INJECTION DEVICE WITH A TIME-CONSTANT DELIVERY SIGNAL

• US 20080262438A1
• Filed: 03/21/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Hostettler, Patrick, Kuenzli, Daniel, Mosimann, Ralph, Streit, Ursina, Bollenbach, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• 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 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3202 Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3204 Needle cap remover, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices

Abstract

An injection device for administering a liquid product, the device including a drive mechanism, an engaging member and a catch including a number of latching elements, wherein at least one of the engaging member and the number of latching elements is relatively moveable to the other to generate a haptic and/or acoustic signal comprising a number of discrete signals during a relative movement, wherein one of the catch and the engaging member is coupled to the drive mechanism and the drive mechanism generates a variable drive speed during the relative movement, and wherein the latching elements are a distance (x₀; x₀−Δx) from each other such that a time interval between each of the number of discrete signals is constant. A method for generating a haptic and/or acoustic signal in use of an injection device is encompassed.

Claims

1. An injection device for administering a liquid product, the device comprising a drive mechanism, an engaging member and a catch comprising a number of latching elements, wherein at least one of the engaging member and the number of latching elements is relatively moveable to the other to generate a haptic and/or acoustic signal comprising a number of discrete signals, wherein one of the catch and the engaging member is coupled to the drive mechanism and the drive mechanism generates a variable drive speed during the relative movement, and wherein the latching elements are a distance from each other such that a time interval between each of the number of discrete signals is constant.

2. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein the distance is x₀;

x₀−

Δ

x.

3. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein the haptic and/or acoustic signal is generated during the relative movement.

4. The injection device according to claim 3, wherein the haptic and/or acoustic signal is generated and perceived by a user of the injection device during the relative movement.

5. An injection device for administering a liquid product, comprising:

a) a catch which comprises at least three latching elements; and

b) an engaging member which can be moved relative to and on the catch and respectively generates a haptic and/or acoustic signal during a relative movement for crossing the latching elements;

wherein

c) one of the catch and the engaging member is coupled to a drive means, using which a drive speed can be generated which is variable over the movement to generate the relative movement; and

wherein

d) the latching elements have a distance (x₀;

x₀−

Δ

x) from each other such that the time intervals between the signals are constant.

6. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the drive means is a spring.

7. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the drive speed is dependent on a drive force of the drive means which is variable over the movement.

8. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the drive means is coupled to a piston of a product container, such that the piston can be moved in an advancing direction.

9. The injection device according to claim 8, wherein the piston can be moved, together with the product container, by the drive means in the advancing direction.

10. The injection device according to claim 8, wherein the piston can be moved by the drive means relative to the product container in the advancing direction.

11. The injection device according to claim 5, further comprising an injection needle moveable in the advancing direction by the drive means.

12. The injection device according to claim 5, further comprising a damping element coupled to the drive means such that the drive force of the drive means is damped with a damping action strong enough that creeping occurs.

13. The injection device according to claim 12, said creeping including an aperiodic borderline creep.

14. The injection device according to claim 12, wherein the damping element is formed by the product container with the liquid product contained in it, which can be discharged from the product container via an opening.

15. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the latching elements comprise at least one of tooth-shaped projections and cavities.

16. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the engaging member is associated with a carriage which is coupled to the drive means via a piston rod.

17. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the catch is associated with a functional sleeve surrounding the engaging member.

18. The injection device according to claim 17, wherein the catch is in a groove associated with the sleeve, wherein the latching elements are arranged on a flank of the groove such that the latching elements point in a circumferential direction.

19. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the catch is arranged on a rod-shaped element surrounded by a sleeve on which the engaging member is formed.

20. The injection device according to claim 19, wherein the latching elements project radially outwardly and the engaging member projects radially inwardly.

21. The injection device according to claim 16, wherein the catch is arranged on the piston rod and the engaging member is arranged on a functional sleeve surrounding the piston rod.

22. A method for generating a haptic and/or acoustic signal in an injection device comprising a drive means, an engaging member and a catch comprising at least three latching elements, the method comprising the steps of:

a) moving one of the engaging member and catch relative to and in contact with the other, the engaging member contacting the at least three latching elements during a movement;

b) using the drive means, coupled to one of the catch and the engaging member, to produce a variable drive speed during the movement; and

c) generating a haptic and/or acoustic signal whenever the engaging member contacts one of the latching elements, said signal being generated at a constant time interval.