Tip Cap Assembly for Closing an Injection System

Abstract

A tip cap assembly adapted to close a fluid passageway of a distally projecting tip of an injection system, said tip cap assembly including an elastomeric inner cap having a frustoconical protrusion extending proximally and having a proximal face; a rigid outer cap which is securely disposed around said elastomeric inner cap; the proximal face of the frustoconical protrusion having a diameter at least greater than the diameter of the fluid passageway of the injection system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tip cap assembly adapted to close a fluid passageway of a distally projecting tip of an injection system, said tip cap assembly comprising:
 an elastomeric inner cap having a frustoconical protrusion extending proximally, said frustoconical protrusion having a proximal-most face; and   a rigid outer cap which is securely disposed around said elastomeric inner cap, the rigid outer cap comprising a frustoconical protrusion that extends from a proximal portion of the rigid outer cap,   wherein a radial recess defined by an outer ring extends around at least a portion of the frustoconical protrusion of the rigid outer cap.   
     
     
         2 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the radial recess extends around an entire circumference of the frustoconical protrusion of the rigid outer cap. 
     
     
         3 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer ring comprises a thread provided on an outer surface of the outer ring. 
     
     
         4 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the frustoconical protrusion of the rigid outer cap comprises at least one ridge. 
     
     
         5 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the radial recess is configured to permit radial deformation of the frustoconical protrusion of the rigid outer cap. 
     
     
         6 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a stress-limiting element for allowing said elastomeric inner cap to be substantially deformed when the assembly closes said fluid passageway. 
     
     
         7 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric inner cap and the rigid outer cap comprises a holding element to secure said elastomeric inner cap into said rigid outer cap. 
     
     
         8 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said holding element comprises a shoulder provided into the rigid outer cap, and a radial rim provided onto the elastomeric inner cap, said elastomeric inner cap being proximally blocked by the contact between said radial rim and said shoulder. 
     
     
         9 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said holding element comprises at least one abutment surface provided into the rigid outer cap, and a distal face provided onto the elastomeric inner cap, said elastomeric inner cap being distally blocked by the contact between said abutment surface and said distal face. 
     
     
         10 . An injection system comprising a longitudinal barrel, a distally projecting tip provided with a fluid passageway extending therethrough, a distal surface and a lateral surface, wherein said injection system further comprises a tip cap assembly according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A tip cap assembly adapted to close a fluid passageway of a distally projecting tip of an injection system, said tip cap assembly comprising:
 an elastomeric inner cap having a frustoconical protrusion extending proximally, said frustoconical protrusion having a proximal-most face; and   a rigid outer cap which is securely disposed around said elastomeric inner cap, the rigid outer cap comprising at least one window defined in an outer surface of said rigid outer cap.   
     
     
         12 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein two windows are defined in the outer surface of said rigid outer cap. 
     
     
         13 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one window extends through said rigid outer cap. 
     
     
         14 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one window extends circumferentially around the outer surface of said rigid outer cap. 
     
     
         15 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one window includes a first longitudinal rib on a first side of the at least one window and a second longitudinal rib on an opposing second side of the at least one window. 
     
     
         16 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 11 , further comprising a stress-limiting element for allowing said elastomeric inner cap to be substantially deformed when the assembly closes said fluid passageway. 
     
     
         17 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric inner cap and the rigid outer cap comprises a holding element to secure said elastomeric inner cap into said rigid outer cap. 
     
     
         18 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said holding element comprises a shoulder provided into the rigid outer cap, and a radial rim provided onto the elastomeric inner cap, said elastomeric inner cap being proximally blocked by the contact between said radial rim and said shoulder. 
     
     
         19 . The tip cap assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said holding element comprises at least one abutment surface provided into the rigid outer cap, and a distal face provided onto the elastomeric inner cap, said elastomeric inner cap being distally blocked by the contact between said abutment surface and said distal face. 
     
     
         20 . An injection system comprising a longitudinal barrel, a distally projecting tip provided with a fluid passageway extending therethrough, a distal surface and a lateral surface, wherein said injection system further comprises a tip cap assembly according to  claim 11 .