End of injection indicator for injection pen

• US 9,452,265 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Quinn, Michael V, Cronenberg, Richard, Shetty, Gautam
• Primary Examiner(s): Flick, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/005,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 604/71, 604/207, 604/211, 604/246
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3126 Specific display means related to dosing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31533 Dosing mechanisms, i.e. setting a dose administrating mechanisms A61M5/31565
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button

Abstract

A medication injection pen (50) includes a housing (1) and a dose set knob (2) rotatably connected to the housing (1) for setting a dose. An indicator member (200) is movable between an visible position indicating a zero position of the dose set knob (2) and a non-visible position indicating a non-zero position of the dose set knob (2). The indicator member is visible to a user in the visible position and not visible in the non-visible position. The dose set knob is in the zero position when a set dose has been completely administered. Accordingly, a visible indication is provided to a user when a set dose has been completely administered.

Claims

1. A medication injection pen, comprising:

a housing having a proximal end and a distal end;

a dose set knob extending from said proximal end and rotatably connected to said housing for setting a dose;

a plurality of numerals corresponding to a set dose;

an indicator member positioned distally of the plurality of numerals and movable between a visible position indicating a zero position of said dose set knob and a non-visible position indicating a non-zero position of said dose set knob, said dose set knob being in said zero position when a set dose has been completely administered, wherein

the indicator member is visible in the visible position and not visible in the non-visible position.

2. The medication injection pen according to claim 1, wherein

a spring member biases said indicator member to said zero position.

3. The medication injection pen according to claim 1, wherein

an arm extends axially from said indicator member toward said dose set knob.

4. The medication injection pen according to claim 3, wherein

a lug disposed on said dose set knob engages said arm when rotating said dose set knob to set a dose to move said indicator member from said visible position to said non-visible position.

5. The medication injection pen according to claim 4, wherein

a thread disposed on said dose set knob engages said arm when injecting a set dose to move said indicator member from said non-visible position to said visible position.

6. The medication injection pen according to claim 5, wherein

a flexible arm is disposed at an end of said arm to allow said lug to pass over said arm when injecting said set dose.

7. The medication injection pen according to claim 2, wherein

an insert is fixed to said housing and has a boss extending outwardly therefrom;

and

a track in said indicator member receives said boss to guide said indicator member between said visible position and said non-visible position.

8. The medication injection pen according to claim 7, wherein

said track has a first portion and a second portion, such that movement of said boss through said first portion provides axial movement of said indicator member and movement of said boss through said second portion prevents axial movement of said indicator member.

9. The medication injection pen according to claim 7, wherein

said spring moves said indicator member to said visible position when said boss enters said first portion of said track from said second portion.

10. The medication injection pen according to claim 9, wherein

an audible indication is generated when said boss contacts an end of said first portion of said track when said indicator member is returned to said visible position.

11. The medication injection pen according to claim 2, wherein

a first boss extends outwardly from said indicator member;

an insert is fixed to said housing and has a second boss extending outwardly therefrom; and

a driver has a first track receiving said first boss and a second track receiving said second boss such that movement of said first boss in said first track moves said indicator member between said visible and said non-visible positions.

12. The medication injection pen according to claim 11, wherein

movement of said second boss in said second track of said driver facilitates rotation of said driver relative to said insert.

13. The medication injection pen according to claim 11, wherein

an arm extends axially from said driver toward said dose set knob.

14. The medication injection pen according to claim 3, wherein

a lug disposed on said dose set knob engages said arm when rotating said dose set knob to set a dose to move said indicator member from said visible to said non-visible position.

15. The medication injection pen according to claim 11, wherein

said first track has a first portion and a second portion, such that movement of said first boss through said first portion provides axial movement of said indicator member and movement of said first boss through said second portion prevents axial movement of said indicator member.

16. The medication injection pen according to claim 4, wherein

said lug has an angled surface;

and

a protrusion disposed on said arm has an angled surface such that rotation of said dose set knob when setting said dose engages said angled surfaces to move said indicator member from said visible position to said non-visible position.

17. The medication injection pen according to claim 2, wherein

said spring is a torsion spring.

18. The medication injection pen according to claim 17, wherein

an insert is fixed to said housing and has a boss extending outwardly therefrom;

and

a track disposed in said indicator member receives said boss such that movement of said boss in said track rotates said indicator member between said visible position and said non-visible position.

19. A medication injection pen, comprising:

a housing;

a dose set knob rotatably connected to said housing for setting a dose; and

a window disposed in said housing such that said dose set knob is visible in said window to indicate a zero position of said dose set knob and no portion of said dose set knob is visible in said window to indicate a non-zero position, said dose set knob being in said zero position when a set dose has been completely administered.

20. The medication injection pen according to claim 19, wherein

said dose set knob has a cut-out portion at a distal end thereof to facilitate visibility of said outer surface of said dose set knob through said window.