Compact auto-injector
First Claim
1. A compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the auto-injector comprising:
- a housing;
a medicament dispensing system disposed within the housing and comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose; and
a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising a curved injection needle and a needle guide adapted to straighten the curved injection needle during deployment of the curved injection needle through the needle guide, such that the curved injection needle is non-self-straightening and is straightened by the needle guide, to facilitate dispensing of the dose by the auto-injector.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A novel single use auto-injector for delivering a fixed amount of medicament is described. The auto-injector may include a sealed housing rotatably held in a cover. Once the auto-injector is positioned at the injection location, the user can transition the housing from a locked to an armed position. The user can then compress the sealed housing into the cover, triggering activation mechanisms that initiate the injection. A first activation mechanism engages an interlock to prevent reuse of the auto-injector. A second activation mechanism straightens and extends a curved needle to a set the exposed needle length. A third activation mechanism pierces a sealed reservoir allowing the medicament to be forced through the injection needle. Following the injection, the auto-injector expands and interlocks, retracting the needle into the auto-injector and preventing reuse.
92 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the auto-injector comprising:
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a housing; a medicament dispensing system disposed within the housing and comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose; and a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising a curved injection needle and a needle guide adapted to straighten the curved injection needle during deployment of the curved injection needle through the needle guide, such that the curved injection needle is non-self-straightening and is straightened by the needle guide, to facilitate dispensing of the dose by the auto-injector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating a compact, high aspect ratio auto-injector for delivering a medicament dose subcutaneously or intramuscularly, the autoinjector comprising a housing, a medicament dispensing system disposed in the housing and comprising a medicament reservoir adapted to contain the dose, and a needle extension mechanism coupled to the medicament reservoir, the needle extension mechanism comprising a curved injection needle and a needle guide, the method comprising the steps of:
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triggering deployment of a distal end of the curved injection needle through an aperture in a cover of the housing aligned with the needle guide to straighten the curved injection needle, wherein the curved injection needle is non-self-straightening and is straightened by the needle guide; triggering piercing of the medicament reservoir to provide fluidic communication between the medicament reservoir and the curved injection needle; dispensing the dose through the curved injection needle at a desired injection location; and
thereafter, retracting the distal end of the curved injection needle into the auto-injector. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification