Device for automatically injecting an active agent

• US 7,806,866 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Broennimann, Lorenz, Hommann, Edgar, Scherer, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): WITCZAK, CATHERINE
• Application Number:
  US11/134,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20050277886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 604/218, 604/295, 604/500, 604/512, 604/181, 604/110, 604134-137, 604156-157, 604/187, 604/194, 604/196, 604/171, 604/192, 604/197, 604/198, 604/228, 604/232, 604/235, 604/207
• US Class Current: 604/136
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• 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 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: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user

Abstract

A device for automatically injecting an active agent, the device involving a syringe filled with an active agent and carrying an injection needle, the syringe displaceable in a receiver by the tension of a spring. A transmission displaceable by at least one spring traverses a first partial path for sticking the injection needle and a second partial path for emptying the active agent from the syringe. The at least one spring acts between the transmission and an intermediate part, and another spring acts between the intermediate part and a support fixedly connected to the receiver. An indicator visible from the outside is connected to the intermediate part, moves only during the second partial path, and traverses a path length that is substantially smaller that the sum of both partial paths.

Claims

1. A device for automatically injecting an agent, said device comprising a receptacle for the agent, which receptacle is displaceable, together with an injection needle connected thereto, inside a housing for the purpose of inserting the injection needle into a patient, a syringe piston that is displaceable inside the receptacle for the purpose of expelling the agent, an indicator, wherein an axial displacement path of the indicator visible from the outside shows progress of expelling the agent from a beginning of the expelling to an end of the expelling, said visible axial displacement path being shorter than a total distance of displacement of the syringe piston relative to the housing, and a transmission part movable along a first partial path for inserting the injection needle and a second partial path for expelling the agent and operably connected to the indicator by at least one spring element such that said indicator moves along the visible indicator displacement path in response to the transmission part expelling the agent.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element is operably effective on the transmission part and a support part fixedly connected to the housing.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one spring element has two ends and the indicator is operably connected to the at least one spring element at a location between the two ends.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional spring element, the transmission part displaceable by the at least one spring element such that the at least one spring element is operably effective on the transmission part and an intermediate part, and the at least one additional spring element operably effective on the intermediate part and a support part fixedly connected to the housing, wherein the indicator is connected to the intermediate part.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator is ring-shaped.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional spring element, wherein said indicator is additionally effectively acted upon by the at least one additional spring element moving the indicator along the visible indicator displacement path in response to expelling the agent.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a intermediate part operably coupled with the indicator, wherein said indicator is effectively acted upon by the intermediate part moving the indicator along the visible indicator displacement path in response to expelling the agent.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate part comprises a spring sleeve.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate part comprises at least one rolling element.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate part comprises a toothed wheel.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate part comprises a ring-shaped element physically connected to the at least one spring element.