Injection device with a dose setting limiter

• US 7,104,972 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2003
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Sorensen, Christian, Hansen, Steffen, Moller, Claus Schmidt, Miller, Thomas Dedenroth
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Catherine S.
• Application Number:
  US10/610,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20040068236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 604 71- 72, 604/181, 604186-187, 604207-211, 604/218, 604/220, 604223-225, 604228-229, 604/232, 604/246, 222/309, 222/390, 222/391
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/31518 designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3152 including gearings to multiply or attenuate the piston displacing force
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/24 Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic ampoules or carpules A61J1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3146 Priming, e.g. purging, reducing backlash or clearance
• 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 5/31541 Means preventing setting of a dose beyond the amount remaining in the cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3155 by rotational movement of dose setting member, e.g. during setting or filling of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31555 by purely axial movement of dose setting member, e.g. during setting or filling of a syringe
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31558 using scaling up or down transmissions, e.g. gearbox
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3156 using volume steps only adjustable in discrete intervals, i.e. individually distinct intervals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31568 Means keeping track of the total dose administered, e.g. since the cartridge was inserted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3158 performed by axially moving actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31595 Pre-defined multi-dose administration by repeated overcoming of means blocking the free advancing movement of piston rod, e.g. by tearing or de-blocking

Abstract

An end-of-content arrangement for preventing a dose setting member of an injection device to be set to a dose larger that the medicament remaining in the injection device. The arrangement is particular suitable for injection devices operating with non-equistant dose volumes. The arrangement comprises an indentation provided on the housing or on the dose setting and injection member which indentation arrest a stop member when less than one dose unit is left in the cartridge. The stop member is coupled to the dose setting member such that the interaction between the indentation and the stop member prevents a dose larger that the remaining medication in being set.

Claims

1. An injection device having a housing accommodating a cartridge containing medicine sufficient for a number of dosed injections, whereby doses are injected by advancing a piston rod forward inside the cartridge, the injection device comprising:

a dose setting and injection mechanism,

a dose setting member operational coupled to the dose setting and injection mechanism for setting up a dose to be injected,

an injection button operational coupled to the dose setting and injecting mechanism and by which the dose setting and injection mechanism can be activated for advancing the piston rod forward in order to press out the set dose through a conduit connected to the cartridge, and

an arrangement for preventing the dose setting member to be set to a dose larger than the medicament remaining in the cartridge,

wherein,

said arrangement comprises a stop member operational coupled to the dose setting member engaging one of a plurality of indentations provided on the dose setting and injection mechanism or on the housing when less than one dose unit is left in the cartridge thereby preventing a dose larger than the medicament remaining in the cartridge of being set,

wherein, the stop member is connected to the dose setting member through a coupling ring surrounding a driver,

wherein, the stop member is provided as an appendix on an arm connected to the coupling ring,

wherein, the arm is provided with a cam being guided in a spiral track in the driver.

2. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein the stop member is guided into abutment with the indentation when there is less than one unit of medicament left in the cartridge.

3. An injection device according to claim 1, wherein, the circular distance between two following indentations equals one selectable dose unit.