Devices, systems, and methods for medicament delivery

• US 8,690,827 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaleo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kaleo, Inc.
• Inventors: Edwards, Evan T., Edwards, Eric S., Licata, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PRITESH ASHOK
• Application Number:
  US12/818,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20100318035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131, 604/140, 604 68- 72, 604/89
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2013 triggering of discharging means by contact of injector with patient body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2026 Semi-automatic, e.g. user activated piston is assisted by additional source of energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/2073 preventing premature release, e.g. by making use of a safety lock
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3128 Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1083 having a plurality of female connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1088 having a plurality of male connectors, e.g. Luer connectors
• 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 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• 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 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6036 characterised by physical shape, e.g. array of activating switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/19 having more than one chamber , e.g. including a manifold coupling two parallelly aligned syringes through separate channels to a common discharge assembly surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2046 : Media being expelled from injector by gas generation, e.g. explosive charge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2053 : Media being expelled from injector by pressurised fluid or vacuum for infusion A61M5/145, A61M5/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2066 : comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• 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 5/2448 : comprising means for injection of two or more media, e.g. by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 : Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3204 : Needle cap remover, i.e. devices to dislodge protection cover from needle or needle hub, e.g. deshielding devices
• 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 5/3287 : Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion A61M5/20, A61M5/31525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 : for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise can comprise an auto-injector, which can comprise: a vial configured to store and/or contain an injectable medicament, the vial defining a vial longitudinal axis, and a housing comprising the vial. In various embodiments, the injectable medicament can be a medicine, medication, drug, pharmaceutical, prescriptive, agent, antidote, anti-venom, hormone, stimulant, vasodilator, anesthetic, and/or nutritional supplement that is substantially ready for injection.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing, a distal end surface of the housing defining an opening;

a medicament container disposed within the housing;

a delivery mechanism configured to produce a force to convey a medicament from the medicament container via the opening; and

an electronic circuit system including a light output device and a sensor, the sensor configured to produce a signal when the distal end surface is in contact with a body, the electronic circuit system configured to produce a visual output via the light output device in response to the signal produced by the sensor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator configured to be manipulated by a user to actuate the delivery mechanism, the visual output configured to illuminate the actuator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a proximity sensor disposed at the distal end surface of the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit system includes a speaker, the electronic circuit system configured to produce an audible output in response to the signal produced by the sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit system includes a speaker, the electronic circuit system configured to produce a recorded speech output in response to the signal produced by the sensor, the apparatus further comprising:

an actuator configured to be manipulated by a user to actuate the delivery mechanism, the visual output and the recorded speech output collectively identifying the actuator.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking member movably coupled to the housing, the locking member configured to engage a portion of the delivery mechanism to limit movement of the delivery mechanism,

the electronic circuit system including a switch operably coupled to the locking member such that the locking member actuates the switch when the locking member is moved, the electronic circuit system configured to produce an electronic output when the locking member actuates the switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a needle configured to be in fluid communication with the medicament container, the delivery mechanism configured to move the needle between a first position and a second position, in the first position the needle is contained within the housing, in the second position a portion of the needle extends from the housing via the opening,

the delivery mechanism including an energy storage member having a longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the needle.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light output device is any one of a light-emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, an organic polymer display or a fiber optic display.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medicament is any one of a medicine, medication, drug, pharmaceutical, prescriptive, agent, antidote, anti-venom, hormone, stimulant, vasodilator, anesthetic, or nutritional supplement.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medicament is epinephrine.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a contact member disposed at a distal end portion of the housing, a distal end surface of the housing defining an opening;

a medicament carrier movably disposed within the housing, the medicament carrier configured to be coupled to a medicament container and a needle such that the needle is in fluid communication with the medicament container;

a delivery mechanism configured to produce a force to move the medicament carrier within the housing such that a portion of the needle is disposed outside of the housing via the opening;

an actuator configured to be manipulated by a user to actuate the delivery mechanism; and

an electronic circuit system including a light output device, the electronic circuit system configured to produce a visual output via the light output device to illuminate the actuator in response to a portion of the contact member contacting a body.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electronic circuit system includes a sensor configured to produce a signal when the portion of the contact member is in contact with the body.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the medicament container containing one of a medicine, medication, drug, pharmaceutical, prescriptive, agent, antidote, anti-venom, hormone, stimulant, vasodilator, anesthetic, or nutritional supplement.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the medicament container containing epinephrine.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

the needle, a longitudinal axis of the needle being offset from a longitudinal axis of an energy storage member of the delivery mechanism.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the electronic circuit system includes a speaker, the electronic circuit system configured to produce a recorded speech output in response to the portion of the contact member contacting the body; and

the visual output and the recorded speech output collectively identifying the actuator.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the light output device is any one of a light-emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, an organic polymer display or a fiber optic display.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a contact member disposed at a distal end portion of the housing, a distal end surface of the housing defining an opening;

a medicament carrier movably disposed within the housing, the medicament carrier configured to be coupled to a medicament container;

a delivery mechanism configured to produce a force to move the medicament carrier within the housing to convey a medicament from the medicament container via the opening; and

an electronic circuit system including a light output device and an audible output device, the electronic circuit system configured to produce a visual output via the light output device and an audible output via the audible output device in response to a portion of the contact member contacting a body.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

an actuator configured to be manipulated by a user to actuate the delivery mechanism, the visual output configured to illuminate the actuator.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the audible output is a recorded speech output, the apparatus further comprising:

an actuator configured to be manipulated by a user to actuate the delivery mechanism, the visual output and the recorded speech output collectively identifying the actuator.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

the medicament container coupled to the medicament carrier, the medicament container containing epinephrine.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

the medicament container coupled to the medicament carrier, the medicament container containing one of a medicine, medication, drug, pharmaceutical, prescriptive, agent, antidote, anti-venom, hormone, stimulant, vasodilator, anesthetic, or nutritional supplement; and

a needle coupled to the medicament carrier and in fluid communication with the medicament container, the delivery mechanism configured to move the needle between a first position and a second position, in the first position the needle is contained within the housing, in the second position a portion of the needle extends from the housing via the opening,

the delivery mechanism including an energy storage member having a longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the needle.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the light output device is any one of a light-emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, an organic polymer display or a fiber optic display.