Drug Delivery Device with Piston Rod Carrying Dose Markings

• US 20120046613A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Plumptre, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,108,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/189
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2407 from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3126 Specific display means related to dosing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3142 Modular constructions, e.g. supplied in separate pieces to be assembled by end-user
• 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 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02

Abstract

The present invention relates to a drug delivery (5) comprising a housing (10) with a proximal end (30) and a distal end (22), a cartridge holder (14) adapted to retain a cartridge (16), the cartridge holder (14) comprising an at least partially transparent side wall (36), a piston rod (26), the piston rod (26) being adapted to drive a piston so as to engage the piston (28) into the cartridge (16), and

a plurality of symbols (32) on the piston rod (26), the symbols (32) representing dosage information during operation of the drug delivery device (5) and being visible through a window aperture (40) in the housing (10) or in the cartridge holder (14). Furthermore, using a plurality of symbols (32) on a piston rod (26) to represent dosage information during operation of the drug delivery device (5) is disclosed.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device comprising:

a housing with a proximal end and a distal end,

a cartridge holder adapted to retain a cartridge, the cartridge holder comprising an at least partially transparent side wall,

a piston rod, the piston rod being adapted to drive a piston so as to engage the piston into the cartridge, and

a plurality of symbols on the piston rod, the symbols representing dosage information during operation of the drug delivery device and being visible through a window aperture in the housing or in the cartridge holder.

2. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the at least partially transparent side wall of the cartridge holder comprises a structured surface capable of unevenly reflecting light so as to at least partially render the symbols of the piston rod unreadable.

3. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the structured surface of the at least partially transparent side wall is arranged on the inner surface of the cartridge holder.

4. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the structured surface of the at least partially transparent side wall comprises a plurality of facets.

5. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the structured surface of the at least partially transparent side wall comprises a plurality of undulating elements.

6. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the structured surface of the at least partially transparent side wall is capable of retaining the piston visible during engagement in the cartridge.

7. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the structured surface of the at least partially transparent side wall comprises features being orientated along a horizontal axis between the proximal end and the distal end.

8. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of symbols comprises consecutive numbers so as to indicate delivered dose or remaining dose left in the cartridge.

9. The drug delivery device according to claim 8, wherein the numbers are printed or moulded on the piston rod.

10. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge holder comprises additional information suitable for providing further information to a user.

11. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the piston rod is a linearly movable piston rod.

12. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the piston rod is a rotationally movable piston rod.

13. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the structured surface of the at least partially transparent side wall covers the upper part of the cartridge holder facing the proximal end (30).

14. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge holder retains the cartridge and the window aperture (40) is located above the proximal end of the cartridge.

15. The drug delivery device according to claim 14, wherein the aperture is located in close proximity to the cartridge holder.

16. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the side wall of the cartridge holder comprises an opaque part as well as at least one window aperture through which the piston rod is visible, wherein the piston rod is not rotated as it drives the piston and wherein the arrangement of the symbols is chosen such that they are covered by the opaque part of the side wall of the cartridge holder.

17. The drug delivery device according to claim 16, wherein the symbols are arranged linearly on the piston rod.

18. The drug delivery device according to claim 16, wherein regarding the longitudinal axis of the piston rod the angular position of the window aperture of side wall of the cartridge holder is offset with respect to the angular position of the window aperture in the housing.

19. The drug delivery device according to claim 18, wherein the angular offset is defined in a range between 80 degree and 100 degree.

20. Using a plurality of symbols on a piston rod to represent dosage information during operation of the drug delivery device by being visible through a window aperture in the housing, wherein the symbols on a piston rod are rendered at least partially unreadable through an at least partially transparent side wall of a cartridge holder.