Claims for Patent: 5,693,027

Summary for Patent: 5,693,027

Title:	Adaptor top
Abstract:	A plastic top for adapting to a chosen syringe (14) a standard cartridge (8) of the kind having a neck (9) with a flange (10) and being closed by a rubber membrane (11) sealingly secured against the flange (10) by a metal cover (12) having its edge beaded behind the flange. This plastic top has a bore (2) for receiving the neck part (9) of the cartridge (8), which bore (2) has a diameter making it fit over the metal cover (12) and is provided with protrusions (3;9) gripping behind the edge of the metal cover (12) when the neck part (9) is inserted in the bore. The outer contour of the plastic top is adapted to the syringe type in which the cartridge is going to be used. The plastic top is provided with a thread (5;18) coaxial with the bore to receive a needle hub (13) in a way making its needle (15) penetrate the membrane (11) of the cartridge (8) when the hub (13) is mounted on the thread (5) of the plastic top.
Inventor(s):	Hansen; Ib (Herlev, DK), Mikkelsen; S.o slashed.ren (Holte, DK), Bonnichsen; Frits Frydendal (Lynge, DK)
Assignee:	Novo Nordisk A/S (Bagsvaerd, DK)
Application Number:	08/313,651
Patent Claims:	1. A pen syringe assembly comprising: (a) a housing having (i) an inner space and (ii) housing interlocking means which faces the inner space, (b) an exchangeable standard cartridge, having a neck part with a flange, which is closed by a rubber membrane secured against the flange by a metal cover having an edge beaded behind the flange, and (c) an adaptor top having (i) a bore with a diameter conforming to the outer diameter of the metal cover of the cartridge for receiving the metal cover of the cartridge therein, (ii) top interlocking means mating the housing interlocking means, and (iii) connecting means adapted to receive an exchangeable needle hub carrying a needle, wherein the adaptor top is mounted on the cartridge which has its neck part pressed into the bore, and wherein the cartridge with the adaptor top is accommodated in the inner space of the housing with the top interlocking means engaging the housing interlocking means. 2. A syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor top is plastic and is provided with a thread coaxial with the bore for receiving a threaded needle hub. 3. A syringe assembly according to claim 2, wherein the housing interlocking means and the adaptor top interlocking means prevent relative rotation between the syringe housing and the adaptor top. 4. A syringe assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a needle assembly comprising a needle hub having a bore with an internal thread, wherein a portion of the adaptor top projects out of a forward end wall of the housing, wherein the adaptor top thread is an exterior thread on such portion, and wherein the needle hub screws over the portion of the adaptor top having the exterior thread to clamp the end wall between the needle hub and part of the adaptor top. 5. A syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bore of the adaptor top includes means for securing the metal cover against axial movement within the bore. 6. A syringe assembly according to claim 5, wherein the means for securing the metal cover within the bore comprise means to engage the metal cover after the metal cover has been inserted a predetermined distance into the bore. 7. A syringe assembly according to claim 6, wherein the means for securing the metal cover against axial movement within the bore comprises at least one protrusion in the bore that grips behind the beaded edge of the metal cover. 8. A syringe assembly according to claim 7, wherein the means for securing the metal cover against axial movement within the bore includes a locking ring. 9. A syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the adaptor top interlocking means are knobs at an end of the top, which knobs have triangular cross sections with the apex of the triangle directed towards an end wall of the housing, and wherein the housing interlocking means comprise corresponding triangular depressions in the housing. 10. A syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the top is made from a colored plastic to carry information about the content of the cartridge. 11. A syringe assembly according to claim 1, further including a needle assembly engaging the connecting means of the adaptor top. 12. A syringe assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing interlocking means are located at an end wall of the housing. 13. In combination, an exchangeable standard cartridge, having a neck part with a flange, which is closed by a rubber membrane secured against the flange by a metal cover having an edge beaded behind the flange, and an adaptor top having: a first, axially extending portion having a bore with a diameter conforming to the outer diameter of the metal cover of the cartridge, and an opening for exposing at least a part of the rubber membrane, wherein the metal cover is secured against axial movement within the bore; a flange portion extending outwardly from the first portion, wherein the first, axially extending portion is adapted to pass through a forward opening in the housing of a syringe, and the flange portion is adapted to secure the adaptor top at a predetermined axial position relative to such syringe housing; an interlocking member on the flange adapted to fit together with an interlocking means inside a syringe housing; and connecting means adapted to receive an exchangeable needle hub carrying a needle. 