Pen needle assembly having an outer cover

Abstract

A needle hub assembly for coupling to a pen needle delivery device (10) includes an outer cover (30) having a first well (40) receiving the needle hub (16) and inner shield (24) covering a cannula (20) of the needle hub (16). A second well (42) is spaced from the first well (40) and has a dimension for receiving the inner shield (24). In use, the pen delivery device (10) is coupled to the connecting end of the needle hub (16) to withdraw the needle hub (16) and inner shield (24) from the first well (40). The inner shield (24) is inserted into the second well (42) where the inner shield (24) is gripped so that the inner shield can be separated from the needle hub (16) without the user handling the outer cover (30) or the inner shield (24). After use, the needle hub (16) is inserted into the first well (40) and the pen needle delivery device is separated from the needle hub (16). The needle hub (16) is retained within the first well (40) where the outer cover (30) containing the used needle hub and inner shield can be discarded as a single unit.

1 . A needle assembly comprising:
 a needle hub having a cannula, an inner shield covering said cannula, and an outer cover;   said outer cover having a bottom face and a top face opposite said bottom face, said top face having a first well with a dimension for receiving said needle hub and inner shield, and a second well with an inner dimension smaller than an inner dimension of said first well for receiving said inner shield, where said inner shield can be retained in said second well by inserting said inner shield into said second well whereby said inner shield can be separated from said needle hub.   
     
     
         2 . The needle hub assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable seal attached to said top face to close the first well and enclose said needle hub in said first well. 
     
     
         3 . The needle hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said seal is a peelable label. 
     
     
         4 . The needle hub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said outer cover has a substantially flat, planar top face and a bottom face formed by bottom ends of said first well and second well, said bottom face having a dimension for supporting said outer cover in an upright manner. 
     
     
         5 . The needle hub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first well and second well are spaced apart, and said outer cover further comprises a connecting portion extending between said first well and said second well and having a bottom edge at said bottom face of said outer cover to stabilize said outer cover. 
     
     
         6 . The needle hub assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of said outer covers coupled together in an array and where each said outer cover includes a needle hub. 
     
     
         7 . The needle hub assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of outer covers are connected to each other by a frangible line extending between at least two adjacent outer covers. 
     
     
         8 . The needle hub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first well has a dimension to receive said needle hub and inner shield, and where said first well has a dimension to engage said needle hub without gripping said inner shield, whereby said needle hub and inner shield are removable from said first well. 
     
     
         9 . The needle hub of  claim 8 , wherein said second well has an inner dimension sufficient to grip said inner shield to enable separation of said inner shield from said needle hub. 
     
     
         10 . A needle hub array for use with a pen needle delivery device, comprising:
 a plurality of outer covers coupled together, each outer cover having a bottom face and a top face opposite said bottom face, said top face having a first well and a second well; and   a needle hub received in each first well, said needle hub having a cannula extending from an end of said needle hub and an inner shield covering said cannula, where said outer cover encloses said needle hub and inner shield, said first well having an inner dimension for receiving and gripping said needle hub and not gripping said inner shield, and said second well having an inner dimension and configuration for receiving and gripping said inner shield.   
     
     
         11 . The needle hub array of  claim 10 , wherein each said outer covers include a closure member for enclosing said needle hub, cannula, and inner shield in said first well. 
     
     
         12 . The needle hub array of  claim 11 , wherein said closure member is a removable seal attached to said top face to close said first well. 
     
     
         13 . The needle hub array of  claim 10 , wherein said outer covers are separable from each other. 
     
     
         14 . The needle hub array of  claim 10 , wherein said outer covers are separable by a frangible line extending between adjacent outer covers. 
     
     
         15 . The needle hub array of  claim 10 , wherein said first well has a first portion with a dimension to receive and retain said needle hub by a friction fit, and a second portion to receive said inner shield and having a dimension greater than a dimension of said inner shield. 
     
     
         16 . The needle hub array of  claim 10 , wherein said second well has a dimension to receive and retain said inner shield by a friction fit. 
     
     
         17 . The needle hub array of  claim 10 , wherein said first well and said second well have an open bottom end at said bottom face of said cover, said needle hub array having a removable seal attached to said top face and to an open end of said needle hub. 
     
     
         18 . The needle hub array of  claim 17 , further comprising a connecting portion extending between said first well and said second well and having a bottom edge at said bottom face of said outer cover to stabilize said outer cover. 
     
     
         19 . A method of coupling and uncoupling a needle hub to an injection device, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing an outer cover having a first well containing the needle hub;   inserting the injection device into said first well and coupling to a coupling end of said needle hub;   removing said injection device and needle hub from said first well;   inserting an inner shield coupled to said needle hub into a second well of said outer cover, where said inner shield is gripped by said second well, and separating said needle hub from said inner shield for use in delivering the substance to the patient; and   positioning the resulting used needle hub in said first well and uncoupling said needle hub from said pen needle delivery device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said outer cover includes a removable seal covering said first well and needle hub, and said method comprises removing said seal before inserting said pen needle delivery device into said first well.