Medication injector apparatus with drive assembly that facilitates reset

• US 7,704,238 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2007
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Original Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company
• Inventors: Madland, Steven Michael, Diller, Mark Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gilbert; Andrew M
• Application Number:
  US11/669,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 604207-211, 604/218, 604/221, 604/224
• US Class Current: 604/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2407 from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2488 via rotation, e.g. threads or bayonet
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• 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 2205/60 with identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6027 Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes
• 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 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31535 Means improving security or handling thereof, e.g. blocking means, means preventing insufficient dosing, means allowing correction of overset dose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31543 piston rod reset means, i.e. means for causing or facilitating retraction of piston rod to its starting position during cartridge change
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31556 Accuracy improving means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31558 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31566 Means improving security or handling thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31568 Means keeping track of the total dose administered, e.g. since the cartridge was inserted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31573 Accuracy improving means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31575 : using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 : performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31593 : Multi-dose, i.e. individually set dose repeatedly administered from the same medicament reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2497 : Absolute encoders G01D5/2454 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/25 : Selecting one or more conductors or channels from a plurality of conductors or channels, e.g. by closing contacts

Abstract

A medication injector apparatus such as an injection pen. The injection pen includes a resettable, cartridge plunger drive assembly including an axially floating nut, a cartridge plunger engaging screw, and a drive clutch movable with the nut and which when rotated causes the screw to screw through the nut. When a cartridge assembly is mounted to the pen base, the floating nut and drive clutch are shifted proximally such that the drive clutch is in torque transmitting engagement with a rotatable drive member of the pen, such that rotation of that drive member results in drive screw advancement through the nut in the distal direction. The injection pen also may include an injection clicker assembly having a collar arranged coaxially on a drive sleeve and which oscillates axially on the drive sleeve that rotates during medication dispensing to provide an audible clicking sound that indicates injecting use of the pen.

Claims

1. An injection clicker assembly of a medication injector apparatus, the apparatus including a drive screw advanceable in a distal direction to shift a movable plunger of a cartridge so as to force medication from an outlet of the cartridge, a drive sleeve of a dose injecting mechanism rotatable in a first direction within a housing of the apparatus, the drive sleeve including a distal facing surface and defining a longitudinal bore in which the drive screw extends, and a clutch connected to the drive screw, the clutch rotated by engagement with the drive sleeve distal facing surface to thereby rotate and advance the drive screw through a nut within the housing, the injection clicker assembly comprising:

a collar arranged coaxially on the drive sleeve at a location proximal of the distal facing surface of the drive sleeve, said collar connected to the drive sleeve to be axially movable relative thereto and rotatably fixed thereto when the drive sleeve rotates in the first direction, said collar including a plurality of teeth extending in an axial direction and adapted to engage mating teeth of a stop surface one of integrally formed with and non-rotatably connected to a housing of the apparatus;

a biasing element adapted to force said collar axially into meshing engagement with said stop surface; and

said collar and said stop surface being complementarily configured such that during rotation of the drive sleeve in the first direction, and due to a returning force applied to said collar by said biasing element, said collar oscillates axially on said drive sleeve as said collar teeth slide over said stop surface teeth to provide an audible clicking sound that indicates injecting use of the apparatus.

2. The injection clicker assembly of claim 1 wherein said biasing element comprises a compression spring arranged coaxially on the drive sleeve and having first and second ends, wherein said first end abuts a radially protruding portion of the drive sleeve, and said second end abuts said collar.

3. The injection clicker assembly of claim 2 wherein said first end of said spring abuts a proximal side of the radially protruding portion of the drive sleeve, and wherein the distal facing surface of the drive sleeve is disposed on a distal side of the radially protruding portion of the drive sleeve.

4. The injection clicker assembly of claim 1 wherein said collar teeth extend distally.

5. The injection clicker assembly of claim 1 wherein said collar is keyed to the drive sleeve to be rotatably fixed thereto, and wherein said teeth of said collar and said stop surface are configured for unidirectional rotation, whereby meshing of the teeth of said collar and said stop surface prevent rotation of the drive sleeve in a direction opposite the first direction.

6. The injection clicker assembly of claim 5 further comprising a retaining ring axially fixed to the drive sleeve and radially projecting to limit axial motion in the distal direction of said collar on the drive sleeve.

7. The injection clicker assembly of claim 6 wherein said retaining ring fits within a circumferential groove of the drive sleeve.