14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the outside surface of the first portion is at least generally circular in cross-section, wherein the flange is an annular flange, and wherein the interlocking member is a projection. 15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the projection is a knob having a triangular cross-section, in which the apex of the triangle faces the direction in which the adaptor top is intended to be passed through a syringe housing. 16. A method of supplying a first medicament and a second medicament, comprising the steps of: (a) providing the first medicament in a first, exchangeable standard cartridge, such standard cartridge being of the type which has a neck part with a flange closed by a rubber membrane secured against the flange by a metal cover having an edge beaded behind the flange, and which is designed to be inserted into a syringe housing for dispensing the medicament through a needle; (b) providing the second medicament in a second exchangeable standard cartridge; (c) providing the first cartridge with a first adaptor top and providing the second cartridge with a second adaptor top, wherein each adaptor top has (i) a bore with a diameter conforming to the outer diameter of the metal cover of the cartridge and means for securing the metal cover against axial movement within the bore, and (ii) top interlocking means adapted to mate with an interlocking means in a syringe housing, wherein the interlocking means of the first adaptor top differs from the interlocking means of the second adaptor top such that a syringe having housing interlocking means that mate with the interlocking means of the first adaptor top would not accept the interlocking means of the second adaptor top; wherein the first and second adaptor tops are mounted on the first and second cartridges, with their neck parts pressed into the bore, thereby to form first and second cartridge assemblies, respectively, and wherein each cartridge assembly includes a connecting means adapted to receive an exchangeable needle hub carrying a needle; and (d) supply both the first and said second cartridge assemblies for marketing for administration to patients, wherein persons who utilize a syringe that accepts the adaptor top of said first cartridge assembly, for administering the first medicament, are unable to use the second cartridge assembly, and thereby administer the second medicament, using such syringe, thereby preventing an accidental administration of the second medicament. 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the needle hub connecting means are provided on the respective adaptor tops, and further comprising the step of attaching an exchangeable needle hub on the connecting means. 18. A method of supplying a first medicament and a second medicament, comprising the steps of: (a) providing the first medicament in a first, exchangeable standard cartridge, such standard cartridge being of the type having a neck part with a flange, which is closed by a rubber membrane secured against the flange by a metal cover having an edge beaded behind the flange, and designed to be inserted into a syringe housing for dispensing the medicament through a needle; (b) providing the second medicament in a second exchangeable standard cartridge; (c) providing the first cartridge with a first adaptor top and providing the second cartridge with a second adaptor top, wherein each adaptor top has a bore with a diameter conforming to the outer diameter of the metal cover of the cartridge and means for securing the metal cover against axial movement within the bore, wherein the first adaptor top has a color which differs from the second adaptor top so as to carry information as to the contents of each cartridge; wherein the respective adaptor top is mounted on a cartridge which has its neck part pressed into the bore, thereby forming first and second cartridge assemblies, respectively, and wherein each cartridge assembly includes a connecting means adapted to receive an exchangeable needle hub carrying a needle; and (e) supplying both the first and said second cartridge assemblies for marketing for administration to patients, wherein persons intending to administer one type of medicament are able to utilize the color coding on the first and second adaptor types to distinguish between the type of medicament contained in the respective cartridges. 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the needle hub connecting means are provided on the respective adaptor tops, and further comprising the step of attaching an exchangeable needle hub on the connecting means.