mechanisms are for engagement with a gap between the needle shield and the syringe. 
     
     
         13 . The automatic injection device of  claim 8 , wherein the needle shield comprises a soft inner portion and a rigid outer portion. 
     
     
         14 . The automatic injection device of  claim 8 , wherein the needle shield remover is configured for engagement with the needle shield coupled to the syringe before the syringe is inserted into a housing of the automatic injection device. 
     
     
         15 . A method for assembling an automatic injection device, comprising:
 coupling a needle shield to a distal end of a syringe;   engaging one or more shield engagement mechanisms of a needle shield remover to the needle shield; and   inserting an assembly comprising the syringe, the needle shield and the needle shield remover into a housing of the automatic injection device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 coupling a distal cap to a distal end of the housing of the automatic injection device; and   engaging one or more cap engagement mechanisms of the needle shield remover to the distal cap.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 when the needle shield remover is pulled away from the syringe, exerting force against the needle shield using the shield engagement mechanisms of the needle shield remover to remove the needle shield from the syringe.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the distal cap comprises an aperture and a flanged portion provided in the aperture, and wherein the one or more cap engagement mechanisms are configured to fit within the aperture in the distal cap and wherein the flanged portion of the distal cap is accommodated in a gap under the one or more cap engagement mechanisms. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the needle shield remover comprises a tubular member, and wherein the one or more shield engagement mechanisms are provided at a proximal end of the tubular member and the one or more cap engagement mechanisms are provided at a distal end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the tubular member comprises two apertures, and wherein two shield engagement mechanisms are provided in the apertures.