Spray device or injection device enabling delivery of at least two predetermined product doses

• US 7,681,570 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton Dickinson France (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Vedrine, Lionel, Perot, Frederic, Barrelle, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTRUP, CLINTON T
• Application Number:
  US10/529,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20060124778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.17, 128/200.19, 128/207.18, 604/208, 604/220, 604/234
• US Class Current: 128/200.19
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2429 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2459 upon internal pressure increase, e.g. pierced or burst A61M5/2429 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/315 Pistons; Piston-rods; Guiding, blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston; Appliances on the rod for facilitating dosing ; Dosing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31595 Pre-defined multi-dose administration by repeated overcoming of means blocking the free advancing movement of piston rod, e.g. by tearing or de-blocking
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/02 Membranes or pistons acting on the contents inside the container, e.g. follower pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/025 with stepwise advancement of the piston, e.g. for spraying a predetermined quantity of content

Abstract

A spray or injection device that includes a casing or a pusher that includes at least one tab configured to move radially between a first radial position in which the tab does not impede the movement of the pusher with respect to the casing, and a second radial position in which the tab opposes movement of the pusher. The tab includes an opening. The pusher or the casing, respectively, includes at least one ramp-shaped projection configured to bring the tab into the second radial position then to penetrate the opening thereby allowing the tab to return to the first radial position. The pusher or the casing, respectively, further includes at least one stop region against which the tab abuts when the tab is brought into the second radial position by the projection. The stop region occurring just before the projection being opposite the opening.

Claims

1. A spray or injection device for spraying or injecting a product of interest, in liquid form, the device being configured to deliver at least a first and a second preset dose of said product in succession, said device extending along a reference axis from a distal end to a proximal end, the device comprising:

an axially elongate container containing said product;

a plunger disposed in and blocking off the container, the plunger being axially moveable with respect to the container, in the reference direction, and allowing said product to be propelled distally from the container;

a casing configured to accommodate and axially secure said container;

a pusher assembled with the casing, the pusher being moveable with respect to the casing, and configured to come into axial and proximal abutment against the container or the plunger, and to move said plunger in the reference direction;

means for controlling the length of travel of the pusher with respect to the casing, the controlling means being configured divide the length of travel of the pusher into a first travel portion and a second travel portion, and determine the respective delivery of the first and second doses, the casing and the pusher being configured to be axially moveable one with respect to the other in a pushing direction, and generate the movement of the plunger in the reference direction, the control means comprising at least one tab arranged on the pusher or the casing, and configured to move between a first, unstressed, normal position in which said tab does not block the axial movement of the pusher, and a stressed, flexed, second position in which said tab halts the axial movement of the pusher, said tab at a free end comprising a pressing region or element configured to contribute both to the halting of the axial movement of the pusher and to the flexing of the tab under the effect of the axial movement of the pusher;

at least one ramp cooperating with said tab from an initial end (86a) to a final end, and arranged respectively on the casing or on the pusher, against which the pressing region or the element of said tab bears in the direction of pressure of said pusher, said ramp being configured to bring said tab from the normal first position to the flexed second position;

at least one stop cooperating with the pressing region or element of the tab, and arranged respectively on the casing or the pusher, respectively, beyond or before the final end of the ramp in the direction of pressure, against which the pressing region or element of the tab abuts in the flexed second position; and

at least one nonpressing region or opening which is either arranged on the tab before or beyond said pressing region or element, depending on whether said tab is arranged on the pusher or on the casing, or arranged on the casing before the stop when the tab is arranged on the pusher and the pressing element cooperates with a hollowed ramp formed on the casing, said nonpressing region or opening being configured to allow said pressing region or element to return to the first, unstressed, normal position from the stressed, flexed second position of the tab when the pressure on the pusher is released;

wherein the first portion of travel of the pusher is determined by the movement of the pusher as far as the axial stop position, following contact between the pressing region or element and the stop, and the second portion of travel being is determined by the movement of the pusher beyond the axial position in which the nonpressing region or opening has accommodated the pressing region or element.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexed second position of the tab is obtained by radial stress.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tab arranged on the pusher or the casing comprises a nonpressing window set back with respect to said pressing region or element wherein the ramp is included in a projection arranged respectively on the casing or the pusher and configured to pass freely through said window, and wherein, if the stop is arranged in the flexed second position of said tab, the projection faces the window of the tab, and penetrates through said window when the pressure on the pusher is released, causing said tab to return to the first position.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flexed second position of the tab is obtained by tangential stress.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4,

wherein the tab is arranged on the pusher, and disposed at the free end of the tab is a stud extending transversely toward the casing, and an anterior cut disposed proximate to said tab allowing the tab to deflect tangentially from the first, normal, position to the second flexed position;

wherein the ramp is arranged on the casing, and comprises a hollow area to accommodate the stud, and extends more or less obliquely in the wall of the casing, from the initial end to the final end;

wherein the stop that cooperates with the stud arranged on the casing beyond the final end of the ramp is determined by the joint, at an angle, but with continuity, of said ramp with a ramp return;

wherein the nonpressing region or opening arranged in a hollow area on the casing before the stop is configured to accommodate the stud when the tab returns to the normal position; and

wherein an axial slot extends, continuous with the nonpressing region, beyond the nonpressing region.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the axial slot opens out freely into a through opening in the casing, and the second portion of travel of the pusher is determined by the abutment of the plunger against the wall of the container.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, before the initial end of the ramp, and continuous with the ramp, a housing is included in which the stud is disposed, to allow definitive assembly of the pusher and of the casing.

8. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, beyond the nonpressing region or opening, and continuous with the nonpressing region or opening, a housing is included in which the stud is disposed.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one tongue distinct from or independent of the tab, arranged on the pusher or the casing depending on whether the tab is arranged on the pusher or on the casing, configured to move between the first unstressed normal position in which said tongue does not impede the axial movement of the pusher and the second stressed, flexed position in which said tongue contributes to returning the pusher to allow said tab to return to the first, unstressed normal position, from the second, stressed, flexed position, and wherein the ramp and the free end of the tongue are configured to cooperate with one another such that, during the first portion of travel of the pusher, the tongue is flexed, and during the second portion of travel of the pusher, the tongue escapes from the ramp and returns to the first, unstressed normal position.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flexed second position of the tongue is obtained by tangential stress when the flexed second position of the tab is obtained by tangential stress.

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flexed second position of the tongue is obtained by radial stress when the flexed second position of the tab is obtained by radial stress.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tab arranged on the pusher or the casing comprises a nonpressing window, the ramp is included in a projection arranged respectively on the casing or on the pusher and configured pass freely through said window the stop is arranged such that, when said tab is in the second, stressed, flexed second position, the projection faces the window of the tab and penetrates through said window when the pressure on the pusher is released, causing said tab to return to the first, unstressed, normal position.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the tongue is arranged at the center of the window, the free end of the tongue remains before the element and comprises two ears for pressing against the ramp the ramp comprises two flanges arranged one on each side of a slot allowing the tongue free passage in translation, and each ear comes into contact with a ramp portion defined by a flange in the direction of pressure of the plunger to escape from said ramp portion beyond the first portion of travel of the pusher.