Drive mechanism for an injection device

• US 7,052,484 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Dca Design International Ltd.
• Inventors: Veasey, Robert Frederick, Langley, Christopher Nigel, Woolston, Robert, Day, Shane Alistair
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thompson, Michael M
• Application Number:
  US10/433,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030298A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 Days
• Field of Search: 604 30- 34, 604/48, 604/500, 604/503, 604505-509, 604 65- 68, 604118-119, 604/131, 604/290, 604151-155, 604245-254, 604207-211, 604/246, 604/248, 128/DIG.12, 128/DIG.13, 417 18- 25
• US Class Current: 604/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31588 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/215 Tilt detection, e.g. for warning or shut-off
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31546 Electrically operated dose setting, e.g. input via touch screen or plus/minus buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe

Abstract

A drive mechanism for an injection device is disclosed in which piston means 306 are selectively driven to expel medicament from within a medicament cartridge 40. A drive mechanism for controlling the movement of the piston means is described comprising a housing 302, a shuttle 300 located for movement within the housing 302 along a longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position, and drive means to move the shuttle 300 within the housing 302. A gear component 304 is located within the housing 302 for rotation about the longitudinal axis and associated with the piston means 306, movement of the shuttle 300 between each of the first and the second positions causing movement of the piston means 306.

Claims

1. A drive mechanism for an injection device in which piston means is selectively driven to expel medicament from within a medicament cartridge, the drive mechanism controlling movement of the piston means and comprising:

a housing;

a shuttle located for movement within the housing along a longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;

drive means for driving the shuttle to move within the housing; and

a gear component located within the housing and arranged for rotation about the longitudinal axis, the gear component being associated with the piston means and cooperating with the shuttle such that movement of the shuttle between each of the first and the second positions causes rotation of the gear component and movement of the piston means.

2. A drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive means comprises separately energisable coils located at each end of the housing and an annular permanent magnet located between the coils acting upon the shuttle, the shuttle comprising at least one ferrite core.

3. A drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the shuttle and the gear component are each provided with teeth upon an annular surface thereof, and engagement of the shuttle with the gear component causes the gear component to be rotated by a fixed increment.

4. A drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the shuttle and the gear component are each provided with teeth upon an annular surface thereof, and engagement of the shuttle with the gear component causes the gear component to be rotated by a fixed increment.

5. A drive mechanism of a drug delivery device, the drive mechanism comprising:

a housing;

a drive shaft projecting from the housing and having a longitudinal axis, the drive shaft being supported for rotation within the housing about the longitudinal axis;

a gear component located coaxial with the drive shaft within the housing and arranged for rotation about the longitudinal axis, wherein rotation of the gear component transmits rotational drive to the drive shaft;

a shuttle located within the housing for movement between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis, and which engages the gear component at least one of the first position and the second position so as to cause rotation of the gear component; and

drive means that drives the shuttle to move between the first position and the second position.

6. A drive mechanism of a drug delivery device, the drive mechanism comprising:

a housing;

a drive shaft projecting from the housing and having a longitudinal axis, the drive shaft being supported within the housing for axial movement along the longitudinal axis;

a gear component located coaxial with the drive shaft within the housing, and arranged for rotation about the longitudinal axis, where rotation of the gear component transmits axial drive to the drive shaft;

a shuttle located within the housing for movement between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis, and which engages the gear component at least one of the first position and the second position so as to cause rotation of the gear component; and

drive means that drives the shuttle to move between the first position and the second position.

7. A drug delivery device that receives a medicament cartridge for delivery of medicament from within the medicament cartridge, the drug delivery device comprising:

a piston selectively driven within the medicament cartridge to expel medicament from the medicament cartridge; and

a drive mechanism that drives the piston, the drive mechanism comprising;

a housing;

a drive shaft projecting from the housing and having a longitudinal axis, the drive shaft being supported for rotation within the housing about the longitudinal axis to drive the piston;

a gear component located coaxial with the drive shaft within the housing and arranged for rotation about the longitudinal axis, where rotation of the gear component transmits rotatational drive to the drive shaft;

a shuttle located within the housing for movement between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis, and which engages the gear component at least one of the first position and the second position so as to cause rotation of the gear component; and

drive means that drives the shuttle between the first position and the second position.

8. A drug delivery device that receives a medicament cartridge for delivery of medicament from within the medicament cartridge, the drug delivery device comprising:

a piston selectively driven within the medicament cartridge to expel medicament from the medicament cartridge; and

a drive mechanism that drives the piston, the drive mechanism comprising;

a housing;

a drive shaft projecting from the housing and having a longitudinal axis, the drive shaft being supported for axial movement in the housing, along the longitudinal axis, to drive the piston;

a gear component located coaxial with the drive shaft within the housing and arranged for rotation about the longitudinal axis, where rotation of the gear component transmits axial drive to the drive shaft;

a shuttle located within the housing for movement between a first position and a second position along the longitudinal axis, and which engages the gear component at least one of the first position and the second position so as to cause rotation of the gear component; and

drive means that drives the shuttle between the first position and the second position.