Dose setting device for medical injectors

• US 6,666,849 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2000
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Owen Mumford
• Original Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company, Owen Mumford
• Inventors: Jansen, Paul E, Marshall, Jeremy
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ghafoorian, Roz
• Application Number:
  US09/485,493
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 350/116, 604/207, 604/131, 604/68, 604/153, 604/506, 604/246, 604/211, 604/218, 623/1.13, 128/218
• US Class Current: 604/246
• 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 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/585 having magnification means, e.g. magnifying glasses
• 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

Abstract

A self-use medical injector has a knob at the rear end of a barrel which is rotated from a zeroed position to set the dose and which rotates back again, to the zeroed position, when the injector is fired. A scale is provided on the knob (2) or barrel (1) and a datum mark or indicator on the barrel or knob co-operates with the scale. There is a raised stud (3, 11, 12, 16) providing the indicator or the zero mark of the scale. An annular member (4, 10, 14, 17) fitted over the knob if the stud is on the barrel or over the barrel if the stud is on the knob, has a projection (9, 12, 15, 18) which is registered with a mark on the scale corresponding to the required dose. This projection abuts the stud when the knob is rotated and thus sets the knob for the correct does.

Claims

1. A dose setting device for medical injectors of the kind having a barrel with a front and a rear end and a rotary dose setting knob at the rear end of the barrel that can be indexed around from a zeroed position to bring an indicator opposite a mark on a scale, the device comprising an attachable and removable dose determining annular member adapted to be selectively attached on the dose-setting knob to fit retentively over the dose-setting knob in a selected one of a plurality of relative rotational positions each corresponding to a selected predetermined maximum dose, the annular member having an abutment which can co-operate with a raised stud on the barrel, rotation of the knob, together with the attached annular member, for dose setting being arrested by the abutment meeting the stud with the indicator opposite the selected dose mark, thus determining the selected maximum dose and preventing further rotation of the knob beyond the selected dose.

2. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cup press fits over and covers the knob, and has a mouth portion which defines the annular member.

3. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scale is on the knob and the annular member is adapted to leave at least part of the scale visible.

4. A dose setting devices as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular member is adapted for the scale being on the barrel, the stud being at the zero point thereof, and the indicator being on the knob.

6. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the annular member is adapted for the scale being on the knob, the stud being at the zero point thereof, and the indicator being on the barrel.

7. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the scale is on the barrel and the annular member is adapted to leave at least part of the scale visible.

8. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular member is opaque, except for a window through which the selected dose mark may be seen.

9. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the annular member is a unitary moulding of transparent plastics material, with a short section thickened into a magnifying lens for placement over the selected dose number.

10. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the indicator is provided by the stud and the abutment projects from the annular member immediately adjacent the window or lens.

11. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the annular member is opaque, except for a window through which the selected dose mark may be seen.

12. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the annular member is a unitary moulding of transparent plastics material, with a short section thickened into a magnifying lens for placement over the selected dose member.

13. A dose setting device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the indicator is provided by the stud and the abutment projects from the annular member immediately adjacent the window or lens.

5. A dose setting device for medical injectors of the kind having a barrel with a front end and a rear end and a rotary dose setting knob at the rear end of the barrel that can be indexed around from a zeroed position to bring an indicator opposite a mark on a scale, the device comprising an attachable and removable dose determining annular member adapted to be selectively attached over and to fit retentively over the rear end of the barrel in a selected one of a plurality of relative rotational positions each corresponding to a selected predetermined maximum dose, the annular member having an abutment which can co-operate with a raised stud on the knob, rotation of the knob for dose setting being arrested by the stud meeting the abutment with the indicator opposite the selected dose mark, thus determining the selected maximum dose and preventing further rotation of the knob beyond the selected dose.