Injection device and method of assembly and activation

• US 7,563,253 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Oshgan, Robert J., Norman, John S., Tanner, John C., Domkowski, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITCZAK, CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US11/749,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 604/234, 604/232, 604/208, 604/201, 604/198, 604/197, 604/110, 604/233, 604/235
• US Class Current: 604/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2407 from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/247 with fixed or steady piercing means, e.g. piercing under movement of ampoule
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/312 comprising sealing means, e.g. severable caps, to be removed prior to injection by, e.g. tearing or twisting
• 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 5/24 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 5/2466 by piercing without internal pressure increase A61M5/2429 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• 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 5/31515 Connection of piston with piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321

Abstract

An injector device for a pharmaceutical cartridge. The injector device includes a body defining a space for receiving a pharmaceutical cartridge. One or more retention members are disposed on an outer surface of the body. The injector device further includes a plunger rod having a connection member constructed for connection to a piston associated with a cartridge. The plunger rod has one or more receiving members constructed to cooperatively retain the plunger rod on the body in a first position, and to release the plunger rod from the body when the plunger rod is moved to a second position. The plunger rod further includes a surface for engaging a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within the body of said injector and for moving a pharmaceutical cartridge distally as the plunger rod is moved from its first position to its second position, thereby activating the cartridge.

Claims

1. A system for delivering a pharmaceutical product from a cartridge having a first, inactivated condition and a second, activated condition, said system comprising:

an injector body having a side wall having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said side wall defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a cartridge;

one or more retention members disposed on said outer surface of said side wall of said injector body;

a plunger rod having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and one or more receiving members between said proximal end portion and said distal end portion; and

,

said one or more retention members and said one or more receiving members constructed to cooperatively retain said plunger rod to said injector body adjacent said outer surface of said side wall of said injector body when said plunger rod is in a first position, said one or more retention members and said one or more receiving members constructed to cooperatively release said plunger rod from said injector body when said plunger rod is transitioned axially toward said distal end of said injector body to a second position, said plunger rod having a pushing surface for engaging a cartridge positioned within said cavity of said injector body, said pushing surface constructed to move a cartridge positioned within said injector body axially as said plunger rod is moved from said first position to said second position, whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position activates a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within said cavity.

2. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said retention members are connected to the injector body in the first position of the plunger rod, and wherein said retention members are disassociated from the injector body in the second position of the plunger rod.

3. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said retention members comprise frangible posts, and wherein said receiving members comprise apertures configured to fixedly receive the retention members.

4. The injector system of claim 3, wherein said posts have a tab extending transversely therefrom, and wherein said apertures have resilient members with a flange that fixedly engage the tab to prevent reverse movement of the posts.

5. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said plunger rod further has a pushing surface for engaging a cartridge positioned within said cavity of said injector body, and wherein said pushing surface has a nub projecting transversely therefrom, said nub precluding access to a grommet at a proximal end of a cartridge positioned within said cavity.

6. The injector system of claim 5, wherein said nub extends partially into a proximal end portion of a cartridge positioned within said cavity of said injector body.

7. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said retention members comprise one or more wing members spatially disposed on the outer surface of said injector body, said one or more wing members each having a retaining tab for engaging said one or more receiving members of said plunger rod, and wherein said one or more receiving members on said plunger rod comprise one or more ledges for mating with said wing members.

8. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said distal end portion of said plunger rod has a connection member constructed to attach to a connecting member associated with a piston of a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within said cavity.

9. The injector system of claim 8, wherein said connection member of said plunger rod has threads formed thereon whereby said plunger rod can be threadably secured to a connecting member mounted on a piston associated with a cartridge positioned within said cavity.

10. The injector system of claim 8, wherein said connection member of said plunger rod has a snap-fit member constructed to connect by snap fit to a connecting member mounted on a piston associated with a cartridge positioned within said cavity.

11. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a pharmaceutical cartridge comprising:

a cartridge body portion defining an interior space for retaining a pharmaceutical product;

a piston positioned within the interior space defined by said cartridge body portion of said pharmaceutical cartridge at a proximal end portion of said cartridge body portion, said piston fluidly sealing a proximal end of said cartridge body portion, said piston having a connecting member associated therewith;

a pierceable diaphragm fluidly sealing a distal end portion of said cartridge body portion;

a hub slidably mounted on said distal end portion of said cartridge body portion, said hub including a piercing member constructed to pierce said pierceable diaphragm, said piercing member defining a flow channel, said cartridge body portion slidably movable between a first, inactivated position in which said piercing member is disposed external to said interior space defined by said cartridge body portion and a second, activated position in which said piercing member is disposed through said pierceable diaphragm and in which said flow channel defined by said piercing member is in fluid communication with said interior space defined by said cartridge body portion; and

,

wherein a pharmaceutical product disposed in said interior space defined by said cartridge body portion can be ejected through said flow channel defined by said piercing member by moving said piston toward said distal end portion of said pharmaceutical cartridge.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hub is fixed in place in the cavity of the injector body with a clip.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the clip has projections that extend through openings in the side wall of the injector body to engage the hub to prevent axial and radial movement of the hub.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising transverse finger grips extending from said proximal end portion of said injector body, and grip openings in said sidewall of said injector body, said grip openings being positioned on said distal end side of finger grips.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said injector body is at least partially transparent, wherein said cartridge has a machine readable member thereon, and wherein said machine readable member on said cartridge is readable through said injector body when said cartridge is positioned within said cavity of said injector body.

16. A system for delivering a pharmaceutical product from a cartridge having a first, inactivated condition and a second, activated condition, comprising:

an injector body having a side wall having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said side wall defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a cartridge, said outer surface of said injector body having one or more frangible posts extending therefrom;

a plunger rod having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and one or more receiving apertures between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion thereof; and

,

wherein said one or more receiving apertures are adapted to mate with said one or more frangible posts to fixedly retain said plunger rod to said injector body adjacent the outer surface of the injector body when said plunger rod is in a first position and to preclude movement of said plunger rod prior to a force being applied to fracture said frangible posts from said injector body, thereby moving said plunger rod to a second position and releasing said plunger rod;

said plunger rod having a pushing surface for engaging a cartridge positioned within said cavity of said injector body, said pushing surface constructed to move a cartridge positioned within said injector body axially as said plunger rod is moved from said first position to said second position, whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position activates a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within said cavity.

17. The system of claim 16, said frangible posts having tabs extending therefrom, and said receiving apertures having resilient fingers with flanges to engage the tabs on the frangible posts.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said frangible posts have a necked-down portion adjacent the sidewall of the injector body, said necked-down portion providing an area to facilitate fracture of the posts from the injector body following axial movement of the plunger rod.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said frangible posts are retained in said receiving apertures and disassociated from said injector body when said plunger rod is moved to a second position.

20. A system for delivering a pharmaceutical product from a cartridge having an inactivated state and an inactivated stated, said system comprising:

an injector body having a side wall having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said side wall defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a cartridge;

a plunger rod having a body portion and a pusher member extending transversely from said body portion, said plunger rod being secured to said side wall of said injector body when said plunger rod is in a first, inactivated position, said plunger rod being detached from said side wall of said injector body when said plunger rod is in a second, activated position, said pusher member having a nub projecting transversely therefrom, wherein said nub is positioned at least partially within a cavity at an end of a cartridge positioned within said cavity when said plunger rod is in said first, inactivated position, and wherein said nub is positioned outside a cavity at an end of a cartridge positioned within said cavity when said plunger rod is in said second activated position.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said injector body has one or more retention members extending from said sidewall, wherein said plunger rod has one or more receiving members in the body portion thereof, said receiving members constructed to cooperatively retain said plunger rod to said injector body adjacent the outer surface of the injector body when said plunger rod is in a first position, said one or more retention members and said one or more receiving members constructed to cooperatively release said plunger rod from said injector body when said plunger rod is transitioned axially toward said distal end of said injector body to a second position.

