Self-injection device

• US 9,555,187 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Sonderegger, Ralph, Alexander, Jason, Christensen, Corey, George, Ryan, Ingleby, J'Lynn, Chase, Patty, Bingham, Curt
• Primary Examiner(s): OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES
• Application Number:
  US13/516,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,603 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14506 mechanically driven, e.g. spring or clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/206 With automatic needle insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3126 Specific display means related to dosing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/58 Means for facilitating use, e.g. by people with impaired vision
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/584 having a color code
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/142 Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14248 of the skin patch type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1626 Needle protectors therefor in combination with syringes A61M5/3202; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• 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 5/31528 by means of rotational movements, e.g. screw-thread mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3157 Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed A61M5/20 takes 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 5/3232 : Semi-automatic needle retraction, i.e. in which triggering of the needle retraction requires a deliberate action by the user, e.g. manual release of spring-biased retraction means

Abstract

A device (100) for delivering a medicament into a patient'"'"'s body by injection into or through the patient'"'"'s skin includes a body (104, 116) having a reservoir (160) disposed therein for containing the medicament, an injection needle (152) for penetrating the skin of the patient, the needle (152) having a lumen and communicating with the reservoir (160), and a pressurizing system for pressurizing the reservoir (160). The device also includes indicator means (124) visible outside the device (100) for indicating that delivery of the medicament is substantially complete.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device, comprising:

a body having a reservoir disposed therein for containing a medicament;

an injection needle for penetrating the skin of a patient, the needle being in fluid communication with the reservoir;

a pressurization unit;

a plunger movable within the body under a force of the pressurization unit for contacting the reservoir; and

indicator means visible outside the device for indicating that delivery of the medicament is substantially complete;

wherein motion of the plunger activates the indicator means, and wherein the indicator means converts the motion of the plunger into motion of the indicator means visible from outside the device;

wherein the indicator means comprises an end-of-dose indicator that converts the motion of the plunger into motion of the end-of-dose indicator visible from outside the device;

wherein the end-of-dose indicator comprises;

a main body; and

a signaling post connected with the main body;

wherein as the plunger reaches an end of its travel stroke, the plunger contacts the end-of-dose indicator due to a force of the pressurization unit, and a pressure of the plunger against the end-of-dose indicator induces the signaling post to extend outside the device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the end-of-dose indicator further comprises:

first and second arms extending from a first end of the main body; and

a spring arm extending from the first end of the main body;

wherein the signaling post extends from an end of the second arm.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the plunger comprises a plunger tab extending from an edge thereof; and

the plunger tab contacts the first arm to convert the motion of the plunger into motion of the signaling post.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein:

the reservoir comprises a dome and a flexible, non-distensible reservoir dome seal;

the spring arm contacts the dome to bias the end-of-dose indicator toward a pre-activated position; and

as the plunger reaches the end of its travel stroke, the force of the pressurization spring overcomes the bias of the spring arm inducing the signaling post to extend outside the device.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

the body includes a cylindrical housing in which the plunger moves; and

the cylindrical housing includes a channel movably housing the main body of the end-of-dose indicator.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a base of the signaling post comprises a different color than the remainder of the signaling post, thereby signaling that delivery of the medicament is substantially complete when the color of the base of the signaling post is visible outside the device.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the end-of-dose indicator further comprises

at least one stabilizing arm extending from the main body for stabilizing the end-of-dose indicator during movement thereof;

and

a first arm extending from the main body;

wherein the signaling post extends from an end of the first arm.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein:

the plunger comprises a plunger tab extending from an edge thereof; and

the plunger tab contacts the main body to convert the motion of the plunger into motion of the signaling post.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein:

the end-of-dose indicator further comprises at least one spring arm with a spring arm post extending from an end thereof;

during motion of the signaling post, the spring arm post contacts the dome to bias the end-of-dose indicator toward a pre-activated position; and

as the plunger reaches the end of its travel stroke, the force of the pressurization spring overcomes the bias of the spring arm inducing the signaling post to extend outside the device.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein:

the body includes a cylindrical housing in which the plunger moves;

the cylindrical housing includes a channel movably housing the main body of the end-of-dose indicator; and

the at least one stabilizing arm contacts an exterior of the cylindrical housing for stabilizing the end-of-dose indicator during movement thereof.