Intra-mold sterilization of plastic-embedded needle
AssigneeFacet Technologies, LLC
InventorKevin J. SEIFERT
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims18
A method for sterilizing a medical device comprising:
- retaining a metal component of a medical device within a mold;
- injecting plastic into the mold to substantially encapsulate the metal component with plastic;
- and
- maintaining a specified minimum mold temperature for a specified minimum cycle time effective to sterilize the metal component.
A method for simultaneously manufacturing and sterilizing a product comprising:
- holding a metal product component within a tool;
- injecting a plastic within the tool to substantially encapsulate the metal product component;
- and
- maintaining the plastic at a specified minimum tool temperature for a specified minimum cycle time effective to sterilize the metal product component.
A method for manufacturing a sterile lancet comprising:
- retaining a lancet needle within a mold cavity;
- injecting plastic to form a lancet body substantially encapsulating the needle therein;
- and
- maintaining a specified minimum mold temperature for a specified minimum cycle time effective to sterilize the lancet needle.
A lancet comprising a needle having a sharp tip and a plastic lancet body, wherein the needle is at least partially embedded in the plastic lancet body, and wherein at least the sharp tip of the needle is sterilized during manufacture by molding the plastic lancet body around the needle in a mold and maintaining a specified minimum mold temperature for a specified minimum cycle time effective to sterilize the sharp tip of the needle.
A mold for manufacturing a product having a metal product component at least partially embedded within a plastic product component, the mold comprising tooling for holding the metal product component, a mold chamber for receiving plastic to form the plastic product component around the metal product component, and means for maintaining a specified minimum mold temperature for a specified minimum cycle time effective to sterilize the lancet needle during manufacture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.