Injection device and method of assembly and activation

• US 7,569,036 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hospira Incorporated (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Domkowski, John A., Oshgan, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Witczak; Catherine N
• Application Number:
  US11/935,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20080103455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 604232-235, 604/208, 604/201, 604/198, 604/197, 604/110
• 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 the 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. A tamper evident band is secured to plunger rod and injector body.

Claims

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

an injector body having a side wall, said side wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, 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 proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said plunger rod having a pushing surface for engaging a cartridge positioned within said cavity of said injector body;

one or more retention members disposed on one of said outer surface of said injector body and an outer surface of said plunger rod, the other of said injector body and said plunger rod having one or more receiving members adapted to engage said retention members when said plunger rod is in a first position;

said pushing surface of said plunger rod constructed to move a cartridge positioned within said cavity axially as said plunger rod is moved from said first position to a second position, whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position releases said plunger rod from said injector body, and whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position simultaneously activates a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within said cavity; and

,

a tamper-evident band having a first portion secured to said injector body and a second portion secured to said plunger rod.

2. The injector system of claim 1, wherein one of said first portion and said second portion of said tamper-evident band has a frangible portion that fractures upon certain movement of said plunger rod with respect to said injector body.

3. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said tamper-evident band has a distinct color different from said injector body and said plunger rod to provide a visual indicator upon fracture to a user.

4. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said one or more retention members and said one or more receiving members are constructed to cooperatively retain said plunger rod to said injector body adjacent said outer surface 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.

5. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said one or more retention members are disposed on said outer surface of said injector body, and wherein said one or more receiving members are provided in said plunger rod between said proximal end and said distal end thereof.

6. The injector system of claim 5, wherein said one or more receiving members comprise a cavity having a mating configuration to said retaining members.

7. The injector system of claim 1, wherein a portion of said one or more retention members proximal said outer surface of said injector body have a narrower cross- sectional width than a cross-sectional width of a portion of said retention member distal said outer surface of said injector body to define a dovetail-type configuration.

8. The injector system of claim 1, wherein said pushing surface has an exterior flange extending transversely therefrom to define a cavity for receiving a proximal end of a cartridge, said pushing surface with said flange cooperating to preclude access to a grommet at a proximal end of a cartridge positioned within said cavity.

9. 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.

10. The injector system of claim 9, 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.

11. The injector system of claim 1, further comprising a hinge clip hingably connected to said injector body, said hinge clip being hingably moveable from a first position wherein a majority of said hinge clip is outside of said cavity of said injector body, and a second position wherein a portion of said hinge clip is inside said cavity of said injector body to laterally retain a hub connected to a cartridge positioned within said cavity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said hinge clip is connected to said injector body in both said first and second positions.

13. The system of claim11, wherein said hinge 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. 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 plunger rod having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said plunger rod having a pushing surface for engaging a cartridge positioned within said cavity of said injector body; and

,

a retention member disposed on one of said outer surface of said sidewall of said injector body and an outer surface of said plunger rod, the other of said injector body and said plunger rod having a receiving member adapted to engage said retention member, wherein cooperation of said retention member and said receiving member precludes radial and rotational movement of the plunger rod when the plunger rod is connected adjacent the sidewall of the injector body in a first position, and wherein said cooperation of said retention member and said receiving member allows axial movement of said plunger rod with respect to said injector body to a second position in which plunger rod is released from said injector body;

wherein said pushing surface of said plunger rod is constructed to move a cartridge positioned within said cavity 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 releases said plunger rod from said injector body, and whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position simultaneously activates a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within said cavity.

15. The injector system of claim 14, wherein a portion of said retention member proximal said outer surface of said injector body has a narrower cross-sectional width than a cross-sectional width of a portion of said retention member distal said outer surface of said injector body to define a dovetail-type configuration, and wherein said receiving member comprises a cavity having a mating configuration to said retaining member.

16. The injector system of claim 14, wherein said retention member extends from said injector body, and wherein said plunger rod contains said receiving member.

17. The injector system of claim 14, further comprising a tamper-evident band having a first portion secured to the injector body and a second portion secured to the plunger rod.

18. An injection system for delivering a pharmaceutical product from a cartridge, comprising:

an injector body having a side wall, said side wall having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, 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 injector body being made of a first material;

a plunger rod having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, said plunger rod releasably connected to said injector body in a first position, and said plunger rod being removable from said injector body in a second position, said plunger body being made of a second material, said plunger rod having a pushing surface for engaging a cartridge positioned within said cavity of said injector body, wherein said pushing surface of said plunger is constructed to move a cartridge positioned within said cavity 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 releases said plunger rod from said injector body, and whereby movement of said plunger rod from said first position to said second position simultaneously activates a pharmaceutical cartridge positioned within said cavity; and

,

a tamper-evident band having a first portion secured to said injector body and a second portion secured to said plunger rod, said tamper-evident band being made of a third material, wherein said first material, said second material and said third material are different materials, and wherein said first material, said second material and said third material preclude chemical and mechanical bonding therebetween said materials.