Multi-stroke delivery pumping mechanism for a drug delivery device for high pressure injections

• US 9,238,112 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2009
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Schoonmaker, Ryan, Bruehwiler, Michel, Spool, Ira, Rosen, Melissa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosworth, Kami A
• Application Number:
  US12/998,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20120004639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3128 Incorporating one-way valves, e.g. pressure-relief or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3152 including gearings to multiply or attenuate the piston displacing force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14216 Reciprocating piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/204 connected to external reservoirs for multiple refilling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/286 upon internal pressure increase, e.g. pierced or burst A61M5/283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3146 Priming, e.g. purging, reducing backlash or clearance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3158 performed by axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/48 having means for varying, regulating, indicating or limiting injection pressure A61M5/142 takes precedence ; monitoring pressure in infusion systems A61M5/16854

Abstract

A dual-chambered drug delivery device (201) includes a cartridge (211) having a first chamber (212) for storing a medicament and a second chamber (211) in fluid communication with the first chamber (212). A dose setting member (241) is used to set a medicament dose to be injected at an injection site. A piston (281) is disposed in the second chamber (221). An upward stroke of the piston (281) draw a portion of the medicament dose into the second chamber (221) and a downward stroke of the piston (281) expels the portion of the medicament dose. A needle (205) communicates with the second chamber (221) for sequentially injecting the portions of the medicament dose into the injection site.

Claims

1. A dual-chambered drug delivery device, comprising:

a cartridge having a first chamber for storing a medicament;

a second chamber in fluid communication with said first chamber, a centerline of said first chamber being substantially parallel to and offset from a centerline of said second chamber;

a rotating dose setting member for rotatably setting a medicament dose to be injected at an injection site, said dose setting member being mechanically decoupled from said first chamber and said dose setting member being disposed external to said second chamber;

a piston disposed in said second chamber, an upward stroke of said piston drawing a portion of the medicament dose into said second chamber and a downward stroke of said piston expelling the portion of the medicament dose; and

a needle communicating with said second chamber for sequentially injecting portions of the medicament dose into the injection site.

2. The dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein a drive screw is movably connected to said dose setting member such that rotation of said dose setting member moves said drive screw upwardly.

3. The dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein a bevel gear is rotatably connected to said dose setting member such that downward movement of said drive screw rotates said dose setting member, which rotates said bevel gear;

and

a piston is movably connected to said bevel gear.

4. The dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 3, wherein a clutch is connected to said dose setting member, said clutch separating said dose setting member from said bevel gear when the medicament dose is being set and engaging said dose setting member and said bevel gear when said medicament dose is being delivered.

5. The dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 2, wherein a dose tracking nut is disposed on said drive screw to prevent further medicament doses from being set when the remaining medicament in said first chamber is less than a predetermined amount.

6. The dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said dose setting member mechanically drives a piston of only the second chamber of said first and second chambers.

7. The dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein a centerline of said dose setting member is coincident with the centerline of said second chamber.

8. The dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 1, wherein said second chamber is disposed at a position below said first chamber.

9. A method of injecting medicament using a dual-chambered drug delivery device, comprising the steps of:

storing a medicament in a first chamber of a cartridge, a second chamber being in fluid communication with said first chamber;

setting a medicament dose by rotating a dose setting member that is mechanically decoupled from said first chamber, a centerline of said first chamber being substantially parallel to and offset from a centerline of said second chamber, and said dose setting member being disposed external to said second chamber;

transferring a portion of the medicament dose from the first chamber to the second chamber via a piston disposed in said second chamber, an upward stroke of said piston drawing the portion of the medicament dose from said first chamber into said second chamber and a downward stroke of said piston expelling the portion of the medicament dose;

injecting the portion of the medicament dose from the second chamber into an injection site via a needle; and

repeating the injecting of portions of the medicament dose until the entire medicament dose is injected.

10. The method of injecting medicament using a dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 9, wherein

the injecting of a portion of the medicament dose and the repeating thereof is accomplished by one stroke of an injection rod.

11. The method of injecting medicament using a dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 9, further comprising

tracking the amount of the medicament stored in the first chamber.

12. The method of injecting medicament using a dual-chambered drug delivery device according to claim 11, further comprising

preventing the medicament dose from being set when the stored medicament being tracked is less than a predetermined amount.