DRIVE CONTROL MECHANISMS AND AUTOMATIC INJECTORS FOR INJECTABLE CARTRIDGES
First Claim
1. An automatic injector adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
- a housing,a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge,a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier being disposed to confront and impart movement at least a portion of the plunger assembly,at least one transfer instruments disposed to selectively couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier for movement therewith, andan elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic injector includes a housing having a guide, a drive control mechanism, a transmission assembly, a motor, and an energy source. The housing may further include a cartridge cover. A drive control mechanism includes a drive screw, a cartridge carrier, a plunger carrier, and one or more control transfer instruments, such as a puck or cylinder. The drive screw interfaces and connects with the plunger carrier. The automatic injector is configured to accept a variety of syringes as cartridges for drug delivery. The cartridges may be ejected from the injector and safely disposed after use, making the injector a reusable automatic injector. The reusable automatic injector may further include one or more sensors, such as a cartridge sensor and a patient sensor. The novel incorporation of the drive control mechanisms into the automatic injectors of the present invention enables a single motor and transmission assembly to drive the function of multiple components, which may include the steps of: preparation and alignment of a cartridge for injection, removal of a safety cap or needle shield, needle injection, drug dose delivery, and syringe and/or needle retraction. Methods of manufacture and methods of use are also disclosed.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An automatic injector adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
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a housing, a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier being disposed to confront and impart movement at least a portion of the plunger assembly, at least one transfer instruments disposed to selectively couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier for movement therewith, and an elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating an automatic injector to inject a fluid from a cartridge, the method comprising
disposing the cartridge in the automatic injector with at least a portion of a barrel disposed within a cartridge carrier, and a plunger assembly disposed for confrontation with a plunger carrier, a needle end of the cartridge defining a distal end of the automatic injector and the opposite end of the cartridge defining a proximal end of the automatic injector, coupling the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier, utilizing a single drive mechanism to move the plunger carrier and the cartridge carrier to advance the cartridge in an axial direction toward the distal end, decoupling the cartridge carrier from the plunger carrier, utilizing the drive mechanism to move the plunger carrier in the axial direction toward the distal end to dispense the fluid, and retracting the plunger carrier in an axial direction toward the proximal end.
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39. A method of operating an automatic injector, the method comprising
disposing a first cartridge in a housing of the automatic injector, actuating the automatic injector to dispense fluid from the first cartridge, removing the first cartridge from the housing, disposing a second cartridge in the housing, and actuating the automatic injector to dispense fluid from the second cartridge.
Specification