Device for administering an injectable product in doses

• US 6,613,023 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2001
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Disetronic Licensing Ag
• Inventors: Kirchhofer, Fritz, Gurtner, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K.
• Application Number:
  US09/903,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20010051792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/134, 604/135, 604/187, 604/207, 604/208, 604/209, 604/210, 604/211, 604/218, 604/224
• US Class Current: 604/208
• 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 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31558 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31561 using freely adjustable volume steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31563 interacting with a displaceable stop member
• 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 5/31593 Multi-dose, i.e. individually set dose repeatedly administered from the same medicament reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/502 for blocking the piston

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for administering an injectable product in doses, wherein the device includes a casing, comprising a reservoir for the product, a piston, which when moved in a feed direction towards an outlet of the reservoir forces product from the reservoir, a gear rack, moving the piston in the feed direction, comprising a first series of teeth and a second series of teeth, a drive member, movable relative to the casing in and counter to the feed direction, and slaving the gear rack when moved in the feed direction, and a blocking means, arranged secured against shifting relative to the casing and cooperating with one of the series of teeth such that it prevents the gear rack from being moved counter to the feed direction and allows the gear rack to be moved in the feed direction.

Claims

1. A device for administering an injectable product in doses, comprising:

a) a casing comprising a reservoir for said product;

b) a piston which when moved in a feed direction towards an outlet of said reservoir forces product out of said reservoir;

c) a gear rack moving said piston in said feed direction, comprising a first series of teeth and a second series of teeth;

d) a drive member movable relative to said casing in and counter to said feed direction, and slaving said gear rack when moved in said feed direction; and

e) at least two blocking means arranged secured against shifting relative to said casing each co-operating with one of said series of teeth such that said blocking means prevent said gear rack from being moved counter to said feed direction and allow said gear rack to be moved in said feed direction by giving elastically, wherein said blocking means do not fully mesh with the tooth gaps of said series of teeth simultaneously, when said gear rack is moved;

wherein

f) said second series of teeth comprises an elongated tooth gap with which said blocking means co-operating with said second series of teeth meshes, when said gear rack assumes a starting position prior to a first administering.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that a tooth gap arranged in said series of teeth directly behind said elongated tooth gap as viewed from said piston is the next tooth gap of said at least two series of teeth with which one of said at least two blocking means meshes.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said gear rack comprises a third series of teeth with which a third blocking means meshes, and in that said third blocking means also does not fully mesh with a tooth gap of said gear rack simultaneously with said at least two other blocking means, when said gear rack is moved.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said third series of teeth also comprises an elongated tooth gap with which said third blocking means cooperating with said third series of teeth fully meshes, when said gear rack assumes a starting position prior to a first administering.

5. The device as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said gear rack comprises a fourth series of teeth with which a fourth blocking means meshes, and in that said fourth blocking means also does not fully mesh with a tooth gap of said gear rack simultaneously with said at least two other blocking means, and preferably also not simultaneously with said third blocking means, when said gear rack is moved.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that said fourth series of teeth also comprises an elongated tooth gap with which said fourth blocking means cooperating with said fourth series of teeth fully meshes, when said gear rack assumes a starting position prior to a first administering.

7. A device for administering an injectable product in doses comprising:

a) a casing comprising a reservoir for said product;

b) a piston which when moved in a feed direction towards an outlet of said reservoir forces product out of said reservoir;

c) a gear rack moving said piston in said feed direction, comprising a first series of teeth and a second series of teeth;

d) a drive member movable relative to said casing in and counter to said feed direction, to which at least two slaving means are connected secured against shifting, each of which co-operates with one of said series of teeth such that only one of said at least two slaving means pushes in said feed direction against a tooth of said gear rack when said drive member is moved, while on the flank of a tooth the other gives elastically, wherein said slaving means allow said drive member to move counter to said feed direction and relative to said gear rack by giving elastically; and

e) a blocking means arranged secured against shifting relative to said casing and co-operating with one of said series of teeth such that it prevents said gear rack from being moved counter to said feed direction and allows said gear rack to be moved in said feed direction;

wherein

f) said second series of teeth comprises an elongated tooth gap with which said slaving means co-operating with said second series of teeth meshes, when said gear rack assumes a starting position prior to a first administering.

8. The device as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that a tooth gap arranged directly behind said elongated tooth gap in said second series of teeth as viewed from said piston is the next tooth gap of said at least two series of teeth with which one of said at least two slaving means meshes.

9. The device as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said gear rack is provided with a third series of teeth with which a third slaving means of said drive member meshes, such that only one of said slaving means pushes in said feed direction against a tooth of said gear rack, when said drive member is moved, and said slaving means allow said drive member to move counter to said feed direction and relative to said gear rack by giving elastically, and in that said gear rack in said third series of teeth comprises an elongated tooth gap with which said slaving means cooperating with said third series of teeth meshes, when said gear rack assumes said starting position.

10. The device as set forth in the claim 9, characterized in that said gear rack is provided with a fourth series of teeth with which a fourth slaving means of said drive member meshes, such that only one of said slaving means is pushed in said feed direction against a tooth of said gear rack, when said drive member is moved, and said slaving means allow said drive member to be moved counter to said feed direction and relative to said gear rack by giving elastically, and in said gear rack in said fourth series of teeth comprises an elongated tooth gap with said slaving means cooperating with said fourth series of teeth meshes, when said gear rack assumes a starting position.

11. A device for administering an injectable product in doses, comprising:

a casing comprising a reservoir for said product, said reservoir comprising an outlet;

a piston which, when moved in a feed direction towards the outlet, forces product out of said reservoir;

a gear rack for moving said piston in said feed direction, comprising a first series of teeth and a second series of teeth;

a drive member movable relative to said casing in and counter to said feed direction, and slaving said gear rack when moved in said feed direction; and

blocking means secured against shifting relative to said casing and co-operating with said series of teeth such that said blocking means prevents said gear rack from being moved counter to said feed direction and allows said gear rack to be moved in said feed direction by giving elastically, wherein said blocking means do not fully mesh with said series of teeth simultaneously when said gear rack is moved;

wherein

said second series of teeth comprises an elongated tooth gap with which said blocking means meshes when said gear rack assumes a starting position prior to a first adminstering.