Injection Device

• US 20120310206A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Kouyoumjian, Garen, Veasey, Robert, Plumptre, David, Jones, Christopher, MacDonald, Catherine Anne, May, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,265,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2407 from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2488 via rotation, e.g. threads or bayonet
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile 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 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31543 piston rod reset means, i.e. means for causing or facilitating retraction of piston rod to its starting position during cartridge change
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31558 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3156 using volume steps only adjustable in discrete intervals, i.e. individually distinct intervals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button

Abstract

An injection device (1) for administering a fixed dose of a medication is provided. The injection device (1) comprises a housing (2) wherein a drive mechanism comprising a drive member (3) is at least partially enclosed and a dosing element (34) which is fixed relative to the drive member (3). Here, a dose can be set by rotating the dosing element (34) relative to the housing (2) in a dose set direction (105) and the dose can be dispensed by pushing the dosing element (34) towards the housing (2). Moreover, a method is provided for operating an injection device (1) for the administration of a fixed dose of a medication: A dose can be set by rotating a dosing element (34), a dose can be dispensed by pushing the dosing element (34) towards the housing (2) and a dose can be cancelled by rotating the dosing element (34) in a direction (106) opposite to the dose set direction (105).

Claims

1. An injection device for administering a fixed dose of a medication comprising:

a housing wherein a drive mechanism comprising a drive member is at least partially enclosed,

a dosing element for actuating the drive member,

wherein when a movement of the drive member is actuated by the dosing element, the movement of the dosing element is equal to the movement of the drive member and

wherein the dose can be set by rotating the dosing element relative to the housing in the dose set direction and the dose can be dispensed by pushing the dosing element towards the housing.

2. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein the dosing element is permanently fixed relative to the drive member.

3. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein a single dose set direction relative to the housing is provided.

4. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein a set dose can be cancelled by rotating the dosing element in a dose unset direction opposite to the dose set direction.

5. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the drive member and the housing is defined by a track provided on one of the drive member, the housing and a component fixed to the housing.

6. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the track comprises one or more segments, each segment comprising a dose set section being inclined against the longitudinal axis and a dose dispense section being less inclined against the longitudinal axis than the dose set section.

7. The injection device according to claim 6, wherein the track comprises several consecutive identical segments differing only in their angular positions around the longitudinal axis.

8. The injection device according to claim 1, comprising a feedback element which gives an audible or tactile signal when one of a dose setting or a dose dispense operation has been completed.

9. The injection device according to claim 1, comprising a non-return feature which at a predefined relative position of the housing and the drive member allows a relative movement of the drive member and the housing in one direction and prevents a relative movement in the opposite direction.

10. The injection device according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the track (4) is a continuous circuit.

11. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein a piston rod is provided, the piston rod acting on a piston disposed in a cartridge wherein the medicament is contained, and wherein during dispensing the dose the amount of axial displacement of the piston rod differs from the amount of axial displacement of the drive member.

12. The injection device according to claim 11, wherein during dispensing the dose the amount of axial displacement of the piston rod is smaller than the amount of axial displacement of the drive member.

13. The injection device according to claim 11, wherein during dispensing the dose the piston rod carries out both a rotational and a translational movement relative to the housing.

14. The injection device according to claim 11, wherein the drive member has the shape of a sleeve which at least partially encloses the piston rod.

15. The injection device according to claim 1, comprising a stop feature which prevents one of a set operation and a dispense operation of the dosing element after the last available dose has been dispensed.

16. Method of operating an injection device for the administration of a fixed dose of a medication, the injection device providing a single dose set direction, the method comprising the following steps, wherein the steps directly follow one after another:

A) Setting a dose by rotating a dosing element relative to a housing of the injection device (1) in a dose set direction,

B) pushing the dosing element towards the housing, wherein when a movement of a drive member is actuated by the dosing element, the movement of the dosing element is equal to the movement of the drive member, whereby during or at the end of step A) the dose can be cancelled by

C) rotating the dosing element in a direction opposite to the dose set direction.