Dose setting limiter

• US 6,524,280 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: NOVO Nordisk Biotech Incorporated (Novo Nordisk A/S)
• Inventors: Hansen, Steffen, Klitgaard, Peter Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuen, Henry O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicolas, Frederick C
• Application Number:
  US09/768,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20010014791A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 604/207, 604/208, 604/209, 604/210, 604/211
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3126 Specific display means related to dosing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3154 limiting maximum permissible dose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31536 Blocking means to immobilize a selected dose, e.g. to administer equal doses
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31538 Permanent blocking, e.g. by medical personnel
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member

Abstract

Described is a dose setting limiter for medical injectors of the type having a housing accommodating an ampoule-containing medicine sufficient for a number of dosed injections, a rotary dose setting knob, which is rotational relative to the housing and by which doses may be set by rotating the dose setting knob and an injection button which, when activated, administers the set dose. The dose setting limiter includes a stationary first part connected to the housing, and a second part fitted over the rotary dose setting knob, the second part being able to rotate together with the dose setting knob when setting up a dose and the second part being rotational relative to the first part. A third part is placed between the first part and the second part, the third part having means cooperating with means on the second part for limiting the dose setting.

Claims

1. A dose setting limiter for a medical injector, the dose setting limiter comprising:

three circular parts;

a shell-shaped first part;

a second part; and

a third part;

the three parts being coaxially assembled and sharing a common center axis;

wherein;

the shell-shaped first part has a circular upper surface and is connectable to the injector;

the second circular part is rotatable for setting up a dose and has a periphery from which a protrusion extends radially;

the third part;

is shaped as a flat ring sandwiched between the first and second part;

is rotatable about the common centre axis with respect to the first part when the dose setting limiter is disconnected from the injector but rotationally locked to the first part when the first part is connected to the injector,

further comprises another protrusion that cooperates with the protrusion located on the second part for limiting the angular rotation of the second part relative to the third part when the second part is rotated to set up a dose.

2. The dose setting limiter according to claim 1, wherein:

the second part forms a dose setting dial, is coaxially secured to the first part, and is accessible to a user through an opening in the first part.

3. The dose setting limiter according to claim 1, wherein the third part is locked to the first part by a plurality of holes in the third part being arrested by a number of raised studs on an inside surface of the first part when the third part is axially pressed toward the first part.

4. The dose setting limiter according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion on the second part protrudes outward from the common centre and the another protrusion on third part protrudes inward toward the common centre.

5. The dose setting limiter according to claim l, wherein first part has a periphery an upper surface on the periphery has an area that that has a cut off, thereby making the third part accessible to a user to rotate the third part relative to the first part.

6. The dose setting limiter according to claim 5, wherein the first part is at least partially transparent and the third part has a marker visible through the first part, marker indicating the location of the another protrusion on the third part.

7. A dose setting limiter for use in an injector, the dose setting limiter comprising:

a first part that may be connected to the injector;

a second part that is rotatable for setting up a dose, the second part being rotatable relative to the first part and comprising a dose limiting means for limiting a dose setting;

a third part located between the first and second part, the third part comprising a cooperating means for cooperating with the dose limiting means of the second part, to limit the dose setting;

wherein the third part is capable of moving freely when the first part is disconnected from the injector but is locked to the first part when the first part is connected to the injector.

8. The dose setting limiter according to claim 7, wherein the dose limiting means of the second part comprises a protrusion.

9. The dose setting limiter according to claim 8, wherein the cooperating means also comprises a protrusion.

10. The dose setting limiter according to claim 7, wherein the third part is locked to the first part by a number of holes in the third part that are arrested by a number of raised studs on the inside surface of the first part.

11. The dose setting limiter according to claim 7, wherein the first part forms a circular shell.

12. A dose setting limiter for use in an injector, the dose setting limiter comprising:

a first part that may be connected to the injector;

a second part that is rotatable for setting up a dose, the second part being rotatable relative to the first part and comprising a dose limiting means for limiting a dose setting;

a third part located between the first and second part, the third part comprising a cooperating means for cooperating with the dose limiting means of the second part to limit the dose setting;

wherein the first part forms a shell, is circular, and has a plurality of flanges that fit retentively around a portion of the injector thereby locking the shell to the injector.

13. The dose setting limiter of claim 12, wherein the shell has a periphery with an area cut off, thereby making the third portion accessible for rotation relative to the shell.

14. The dose setting limiter of claim 13, wherein the shell is transparent and the third part has a marker visible through the shell, the marker indication the locations of the cooperating means on the third part.

15. The dose setting limiter of claim 13, wherein at least one of the cooperating means and the dose limiting means comprises a protrusion.

16. The dose setting limiter of claim 13, wherein the cooperating means and dose limiting means comprise protrusions and wherein the protrusion on the second part protrudes outward from the common centre and the protrusion on the third part protrudes inward toward the common centre.