Additive Force Device For Drug Delivery Pen For Intradermal Medication Injection

• US 20110257604A1
• Filed: 11/17/2009
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Banik, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,199,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2026 Semi-automatic, e.g. user activated piston is assisted by additional source of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• 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 5/31535 Means improving security or handling thereof, e.g. blocking means, means preventing insufficient dosing, means allowing correction of overset dose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/482 Varying injection pressure, e.g. by varying speed of injection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/484 Regulating injection pressure

Abstract

An additive force device (111) is connectible with a drug delivery device (100) to increase the amount of force exerted by a user on the dose setting knob (24) to facilitate injection. The additive force device (111) includes a first spring (121) and a loading barrel (135) connected to the first spring (121) for storing torque therein. A ratchet assembly (129) is connected to the loading barrel (135) and to the first spring (121). The ratchet assembly (129) has a first position in which torque is stored in the first spring (121) and a second position in which torque is released from the first spring (121). An inner barrel (133) is connected to the ratchet assembly and to the drug delivery device (100). The inner barrel (133) transmits the stored torque from the first spring (121) to the drug delivery device (100) to increase an injection force thereof.

Claims

1. An additive force device for use with a drug delivery device, comprising:

a first spring;

a loading barrel connected to said first spring for storing torque therein;

a ratchet assembly connected to said loading barrel and to said first spring, said ratchet assembly having a first position in which torque is stored in said first spring and a second position in which torque is released from said first spring; and

an inner barrel connected to said ratchet assembly and to the drug delivery pen, said inner barrel transmitting the stored torque from said first spring to the drug delivery device to increase an injection force thereof.

2. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein

said ratchet assembly includes a lower ratchet and an upper ratchet, each of said lower and upper ratchets having a plurality of teeth for engagement therebetween.

3. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 2, wherein

said lower ratchet is connected to said loading barrel.

4. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 3, wherein

said upper ratchet is connected to said first spring.

5. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 4, wherein

a second spring is disposed between said inner barrel and said lower ratchet to bias said lower ratchet against said upper ratchet.

6. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 5, wherein

said lower and upper ratchets are engaged when said ratchet assembly is in said first position, and said lower and upper ratchets are spaced apart when said ratchet assembly is in said second position.

7. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 6, wherein

said inner barrel is disposed in an outer barrel, said outer barrel having a flexible button for engaging said inner barrel when torque is being supplied to said first spring to substantially prevent movement of said inner barrel and said lower ratchet.

8. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein

said first spring is a torsion spring.

9. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein

said second spring is a compression spring.

10. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 9, wherein

said second spring has a preload of approximately five pounds.

11. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 7, wherein

a fixing barrel is connected to said outer barrel and to said drug delivery device, said outer barrel being axially movable within said fixing barrel.

12. The additive force device for use with a drug delivery device of claim 11, wherein

said loading barrel being engaged with said outer barrel when said ratchet assembly is in said second position to substantially prevent movement of said loading barrel.

13. A medicament delivery device, comprising:

a drug delivery pen having a dose setting knob at an end thereof; and

an additive force device connected to said dose setting knob end of said drug delivery pen, said additive force device including

a first spring;

a loading barrel connected to said first spring for storing torque therein;

a lower ratchet connected to said loading barrel;

an upper ratchet connected to said lower ratchet and to said first spring;

an inner barrel connected to said upper ratchet and to the drug delivery pen,

wherein torque is stored in said first spring, when said upper and lower ratchets are engaged torque is prevented from being released from said first spring, and when said upper and lower ratchets are separated said inner barrel transmits the stored torque from said first spring to the drug delivery pen to increase an injection force thereof.

14. The medicament delivery device of claim 13, wherein

said first spring is a torsion spring.

15. The medicament delivery device of claim 13, wherein

a second spring is disposed between said inner barrel and said lower ratchet to bias said lower ratchet against said upper ratchet.

16. The medicament delivery device of claim 13, wherein

said inner barrel is disposed in an outer barrel, said outer barrel having a flexible button for engaging said inner barrel when torque is being supplied to said first spring to substantially prevent movement of said inner barrel and said lower ratchet.

17. A method of amplifying an injection force of a drug delivery device, comprising the steps of:

storing energy in an additive force device;

connecting the additive force device to the drug delivery device;

setting a dose of medicament to be administered; and

releasing the stored energy of the additive force device to amplify the injection force of the drug delivery device.

18. The method of amplifying an injection force of a drug delivery device of claim 17, wherein

the energy is stored in the additive force device before the additive force device is connected to the drug delivery device.

19. The method of amplifying an injection force of a drug delivery device of claim 17, wherein

the additive force device is connected to the drug delivery device before the dose is set.

20. The method of amplifying an injection force of a drug delivery device of claim 17, wherein

the dose is set with the additive force device.