Drug delivery device inner housing having helical spline

• US 8,257,319 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Plumptre, David Aubrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARPENTER, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US12/788,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 604207-211, 604221-224, 604/218, 604/181, 604/187
• US Class Current: 604/211
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31536 Blocking means to immobilize a selected dose, e.g. to administer equal doses
• 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 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button

Abstract

A dose setting mechanism for a drug delivery device is disclosed. The mechanism comprises an outer housing and an inner housing having an external groove and a helical spline. The inner housing helical spline guides a driver to dispense a set dose. A dial sleeve is disposed between the outer and inner housing and is rotatably engaged with the inner housing. When a dose is set, the dial sleeve is rotated and translates away from both the outer housing and the inner housing.

Claims

1. A dose setting mechanism for a drug delivery device, said mechanism comprising:

a driver;

an outer housing;

an inner housing comprising an external surface having an external groove and an internal surface having an internal helical spline, said housing configured to guide said driver to dispense a dose set by said dose setting mechanism;

a dial sleeve disposed between said outer housing and said inner housing, said dial sleeve rotatably engaged with said external groove of said inner housing;

such that when a dose is set by said dose setting mechanism, said dial sleeve is rotated with respect to both said outer housing and said inner housing and said dial sleeve is translated away from both said outer housing and said inner housing;

a dose limiter, said dose limiter splined to said helical spline of said inner housing; and

wherein said dose limiter comprises an internal helical groove that is operatively coupled to a helical groove provided on said driver.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said internal helical spline guides said driver in a helical motion during dose dispense.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said driver comprises a first driver portion and a second driver portion.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said first or said second driver portion comprise a plurality of driver components.

5. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a clicker.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said clicker guides said driver in a helical motion.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said clicker comprises at least one spline configured for engaging said helical spline of said inner housing.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said clicker comprises a first set of clicker teeth that are rotationally engaged with a clutch.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein said clicker is axially secured to said driver.

10. The invention of claim 6 wherein said clicker rotates during a dose setting step.

11. The invention of claim 6 wherein said clicker rotates during a dosing step.

12. The invention of claim 6 wherein said clicker rotates during a resetting step.

13. The invention of claim 5 wherein said clicker resides within said inner housing.

14. The invention of claim 5 wherein said clicker comprises a first clicker portion and a second clicker portion.

15. The invention of claim 14 wherein said first clicker portion comprises a first set of clicker teeth that are configured for engaging a second set of clicker teeth of said second clicker portion.

16. The invention of claim 14 wherein said first clicker portion comprises said at least one spline configured to engage said helical spline of said inner housing.

17. The invention of claim 1 wherein said dose setting mechanism comprises a resettable dose setting mechanism.

18. The invention of claim 1 wherein said dose setting mechanism is coupled to a cartridge holder.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said dose setting mechanism is permanently coupled to said cartridge holder.

20. The invention of claim 1 further comprising a spindle, said spindle operatively coupled to said driver

such that when said inner housing guides said driver to dispense said dose set by said dose setting mechanism,

said driver pushes said spindle to act on a cartridge bung while said spindle translates in a distal direction to expel said dose from said cartridge.

21. The invention of claim 20 wherein said spindle comprises a first and a second helical groove.

22. The invention of claim 20 wherein said spindle dose not rotate during a dose setting step.

23. The invention of claim 20 wherein said spindle rotates during a dosing step.

24. The invention of claim 20 wherein said spindle rotates during a resetting step.