Back to results
US 10,779,758 B2Granted
Intra-mold sterilization of plastic-embedded needle
AssigneeFacet Technologies, LLC
InventorKevin J. Seifert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for intra-mold sterilization of a plastic-embedded metal component of a product, such as a medical lancet having a metal needle embedded within a plastic lancet body. For example, a lancet needle is retained within a mold, plastic is injected to encapsulate the needle, and a specified minimum temperature is maintained for a specified minimum cycle time. In example forms, the specified minimum mold temperature is at least about 370 degrees Fahrenheit and the specified minimum cycle time is at least about 10 seconds.
Claims6
A method for sterilizing a medical device comprising:
- retaining a metal component of a medical device within a mold cavity of a mold, wherein the mold cavity is configured to receive the metal component;
- injecting plastic into the mold cavity to substantially encapsulate the metal component with plastic;
- and
- heating the injected plastic within the mold cavity to a specified minimum temperature and maintaining the specified minimum temperature for a specified minimum cycle time effective to sterilize the metal component;
- wherein the mold comprises a heating element embedded in the mold adjacent to the mold cavity;
- and wherein the heating element is configured to heat the injected plastic within the mold cavity without contact with the injected plastic.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.