Drive mechanisms suitable for use in drug delivery devices

• US 8,226,631 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Boyd, Malcolm, Letham, Richard, Plumptre, David, Veasey, Robert, May, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bosques, Edelmira
• Application Number:
  US12/466,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20100094253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 604/209, 604/201, 604/211, 604/181, 604/110, 604/207, 604/208, 604/506
• US Class Current: 604/506
• 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 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31555 by purely axial movement of dose setting member, e.g. during setting or filling of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present invention relates to drive mechanisms suitable for use in drug delivery devices, in particular pen-type injectors, wherein a number of pre-set doses of medicinal product can be administered. In particular, the present invention relates to such drug delivery devices where a user may activate the drug delivery device.

Claims

1. A drive mechanism for use in a drug delivery device, the drive mechanism comprising:

a housing having an internal helical thread;

an activation member that is non-rotatable with respect to the said housing;

a drive sleeve engaged with the said housing;

a piston rod comprising a distal threaded portion and a proximal threaded portion characterized in that,

a) the distal threaded portion of the said piston rod is threadedly engaged with the said housing;

b) the proximal threaded portion of the said piston rod is threadedly engaged with the drive sleeve;

such that,

c) when the said activation member moves proximally with respect to the said housing, the said drive sleeve rotates with respect to the said activation member and moves proximally with respect to the said housing;

d) when the said activation member moves distally with respect to the said housing, the said drive sleeve (i) moves distally with respect to the said housing and (ii) is prevented from rotating with respect to the said housing, and the said piston rod is caused to rotate with respect to the said housing so that a force is transferred in the longitudinal direction to a distal end of the drug delivery device.

2. A drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the said piston rod is of essentially circular cross-section.

3. A drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the said piston rod further comprises a distal threaded portion and a proximal threaded portion wherein the said distal threaded portion and the said proximal threaded portion are oppositely disposed.

4. A drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the said drive sleeve is coupled with the said activation member for longitudinal travel and relative rotation between the said drive sleeve and the said activation member is allowed.

5. An assembly for use in a drug delivery device comprising the drive mechanism as defined in claim 1.

6. A drug delivery device comprising the drive mechanism as defined in claim 1.

7. The drug delivery device according to claim 6, which is a pen-type device.

8. The drug delivery device according to claim 6, which is an injector-type device.

9. The drug delivery device according to claim 6, which comprises a needle.

10. The drug delivery device according to claim 6, which is a needle-free device.

11. A method of manufacturing a drug delivery device, comprising a step of providing a drive mechanism as defined in claim 1.

12. A method of setting a dose of a medicament contained within a drug delivery device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a housing having an internal helical thread;

providing a non-rotatable activation member contained within at least a portion of said housing;

engaging a drive sleeve with said housing;

threadedly engaging a distal thread of a piston rod with said housing;

threadely engaging a proximal thread of said piston rod with said drive sleeve;

moving said activation member proximally with respect to the said housing; and

rotating said drive sleeve with respect to the said activation member wherein said drive sleeve moves proximally with respect to the said housing.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

moving said activation member distally with respect to the said housing; and

moving said drive sleeve distally with respect to said housing wherein said drive sleeve is prevented from rotating with respect to the said housing.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein

said drive sleeve causes said piston rod to rotate with respect to said housing so that a force is transferred in a longitudinal direction to a distal end of said drug delivery device.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the medicament comprises a pharmaceutical formulation comprising an active compound selected from the group consisting of insulin, growth hormone, low molecular weight heparin, their analogues, and their derivatives.