DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR AN AUTOINJECTOR

• US 20140046259A1
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oval Medical Technologies Ltd. (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Oval Medical Technologies Ltd. (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reber, Dominic Charles, Huang, Congyi, Young, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,406,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/136
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• 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

Abstract

The invention provides a delivery mechanism for an autoinjector comprising: a first drive member configured to drive a first component in an axial direction; a second drive member configured to drive a second component in an axial direction; and a release mechanism configured to control a sequence of release of the first drive member and the second drive member, wherein the release mechanism is positioned at least partially within the first or second drive member.

Claims

1. A delivery mechanism for an autoinjector comprising:

a first drive member configured to drive a first component;

a second drive member configured to drive a second component; and

a release mechanism configured to control a sequence of release of the first drive member and the second drive member, wherein the release mechanism is positioned at least partially within the first or second drive member.

2. A delivery mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the release mechanism is positioned at least partially within both the first and the second drive member.

42. A delivery mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the second drive member is positioned at least partially within the first drive member.

43. A delivery mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, in use, one of the first and second drive members is mainly responsible for providing a force to insert a needle into a subject, and the other of the first and second drive members is mainly responsible for providing a force to expel a drug through the needle.

44. A delivery mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first drive member is positioned between a main body and the first component and the second drive member is positioned between the first component and the second component.

45. A delivery mechanism according to claim 44, wherein the release mechanism comprises:

a locking surface, the locking surface being fixed to, or part of, the main body; and

an inner retaining component configured to retain the second drive member until the locking surface is moved a predetermined distance relative to the inner retaining component, after which the second drive member is released, wherein release of the first drive member moves the inner retaining component relative to the locking surface in order to release the second drive member.

46. A mechanism according to claim 45, where the inner retaining component comprises a latch which engages on a bearing surface on the first component.

47. A mechanism according to claim 46, where the locking surface maintains the latch in an engaged position with the bearing surface before the first drive member is released.

48. A mechanism according to claim 46, wherein the latch is fixed to or part of the second component.

49. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein in use the first drive member moves from an initial position before it is released to a final position after it has been released, and the second drive member moves from an initial position before it is released to a final position after it has been released, further comprising a noisegenerating mechanism configured to generate a sound when the first and second drive members have moved to their final positions.

50. A mechanism according to claim 49 wherein the noisegenerating mechanism is positioned at least partially within the first or second drive member.

51. A mechanism according to claim 50 where the noisegenerating mechanism is positioned at least partially within both the first and second drive members.

52. A mechanism according to claim 49, wherein the noisegenerating means is comprised of two or more surfaces, one of which is caused to strike the other to make the noise substantially at the time that the second drive member reaches its final position.

53. A mechanism according to claim 52 wherein one of the surfaces is fixed to or part of the second component.

54. A mechanism according to claim 52 wherein one of the surfaces is fixed to or part of the first component.

55. An autoinjector comprising a mechanism in accordance with claim 1.

3-41. -41. (canceled)

56. An autoinjector comprising:

a housing;

a drug container having a front end coupled to a needle;

a releasable drive mechanism coupled to a rear end of the drug container, in use the drive mechanism moving from a initial configuration to a final configuration to move the drug container and needle relative to the housing in order to insert the needle into a subject; and

a releasable locking mechanism retaining the drive mechanism in the initial configuration, the locking mechanism being fixed to the housing and engaging the front end of the drug container.

57. An autoinjector according to claim 56, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a resilient arm fixed relative to the housing.

58. An autoinjector according to claim 56, wherein the releasable locking mechanism is coupled to a skin sensor configured to sense a skin surface of a patient, wherein the skin sensor comprises a movable element that moves relative to the housing when it is pressed against a skin surface, movement of the movable element releasing the locking mechanism from engagement with the front end of the drug container.

59. A delivery mechanism for an autoinjector comprising:

a releasable drive mechanism, in use the drive mechanism moving from a initial configuration to a final configuration to expel a drug from the autoinjector;

a noisegenerating means coupled to the drive mechanism and configured to generate a sound when the drive mechanism has moved to the final configuration, the noise generating means being positioned fully within the drive mechanism in use.