Drive control mechanisms and automatic injectors for injectable cartridges
First Claim
1. An automatic injector comprising a distal end and a proximal end, and adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
- a housing,a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge,a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier including an elongated plunger rod being disposed to confront at least a portion of the plunger assembly and impart axial movement to the plunger seal,an elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger rod relative to the cartridge carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge toward the distal end to impart axial movement to the plunger seal, anda single drive mechanism disposed to provide movement of the plunger rod and the cartridge carrier to advance the cartridge in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge toward the distal end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic injector includes a housing having a guide, a drive control mechanism, a transmission assembly, a motor, and an energy source. The housing may further include a cartridge cover. A drive control mechanism includes a drive screw, a cartridge carrier, a plunger carrier, and one or more control transfer instruments, such as a puck or cylinder. The drive screw interfaces and connects with the plunger carrier. The automatic injector is configured to accept a variety of syringes as cartridges for drug delivery. The cartridges may be ejected from the injector and safely disposed after use, making the injector a reusable automatic injector. The reusable automatic injector may further include one or more sensors, such as a cartridge sensor and a patient sensor. The novel incorporation of the drive control mechanisms into the automatic injectors of the present invention enables a single motor and transmission assembly to drive the function of multiple components, which may include the steps of: preparation and alignment of a cartridge for injection, removal of a safety cap or needle shield, needle injection, drug dose delivery, and syringe and/or needle retraction. Methods of manufacture and methods of use are also disclosed.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automatic injector comprising a distal end and a proximal end, and adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
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a housing, a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier including an elongated plunger rod being disposed to confront at least a portion of the plunger assembly and impart axial movement to the plunger seal, an elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger rod relative to the cartridge carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge toward the distal end to impart axial movement to the plunger seal, and a single drive mechanism disposed to provide movement of the plunger rod and the cartridge carrier to advance the cartridge in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge toward the distal end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of operating an automatic injector having a distal end and a proximal end to inject a fluid from a cartridge including a barrel with a needle end and a plunger seal disposed at least partially within the barrel, the method comprising
disposing the cartridge in the automatic injector with at least a portion of the barrel disposed within a cartridge carrier, and the plunger seal disposed for confrontation with a distal end of a plunger rod, utilizing a single drive mechanism to move the plunger rod and the cartridge carrier to advance the cartridge in an axial direction toward the distal end, decoupling the cartridge carrier from the plunger rod, utilizing the drive mechanism to move the plunger rod in the axial direction toward the distal end to dispense the fluid, and retracting the plunger rod in an axial direction toward the proximal end.
Specification