Drug delivery device
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the invention generally provide a device and method for minimizing injection pain and preventing needle clogging during injection of a drug formulation into skin. Generally, the invention provides a device comprising a needle having a point to penetrate skin on one end, a hub having a diameter larger than that of the needle attached to the opposite end of the needle and connectable to a housing defining a chamber for receiving a formulation, and a polymer wrap attached to the hub, wherein the polymer wrap is tapered to the needle so as to pass through skin when the point is inserted into the skin, and wherein a space between the needle and the polymer wrap lies in a flow path of the formulation into the skin, such that formulation is injected through the space between the needle and the polymer wrap.
1. A device for injecting a formulation, the device comprising:
a needle having proximal and distal ends and a point to penetrate skin on the distal end;
a hub having a diameter larger than that of the needle attached to the proximal end of the needle, wherein the hub is connected to a housing defining a chamber containing the formulation to be injected into the skin, and wherein the hub comprises a connector connecting the hub to the housing for receiving the formulation; and
a polymer wrap enveloping the needle, a space being comprised between the needle and the polymer wrap;
wherein the polymer wrap is tapered toward the needle along the direction toward the distal end of the polymer wrap and passes through the skin when the point is inserted into the skin,
wherein the space between the needle and the polymer wrap lies in a flow path of the formulation that is injected through the space between the needle and the polymer wrap, the flow path extending between the needle and the polymer wrap through the distal end of the polymer, and
wherein the housing comprises a syringe.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the connector is selected from the group consisting of: a threaded connector and a quick release connector.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the hub is connected to the housing by a molded connection.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the needle and at least a portion of the diameter of the hub lies in the flow path of the formulation into the skin.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the needle is 30 gauge or smaller in diameter.
6. A device for injecting a formulation, the device comprising:
a needle having, proximal and distal ends and a point to penetrate skin on the distal end;
a hub having a diameter larger than that of the needle attached to the proximal end of the needle; and
a polymer wrap enveloping the needle, a space being comprised between the needle and the polymer wrap;
wherein the polymer wrap is tapered to the needle and passes through the skin when the point is inserted into the skin, and
wherein the space between the needle and the polymer wrap lies in a flow path of the formulation that is injected through the space between the needle and the polymer wrap, and
wherein the polymer wrap is attached to the needle by an adhesive.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the polymer wrap comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, nylon, polyurethane, nitrite rubber, and polychloroprene.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the polymer wrap expands radially when the formulation is pushed through the space between the needle and the polymer wrap.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein an adhesive bond between the needle and the polymer wrap is broken when the formulation is pushed through the space between the needle and the polymer wrap.
10. A method for injecting a formulation into skin using a device comprising:
a needle having proximal and distal ends and a point to penetrate skin on the distal end;
a hub having a diameter larger than that of the needle attached to the proximal end of the needle; and
a polymer wrap enveloping the needle, a space being comprised between the needle and the polymer wrap;
wherein the polymer wrap is tapered to the needle and passes through the skin when the point is inserted into the skin, and
wherein the space between the needle and the polymer wrap lies in a flow path of the formulation that is injected through the space between the needle and the polymer wrap,
the method comprising;
penetrating the skin with the point of the needle; and
pushing the formulation through the device such that the formulation passes through the space between the needle and the polymer wrap.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the hub of the device further comprises a connector for connecting the hub to a housing for receiving the formulation.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the housing is a syringe, the syringe comprises a plunger, and the formulation is pushed through the device by applying pressure to the plunger.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the formulation flows from the housing into the polymer wrap causing an adhesive bond between the needle and the polymer wrap to break, thus creating a flow path from the housing to the exterior of the device.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the connector of the device is selected from the group consisting of: a threaded connector and a quick release connector.
15. The method of claim 10 wherein at least a portion of the polymer wrap is inserted into the skin when the point of the needle penetrates the skin.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein the polymer wrap expands radially when the formulation is pushed through the space between the needle and the polymer wrap.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein when penetrating the skin with the point of the needle, the polymer wrap is attached to the needle by an adhesive.