SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DAMPENING FRICTION IN AN AUTOINJECTOR DEVICE

• US 20140276568A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ucb Biopharma Sprl (UCB SA)
• Original Assignee: Ucb Biopharma Sprl (UCB SA)
• Inventors: Worden, Morris Elijah, Torris, Anthony, Bramley, Alistair, Freitag, Eric, Formosa, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/836,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20140276568A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/178 Syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31501 Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston A61M5/5013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/285 for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are described for using an autoinjector device. In one aspect, an autoinjector device comprises a housing and a plunger slidably mounted to the housing, the plunger including a tapered region. An actuator urges the plunger with respect to the housing from a storage position to a launch position, and a friction element about a portion of the tapered region resists a movement of the plunger from the storage position to the launch position.

Claims

1. An autoinjector device, comprising:

a housing;

a plunger slidably mounted to the housing, the plunger including a tapered region;

an actuator for urging the plunger with respect to the housing from a storage position to a launch position; and

a friction element about a portion of the tapered region for resisting a movement of the plunger from the storage position to the launch position.

2. The autoinjector device of claim 1, wherein the tapered region has a variable diameter.

3. The autoinjector device of claim 2, wherein:

the tapered region has a central region between a proximal region and a distal region;

the proximal region is closer to the storage position and the distal region is closer to the launch position.

4. The autoinjector device of claim 3, wherein the proximal region has a diameter larger than a diameter of the central region.

5. The autoinjector device of claim 3, wherein the distal region has a diameter larger than a diameter of the central region.

6. The autoinjector device of claim 3, wherein the tapered region is tapered between the distal and central regions and between the proximal and central regions.

7. The autoinjector device of claim 1, wherein the friction element presses against a wall of the housing when the plunger is urged from storage position to the launch position, resulting in a frictional resistive force.

8. The autoinjector device of claim 1, wherein the movement of the plunger from the storage position to the launch position causes a position of the friction element to be at a proximal region of the tapered region.

9. The autoinjector device of claim 1, wherein the plunger is configured to return to the storage position from the launch position.

10. The autoinjector device of claim 9, wherein the tapered region includes a mechanism for reducing a resistive effect of the friction element when the plunger returns to the storage position from the launch position relative to a resistive effect of the friction element when the plunger moves from the storage position to the launch position.

11. The autoinjector device of claim 10, wherein the mechanism causes the friction element to bend when the plunger returns to the storage position from the launch position, wherein bending of the friction element results in a reduced amount of friction between the friction element and a wall of the housing.

12. The autoinjector device of claim 10, wherein the mechanism is a ridge on the distal region of the tapered region.

13. The autoinjector device of claim 1, wherein the autoinjector device is a demonstration device used for simulating auto-injection.

14. The autoinjector device of claim 1, wherein the autoinjector device is configured to provide a first haptic feedback at an initiation of the plunger'"'"'s movement from the storage position to the launch position.

15. The autoinjector device of claim 14, wherein a release of the actuator from at least one locking clip provides the first haptic feedback.

16. The autoinjector device of claim 14, further comprising a puller coupled to the plunger and a cap, wherein the puller and the cap are configured to contact, thereby providing the first haptic feedback.

17. The autoinjector device of claim 14, wherein the autoinjector device is configured to provide a second haptic feedback at a conclusion of the plunger'"'"'s movement from the storage position to the launch position.

18. The autoinjector device of claim 17, wherein a release of the friction element causes the plunger to accelerate.

19. The autoinjector device of claim 18, wherein the second haptic feedback is provided when portions of the device contact.

20. The autoinjector device of claim 19, wherein the portions include a base and a puller coupled to the plunger.

21. The autoinjector device of claim 20, wherein the puller is configured to contact an outer wall of a widened portion of the base.

22. The autoinjector device of claim 1, wherein the autoinjector device is a medical device used for administering medication.

23. The autoinjector device of claim 22, wherein the plunger is a part of a syringe assembly including a needle and a fluid container.

24. The autoinjector device of claim 1, wherein the friction element is a rubber ring.

25. A method for actuating an autoinjector, the method comprising:

applying a first amount of resistance against a movement of a plunger slidably mounted to a housing from a storage position to a launch position; and

applying a second amount of resistance against a return of the plunger from the launch position to the storage position, wherein the second amount of resistance is smaller than the first amount of resistance.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the resistance against the movement is caused by friction resulting from contact between a friction element about a portion of the plunger and a wall of the housing.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a first haptic feedback when the movement of the plunger from the storage position to the launch position initiates.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a second haptic feedback when the movement of the plunger from the storage position to the launch position concludes.

29-31. -31. (canceled)