Hand-held electronically controlled injection device for injecting liquid medications

• US 8,376,985 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2011
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ares Trading SA (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ares Trading SA (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Pongpairochana, Vincent, MacLean, Timothy John, Prasser, Robert, Lauchard, Gerhard, Wurmbauer, Werner, Kogler, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLICK, JASON E
• Application Number:
  US13/096,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 604/134
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/208 Release is possible only when device is pushed against the skin, e.g. using a trigger which is blocked or inactive when the device is not pushed against the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2407 from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2496 via pivot
• 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 2005/31588 electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6027 Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6072 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• 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 5/326 Fully automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve does not require a deliberate action by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/34 Constructions for connecting the needle , e.g. to syringe nozzle or needle hub connecting catheter tubes to hubs A61M25/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/48 : having means for varying, regulating, indicating or limiting injection pressure A61M5/142 takes precedence ; monitoring pressure in infusion systems A61M5/16854

Abstract

A medication delivery device includes a housing, a door coupled to the housing and moveable between a closed position and an open position. The door permits insertion of a medication container, containing liquid medication, into the housing in the open position. A door opening mechanism is coupled to the door. A push member is axially moveable between a retracted position and a non-retracted position and located external to the medication container. The push member enters the medication container and pushes the liquid medication out of the medication container. A lock mechanism is coupled to the door opening mechanism and prevents opening of the door when the push member is in the non-retracted position inside the medication container, wherein the lock mechanism automatically unlocks the door opening mechanism when the push member is in the retracted position.

Claims

1. A medication injection device comprising:

a housing;

a holder for receiving and holding in said housing a medication container an end of which is connectable to a needle;

control means;

means, controlled by said control means, for pushing liquid medication contained in said medication container out of said medication container through said needle; and

first optical sensor means, connected to said control means, for detecting proper connection of said needle to said medication container.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first optical sensor means comprise optical transmitter means and first optical receiver means arranged so that, when no needle is properly connected to said medication container, a first optical ray transmitted by said transmitter means passes near an end of a unit comprising said medication container and said holder to reach said first receiver means, and when said needle is properly connected to said medication container, said first optical ray is interrupted by a needle support supporting said needle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said end of said unit comprising said medication container and said holder is truncated to let said first optical ray pass when no needle is properly connected to said medication container.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising second sensor means for detecting partial connection of said needle to said medication container.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2, comprising second sensor means for detecting partial connection of said needle to said medication container.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second sensor means comprise said optical transmitter means and second optical receiver means arranged so that, when no needle is connected to said medication container, a second optical ray transmitted by said transmitter means passes near said end of said unit comprising said medication container and said holder to reach said second receiver means, and in a configuration where said needle is partly connected to said medication container, said second optical ray is interrupted by said needle support while said first optical ray still reaches said first receiver means.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an end of a unit comprising said medication container and said holder is provided with at least one elastic flange for connection of a needle support supporting said needle to said end of said unit, and wherein said first optical sensor means comprise optical transmitter means and optical receiver means arranged so that, when said needle is properly connected to said medication container, a reflective portion of one of said elastic flange(s) reflects an optical ray transmitted by said transmitter means towards said receiver means, and when no needle is properly connected to said medication container, said reflective portion reflects said optical ray in a direction not corresponding to said receiver means.