Drive control mechanisms and automatic injectors for injectable cartridges
First Claim
1. An automatic injector adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
- a housing,a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge,a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier being disposed to confront and impart movement at least a portion of the plunger assembly,at least one transfer instrument disposed to selectively couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier for movement therewith,an elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge,at least one or the plunger carrier and the cartridge carrier including an opening that selectively receives the at least one transfer instrument to removably couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier,a motor, anda transmission assembly coupling the motor to the elongated drive device.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic injector includes a housing having a guide, a drive control mechanism, a transmission assembly, a motor, and an energy source. The housing may further include a cartridge cover. A drive control mechanism includes a drive screw, a cartridge carrier, a plunger carrier, and one or more control transfer instruments, such as a puck or cylinder. The drive screw interfaces and connects with the plunger carrier. The automatic injector is configured to accept a variety of syringes as cartridges for drug delivery. The cartridges may be ejected from the injector and safely disposed after use, making the injector a reusable automatic injector. The reusable automatic injector may further include one or more sensors, such as a cartridge sensor and a patient sensor. The novel incorporation of the drive control mechanisms into the automatic injectors of the present invention enables a single motor and transmission assembly to drive the function of multiple components, which may include the steps of: preparation and alignment of a cartridge for injection, removal of a safety cap or needle shield, needle injection, drug dose delivery, and syringe and/or needle retraction. Methods of manufacture and methods of use are also disclosed.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An automatic injector adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
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a housing, a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier being disposed to confront and impart movement at least a portion of the plunger assembly, at least one transfer instrument disposed to selectively couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier for movement therewith, an elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, at least one or the plunger carrier and the cartridge carrier including an opening that selectively receives the at least one transfer instrument to removably couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier, a motor, and a transmission assembly coupling the motor to the elongated drive device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automatic injector adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
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a housing, a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier being disposed to confront and impart movement at least a portion of the plunger assembly, at least one transfer instrument disposed to selectively couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier for movement therewith, an elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and wherein the transfer instrument is disposed for movement between a first position wherein the transfer instrument engages only one of the either the cartridge carrier or the plunger carrier, and a second position wherein the transfer instrument engages both of the cartridge carrier and the plunger carrier to couple the cartridge carrier and the plunger carrier together for contemporaneous movement. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An automatic injector adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
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a housing, a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier including at least one opening, a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier being disposed to confront and impart movement at least a portion of the plunger assembly, the plunger carrier including at least one opening, at least one transfer instrument disposed to selectively couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier for movement therewith, an elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and the cartridge carrier not be being coupled to the plunger carrier when the at least one transfer instrument is disposed in a first position within only one of the cartridge carrier opening and the plunger carrier opening, and the cartridge carrier being coupled to the plunger carrier for movement therewith when the at least one transfer instrument is disposed in a second position within both the cartridge carrier opening and the plunger carrier opening. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An automatic injector adapted to receive a cartridge including a barrel, a needle, and a plunger assembly including a plunger seal, the cartridge defining a longitudinal axis, the injector comprising:
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a housing, a cartridge carrier adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge, the cartridge carrier being disposed for movement relative to the housing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, a plunger carrier disposed for movement relative to the cartridge carrier, the plunger carrier being disposed to confront and impart movement at least a portion of the plunger assembly, at least one transfer instrument disposed to selectively couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier for movement therewith, an elongated drive device coupled to the plunger carrier, the elongated drive device being disposed to provide movement of the plunger carrier in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, at least one of the plunger carrier and the cartridge carrier including an opening that selectively receives the at least one transfer instrument to removably couple the cartridge carrier to the plunger carrier, a motor, and a transmission assembly coupling the motor to the elongated drive device. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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Specification