Fixed dose medication dispensing device

• US 7,695,454 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Original Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Inventors: Barron, Traci Jo, Hixson, David William, Burroughs, Andrew Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US10/575,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20070088288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 604/207, 604/187, 604/153, 604/211, 604/209, 604/210, 604/181, 604/208
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/585 having magnification means, e.g. magnifying glasses
• 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 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3155 by rotational movement of dose setting member, e.g. during setting or filling of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3158 performed by axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection button

Abstract

A guide and follower cooperate to promote a user moving the driver relative to the housing along a travel path that operates the apparatus. The cooperating elements of the nut and the driver are disengaged when the driver is disposed in a reset segment of the travel path, and the cooperating elements of the nut and the driver become engaged when the driver is shifted through a nut engaging segment of the travel path from the reset segment to a nut rotating segment of the travel path. The engagement of the cooperating elements of the nut and the driver cause the nut to screw proximally along the threaded shaft of the drive member when the driver is shifted through the nut rotating segment from the nut engaging segment to an injecting section of the travel path. When the driver is shifted through the injecting section from the nut rotating segment to the reset segment, the nut and the drive member are shifted in the distal direction to axially advance a fluid container piston to dispense medicine, and the cooperating elements of the nut and the driver become disengaged.

Claims

1. A medication dispensing apparatus comprising:

a housing;

an axially extending screw element rotatably and axially fixed within said housing during dose preparing, and rotatably fixed and axially movable in a distal direction relative to said housing during dose injecting, said screw element including a threaded shaft;

a fluid container defining a medicine-filled reservoir with a movable piston at one end and an outlet at the other end, said piston engagable by said screw element to be advanced toward said outlet when said screw element is moved distally;

a nut threadedly engaged with the screw element shaft to be axially movable relative thereto during rotation of said nut relative to said screw element;

a nut driver rotatably and axially shiftable relative to said housing;

wherein said nut and said nut driver include cooperating elements which when engaged rotatably lock together said nut and said nut driver, and which when disengaged permit relative rotation of said nut and said nut driver;

a guide disposed on one of said nut driver and said housing;

a follower disposed on the other of said nut driver and said housing;

wherein said guide and follower comprise a surface abutting relationship to promote a user moving said nut driver relative to said housing along a travel path that operates the apparatus, said travel path including a dose preparing section and a dose injecting section, said dose preparing section including a reset segment, a nut engaging segment, and a nut rotating segment connected in sequence, and wherein said injecting section connects said nut rotating segment with said reset segment;

wherein said cooperating elements of said nut and said nut driver are disengaged when said nut driver is disposed in said reset segment;

wherein said cooperating elements of said nut and said nut driver become engaged when said nut driver is shifted through said nut engaging segment from said reset segment to said nut rotating segment;

wherein the engagement of said cooperating elements of said nut and said nut driver cause said nut to screw proximally along said threaded shaft when said nut driver is shifted through said nut rotating segment from said nut engaging segment to said injecting section;

wherein when said nut driver is shifted through said injecting section from said nut rotating segment to said reset segment, said nut and said screw element are shifted in the distal direction to axially advance said fluid container piston to dispense medicine from said outlet, and said cooperating elements of said nut and said nut driver become disengaged; and

said guide including a hard stop for said follower to define an end of said reset segment of said travel path, and said hard stop when abutted by said follower rotationally aligns said nut driver with said nut engaging segment of said travel path, wherein along said injecting section of said travel path, said guide comprises first and second surfaces that define a channel in which said follower is slidable, said surfaces during injecting serving as physical stops to prevent rotation of said nut driver by abutment by said follower until an injection is complete, wherein along said nut rotating segment of said travel path, said guide comprises third and fourth surfaces that define a channel in which said follower is slidable, said third surface providing a distal barrier during nut rotating that prevents distal plunging of said nut driver by abutment by said follower until said follower passes from said nut engaging segment to said injecting section, thereby limiting misuse of the apparatus.

2. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nut engaging segment and said dose injecting section of said travel path are oriented in the axial direction.

3. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reset segment of said travel path is oriented generally transverse to said axial direction.

4. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nut rotating segment of said travel path is helically oriented.

5. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said travel path involves both 360 degrees of rotation of said nut driver and an equal amount of distal and proximal travel of said nut driver, whereby said nut driver, at the end of an injection, has the same axial position and same rotational position as at the end of the prior injection, and wherein said guide includes a second hard stop for said follower to define a second end of said reset segment of said travel path, which second hard stop prevents rotation of said nut driver in one direction after the end of the injection by abutment by said follower.

6. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said follower comprises an outward projection formed on said nut driver, said outward projection being radially fixed at all times during pen use.

7. The medication dispensing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said guide comprises a projecting rib formed on said housing and that extends continuously around an interior surface of said housing.