# US 2026/0061138 A1 · Gripper > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0061138 A1 - Document ID: US20260061138A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/382,581 - Filed: 2025-11-07 - Published: 2026-03-05 - Earliest claimed: 2023-05-10 - Assignees: Novartis AG - Applicants: Novartis AG - Inventors: Neil Cammish; Mark Horlock; Christophe Raossanaly - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260061138A1 ## CPC - A61M 5/3204: {Needle cap removers, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices} - 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 The invention relates to a gripper comprising a gripper body. The gripper body extends around, and defines, an opening through which a first axis extends. The opening lies in an opening plane. The gripper further comprises a plurality of teeth and each tooth extends towards the first axis along a tooth axis. Each tooth comprises a root portion and a body portion. The body portion comprises a planar tip portion and the root portion connects the tooth to the gripper body and defines a region about which the tooth can resiliently bend relative to the body. The planar tip portion is resiliently biased to an initial position in which the planar tip portion of each tooth lies in a plane which is offset from the opening plane along the first axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gripper comprising a gripper body, the gripper body extending around, and defining, an opening through which a first axis extends, the opening lying in an opening plane, the gripper further comprising a plurality of teeth, each tooth extending towards the first axis along a tooth axis, each tooth comprises a root portion and a body portion, the body portion comprising a planar tip portion, the root portion connects the tooth to the gripper body and defines a region about which the tooth can resiliently bend relative to the body, the planar tip portion being resiliently biased to an initial position in which the planar tip portion of each tooth lies in a plane which is offset from the opening plane along the first axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the opening plane is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the root portion of each tooth is waisted to facilitate bending of the tooth about the root. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The gripper as claimed in claim 3, in which the root portion is waisted in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and the tooth axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The gripper as claimed in claim 4, in which each tooth is widest in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and the tooth axis between the root portion and an end of the tooth. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the width of the tooth in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and the tooth axis reduces towards the first axis along at least a portion of the tooth body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the gripper body is annular. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The gripper as claimed in claim 7, in which the gripper body further comprises a peripheral wall around, and extending from, an outer perimeter of body, the peripheral wall extending away from the body along the first axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The gripper as claimed in claim 8, in which the peripheral wall extends parallel with the first axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the body portion of each tooth comprises an intermediate portion between the root and the tip portion, the intermediate portion being substantially planar and offset from the opening plane along the first axis such that, when the planer tip is in the initial position, the intermediate portion is located between the opening plane and the tip portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which each tooth comprises at least one step which offsets the tip portion from the root portion along the first axis. ### Claim 12 The gripper as claimed in 10, in which each tooth comprises a first step which offsets the intermediate portion from the root portion along the first axis and a second step which offsets the tip portion from the intermediate portion along the first axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The gripper as claimed in claim 11, in which the, or each, step is substantially parallel with the first axis when the planer tip is in the initial position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the there are four teeth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the plurality of teeth are substantially equally distributed around the opening. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1 in which the tip portion comprises a contact end, the contact end being curved around the first axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the gripper is formed from a metal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the gripper is formed as unitary structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The gripper as claimed in claim 1, in which the body portion of each tooth includes a stiffening ridge. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method of removing a needle shield from around a needle using a gripper, the gripper being as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising inserting a portion of the needle and needle shield though the opening of the gripper such that the needle shield contacts the plurality of teeth and forces them away from the initial position, continuing to insert the needle and needle shield though the opening of the gripper such that a contact end of the tip portions of the teeth engages side walls of the needle shield, then withdrawing the needle from the opening, the teeth exerting a retaining force on the needle shield to separate the needle shield from the needle as it is withdrawn.