Pen Needle with Outer Cover

Abstract

A pen needle is enclosed by an outer cover to facilitate installation of a needle bearing hub on a medication pen. The outer cover design reduces or eliminates the likelihood of user contact with the patient end needle or the non-patient end needle during installation and disposal, and provides an audible indication when the hub is fully installed on a medication pen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pen needle, comprising:
 an outer cover having a closed distal end with gently concave sides and an open proximal end receiving a needle-bearing hub;   longitudinal cut-outs extending to proximal edge of the outer cover defining a plurality of projections extending proximally at the proximal open end and curved radially outwardly from the hub.   
     
     
         2 . The pen needle according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections flex outwardly to release the needle bearing hub during installation of the hub on a medication pen and flex inwardly to contain the needle bearing hub for storage. 
     
     
         3 . The pen needle according to  claim 2 , further comprising
 a cut-out defining a flexible strip in a sidewall of the outer cover inboard of the open proximal end; and   a projection formed on a radially inward surface of the strip, the projection positioned on one end of the strip engaging contours on a radially outward surface of the hub so that when the outer cover is rotated with respect to the hub the projection makes an audible sound or creates a tactile sensation by contacting the hub outer surface.   
     
     
         4 . The pen needle according to  claim 3 , wherein the flexible strip is oriented circumferentially on the hub sidewall.