Injection device comprising several coupling mechanisms

• US 8,048,037 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ypsomed AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Hostettler, Patrick, Wittwer, Martin, Stettler, Peter, Wittmann, Juergen, Kohlbrenner, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell; Victoria P
• Application Number:
  US12/403,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20090254035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 604/181, 604/187, 604/192, 604/193, 604207-211, 604/218, 604/220, 604/223, 604/224, 604/232
• US Class Current: 604/220
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/202 cocking means, e.g. to bias the main drive spring of an injector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3154 limiting maximum permissible dose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/04 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• 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 5/31513 Piston constructions to improve sealing or sliding
• 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 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• 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 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31561 using freely adjustable volume steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31563 interacting with a displaceable stop member
• 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 5/31583 based on rotational translation, i.e. movement of piston rod is caused by relative rotation between the user activated actuator and the piston rod
• 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

Abstract

An injection device including a drive unit, a delivery unit, a dosing unit, a trigger for triggering an injection, a first coupling mechanism between the drive unit and the delivery unit, and a second coupling mechanism between the dosing unit and the drive unit, wherein the drive unit is tensioned by a rotation of the dosing unit and when the drive unit is tensioned the first coupling mechanism is disengaged and the second coupling mechanism is engaged, and wherein when an injection is triggered first the first coupling mechanism is engaged and then the second coupling mechanism is disengaged. In some embodiments, the device may include a third coupling mechanism which only releases the delivery unit after the engagement and disengagement which follow a triggering.

Claims

1. A device for the administering of a fluid product, the device comprising:

a housing;

a delivery arrangement for delivering the product from a reservoir, wherein the delivery arrangement comprises a rotatable input member and a delivery element movable along a thrust axis, which delivery element is driven by a rotation of the input member;

a drive arrangement coupled to the input member such that a rotation of the drive arrangement drives rotation of the input member about the thrust axis relative to the housing, wherein the drive arrangement is tensioned by a rotary tension movement;

a rotatable dosing arrangement for setting a dose of the product, the rotatable dosing arrangement coupled to the drive arrangement such that rotation of the dosing arrangement tensions the drive arrangement; and

a triggering arrangement movable from a position of rest into a triggering position to trigger an administering;

wherein

a first coupling is between the drive arrangement and the input member of the delivery arrangement, whereby the drive arrangement and the input member of the delivery arrangement are connected with each other to be locked against relative rotation in a coupled position and are detached from each other in an uncoupled position, wherein

a second coupling is between the dosing arrangement and the drive arrangement, whereby the dosing arrangement and the drive arrangement are connected with each other to be locked against relative rotation in a coupled position and are detached from each other in an uncoupled position, and wherein

in the position of rest of the triggering arrangement the first coupling assumes its uncoupled position and the second coupling assumes its coupled position, so that a rotation of the dosing arrangement is able to be transferred to the drive arrangement and not to the delivery arrangement, and a movement of the triggering arrangement from the position of rest into the triggering position firstly brings about a coupling of the first coupling and thereafter an uncoupling of the second coupling, so that the drive arrangement is released and the resulting drive movement is able to be transferred to the delivery arrangement.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the dosing arrangement is able to be fixed detachably to be secure with regard to torque with respect to the housing.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the dosing arrangement is able to be fixed detachably by a ratchet connection to be secure with regard to torque with respect to the housing.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the ratchet connection is constructed as a double slip coupling which makes possible a manual turning of the dosing arrangement relative to the housing both in a first direction of rotation to increase the dose to be administered and in an opposite direction of rotation to reduce the dose.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the ratchet connection comprises a spring-loaded toothing, wherein the toothing is asymmetrical.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the ratchet connection comprises two ratchet elements axially opposite each other, on the end faces of which are teeth.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein a first of the ratchet elements is a spring-loaded ratchet ring movable axially in the direction of the second ratchet element, which ratchet ring is arranged to be locked against relative rotation with respect to the dosing element, and wherein the second ratchet element is connected to be locked against rotation and displacement with respect to the housing.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the ratchet ring is spring-loaded by a plurality of springs arranged along the periphery of the ratchet ring.

