RE-LOADABLE AUTO INJECTOR

• US 20190328970A1
• Filed: 05/15/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Merck Patent GmbH (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: BECHMANN, Soeren, MADSEN, Flemming, JOHANSEN, Esben W.
• Application Number:
  US16/413,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20190328970A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/202 cocking means, e.g. to bias the main drive spring of an injector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3267 Biased sleeves where the needle is uncovered by insertion of the needle into a patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/002 Packages specially adapted therefor, e.g. for syringes or needles, kits for diabetics needle protection, e.g. caps, A61M5/3202; for sharps A61B50/3001
• 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 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3204 Needle cap remover, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user

Abstract

A reloadable auto injector wherein a syringe assembly is movably positioned between a first position in which the needle is accommodated inside a housing and a second position in which the needle protrudes outside the housing. The assembly comprises a syringe, a plunger rod and a plunger rod driver configured to apply a force to the plunger rod to advance the plunger rod in the syringe for delivering at least one dose of medicament. A syringe driver is configured to apply a force to the assembly thereby moving the assembly from the first position to the second position. A reload handle may be connected to the assembly so that user operation of the reload handle retracts the assembly to the first position and simultaneously reload the syringe driver to thereby ready the auto injector for delivering a further dose of medicament. The plunger rod driver is not re-activated.

Claims

1-68. -68 (canceled)

69. A method of reloading an auto injector, wherein a reloadable auto injector has a housing for accommodation of a needle shield and a syringe assembly, the syringe assembly comprising

a syringe with a needle and a plunger rod driver being configured to apply a force to a plunger rod to advance the plunger rod in the syringe for delivering at least one dose of medicament,

the housing further accommodating a syringe driver configured to apply a force to the syringe assembly thereby moving the syringe from a first position to a second position in which position a dose may be delivered,

wherein the reloadable auto injector further comprises a reload handle configured to reload the auto injector for delivering a further dose of medicament,

the method comprising:

operating the reload handle

to retract the syringe assembly to the first position,

to reload the syringe driver, and

to release the needle shield to thereby ready the auto injector for delivering a further dose of medicament; and

locking the syringe assembly in the first position.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the operating includes rotating the reload handle.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising transferring a rotational movement of the reload handle to a translational movement of the syringe assembly.

72. The method of claim 71, further comprising using an intermediate component to transfer the rotational movement to the translation movement.

73. A method of reloading an auto injector having a housing for accommodation of a needle shield and a syringe assembly, the method comprising:

advancing a plunger rod in a syringe for delivering a dose of medicament, wherein the syringe includes a needle;

applying a force to the syringe assembly including the syringe using a syringe driver;

moving the syringe from a first position to a second position in which position a dose may be delivered;

operating a reload handle to retract the syringe assembly to the first position;

reloading the syringe driver; and

releasing the needle shield to thereby ready the auto injector for delivering another dose of medicament.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising locking the syringe assembly in the first position.