MEDICAL INJECTION DEVICE WITH TIME DELAY INDICATOR

• US 20110208125A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Nielsen, Ole Christian, Preuthun, Jan, Bouaidat, Salim, Larsen, Andre
• Granted Patent: US 8,894,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3143 Damping means for syringe components executing relative movements, e.g. retarders or attenuators slowing down or timing syringe mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31535 Means improving security or handling thereof, e.g. blocking means, means preventing insufficient dosing, means allowing correction of overset dose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to an indicating device for use with medical injection devices for administering a drug into the body of a subject user wherein the indicating device is configured for indicating after administration that a dose of the drug actually has been administered and for maintaining this indication until lapse of a pre-defined time interval. The time delay indicator disclosed is based on a mechanical time delay device and includes a visual indicator that is controlled by the mechanical time delay device for signalling the status of the device during lapse of the pre-defined time interval.

Claims

1. A medical injection device for introducing a drug into the body of a subject user, the injection device comprising:

a delivery mechanism including an actuator for the dispensing of drug responsive to activation of the actuator, and

a time delay indicator adapted to change from a first visual state prior to activation of the actuator to a second visual state responsive to activation of the actuator, and to change to a third visual state after lapse of a pre-defined time interval subsequent to activation of the actuator,

wherein the time delay indicator comprises a mechanical time delay device which is started responsive to activation of the actuator and which operates until lapse of said pre-defined time interval, the visual state of the time delay indicator being controlled by the mechanical time delay device.

2. A medical injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the mechanical time delay device comprises a first mechanical time delay part attached to or integral with a part of the delivery mechanism and a second mechanical time delay part, the second mechanical time delay part being relatively moveable with respect to the first mechanical time delay part, wherein the second mechanical time delay part is adapted to be manipulated by the operator from an inactivated position into an activated position for activating the mechanical time delay device and for causing the time delay indicator to change from the first visual state to the second visual state.

3. A medical injection device as defined in claim 2, wherein the first and second mechanical time delay parts are adapted to move continuously or intermittently relative to each other during lapse of said pre-defined time interval, the relative movement being initiated responsive to activation of the actuator.

4. A medical injection device as defined in claim 2, wherein the mechanical time delay device comprises at least a further mechanical time delay part which is adapted to move continuously or intermittently relative to the first or the second mechanical time delay parts during lapse of said pre-defined time interval, the relative movement being initiated responsive to activation of the actuator.

5. A medical injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein a visual indicator is coupled mechanically or integrated into one of said mechanical time delay parts and wherein the visual status of the visual indicator is adapted to change upon movement of one or more of said mechanical time delay parts.

6. A medical injection device as defined in claim 2, wherein the time delay device is configured so that it is exclusively activated when a triggering force acting on the second mechanical time delay part exceeds a minimum injection force defined as the minimum force required for activating the actuator and/or when the relative movement between the first and second mechanical time delay parts exceeds a pre-defined minimum distance.

7. A medical injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the time delay device further comprises a biasing mechanism adapted to operate the time delay device during lapse of the pre-defined time interval.

8. A medical injection device as defined in claim 7, wherein the biasing mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a spring, an elastomeric member and a compressible or expandable pneumatic reservoir.

9. A medical injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the time delay device further comprises a variable sized chamber adapted to contain a flowable medium, the chamber being closed by flow control means for controlling the rate of flow of the flowable medium through the flow control means into and/or out of the variable sized chamber and wherein the biasing mechanism exerts a force to expand or reduce the first chamber.

10. A medical injection device as defined in claim 9, wherein the time delay device includes a suction cup which adheres to a surface upon activation of the time delay device, wherein the suction cup defines said variable sized chamber when the suction cup adheres to said surface and wherein the suction cup is adapted to release from said surface upon lapse of said pre-defined interval.

11. A medical injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the pre-defined time delay is longer than 30 minutes, preferably longer than 1 hour, more preferably longer than 2 hours, more preferably longer than 3 hours, more preferably longer than 5 hours, more preferably longer than 24 hours most preferably longer than 36 hours.

12. A medical injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the third state corresponds to the first state.

13. A medical injection device as defined in claim 10, wherein the indicating member is configured to be in the second state after activation of the actuator and until lapse of the pre-defined time interval.

14. A medical injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein the indicating member is configured to continuously or intermittently change state after activation of the actuator and until lapse of the pre-defined time interval so as to provide a measure of elapsed time since activation of the actuator.

15. Use of a time delay indicator in a medical injection device, the injection device comprising a delivery mechanism including an actuator for the dispensing of drug responsive to activation of the actuator, wherein the time delay indicator is adapted to couple to the actuator of the medical injection device, wherein the time delay indicator is adapted to change from a first visual state prior to activation of the actuator to a second visual state responsive to activation of the actuator, and to change to a third visual state after lapse of a pre-defined time interval subsequent to activation of the actuator, and wherein the time delay indicator comprises a mechanical time delay device which is started responsive to activation of the actuator and which operates until lapse of said pre-defined time interval, the visual state of the time delay indicator being controlled by the mechanical time delay device.