Device for administering an injectable product in doses

• US 7,731,698 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Geiser, Simone, Heiniger, Hanspeter
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US11/237,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 604/211, 604/93.01, 604/131, 604/134, 604/135, 604/187
• US Class Current: 604/211
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2407 from the rear
• 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 2005/3152 including gearings to multiply or attenuate the piston displacing force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• 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 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31558 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31586 performed by rotationally moving or pivoted actuator, e.g. an injection lever or handle

Abstract

A device for administering an injectable product in doses including a casing having a receptacle for a container which contains the product and accommodates a piston such that the piston can advance towards an outlet for delivering a selected product dosage, a dosing member, with which a dosing movement can be performed relative to the casing for selecting the product dosage, a drive unit, which can be coupled to the casing and the dosing member such that the drive unit can be adjusted relative to the casing from a dosing starting position to a dosing end position by the dosing movement of the dosing member, an operating mechanism which causes the drive unit to perform a delivering movement by which the piston is advanced towards the outlet, and a restoring spring, which is secured in a tensioned state and is coupled to the drive unit by a release for causing a restoring movement of the drive unit towards its dosing starting position.

Claims

1. A device for administering an injectable product in doses, said device comprising:

a) a casing comprising a receptacle for a container which contains said product and accommodates a piston, such that said piston can advance toward an outlet of the container for delivering a selected product dosage;

b) a dosing member comprising a dose setting member and a transfer member, the dose setting member and the transfer member being rotatably engaged;

c) a drive unit coupled to said transfer member such that the transfer member transfers a dosing movement to the drive unit;

d) operating means for causing the drive unit to perform a delivering movement by which the piston is advanced toward said outlet; and

e) a spiral restoring spring comprising coils surrounding each other spirally coupled to the drive unit whereby said restoring spring can selectively cause a movement of the drive unit counter to a dosing movement adjustment of the drive unit.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the dosing member can perform a dosing movement relative to said casing for selecting said product dosage, wherein a user of the device adjusts the dosing member for selecting the product dosage for each administration.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transfer member coaxially surrounds a portion of the drive unit.

4. The device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the transfer member coaxially surrounding a portion of the drive unit rotates about a longitudinal drive unit axis.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the drive unit is non-rotatably slidable in the longitudinal direction relative to said transfer member in response to the dosing movement of said first dosing member and said transfer member.

6. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dosing member is coupled to said restoring spring, wherein rotation of said dosing member creates tensional force or a relaxing force on said restoring spring.

7. The device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

a dosing button coupled to said dosing member, the dosing button being rotatable and comprising one or more catches for forming a rotational block; and

a locking member adjacent to said dosing button comprising one or more catches for forming the rotational block with said dosing button.

8. The device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the rotational block formed prevents said restoring spring from returning to its original state.

9. The device as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a dosing spring coupled to said dosing button for providing force on said dosing button towards said locking member.

10. The device as set forth in claim 9, wherein compression of said dosing spring away from said locking member enables said restoring spring to return to an original state thereby causing said dosing member to return to an original state.

11. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises a driven member and a supporting member.

12. The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the supporting member is secured from rotation with respect to said driven member before a delivering movement by engagement with a mounting body situated adjacent to said supporting member.

13. The device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the mounting body is conditionally secured from rotating via a releasable rotational block.

14. The device as set forth in claim 13, wherein the supporting member is rotatable with respect to said driven member upon release of said rotational block.

15. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising locking means in a locking mesh for preventing the drive unit from moving counter to the dosing movement adjustment of the drive unit, wherein the restoring spring is clamped between a mounting body and a rotating member, said rotating member rotated when the drive unit is adjusted, wherein said mounting body is mounted such that it can rotate relative to the casing and engages with the drive unit for rotary driving, said locking means comprising a releaseable rotational block which prevents the mounting body from rotating relative to the casing.

16. The device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a locking member coupled to the drive unit and a locking counter member coupled to the casing, in a locking mesh, to prevent the drive unit from moving counter to the dosing movement adjustment of the drive unit.

17. The device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the locking member and the locking counter member, in the locking mesh, are pressed against each other by means of a spring.

18. The device as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the dosing movement of the dosing member is a rotational movement;

a shaft is connected to the dosing member, said shaft rotating when the dosing member is rotated;

the locking member is positioned on the shaft, secured against rotating; and

the locking counter member can be disengaged from the locking mesh along the length of the shaft against the force of a spring.

19. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dosing member is mounted such that it can rotate about a rotational axis relative to the casing and a shaft projects from the dosing member towards the rotational axis, the spring being supported on said shaft.

20. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dosing member and the restoring spring are arranged alongside the drive unit in the casing.

21. A device for administering an injectable product in doses, said device comprising:

a) a casing comprising a receptacle for a container which contains said product and accommodates a piston, such that said piston can advance toward an outlet of the container for delivering a selected product dosage;

b) a dosing member comprising a dose setting member and a transfer member, the dose setting member and the transfer member being rotatably engaged;

c) a drive unit coupled to said transfer member such that the transfer member transfers a dosing movement to the drive unit, wherein the drive unit comprises a spindle drive;

d) operating means for causing the drive unit to perform a delivering movement by which the piston is advanced toward said outlet; and

e) a spiral restoring spring coupled to the drive unit whereby said restoring spring can selectively cause both a complete restoring and a partial restoring movement of the drive unit counter to the dosing movement adjustment of the drive unit.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the spindle drive comprises a single-stage spindle drive.

23. The device of claim 21, wherein the spindle drive comprises a two-stage spindle drive.