Compact auto-injector
First Claim
1. A compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the auto-injector comprising:
- a sealed housing rotatably retained in a cover, the sealed housing comprising an interface to receive user input to facilitate a manual rotation of the sealed housing relative to the cover from a first locked position to a second unlocked position;
a biasing member operable such that when the sealed housing is rotated to the unlocked position, the sealed housing is automatically displaced axially relative to the cover, increasing a height of the auto-injector;
a medicament dispensing system disposed within the sealed housing and comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose; and
a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising a curved injection needle adapted to be straightened during deployment of the injection needle to facilitate dispensing of the dose by the auto-injector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A novel single use auto-injector for delivering a fixed amount of medicament is described. The auto-injector may include a sealed housing rotatably held in a cover. Once the auto-injector is positioned at the injection location, the user can transition the housing from a locked to an armed position. The user can then compress the sealed housing into the cover, triggering activation mechanisms that initiate the injection. A first activation mechanism engages an interlock to prevent reuse of the auto-injector. A second activation mechanism straightens and extends a curved needle to a set the exposed needle length. A third activation mechanism pierces a sealed reservoir allowing the medicament to be forced through the injection needle. Following the injection, the auto-injector expands and interlocks, retracting the needle into the auto-injector and preventing reuse.
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Citations
60 Claims
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1. A compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the auto-injector comprising:
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a sealed housing rotatably retained in a cover, the sealed housing comprising an interface to receive user input to facilitate a manual rotation of the sealed housing relative to the cover from a first locked position to a second unlocked position; a biasing member operable such that when the sealed housing is rotated to the unlocked position, the sealed housing is automatically displaced axially relative to the cover, increasing a height of the auto-injector; a medicament dispensing system disposed within the sealed housing and comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose; and a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising a curved injection needle adapted to be straightened during deployment of the injection needle to facilitate dispensing of the dose by the auto-injector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the auto-injector comprising a housing, a medicament dispensing system disposed within the housing and comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose, and a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising a curved injection needle, wherein at least one of (i) the housing comprises a sealed housing rotatably retained in a cover, the sealed housing comprising an interface to receive user input to facilitate a manual rotation of the sealed housing relative to the cover from a first locked position to a second unlocked position and a biasing member operable such that when the housing is rotated to the unlocked position, the sealed housing is automatically displaced axially relative to the cover, increasing a height of the auto-injector;
- and (ii) the needle extension mechanism further comprises a needle barrel for supporting the curved injection needle, a spring coupled to the barrel for rotating the barrel to uncoil the curved injection needle, and a barrel locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent rotation of the barrel, the method comprising the steps of;
triggering deployment of a distal end of the injection needle through an aperture in the cover of the housing to straighten the injection needle; triggering piercing of the medicament reservoir to provide fluidic communication between the reservoir and the injection needle; dispensing the dose through the injection needle at a desired injection location; and
thereafter, retracting a distal end of the injection needle into the auto-injector. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
- and (ii) the needle extension mechanism further comprises a needle barrel for supporting the curved injection needle, a spring coupled to the barrel for rotating the barrel to uncoil the curved injection needle, and a barrel locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent rotation of the barrel, the method comprising the steps of;
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37. A compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the auto-injector comprising:
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a housing; a medicament dispensing system disposed within the housing and comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose; and a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising (i) a curved injection needle adapted to be straightened during deployment of the needle to facilitate dispensing of the dose by the auto-injector, (ii) a needle barrel for supporting the curved injection needle, (iii) a barrel spring coupled to the barrel for rotating the barrel to uncoil the injection needle, and (iv) a barrel locking mechanism to prevent inadvertent rotation of the barrel. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification