# US 9,517,298 B2 · Low cost medical needle container and manufacturing methods therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,298 B2 - Document ID: US9517298B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/714,044 - Filed: 2012-12-13 - Published: 2014-06-19 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-13 - Assignees: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Applicants: Becton, Dickinson and Company - Inventors: Robert Banik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517298B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/002: {Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. packages for syringes or needles or kits for diabetics} - A61B 17/06128: {Elongate cylinders, i.e. tubes} - B65B 43/00: Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging (forming pockets in sheets, blanks or webs, by pressing the material into forming dies or moving it through folding dies B65B47/00) - B65B 43/08: Forming three-dimensional [3D] containers from sheet material - B65B 69/00: Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for - A61B 2017/00526: {Methods of manufacturing} - A61B 2050/0053: {of two concentric parallelepipeds about a common longitudinal axis} - A61B 2050/0083: {Snap connection} - A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter} - 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)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract Packaging is disclosed for a medical needle, such as a pen needle, having a hub with a patient end of the needle protruding from a distal end thereof. The packaging includes a tube having a first closed end into which the patient end of the needle is inserted so that the hub contacts an interior of the tube, a second closed end enclosing a proximal end of the hub, and a circumferential region disposed between the proximal end of the hub and the second closed end for opening the package to expose the proximal end of the hub. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Packaging for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging comprising: a tube having: a first closed end; a second closed end; and a circumferential region disposed between the first and second closed ends for opening the package to allow removal of the medical needle; and axial splines on an interior of the tube for engaging the needle hub to prevent rotation of the medical needle relative to the packaging; wherein the tube is formed of a single piece of material; and the single piece of material breaks at the circumferential region to allow removal of the medical needle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator on an exterior of the circumferential region indicating its location. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential region comprises a weakened area to ease breaking the single piece of material at the circumferential region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The packaging according to claim 3, wherein the weakened area comprises external scoring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The packaging according to claim 3, wherein the weakened area comprises a perforation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The packaging according to claim 1, further comprising an insertion depth stop feature for limiting an insertion depth of the medical needle into the packaging. ### Claim 7 Packaging for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging comprising: a tube having: a first closed end; a second closed end; and a circumferential region disposed between the first and second closed ends for opening the package to allow removal of the medical needle; wherein the tube is formed of a single piece of material; the single piece of material breaks at the circumferential region to allow removal of the medical needle; and the weakened area is disposed only on an interior of the tube. ### Claim 8 Packaging for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging comprising: a tube having: a first closed end; a second closed end; and a circumferential region disposed between the first and second closed ends for opening the package to allow removal of the medical needle; and an insertion depth stop feature for limiting an insertion depth of the medical needle into the packaging; wherein the tube is formed of a single piece of material; the single piece of material breaks at the circumferential region to allow removal of the medical needle; and the insertion depth stop feature comprises one of: the first closed end that interferes with an inner shield covering the patient end of the medical needle; or an at least partial circumferential protrusion disposed on an interior of the tube for engaging an outer flange on the hub of the medical needle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The packaging according to claim 8, wherein the circumferential protrusion additionally engages splines on the hub to prevent rotation of the medical needle relative to the packaging. ### Claim 10 Packaging for a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the packaging comprising: a tube having: a first closed end; a second closed end; and a circumferential region disposed between the first and second closed ends for opening the package to allow removal of the medical needle wherein the tube is formed of a single piece of material; the single piece of material breaks at the circumferential region to allow removal of the medical needle; and the material comprises spiral-wrapped paper. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The packaging according to claim 10, wherein the material comprises a plastic coating on an interior thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The packaging according to claim 10, wherein the material comprises a coating on an exterior thereof, the exterior coating comprising one of plastic or wax. ### Claim 13 A method of packaging a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the method comprising: forming a substantially cylindrical tube; sealing a first end of the tube; inserting the entire medical needle through a second end of the tube opposite to the first end; and subsequent to the inserting, sealing the second end of the tube; wherein forming the tube comprises: coating a first side of a paper with a plastic layer; adding texture to the plastic layer with a pressure roller; and spirally adhering the paper to itself with the plastic layer on an interior of the tube. ### Claim 14 A method of packaging a medical needle having a hub with a patient end of the medical needle protruding from a distal end thereof, the method comprising: forming a substantially cylindrical tube; sealing a first end of the tube; inserting the distal end of the medical needle into the sealed first end of the tube; and sealing a second end of the tube opposite to the first end; wherein forming the tube comprises co-extruding paper and plastic layers of the tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising coating a second side of the paper with one of a wax or plastic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein adding the texture comprises forming one of a raised feature and a recessed feature in the plastic layer at an angle to a rotational axis of the pressure roller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein adding the texture further comprises forming the remaining one of the raised feature and the recessed feature in the plastic layer at the angle to the rotational axis of the pressure roller.