# US 12,214,178 B2 · Tool for removing a cap from a medical injection device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,178 B2 - Document ID: US12214178B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/046,403 - Filed: 2019-04-09 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-11 - Assignees: Becton Dickinson France - Applicants: Becton Dickinson France - Inventors: Stéphane Valentin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214178B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/3204: {Needle cap removers, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices} - A61M 2205/0216: Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking - A61M 2205/192: Avoiding coring, e.g. preventing formation of particles during puncture - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A tool for removing a cap from a medical injection device comprising a body and a needle extending distally from the body, the cap covering the needle, the tool being characterized in that it comprises a pair of opposite jaws connected by an elastic interface, each jaw comprising: a distal portion forming a distal clamp configured to surround at least a part of the cap; and a proximal portion forming a proximal clamp configured to be removably axially fixed to a body of the medical injection device, the elastic interface forming a fulcrum located between the distal and proximal portions such that a pinching force exerted radially inwardly onto the distal portion of the jaws causes the proximal portion of the jaws to expand radially outwardly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tool for removing a cap from a medical injection device comprising: a body and a needle extending distally from the body, the cap covering the needle, wherein the tool comprises a pair of oppositely positioned jaws connected by an elastic interface, each jaw comprising: a distal portion forming a distal clamp configured to surround at least a part of the cap; and a proximal portion forming a U-shaped proximal hook portion on the proximal end of each of the pair of jaws, the U-shaped proximal hook portions configured to be removably axially fixed to a body of the medical injection device, wherein the U-shaped proximal hook portions of the jaws are oriented such that each U-shaped opening in the U-shaped proximal hook portions face radially inward, wherein the elastic interface forming a fulcrum located between the distal portion and the U-shaped proximal hook portions such that a pinching force exerted radially inwardly onto the distal portion of the jaws causes the U-shaped proximal hook portions of the jaws to expand radially outwardly, and wherein the tool is operable between: a rest position wherein the U-shaped proximal hook portions of the jaws rigidly engages the body of the medical injection device, the distal portion of the jaws being distant from the cap; and an operative position wherein the distal portion of the jaws is pinched so that the distal portion engages the cap and the U-shaped proximal hook portions disengage from the body of the medical injection device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of each jaw comprises a gripping section extending on an inner surface thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tool of claim 2, wherein the gripping section comprises at least one pad made of a soft material configured to generate a frictional engagement with the cap when the tool is in the operative position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The tool of claim 3, wherein the soft material is selected from a group of rubber, SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer), SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer) and polyurethane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The tool of claim 2, wherein the gripping section of each jaw comprises at least one blade configured to grip into the cap when the tool is in the operative position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tool of claim 5, wherein the blade is made of stainless steel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of each jaw comprises a gripping zone extending on an outer surface thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of each jaw comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock the distal clamp in the operative position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tool of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism is formed of interlocking elements facing each other on the distal portions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of each jaw is configured to provide a snap-in engagement with the body of the medical injection device in the rest position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the jaws comprise a rigid polymeric material, such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PC (polycarbonate), PC/ABS (polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or POM (polyoxymethylene). ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A medical injection assembly comprising: a medical injection device including a body, a needle extending distally form the body and a cap covering the needle; and a tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the U-shaped proximal hook portions of the jaws rigidly engage the body of the medical injection device and the distal portion of the jaws is distant from the cap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The medical injection assembly of claim 12, wherein the medical injection device comprises a safety device and the U-shaped proximal hook portions of the jaws engage a part of the safety device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The medical injection assembly according to claim 13, wherein the medical injection device comprises a syringe and the U-shaped proximal hook portions of the jaws engages a part of the syringe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method for removing a cap from a medical injection device, comprising the following successive steps: providing a tool according to claim 1; engaging the U-shaped proximal hook portions of the jaws onto a body of the medical injection device without contacting the cap, the tool being in the rest position; pinching the distal portion of the jaws so as to engage the cap, the tool being in the operative position; and pulling the distal portion of the jaws in the distal direction to remove the cap from the medical injection device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The tool of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of each jaw comprises an L-shaped gripping section extending on an inner surface thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The medical injection assembly of claim 12, wherein the distal portion of each jaw comprises an L-shaped gripping section extending on an inner surface thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The tool of claim 16, wherein each L-shaped gripping section further comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock each L-shaped gripping portion to one another in the operative position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The medical injection assembly of claim 17, wherein each L-shaped gripping section further comprises a locking mechanism configured to lock each L-shaped gripping portion to one another in the operative position.