Collapsible syringe cartridge

• US 7,011,649 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: ALZA Corporation (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Scott J., De La Serna, Pedro E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US10/291,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/139, 604/134, 604/156, 604/135, 604/157, 604/136, 604/196, 604/137, 604/197, 604/138, 604/198
• US Class Current: 604/197
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• 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 5/2053 Media being expelled from injector by pressurised fluid or vacuum for infusion A61M5/145, A61M5/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/28 Syringe ampoules or carpules, i.e. ampoules or carpules provided with a needle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3271 with guiding tracks for controlled sliding of needle protective sleeve from needle exposing to needle covering position
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/46 having means for controlling depth of insertion

Abstract

The present invention provides a syringe cartridge that is sufficiently robust to be used in autoinjectors that generate injection forces sufficient to deliver viscous medicaments. The syringe cartridge of the present invention includes a syringe, a bias mechanism, and a casing. The casing of the syringe cartridge of the present invention includes a collapsible portion and a fixed portion. Advantageously, the collapsible portion of the casing collapses within the fixed portion of the casing as the syringe is driven through its stroke within the syringe cartridge. As the collapsible portion collapses within the fixed portion, the length of the syringe cartridge is effectively reduced, which, in turn, allows the use of a shorter plunger and thereby facilitates the construction of a more compact autoinjector.

Claims

1. A syringe cartridge comprising:

a syringe with an associated needle; and

a casing exhibiting a first length that includes a fixed portion and a collapsible portion, wherein the syringe is positioned through the collapsible portion of the casing, and the syringe, the fixed portion of the casing and the collapsible portion of the casing are configured such that, upon application of a force to the syringe, the collapsible portion of the casing is motivated into the fixed portion of the casing and the first length of the casing is reducible to the length of the fixed portion.

2. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a bias member.

3. The syringe cartridge of claim 2, wherein the bias member biases the collapsible portion of the casing in a normally extended position relative to the fixed portion of the casing such that the needle associated with the syringe is normally retracted within the fixed portion of the casing.

4. The syringe cartridge of claim 2, wherein the bias member is selected from a group consisting of a spring, a fluid filled bladder, and a natural or synthetic rubber or polymer material.

5. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a mounting mechanism configured to allow the syringe cartridge to be removably mounted to an injection device.

6. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises a first set of threads complimentary to a second set of threads included in an injection device.

7. The syringe cartridge of claim 6, wherein the first and second sets of complimentary threads are configured to allow the syringe cartridge to be removably mounted within the injection device.

8. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises one or more locking tabs that are complimentary to a locking ring included in an injection device.

9. The syringe cartridge of claim 8, wherein the one or more locking tabs and the complimentary locking ring are configured to allow the syringe cartridge to be removably mounted within the injection device.

10. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, wherein the fixed portion of the casing further comprises an adjustable tip.

11. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism configured to lock the collapsible portion of the casing relative to the fixed portion of the casing such that movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is prevented.

12. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to transition between a locked position, wherein movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is prevented, and an unlocked position, wherein movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is permitted; and

an interlock mechanism configured to maintain the locking mechanism in the locked position as the locked position is achieved or in the unlocked position as the unlocked position is achieved.

13. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to transition between a locked position, wherein movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is prevented, and an unlocked position, wherein movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is permitted;

an interlock mechanism configured to maintain the locking mechanism in the locked position as the locked position is achieved or in the unlocked position as the unlocked position is achieved; and

a mounting mechanism configured to allow the syringe cartridge to be mounted to an injection device.

14. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism configured to transition between a locked position, wherein movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is prevented, and an unlocked position, wherein movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is permitted;

an interlock mechanism configured to maintain the locking mechanism in the locked position as the locked position is achieved or in the unlocked position as the unlocked position is achieved; and

a mounting mechanism by which the syringe cartridge can be mounted to an injection device, the mounting mechanism being configured such that mounting of the syringe cartridge to the injection device facilitates actuation of the interlock mechanism and transitions the interlocking mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position.

15. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to transition between a locked position, wherein movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is prevented, and an unlocked position, wherein movement of the collapsible portion of the casing within the fixed portion of the casing is permitted.

16. The syringe cartridge of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism is configured such that the locking mechanism can be transitioned between the locked and unlocked positions through rotational movement of the collapsible portion of the casing relative to the fixed portion of the casing.

17. The syringe cartridge of claim 1, wherein the collapsible portion of the casing includes one or more members extending away from an outer surface of the collapsible portion, the fixed portion of the casing includes one or more passages complimentary to the one or more members included on the outer surface of the collapsible portion, and the fixed and collapsible portions of the casing are configured such that, when the one or more members included on the outer surface of the collapsible portion are aligned with the one or more passages complimentary to the one or more members, the collapsible portion of the casing can be motivated into the fixed portion of the casing.

18. The syringe cartridge of claim 17, wherein the collapsible portion of the casing and the fixed portion of the casing are configured such that, when the one or more members included on the outer surface of the collapsible portion are not aligned with the one or more passages complimentary to the one or more members, the collapsible portion of the casing can not be motivated into the fixed portion of the casing.