Dose setting mechanism and an injection syringe having such a dose setting mechanism

• US 6,074,372 A
• Filed: 06/03/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Hansen, Steffen
• Primary Examiner(s): MCDERMOTT, CORRINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US09/089,821
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 604/207-211, 604/224
• US Class Current: 604/211
• 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 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• 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 5/31553 without axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31558 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31575 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button

Abstract

A dose setting mechanism for a drug administration device and an injection syringe having such a dose setting mechanism are provided. The injection syringe has a housing accommodating an ampoule (3) containing medicine sufficient for a number of dosed injections, an injection press button (7), a piston rod (13) for co-operation with a piston in the ampoule (3) when injecting, and a dose setting mechanism comprising a rotatable dose setting element (5) interconnected with the press button. The dose setting mechanism further comprises a dose administration wheel (11) connected with the piston rod (13) and a coupling ring (12) connected with the dose setting element (5) and the press button (7). One of the dose administration wheel (11) and the coupling ring (12) at least partly surrounds the other, and the dose administration wheel (11) and the coupling ring (12) are arranged such that rotation of the dose setting element (5) allows the coupling ring (12) to be rotated in either direction in relation to the dose administration wheel (11), while activation of the press button (7), and thereby rotation of the coupling ring (12), causes the dose administration wheel (11) to be rotated.

Claims

1. A drug administration device comprising a housing and a dose setting mechanism, wherein said dose setting mechanism includes:

a press button (7) connectable with a piston rod (13) for administration of a set dose from a container,

a rotatable dose setting element (5) interconnected with said press button (7),

a dose administration wheel (11) connected with said piston rod (13), and

a coupling ring (12) connected with the dose setting element (5) and the press button (7) such that rotation of the dose setting element and coupling ring in a first rotational direction moves the press button in one direction, and movement of the press button in an opposite direction rotates said dose settings element and coupling ring in a second rotational direction, wherein one of said dose administration wheel (11) and said coupling ring (12) at least partly surrounds the other, said dose administration wheel (11) and said coupling ring (12) being arranged such that rotation of the dose setting element (5) allows the coupling ring (12) to be rotated in either direction in relation to the dose administration wheel (11), while activation of the press button (7), and thereby rotation of the coupling ring (12), causes the dose administration wheel (11) to be rotated.

2. The drug administration device according to claim 1, wherein the dose administration wheel (11) has an outer periphery provided with barbs (21) wherein the coupling ring (12) includes a hub and a ring segment having opposite ends and an inner side which partly surrounds the dose administration wheel (11), wherein said ring segment is rigidly connected with said hub at one of its ends and flexibly connected to said hub at the other of its ends, said ring segment being provided with barbs (22) over at least part of its inner side, and wherein the dose setting element (5) is connected to the coupling, ring (12) at the end of the ring segment which is flexibly connected with the hub.

3. The drug administration device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling ring (12) has a center containing a gear wheel (17), and wherein the press button (7) includes a toothed part (18) connected with the gear wheel (17).

4. An injection syringe (1) comprising a housing accommodating an ampoule (3) containing a piston and medicine sufficient for a number of dosed injections, an injection press button (7), a piston rod (13) for co-operation with the piston in the ampoule (3) when injecting, and a dose setting mechanism comprising a rotatable dose setting element (5) interconnected with said press button (7), characterized in that the dose setting mechanism further comprises a dose administration wheel (11) connected with said piston rod (13) and a coupling ring (12) connected with the dose setting element (5) and the press button (7), one of said dose administration wheel (11) and said coupling ring (12) at least partly surrounding the other, said dose administration wheel (11) and said coupling ring (12) being arranged such that rotation of the dose setting element (5) allows the coupling ring (12) to be rotated in either direction in relation to th(e dose administration wheel (11), while activation of the press button (7), and thereby rotation of the coupling ring (12), causes the dose administration wheel (11) to be rotated.

5. The injection syringe according to claim 4, characterized in that the dose administration wheel (11) has an outer periphery provided with barbs (21), wherein the coupling ring (12) includes a hub and a ring segment having opposite ends and an inner side which partly surrounds the dose administration wheel (11), wherein said ring segment is rigidly connected with said hub at one of its ends and flexibly connected to said hub at the other of its ends, said ring segment being provided with barbs (22) over at least part of its inner side, and wherein the dose setting element (5) is connected to the coupling ring (12) at the end of the ring segment which is flexibly connected with the hub.

6. The injection syringe according to claim 5, characterized in that the coupling ring (12) has a center containing a gear wheel (17), and wherein the press button (7) includes a toothed part (18) connected with the gear wheel (17).

7. The injection syringe according to claim 4, wherein the dose administration wheel rotates in a first direction for infecting medicine, and characterized in that the dose administration wheel (11) and the housing have cooperating means for preventing the dose administration wheel (11) from being rotated in the opposite direction in response to rotation of the dose setting element (5).

8. The injection syringe according to claim 4, characterized in that the dose administration wheel (11) has a center containing a gear wheel (24) connected with the piston rod (13).

9. The injection syringe according to claim 4, characterized in that the dose setting element (5) is provided with a scale (9), and that the housing is provided with a pointer (10) pointing on said scale (9), said pointer (10) indicating the dose set when the dose setting element (5) is rotated.