Dose setting limiter

• US 6,582,404 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Nna/S
• Inventors: Klitgaard, Peter Christian, Radmer, Bo, Hansen, Steffen, Møller, Claus Schmidt
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zec, Filip
• Application Number:
  US09/655,922
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 604/181, 604/186, 604/207, 604/208, 604/211, 604/224
• US Class Current: 604/181
• 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 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3152 including gearings to multiply or attenuate the piston displacing force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31535 Means improving security or handling thereof, e.g. blocking means, means preventing insufficient dosing, means allowing correction of overset dose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31555 by purely axial movement of dose setting member, e.g. during setting or filling of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31568 Means keeping track of the total dose administered, e.g. since the cartridge was inserted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31575 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3158 performed by axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button

Abstract

A limiting mechanism which prevents the setting of a dose, which exceeds the amount of liquid left in a cartridge of an injection device, is disclosed. The injection device is the type where a dose is set by rotating a dose setting member relative to a driver and away from a fixed stop in the injection device. The dose setting member interfaces the driver such that the dose setting member can be rotated in one direction without rotating the driver. The dose is injected by rotating back the dose setting member which during the backward rotation carries the driver with it. Rotating the driver causes the piston rod to move forward inside the cartridge and expel some of the liquid contained in the cartridge. The driver is provided with a track having a length which is related to the total amount of liquid in the cartridge and which track is engaged by a track follower coupled to the dose setting member to follow rotation of this dose setting member. Each time a dose is set and injected, the track follower moves further into the track. When the track follower reaches the end of the track the dose setting member can not be rotated further, and a dose larger than the remaining liquid in the cartridge cannot be set.

Claims

1. A limiting mechanism that prevents setting of a dose that exceeds the amount of liquid left in a cartridge of an injection device wherein a dose is set by rotating a dose setting member relative to a driver and away from a fixed stop in the injection device, and the dose is injected by rotating back the dose setting member which during this rotation carries the driver with it to rotate this driver which moves the piston rod forward, wherein the driver is provided with a track having a length which is related to the total amount of medicament in the cartridge and which track is engaged by a track follower coupled to the dose setting member to follow rotation of this dose setting member and wherein the driver is disk shaped and the track has a spiral shape which is engaged by the track follower which is flexibly coupled to the dose setting member so that the track follower can be moved radially when it follows the track of the driver element.

2. A limiting mechanism that prevents setting of a dose that exceeds the amount of liquid left in a cartridge of an injection device wherein a dose is set by rotating a dose setting member relative to a driver and away from a fixed stop in the injection device, and the dose is injected by rotating back the dose setting member which during this rotation carries the driver with it to rotate this driver which moves the piston rod forward, wherein the driver is provided with a track having a length which is related to the total amount of medicament in the cartridge and which track is engaged by a track follower coupled to the dose setting member to follow rotation of this dose setting member and wherein the driver is cylindrical and the track has a helical shape which is engaged by the track follower which is coupled to the dose setting member so that the track follower can be moved rotationally when it follows the track of the driver element.

3. The limiting mechanism of claim 2, wherein the dose setting element is a cylinder concentric with the driver.

4. The limiting mechanism of claim 3, wherein the track comprises a thread in the driver and that the track follower comprises a nut shaped member coupled to the dose setting member and provided with a thread engaging the thread of the driver.