Spray or injection device allowing at least two preset doses of product to be delivered

• US 7,967,010 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2010
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Barrelle, Laurent, Vedrine, Lionel, Perot, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu; Justine R
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTRUP, CLINTON T
• Application Number:
  US12/690,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20100212663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.17, 128/200.19, 128/207.18, 604/208, 604/220, 604/234
• US Class Current: 128/200.19
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2429 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2459 upon internal pressure increase, e.g. pierced or burst A61M5/2429 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/315 Pistons; Piston-rods; Guiding, blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston; Appliances on the rod for facilitating dosing ; Dosing mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31595 Pre-defined multi-dose administration by repeated overcoming of means blocking the free advancing movement of piston rod, e.g. by tearing or de-blocking
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/02 Membranes or pistons acting on the contents inside the container, e.g. follower pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/025 with stepwise advancement of the piston, e.g. for spraying a predetermined quantity of content

Abstract

A spray or injection device that includes a casing or a pusher that includes at least one tab radially moveable between a first radial position, in which the tab does not impede the movement of the pusher with respect to the casing, and a second radial position in which the tab opposes movement of the pusher. The pusher or the casing, respectively, includes at least one ramp-shaped projection configured to bring the tab into the second radial position and then allow it to return to the first radial position. The pusher or the casing further includes at least one stop between the pusher and casing to delineate the end of a first stroke corresponding to a first dose of medicament, and the beginning of a second stroke corresponding to a second dose of medicament.

Claims

1. A spray or injection device for spraying or injecting a product of interest, in liquid form, the device being configured to deliver at least a first and a second preset dose of the product in succession, the device extending along a reference axis from a distal end to a proximal end, the device comprising:

an axially elongate container containing the product;

a plunger disposed in and blocking off the container, the plunger being axially moveable with respect to the container, in a reference direction, and allowing the product to be propelled distally from the container;

a casing configured to accommodate and axially secure the container, the casing having a stop surface; and

a pusher assembled with the casing such that the pusher and casing are moveable with respect to each other, the pusher configured to move the plunger within the container in the reference direction and having a stop surface which engages the stop surface of the casing to form a stop enclosed by the casing when the plunger is advanced a certain distance in the container, the stop defining a length of travel of the pusher with respect to the casing so as to divide the length of travel of the pusher into a first travel portion corresponding to the delivery of the first preset dose, and a second travel portion corresponding to the delivery of the second preset dose;

wherein the stop surface of the pusher and the stop surface of the casing are configured to allow disengagement therebetween when a force applied to the pusher in the reference direction is reduced and, without any rotational movement of the pusher or casing, the pusher can then be advanced along the second travel portion for delivery of the second preset dose.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one tab arranged on the pusher or the casing, and configured to move between a first, unstressed, normal position in which the tab does not block the axial movement of the pusher, and a stressed, flexed, second position in which the tab halts the axial movement of the pusher, the tab at a free end defining the stop surface of the pusher or casing, respectfully, and comprising a pressing region or element configured to contribute both to the halting of the axial movement of the pusher and to the flexing of the tab under the effect of the axial movement of the pusher;

at least one ramp cooperating with the tab from an initial end to a final end, and arranged respectively on the casing or on the pusher the ramp being configured to bring the tab from the normal first position to the flexed second position as the plunger is moved in the container to allow contact of the pusher stop surface with the casing stop surface;

the stop surface of the casing or pusher cooperating with the pressing region or element of the tab, and arranged respectively on the casing or the pusher, respectively, to allow return of the tab to the first, unstressed, normal position when the force applied to the pusher in the reference direction is reduced.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stressed, flexed, second position of the tab is obtained by radial stress.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tab arranged on the pusher or the casing comprises a nonpressing window set back with respect to the pressing region or element, wherein the ramp is included in a projection arranged respectively on the casing or the pusher and configured to pass freely through the window, the projection faces the window of the tab, and penetrates through the window when the pressure on the pusher is released, causing the tab to return to the first position.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stressed, flexed, second position of the tab is obtained by tangential stress.

6. The device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one tongue distinct from or independent of the tab, arranged on the pusher or the casing depending on whether the tab is arranged on the pusher or on the casing, configured to move between an unstressed, normal, first position in which the tongue does not impede the axial movement of the pusher and a stressed flexed second position in which the tongue contributes to returning the pusher to allow the tab to return to the normal, first position from the flexed and halted position, and wherein the ramp and the free end of the tongue are configured to cooperate with one another such that, during the first portion of travel of the pusher, the tongue is flexed, and during the second portion of travel of the pusher, the tongue escapes from the ramp and returns to the normal position.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flexed second position of the tongue is obtained by radial stress when the flexed second position of the tab is obtained by radial stress.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flexed second position of the tongue is obtained by tangential stress when the flexed second position of the tab is obtained by tangential stress.

9. The device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least two tabs and two projections.

10. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the casing and the pusher comprise at least one hard point that must be crossed at the start of delivering a dose.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, the hard point comprises at least one lug projecting laterally from the tab and at least one boss.

12. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pusher is made from a flexible plastic, the mobility of the tab resulting from the flexibility of the pusher, the tab is not deformed in the first radial position and the tab is elastically deformed in the second radial position.

13. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tab has a distal head with projecting edges, forming, with a complementary means disposed in the casing, snap-fastening means making it possible to prevent the separation of the pusher from the casing after the engagement of the pusher in the casing.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container is formed by a syringe body comprising a proximal collar and a distal flow conduit, the syringe body comprising a spray nozzle fitted onto a distal end of the syringe body, which forms a spray head making it possible to spray the product contained in the syringe body.