# US 9,517,312 B2 · Cap assembly for a drug delivery device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,312 B2 - Document ID: US9517312B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/877,856 - Filed: 2011-10-11 - Published: 2013-08-15 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-12 - Assignees: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH - Applicants: Michael Helmer - Inventors: Michael Helmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517312B2 ## CPC - A61M 5/3276: {Means imparting rotational movement to the needle or needle hub in order to assist in its disconnection from syringe nozzle} - A61M 5/3205: {Apparatus for removing or disposing of used needles or syringes, e.g. containers; Means for protection against accidental injuries from used needles (for sharps A61B50/362; disintegrating apparatus in general B02C, e.g. B02C19/0075, B23H9/001; disposal of medical waste in general B09B3/00; receptacles for refuse disposal in general B65F1/00)} - A61M 5/3202: {Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001)} - A61M 5/321: {Means for protection against accidental injuries by used needles} - 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 present invention relates to a cap assembly for a drug delivery device, comprising: a cap body (12) adapted to releasably engage with a housing of the drug delivery device and being further adapted to receive a needle assembly to be releasably interconnected with said housing, an ejector unit movably arranged on the cap body at least along the body's long axis and having mechanical transmission means adapted to transfer axial movement of the ejector unit to the needle assembly for ejecting the needle assembly from the cap body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cap assembly for a drug delivery device, comprising: a cap body adapted to receive a needle assembly to be releasably interconnected with a housing of the drug delivery device, and an ejector unit movably arranged on the cap body at least along the body's long axis and comprising a mechanical transmission means adapted to transfer at least an axial displacement of the ejector unit to the needle assembly for ejecting the needle assembly from the cap body, wherein the ejector unit is slidably arranged on an outer circumference of a proximal end section of the cap body, wherein the ejector unit is at least displaceable into an ejecting position to eject the needle assembly from the cap body, wherein, in the ejecting position, the ejector unit at least partially protrudes in a proximal direction beyond a proximal end of the cap body, wherein the cap body comprises an annular groove at an inside facing portion of its sidewall to releasably engage with the housing of the drug delivery device, and wherein the cap body comprises a cupped receptacle for selectively receiving at least a portion of a cartridge holder or body of the drug delivery device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cupped receptacle is adapted to selectively receive at least part of the housing and/or at least part of the needle assembly in the proximal end section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ejector unit comprises at least one radially inwardly protruding pin guided in a longitudinal slot of the cap body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ejector unit comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve surrounding the proximal end section of the cap body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the cap body comprises an interlock means for rotatably interlocking the cap body and the needle assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the annular groove is adapted to receive at least one radially outwardly protruding stud of the needle assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cap assembly according to claim 6, wherein the annular groove is adapted to selectively receive the at least one stud or a snap-fit means of the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The cap assembly according to claim 6, wherein the annular groove comprises at least one stop element disposed in the annular groove and being adapted to lock a rotational movement of the cap body relative to the needle assembly in at least one direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cap assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical transmission means of the ejector unit comprises a radially inwardly protruding rim at its proximal end section adapted to axially abut with a radially outwardly protruding flange portion of the needle assembly and/or with the proximal end section of the cap body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A needle removing system for a drug delivery device comprising: a cap assembly according to claim 1, a needle assembly comprising a needle hub and at least one needle cap releasably mounted thereon, wherein the needle cap and the cap assembly comprise mutually corresponding rotation locking means for rotatably interlocking the needle cap and the cap assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The needle removing system according to claim 10, wherein the rotation locking means of the needle cap comprises a radially extending stud adapted to engage with at least one stop element disposed in the annular groove of the cap assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A drug delivery device for dispensing of a medicament by way of injection, comprising: a housing, adapted to releasably engage with a needle assembly, a cartridge containing the medicament and being disposed in the housing, and a cap assembly according to claim 1. ### Claim 13 A method of disengaging a needle assembly and a housing of a drug delivery device comprising the steps of: inserting the needle assembly mounted on a distal housing section of the drug delivery device into a cupped body of a cap assembly having a corresponding needle cap secured therein, mutually disengaging the needle assembly and the housing section by translationally and/or rotatably displacing the cap assembly and the housing away from each other, wherein the needle assembly is secured to the cap assembly, and displacing an ejector unit slidably arranged on an outer circumference of a proximal end section of the cap body in a longitudinal direction towards the open end of the cupped body and into an ejecting position to eject the needle assembly from the cap body, wherein, in the ejecting position, the ejector unit at least partially protrudes in a proximal direction beyond a proximal end of the cap body for ejecting the needle assembly from the cap assembly, and wherein the cap body comprises an annular groove at an inside facing portion of its sidewall to releasably engage with the housing of the drug delivery device.