22. A system for delivering a pharmaceutical product from a cartridge, comprising:

an injector body having a side wall having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said side wall defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a cartridge;

a pair of finger grips extending transversely from said injector body, the finger grips configured to allow a medical professional to engage the finger grips for activating the system;

an opening in the sidewall of said injector body adjacent the finger grips, said opening providing a decreased diametrical position for said fingers of said medical professional on said finger grips to reside; and

,

a plunger rod having a body portion and a pusher member extending transversely from said body portion, said plunger rod being secured to said outer surface of said side wall of said injector body in a first position, said plunger rod being released from said outer surface of said side wall of said injector body in a second position, said plunger rod having a pushing surface for engaging a cartridge positioned within said cavity of said injector body, said pushing surface constructed to move a cartridge positioned within said injector body axially as said plunger rod is moved from said first position to said second position, whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position activates a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within said cavity.

23. An injector for use with a pharmaceutical cartridge having a body portion fluidly sealed at a proximal end thereof by a piston having a connecting member associated therewith, the pharmaceutical cartridge being fluidly sealed at a distal end thereof by a pierceable diaphragm, the pharmaceutical cartridge further including a hub slidably mounted on a distal end portion of the body portion, the hub having a piercing member associated therewith such that the piercing member is fluidly sealed from a pharmaceutical product contained in the body portion of the pharmaceutical cartridge when the cartridge is in a first, inactivated position relative to the body portion of the pharmaceutical cartridge, and such that the piercing member is disposed through the pierceable diaphragm and in fluid contact with the pharmaceutical product contained in the body of the pharmaceutical cartridge when the cartridge is in a second, activated position such that the pharmaceutical product contained in the body of the pharmaceutical cartridge can be ejected from the cartridge through a flow channel defined through the piercing member by moving the piston toward the distal end of the body portion, the injector comprising:

a body having a side wall having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said side wall defining a space for receiving at least a portion of a body of a pharmaceutical cartridge therein;

one or more retention members disposed on said outer surface of said body;

a plunger rod having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said distal end portion of said plunger rod having a connection member constructed for connection to a connecting member mounted on a piston associated with a cartridge, said plunger rod having one or more engagement surfaces formed along a length of said plunger rod;

said one or more retention members and said one or more engagement surfaces constructed to cooperatively retain said plunger rod on said body when said plunger rod is in a first position, said one or more retention members and said one or more engagement surfaces constructed to cooperatively release said plunger rod from said body when said plunger rod is moved toward said distal end of said body to a second position; and

said plunger rod further including a surface for engaging a proximal end of a body of a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within said body of said injector, said surface constructed to move a proximal end of a body of a pharmaceutical cartridge distally as said plunger rod is moved from said first position to said second position;

whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position releases said plunger rod from said body of said injector, and whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position simultaneously activates a pharmaceutical cartridge disposed within said body of said injector.

24. An injector in accordance with claim 23, wherein said plunger rod comprises a ledge defining said one or more engagement surfaces formed along said length of said plunger rod.

25. An injector in accordance with claim 23, wherein said one or more retention members disposed on said outer surface of said body each comprise one or more wing members having a retaining tab for engaging said one or more engagement surfaces of said plunger rod.

26. An injector in accordance with claim 23, wherein said connection member of said plunger rod has threads formed thereon whereby said plunger rod can be threadably secured to a connecting member mounted on a piston associated with a cartridge.

27. An injector in accordance with claim 23, wherein said connection member of said plunger rod includes a snap-fit member constructed to connect by snap fit to a connecting member mounted on a piston associated with a cartridge.

28. A system for delivering a pharmaceutical product from a cartridge, said system comprising:

an injector body having a side wall having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface of said side wall defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a cartridge, said side wall having one or more retention members extending outwardly therefrom;

a plunger rod having a body portion and a pusher member extending transversely from said body portion, said plunger rod being secured to said injector body, said pusher member having a nub projecting transversely therefrom, wherein said nub is positioned at least partially within a cavity at an end of a cartridge positioned within said cavity when said plunger rod is a first position connected to said injector body;

said plunger rod having one or more receiving members on a body portion thereof, said retention members and said receiving members constructed to cooperatively retain said plunger rod to said injector body adjacent said outer surface of said injector body when said plunger rod is said first position, said one or more retention members and said one or more receiving members constructed to cooperatively release said plunger rod from said injector body when said plunger rod is transitioned axially toward said distal end of said injector body to a second position.