SELF-INJECTION DEVICE

• US 20120310173A1
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Sonderegger, Ralph
• Granted Patent: US 9,717,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3115 spring-assisted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14586 pressurised by means of a flexible diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• 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 5/282 by compression of deformable ampoule or carpule wall
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A device (100) for delivering a medicament into a patient'"'"'s body by injection into or through the patient'"'"'s skin, including: a main body having a bottom enclosure (104) that has a top surface including a button guide latch (268); a reservoir (160) disposed within the main body for containing the medicament; an injection needle (152) for penetrating the skin of the patient, the needle (152) having a lumen and communicating with the reservoir (160) when the device (100) is activated; a pressurizing system (140, 144) for pressurizing the reservoir (160) when the device (100) is activated; and an activator button (128) movably disposed on the main body and movable from a pre-activated position to an activated position. The activator button (128) includes an activation arm (228). When the activator button (128) moves from the pre-activated position to the activated position, an end of the activation arm (228) engages with the button guide latch (268) and prevents return movement of the activator button (128).

Claims

1. A drug delivery device comprising:

a body including a top enclosure and a bottom enclosure, the bottom enclosure having a surface including a button guide latch;

a reservoir disposed within the body for containing a medicament;

an injection needle for penetrating the skin of the patient, the needle having a lumen and communicating with the reservoir when the device is activated;

a pressurizing system for pressurizing the reservoir when the device is activated; and

an activator button movably disposed on the body and movable from a pre-activated position to an activated position, the activator button including an activation arm;

wherein when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, an end of the activation arm engages with the button guide latch and prevents movement of the activator button from the activated position to the pre-activated position.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the button guide latch comprises a guide surface and a retaining surface;

the activation arm includes a cutout and a locking portion; and

when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, the cutout permits the activation arm to pass over an end of the guide surface and the locking portion of the activation arm to engage the retaining surface of the button guide latch.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the locking portion of the activation arm comprises a bearing surface and a locking surface; and

when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, the bearing surface directly contacts and slides along the guide surface until the activation arm passes over the end of the guide surface and the locking surface of the activation arm engages the retaining surface of the button guide latch.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, the contact between the bearing surface and the guide surface elastically deforms at least one of the bearing surface and the guide surface; and

the at least one deformed surface returns to a substantially un-deformed state when the activation arm passes over the end of the guide surface.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the locking portion is disposed at an end of the activation arm; and

the cutout extends at least a portion of a distance from the locking portion to a base of the activation arm.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the cutout extends from the locking portion to the base of the activation arm.

7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the guide surface and the retaining surface adjoin at an end of the button guide latch forming an acute angle therebetween with respect to the button guide latch.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the locking portion of the activation arm comprises a bearing surface adjoining a locking surface, the locking surface being disposed at a rear edge of the locking portion.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein a side of the main body prevents substantial forward motion of the activator button past the activated position.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the button guide latch comprises a retaining post; and

the end of the activation arm comprises a cantilevered tab extending from the activation arm.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein:

the retaining post comprises a guide surface and a retaining surface disposed adjacent to the guide surface at an end of the guide surface;

the tab comprises a bearing surface and a locking surface disposed adjacent to a cantilevered end of the bearing surface; and

when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, the bearing surface directly contacts and slides along the guide surface until the cantilevered end of the bearing surface passes the end of the guide surface and the locking surface of the tab engages the retaining surface of the retaining post.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein:

when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, the contact between the bearing surface and the guide surface deforms at least one of the bearing surface, the guide surface, and the activation arm; and

the at least one deformed surface returns to a substantially un-deformed state when the cantilevered end of the bearing surface passes the end of the guide surface.

13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the tab forms an acute angle with a main portion of the activation arm.

14. The device according to claim 10, wherein the retaining post extends substantially perpendicular from the surface of the bottom enclosure.

