Drug delivery device

• US 8,361,028 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited (Alkermes plc)
• Original Assignee: Alkermes Pharma Ireland Limited (Alkermes plc)
• Inventors: Gross, Joseph, Tsals, Izrail, Lavi, Gilad, Yigal, Gil, Carmel, Ehoud
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGELL, THEODORE J
• Application Number:
  US13/184,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20110275999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/141, 604/143, 604/145, 604/151, 604208-209, 604/500
• US Class Current: 604/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/135 having aromatic rings , e.g. ketamine, nortriptyline methadone A61K31/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/14 Alkali metal chlorides; Alkaline earth metal chlorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/22 Boron compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1405 Patient controlled analgesia [PCA]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14204 with gas-producing electrochemical cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1426 with means for preventing access to the needle after use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14533 cam actuated
• 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 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/155 pressurised by gas introduced into the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/158 Needles for infusions; Accessories therefor, e.g. for inserting infusion needles, or for holding them on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2046 Media being expelled from injector by gas generation, e.g. explosive charge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31571 Means preventing accidental administration for automatic syringes A61M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31586 performed by rotationally moving or pivoted actuator, e.g. an injection lever or handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/12 Pressure infusion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A drug delivery device having a housing containing a gas generator controlled by an electronic controller. The gas generator generates gas into a reciprocable chamber, whereby reciprocation of the chamber causes a lever to reciprocate a pawl, and this action causes a ratchet to undergo incremental advancement. The device may also be provided with manual control for delivering a bolus dose of drug when necessary.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device comprising:

(a) a housing containing a drug reservoir;

(b) a slidable piston operable to expel drug from the drug reservoir;

(c) a ratchet mechanism in communication with the piston, the mechanism being operable to undergo incremental advancement and thereby to drive the drug from the reservoir in a series of fixed increments;

(d) a member operatively associated with the mechanism to cause the incremental advancement of the mechanism as the member moves in a first direction; and

(e) a gas generator located within the housing and operable to generate gas to expand a chamber, the member being in transmission relation to the chamber, whereby the member is driven by the movement of the chamber to advance the mechanism and thereby drive the drug from the reservoir in the series of fixed increments, each of the fixed increments corresponding to a respective advancement of the mechanism;

wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises a flexible ratchet element which is sufficiently stiff to drive medicament from the chamber when driven by the member and having a degree of flexibility allowing at least a portion of the ratchet element to be bent, whereby the overall length of the device is reduced relative to a device in which a rigid ratchet element protrudes linearly from the mechanism before use.

2. The drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises two or more co-operating flexible ratchet elements which are individually sufficiently flexible to be bent, wherein when the ratchet elements are joined the elements are together sufficiently stiff to drive medicament from the chamber when driven by the member.

3. The drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein the two or more co-operating flexible ratchet elements are bent away from one another over at least a portion of the ratchet mechanism not engaged with the member.