DISPOSABLE INJECTION DEVICE

• US 20080021390A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Pettis, Ronald, Haider, M., Erskine, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/110
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2429 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3234 Fully automatic needle retraction, i.e. in which triggering of the needle does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/502 for blocking the piston

Abstract

An injection device is provided. The device includes a housing having a first end defining a first opening. A plunger is received within the first opening of the housing to move between first and second positions. A cartridge is disposed in the housing and has an interior serving as a reservoir for a drug. A delivery needle is disposed within the housing and is in fluid communication with the reservoir via an interruptible fluid channel. A locking mechanism is disposed in the housing. In the first position of the plunger the delivery needle is enclosed by the plunger and in the second position of the plunger the delivery needle is placed in an injection position and the plunger activates the locking mechanism whereby when the plunger returns to the first position the locking mechanism prevents the needle from being placed in the injection position.

Claims

1. An automatic injection device, comprising:

a shell having a longitudinal axis and defining first and second openings on opposite sides of its longitudinal axis;

a plunger being slidably received within the first opening of the housing to move between first and second positions, the plunger having a bottom surface adapted to be brought into contact with the skin of a subject and a prong extending into the shell, in the first position the plunger at least partially extends out of the first opening;

a resilient member biasing the plunger to the first position;

a cartridge disposed in the housing and having an interior serving as a reservoir for a drug;

a button disposed in the second opening of the shell to be moveable between first and second positions, the button releasably secured to the shell in its first position;

a needle carrier disposed within the shell and coupled to the button;

a needle hub coupled to the needle carrier; and

a delivery needle disposed on the needle hub,

wherein in the second position of the plunger the button is released from the shell and wherein in the first position of the button the delivery needle is enclosed with the shell and in the second position of the button the delivery needle is exposed from the shell and is in fluid communication with the reservoir.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for expelling the drug from the interior of the cartridge and wherein the button in its second position actuates the means for expelling.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is disposed along the longitudinal axis of the shell.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is moveable between first and second positions within the housing and further comprising a collar releasably securing the cartridge to the housing in its first position.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the means for expelling comprises a spring biased against the collar.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the button in its second position engages the collar to release it from the housing and the spring biases the cartridge to move to its second position.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the collar further comprises a resilient latch normally biased against the housing to secure the cartridge in its first position.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a second end defining a second opening and the cartridge extends at least partially out of the second opening in its first position and is contained completely within the housing in its second position.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein as the drug is expelled from the reservoir the cartridge moves form its first position to its second position.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the bottom surface of the plunger.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the button, needle carrier and needle hub are formed as an integral unit.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the button moving to its second position moves the delivery needle into an injection position.

13. An injection device, comprising;

a housing having a first end defining a first opening;

a plunger received within the first opening of the housing to move between first and second positions;

a cartridge disposed in the housing and having an interior serving as a reservoir for a drug;

a delivery needle disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the reservoir via an interruptible fluid channel; and

a locking mechanism disposed in the housing, wherein in the first position of the plunger the delivery needle is enclosed by the plunger and in the second position of the plunger the delivery needle is placed in an injection position and the plunger activates the locking mechanism whereby when the plunger returns to the first position the locking mechanism prevents the needle form being placed in the injection position.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising an interlock including a first resilient member biasing the plunger to at least partially extend out of the first opening.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a second resilient member connected to the interlock, the second resilient member having a relaxed position towards a center of the first opening.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein in the injection position the delivery needle is exposed via the first opening.

17. The device of claim 15, further comprising a latch holding the second resilient member clear of the first opening to enable the delivery needle to be placed to the injection position.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising a needle hub carrying the delivery needle and wherein in the second position of the plunger, the needle hub releases the latch and the second resilient member rests against a side of the needle hub while the delivery needle is in the injection position.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein when the plunger returns to the first position, the second resilient member moves towards the center of the first opening and prevents the delivery needle form being placed in the injection position.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the plunger further comprises a bottom surface adapted to be brought into contact with the skin of a subject.

21. The device of claim 13, further comprising means for expelling the drug from the reservoir.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the means for expelling comprises a spring.

23. The device of claim 13, further comprising an indicator for indicating when the injection is complete.

24. The device of claim 13, further comprising a needle carrier disposed in the housing, the delivery needle being attached to the needle carrier.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the needle carrier is fixed in the housing.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein a portion of the interruptible fluid channel comprises a longitudinal bore through the needle carrier, the delivery needle being disposed at one end of the bore.

27. The device of claim 26, further comprising an access needle disposed at another end of the bore.

28. A medical device, comprising:

a housing having a first end defining a first opening;

a plunger received with in the first opening of the housing to move between first and second positions;

a needle for administering or withdrawing fluids; and

a locking mechanism disposed in the housing,

wherein in the first position of the plunger the needle is enclosed by the plunger and in the second position of the plunger the needle is placed in an exposed position and the plunger activates the locking mechanism whereby when the plunger returns to the first position the locking mechanism prevents the needle from being placed in the exposed position.

29. The device of claim 28, further comprising an interlock including a first resilient member biasing the plunger to at least partially extend out of the first opening.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a second resilient member connected to the interlock;

the second resilient member having a relaxed position towards a center of the first opening.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein in the exposed position the needle is exposed via the first opening.

32. The device of claim 30, further comprising a latch holding the second resilient member clear of the first opening to enable the needle to be placed to the exposed position.