Drug delivery device for delivery of a medicament

• US 8,585,658 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Inventors: Forstreuter, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Schmidt, Emily
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Jr., Bradley G
• Application Number:
  US12/769,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20100280461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 604/218, 604/228, 604/232, 604/208, 604/131, 604134-136, 604/181, 604/187, 604/164, 604/272, 604/164.01, 604/207, 604209-210, 128/218.R
• US Class Current: 604/232
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2407 from the rear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2207/00 Methods of manufacture, assembly or production
• 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 5/3146 Priming, e.g. purging, reducing backlash or clearance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31515 Connection of piston with piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Various embodiments of drug delivery devices and methods of assembling such devices are provided. In one embodiment, a drug delivery device for dispensing medicament comprises a medicament cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises (i) a distal end, (ii) a proximal end that is opposite the distal end along a body axis of the cartridge, and (iii) a movable piston arranged substantially at the proximate end of the cartridge. The drug delivery device further comprises a piston rod having a distal end for axially moving the piston in the distal direction during dispensing of a set dose of medicament, wherein a relative axial distance between the distal end of the piston rod and a proximal face of the piston is set during assembly of the drug delivery system. The relative axial position between may be set such that the piston rod and the proximal face of the piston abut each other.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device for dispensing medicament, comprising:

a medicament cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises (i) a distal end, (ii) a proximal end that is opposite the distal end along a body axis of the cartridge, and (iii) a movable piston arranged substantially at the proximate end of the cartridge;

a piston rod for axially moving the piston in the distal direction, wherein the piston rod comprises an axial bore extending from a proximal end of the piston rod to a point substantially at a distal end of the piston rod;

an adjusting member located at least partially between the piston rod and a proximal face of the piston, wherein the adjusting member is configured to abut the proximal face of the piston to effectively eliminate an axial clearance between the piston rod and the proximal face of the piston when a locking rod is positioned in the axial bore of the piston rod; and

where the locking rod is positioned in the axial bore of the piston rod such that the piston rod is secured to the adjusting member and does not contact the proximal face of the piston.

2. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the adjusting member and the proximal face of the piston abut each other.

3. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the adjusting member comprises at least one resilient securing element, and wherein the piston rod further comprises at least one recess configured to receive the at least one resilient securing element of the adjusting member.

4. The drug delivery device of claim 3, wherein the piston rod is secured to the adjusting member via a press fit between the at least one recess of the piston rod and the at least one resilient securing element of the adjusting member.

5. The drug delivery device of claim 1, wherein the piston rod further

comprises a radially expandable piece positioned substantially at the distal end of the piston rod, and wherein the adjusting member comprises a receptacle for receiving at least the radially expandable piece of the piston rod.

6. The drug delivery device of claim 5, wherein the piston rod is secured to the adjusting member via a press fit between the radially expandable piece of the piston rod and the receptacle of the adjusting member.

7. A method for assembling a drug delivery device, wherein the drug delivery device includes a body axis, comprising:

determining an axial position of a proximal face of a piston positioned in a cartridge; and

securing a piston rod to an adjusting member, having an axial bore extending from a proximal end of the piston rod to a point substantially at a distal end of the piston rod, such that after assembly is complete a locking rod configured for insertion into the bore can move the adjusting member so that a distal end of the adjusting member is in abutment with the proximal face of the piston and where the piston rod does not contact the proximal face of the piston.