Injection device comprising several coupling mechanisms

• US 8,491,538 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• 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: Kohlbrenner, Philippe, Stettler, Peter, Hostettler, Patrick, Wittmann, Juergen, Wittwer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): SHUMATE, VICTORIA PEARL
• Application Number:
  US13/283,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 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 in an advancing movement, which delivery element is driven by a rotation of the input member;

a drive arrangement coupled to the input member;

a rotatable dosing arrangement for setting a dose of the product, the rotatable dosing arrangement coupled to the drive arrangement;

a display drum for displaying the set dose, the display drum having a zero position;

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

a first coupling and a second coupling, wherein

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

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

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; and

during the advancing movement of the delivery element, the display drum returns to its zero position.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the course of an administration the display drum is entrained by the drive arrangement such that it returns to its zero position.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display drum limits the range of movement of the drive arrangement in a dosing direction and a correction and administration direction.

4. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a dose limiting ring which limits the range of movement of the drive arrangement in a dosing direction.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the display drum has an internal thread, and engages an external thread of a mechanism holder.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a third coupling between the housing and the delivery arrangement, such that in a coupled position of the third coupling the delivery arrangement is locked against relative rotation with respect to the housing and an unintentional administering of the product.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein in an uncoupled position of the third coupling the delivery arrangement and the housing are detached from each other such that a movement of the delivery arrangement and, thus, an administering of the product is possible.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein a movement of the triggering arrangement from the position of rest to the triggering position uncouples the third coupling.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the third coupling is in its coupled position in the position of rest of the triggering arrangement and wherein a movement of the triggering arrangement from the position of rest to 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.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the third coupling is formed by longitudinal ribs on 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.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive arrangement is displaceable along the thrust axis, such that movement of the triggering arrangement from the position of rest to the triggering position brings about a distal displacement of the drive arrangement from an initial position.

12. The device according to claim 11, 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.

13. The device according to claim 12, 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.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive arrangement is spring-loaded along the thrust axis in proximal direction, such that automatic return of the drive arrangement to its initial position at the end of an administering is ensured.