	US 12,458,263 B2
	Intra-mold sterilization of plastic-embedded needle
Kevin J. Seifert, Concord, MA (US)
Assigned to FACET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by FACET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Apr. 8, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/629,222.
Application 17/000,462 is a division of application No. 14/299,857, filed on Jun. 9, 2014, granted, now 10,779,758, issued on Sep. 22, 2020.
Application 18/629,222 is a continuation of application No. 17/000,462, filed on Aug. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,950,908.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/833,088, filed on Jun. 10, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2024/0268731 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 45/14 (2006.01); A61B 5/15 (2006.01); A61B 5/151 (2006.01); A61L 2/04 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)

CPC A61B 5/151 (2013.01) [A61B 5/150022 (2013.01); A61B 5/150274 (2013.01); A61B 5/150282 (2013.01); A61B 5/15032 (2013.01); A61B 5/150412 (2013.01); A61B 5/150503 (2013.01); A61B 5/150541 (2013.01); B29C 45/14598 (2013.01); B29C 45/14778 (2013.01); B29L 2031/753 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7544 (2013.01)]

7 Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a sterile lancet comprising:

retaining a lancet needle within a mold cavity of a mold;

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,

wherein the mold comprises tooling for holding the lancet needle, a mold chamber for receiving the plastic to form the lancet body around the lancet needle, and means for maintaining the specified minimum mold temperature for the specified minimum cycle time effective to sterilize the lancet needle during manufacture, where the means for maintaining the specified minimum mold temperature is embedded within the mold adjacent to the mold chamber such that the plastic does not come into direct contact with the means for maintaining the specified minimum mold temperature.