15. The device according to claim 1, the device further comprising:

a channel fluidly connected to the injection needle;

a valve disposed between the reservoir and the channel to selectively permit delivery of the medicament from the reservoir to the channel;

a drive spring movable from a pre-activated position to an activated position; and

a rotor movable between a pre-activated position and an activated position, the rotor supporting the drive spring in the respective pre-activated positions of the rotor and the drive spring;

wherein the bottom enclosure includes a bottom surface for contacting the skin of the patient and the surface of the bottom enclosure includes a substantially cylindrical housing about which the rotor is rotatably disposed, the pressurizing system being disposed within the cylindrical housing; and

when the activator button Is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, the activation arm moves the rotor to the activated position, thereby releasing the pressurizing system to pressurize the reservoir and releasing the drive spring to move to the activated position to drive the injection needle to penetrate the skin of the patient, and the activator button opens the valve to permit delivery of the medicament from the reservoir to the injection needle via the channel.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the rotor prevents substantial forward motion of the activator button past the activated position.

17. A drug delivery device comprising:

a body including a top enclosure and a bottom enclosure, the bottom enclosure having a surface including a button guide latch having a guide surface and a retaining surface;

a reservoir disposed within the body forming a chamber for containing the medicament;

an injection needle for penetrating the skin of the patient, the needle having a lumen and communicating with the reservoir when the device is activated;

a pressurizing system for pressurizing the reservoir when the device is activated; and

an activator button movably disposed on the body and movable from a pre-activated position to an activated position, the activator button including an activation arm with a cutout and a locking portion having a bearing surface and a locking surface;

wherein when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position;

the bearing surface contacts and slides along the guide surface of the button guide latch, elastically deforming at least one of the activation arm and the guide surface until an end of the guide surface is reached; and

the cutout permits the activation arm to pass over the end of the guide surface, engaging the locking surface with the retaining surface of the button guide latch to prevent return movement of the activator button.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein:

the locking portion is disposed at an end of the activation arm; and

the cutout extends at least a portion of a distance from the locking portion to a base of the activation arm.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the cutout extends from the locking portion to the base of the activation arm.

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein the guide surface and the retaining surface adjoin at an end of the button guide latch forming an acute angle therebetween with respect to the button guide latch.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein:

the bearing surface of the locking portion adjoins the locking surface; and

the locking surface is disposed at a rear edge of the locking portion.

22. The device according to claim 17, wherein a side of body prevents substantial forward motion of the activator button past the activated position.

23. The device according to claim 17, the device further comprising:

a channel fluidly connected to the injection needle;

a valve disposed between the reservoir and the channel to selectively permit delivery of the medicament from the reservoir to the channel;

a drive spring movable from a pre-activated position to an activated position; and

a rotor movable between a pre-activated position and an activated position, the rotor supporting the drive spring in the respective pre-activated positions of the rotor and the drive spring;

wherein the bottom enclosure includes a bottom surface for contacting the skin of the patient and the surface of the bottom enclosure includes a substantially cylindrical housing about which the rotor is rotatably disposed, the pressurizing system being disposed within the cylindrical housing; and

when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, the activation arm moves the rotor to the activated position, thereby releasing the pressurizing system to pressurize the reservoir and releasing the drive spring to move to the activated position to drive the injection needle to penetrate the skin of the patient, and the activator button opens the valve to permit delivery of the medicament from the reservoir to the injection needle via the channel.

24. The device according to claim 23, wherein the rotor prevents substantial forward motion of the activator button past the activated position.

25. A drug delivery device comprising:

a body including a top enclosure and a bottom enclosure, the bottom enclosure having a surface including a button guide latch;

a reservoir disposed within the body for containing the medicament;

an injection needle for penetrating the skin of the patient, the needle having a lumen and selectively communicating with the reservoir;

a pressurizing system for pressurizing the reservoir; and

an activator button movably disposed on the main body and movable from a pre-activated position to an activated position, the activator button including an activation arm;

wherein when the activator button is moved from the pre-activated position to the activated position, an end of the activation arm engages with the button guide latch and prevents return movement of the activator button; and

wherein movement of the activator button from the pre-activated position to the activated position performs at least one function selected from the group of driving the injection needle to penetrate the patient'"'"'s skin, pressurizing the reservoir, and establishing fluid communication between the reservoir and the patient needle.