Device for the dosed administration of a fluid product, adapted for the replacement of a container

• US 9,057,369 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ypsomed AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: TecPharma Licensing AG (Ypsomed Holding AG)
• Inventors: Kohlbrenner, Philippe, Kuenzli, Daniel, Meier, Christoph, Stettler, Peter, Wittmann, Juergen, Wittwer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): STIGELL, THEODORE J
• Application Number:
  US13/178,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20120111186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 604/68, 604 70- 72, 604207-211, 92/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/202 cocking means, e.g. to bias the main drive spring of an injector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3125 specific display means, e.g. to indicate dose setting
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3126 Specific display means related to dosing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3142 Modular constructions, e.g. supplied in separate pieces to be assembled by end-user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3247 Means to impede repositioning of protection sleeve from needle covering to needle uncovering position
• 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 5/31535 Means improving security or handling thereof, e.g. blocking means, means preventing insufficient dosing, means allowing correction of overset dose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31536 Blocking means to immobilize a selected dose, e.g. to administer equal doses
• 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 5/31555 by purely axial movement of dose setting member, e.g. during setting or filling of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31558 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31561 using freely adjustable volume steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31575 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• 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
• 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 5/3245 Constructional features thereof, e.g. to improve manipulation or functioning
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3257 : Semi-automatic sleeve extension, i.e. in which triggering of the sleeve extension requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased extension means
• 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: F04B 49/106 : Responsive to pumped volume

Abstract

A device for administering a fluid product, the device including a first housing part provided with a receiver for the product, a second housing part detachably connectable to the first housing part, a piston rod held such that it can be displaced for the exertion of an emptying movement, an actuatable or releasable drive element for the piston rod, a coupling element including a coupling input element that couples the drive element to the piston rod in a coupling engagement, transmits a driving force of the drive element to the piston rod, and triggers the emptying movement, and a decoupling element displaceably connected to the second housing part and coupled to the first housing part such that it is displaced, by a movement of the housing parts in relation to each other when the housing parts are separated into a decoupling position wherein the piston rod is decoupled from the coupling input element.

Claims

1. A device for administering a fluid product, said device comprising:

a) a first casing part and a second casing part connected to each other;

b) a container accommodated in the first casing part;

c) a piston accommodated in the container and moveable in an advancing direction;

d) a piston rod with an outer thread and moveable in a delivery movement in the advancing direction, wherein the piston rod and the piston comprise a conveying means;

e) a dosing member for setting a dosage by performing a dosing movement;

f) a drive member operable for moving the piston rod; and

g) a coupler comprising a coupler input member which couples the drive member to the piston rod in a coupler engagement and transfers a drive force of the drive member to the piston rod to cause the delivery movement;

wherein

h) the second casing part forms a linear guide for the drive member such that the drive member is linearly guided relative to the second casing part and is moveable in and counter to the advancing direction;

i) the dosing member is coupled to the drive member and by the dosing movement the drive member is moved counter to the advancing direction and extends out of the second casing part;

j) the drive member is sleeve-shaped and comprises a thread;

k) the coupler input member is sleeve-shaped and comprises a thread complementary to the thread of the drive member for threaded engagement with the drive member;

l) a drive movement of the drive member causes a rotational movement of the coupler input member; and

m) wherein a rotational movement of the coupler input member causes the delivery movement of the piston rod.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a thread pitch of the threaded engagement of the drive member and the coupler input member is large enough that self-locking cannot occur.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the piston rod extends into the drive member and the coupler input member.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the threaded engagement between the coupler input member and the piston rod comprises a pitch which prevents self-locking.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein a thread pitch of the threaded engagement between the coupler input member and the piston rod is less than a thread pitch of the threaded engagement between the drive member and the coupler input member.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the piston rod is linearly guided and secured against rotating such that the piston rod cannot be rotated relative to the casing during the delivery movement.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive member is linearly guided relative to the casing such that it can be moved in and counter to the advancing direction, for which purpose the casing directly forms a linear guide.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coupler further comprises a coupler intermediate member and a restoring member which charges the coupler intermediate member with an elasticity force acting counter to the advancing direction.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the restoring member comprises a pressure spring.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein if no force acting in the advancing direction is exerted on the drive member the restoring member ensures, via the coupler intermediate member, the coupler engagement between the drive member and piston rod is released.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a triggering element for operating the drive member by exerting a pressure force on the triggering element in the advancing direction.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a dosing member for setting a dose, wherein during dose setting the dosing member is connected to the coupler input member such that it is secured against rotation and such that rotation of the dosing member causes the coupler input member to rotate in a dosing movement.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the drive member, guided linearly in a linear guide, is moved by the dosing movement of the coupler input member in a proximal direction and then protrudes from the casing.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the linear dosing movement of the drive member follows from the rotational angle by which the dosing member is rotated and a thread pitch in the threaded engagement between the drive member and the coupler input member.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the coupler further comprises a coupler output member in engagement with the piston rod, and wherein a drive movement of the coupler output member causes the delivery movement of the piston rod.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein during a delivery movement, the drive member is pressed in the advancing direction, such that the coupler input member rotates in the threaded engagement with the drive member which is guided such that it is secured against rotation about a common threaded axis, and wherein the coupler input member slaves the coupler output member when rotated.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the rotational movement of the coupler output member advances the piston rod via the threaded engagement with the piston rod and the rotationally secured linear guide and thus causes the delivery movement of the piston rod.