Training device for an automatic injector

• US 7,682,155 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mylan Specialty L.P. (Pfizer Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meridian Medical Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Young, Matthew E., Smetham, Grant, Raven, Sophie R., O'Prey, Cormac, Wilmot, John G., Reber, Dominic C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fernstrom; Kurt
• Application Number:
  US11/592,387
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 434/262, 434/267, 434/268, 434/272, 604/134, 604/135, 604192-196
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/285 for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas

Abstract

A resettable training device and method for training a user on the operation of an auto-injector for dispensing a medicament are provided. The user can operate the training device to simulate an auto-injector operation and then reset the training device to repeat the injector operation. The training device includes a housing, a cover member slidably received within the housing between a retracted operative position and an extended inoperative position, a spring member for biasing the cover member into the extended position, an actuation assembly that controls the movement of the cover member from the retracted position to the extended position in response to activation of the trainer by the user, a safety pin, and in some embodiments at least one releasable locking assembly to prevent movement of the cover member from the extended position to the retracted position.

Claims

1. A training device for training a user on the operation of an auto-injector that dispenses a medicament, the training device comprising:

a housing;

a cover member slidably received within the housing, the cover member slidable from a retracted position relative to the housing prior to operation of the training device to an extended position relative to the housing after operation of the training device;

a spring member for biasing the cover member into the extended position;

an actuation assembly operatively connected to the cover member, the actuation assembly controlling the movement of the cover member from the retracted position to the extended position in response to activation of the trainer by the user; and

a safety pin removably connected to the actuation assembly, the safety pin preventing activation of the training device and movement of the cover member from the retracted position to the extended position when the safety pin is connected to the actuation assembly.

2. The training device of claim 1 wherein the cover member includes an elongated arm having a guide tooth formed thereon, the guide tooth operatively connected to the actuation assembly.

3. The training device of claim 2 wherein the actuation assembly comprises:

a central cavity; and

a guide track formed within the cavity, the guide tooth constructed and arranged to travel along the guide track as the cover member moves from a substantially retracted position to the extended position.

4. The training device of claim 3 wherein the actuation assembly further includes a guide adjacent the guide track for orienting the guide tooth within the guide track.

5. The training device of claim 3 wherein the actuation assembly further includes a retention bridge for contacting the elongated arm such that the guide tooth remains positioned within the guide track.

6. The training device of claim 3 wherein the guide track includes a retention ledge formed therein, the retention ledge constructed and arranged to limit movement of the cover member in a first direction such that the cover member does not move from the retracted position to the extended position in the first direction.

7. The training device of claim 6 wherein the guide tooth engages the retention ledge.

8. The training device of claim 6 wherein the safety pin is constructed and arranged to limit the movement of the cover member in a second direction opposite the first direction such that the cover member does not move from the retracted position to the extended position when the safety pin is connected to the actuation assembly.

9. The training device of claim 8 wherein the safety pin engages the guide tooth and the elongated arm to limit movement of the cover member in the second direction.

10. The training device of claim 8 wherein upon removal of the safety pin, the cover member is capable of moving in the second direction in response to an application of force on the cover member.

11. The training device of claim 3 wherein the guide track includes an actuation ledge formed therein, the actuation ledge constructed and arranged such that the cover member travels from the retracted position to the extended position in response to the guide tooth traveling over the actuation ledge.

12. The training device of claim 11 wherein the cover member travels from the retracted position to the extended position under the bias of the spring assembly.

13. The training device of claim 11 wherein the actuation assembly includes a retention assembly to limit further movement of the cover member when the cover member is in the extended position.

14. The training device of claim 13 wherein the actuation assembly further includes a retention bridge for contacting the elongated arm such that the guide tooth remains positioned within the retention assembly.

15. The training device of claim 1 wherein the cover member includes at least one locking assembly to prevent movement of the cover member from the extended position to the retracted position when the cover member is in the extended position.

16. The training device of claim 15 wherein the cover member includes an elongated body and the at least one locking assembly comprises:

a locking arm connected to the elongated body, the locking arm including a locking portion having a locking surface, the locking arm flexing to a locked position such that the locking surface engages a portion of the housing to maintain the cover member in the extended position.

17. The training device of claim 16 wherein the locking arm is constructed and arranged to be temporarily compressed such that the locking surface disengages the housing to enable the cover member to move from the extended position to the retracted position.

18. The training device of claim 17 wherein the locking portion includes a stop to limit the compression of the locking arm.

19. The training device of claim 1 wherein a pin on the safety pin is received within an opening in the actuation assembly to prevent actuation of the trainer.

20. The training device of claim 1 wherein the safety pin includes at least one tab extending therefrom, the at least one tab being compression fit into a complimentary recess formed in the actuation assembly.

21. The training device of claim 1 wherein the safety pin enables a resetting operation of the cover member returning to the retracted position from the extended position when the safety pin is connected to the actuation assembly.

22. The training device of claim 4 wherein the guide is constructed and arranged within the central cavity to direct the guide tooth towards a retention ledge in the guide track during a resetting operation.

23. The training device of claim 3 wherein the safety pin engages the guide tooth and the elongated arm to limit movement of the cover member in a second direction during a resetting operation.

24. A method of using a training device to train a user of an auto-injector to properly operate the auto-injector to dispense a dosage of medicament, the training device including a housing, a cover member slidably received within the housing between a retracted position relative to the housing and an extended position relative to the housing, an actuation assembly operatively connected to the cover member to control the movement of the cover member from the retracted position to the extended position, and a safety pin removably connected to the actuation assembly, the method comprising:

removing the safety pin from one end of the training device to place the training device in an operative state;

operating the training device such that the cover member moves from the retracted position to the extended position, placing the training device in an inoperative state;

replacing the safety pin; and

resetting the training device.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein operating the training device comprises:

pressing an opposite end of the training device against a predetermined surface of the user;

holding the training device against the predetermined surface for a predetermined amount of time; and

removing the training device from the predetermined surface allowing the cover member to move from the retracted position to the extended position.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein removing the training device comprises removing the training device from the predetermined surface allowing the cover member to move from the retracted position to the extended position and allowing the cover member to lock in the extended position via a releasable locking assembly.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein pressing an opposite end of the training device against a predetermined surface includes applying a force on the training device such that the cover member temporarily moves from the retracted position to a further retracted position.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising generating an audible sound when the cover member moves from the retracted position to the further retracted position.

29. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

releasing the releasable locking assembly; and

applying a force to one end of the cover member to move the cover member from the extended position to the retracted position.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein:

the releasable locking assembly includes a locking arm connected to an elongated body on the cover member;

the locking arm includes a locking portion having a locking surface;

the locking arm flexes to a locked position such that the locking surface engages a portion of the housing to maintain the cover member in the extended position; and

releasing the locking assembly includes applying a compressive force on the locking arm such that the cover member can be inserted into the housing.