9. A device for the administering of a fluid product, the device comprising:

a housing;

a delivery arrangement for delivering the product from a reservoir, wherein the delivery arrangement comprises a rotatable input member and a delivery element movable along a thrust axis, which delivery element is driven by a rotation of the input member;

a drive arrangement for producing a rotary drive movement about the thrust axis relative to the housing, the drive arrangement comprising a spiral spring that is tensioned by a rotary tension movement;

a rotatable dosing arrangement for setting a dose of the product and for tensioning the drive arrangement; and

a triggering arrangement movable from a position of rest into a triggering position to trigger an administering;

wherein

a first coupling is between the drive arrangement and the input member of the delivery arrangement, whereby the drive arrangement and the input member of the delivery arrangement are connected with each other to be locked against relative rotation in a coupled position and are detached from each other in an uncoupled position, wherein

a second coupling is between the dosing arrangement and the drive arrangement, whereby the dosing arrangement and the drive arrangement are connected with each other to be locked against relative rotation in a coupled position and are detached from each other in an uncoupled position, and wherein

in the position of rest of the triggering arrangement the first coupling assumes its uncoupled position and the second coupling assumes its coupled position, so that a rotation of the dosing arrangement is able to be transferred to the drive arrangement and not to the delivery arrangement and a movement of the triggering arrangement from the position of rest into the triggering position firstly brings about a coupling of the first coupling and thereafter an uncoupling of the second coupling, so that the drive arrangement is released and the resulting drive movement is able to be transferred to the delivery arrangement.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the first coupling is formed by longitudinal grooves on an inner surface of an element of the drive arrangement and longitudinal ribs on an outer surface of an element locked against relative rotation with respect to the input member of the delivery arrangement, and wherein the second coupling is formed by longitudinal grooves on an inner surface of an element of the dosing arrangement and longitudinal grooves on an outer surface of an element of the drive arrangement.

11. A device for the administering of a fluid product, the device comprising:

a housing;

a delivery arrangement for delivering the product from a reservoir, wherein the delivery arrangement comprises a rotatable input member and a delivery element movable along a thrust axis, which delivery element is driven by a rotation of the input member;

a drive arrangement coupled to the input member such that a rotation of the drive arrangement drives a rotation of the input member about the thrust axis relative to the housing, the drive arrangement comprising a spiral spring that is tensioned by a rotary tension movement;

a rotatable dosing arrangement for setting a dose of the product the rotatable dosing arrangement coupled to the drive arrangement such that rotation of the dosing arrangement tensions the drive arrangement; and

a triggering arrangement movable from a position of rest into a triggering position to trigger an administering, the triggering arrangement comprising a push button disposed on a proximal end of the housing;

wherein

a first coupling is between the drive arrangement and the input member of the delivery arrangement, whereby the drive arrangement and the input member of the delivery arrangement are connected with each other to be locked against relative rotation in a coupled position and are detached from each other in an uncoupled position, wherein

a second coupling is between the dosing arrangement and the drive arrangement, whereby the dosing arrangement and the drive arrangement are connected with each other to be locked against relative rotation in a coupled position and are detached from each other in an uncoupled position,

a third coupling is between the housing and the delivery arrangement, wherein the housing and the delivery arrangement are connected with each other and locked against relative rotation in a coupled position and are detached from each other in an uncoupled position, and wherein

in the position of rest of the triggering arrangement the first coupling assumes its uncoupled position and the second and third couplings assume their coupled position, so that a rotation of the dosing arrangement is able to be transferred to the drive arrangement and not to the delivery arrangement, and a movement of the triggering arrangement from the position of rest into the triggering position firstly brings about a coupling of the first coupling, thereafter an uncoupling of the second coupling, and thereafter an uncoupling of the third coupling so that the drive arrangement is released and the resulting drive movement is able to be transferred to the delivery arrangement.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the third coupling is formed by longitudinal ribs on an outer side of an element locked against relative rotation with respect to the input member of the delivery arrangement, and longitudinal grooves on an inner side of an element locked against relative rotation with respect to the housing.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the triggering arrangement is movable between the position of rest and the triggering position in a distal direction along the thrust axis, and wherein each of the couplings comprises a coupling input member and a coupling output member, which through a movement of the triggering arrangement undergo a relative displacement with respect to each other and are thereby able to be brought into and out of engagement.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein each of the couplings is formed by longitudinal grooves and longitudinal ribs on radial inner or outer surfaces of the respective coupling input member or coupling output member.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the drive arrangement is displaceable along the thrust axis, so that a movement of the triggering arrangement from the position of rest to the triggering position brings about a displacement of the drive arrangement in a distal direction.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the drive arrangement is spring-loaded along the thrust axis in a proximal direction.