Drive mechanisms suitable for use in drug delivery devices

• US 8,876,782 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH (Sanofi )
• Original Assignee: Dca Design International Ltd.
• Inventors: Veasey, Robert Frederick, Langley, Christopher Nigel, Wimpenny, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenberg, Rebecca E
• Application Number:
  US13/667,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20130102969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 604134-135, 604207-208, 604/211, 604/218
• US Class Current: 604/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• 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 5/2422 using emptying means to expel or eject media, e.g. pistons, deformation of the ampoule, or telescoping of the ampoule
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31501 Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston A61M5/5013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31526 by means of stepwise axial movements, e.g. ratchet mechanisms or detents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31528 by means of rotational movements, e.g. screw-thread mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31533 Dosing mechanisms, i.e. setting a dose administrating mechanisms A61M5/31565
• 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 5/31551 including axial movement of dose setting member
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3156 using volume steps only adjustable in discrete intervals, i.e. individually distinct intervals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31583 based on rotational translation, i.e. movement of piston rod is caused by relative rotation between the user activated actuator and the piston rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31585 performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31593 Multi-dose, i.e. individually set dose repeatedly administered from the same medicament reservoir

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a dose setting mechanism that may be used with a drug delivery device. The dose setting mechanism may include an inner body having a helical thread along an outer cylindrical surface of the inner body, and a drive sleeve for driving a piston rod in an axial direction, the drive sleeve positioned within at least a portion of the inner body. The dose setting mechanism may further include a dose dial sleeve rotatably engaged with the helical thread of the inner body and a dial grip connected to the dose dial sleeve and releasably connected to the drive sleeve. Further when a dose is set, the dial grip is rotated so that both the dose dial sleeve and the drive sleeve rotate with respect to the inner body.

Claims

1. An injection device comprising,

an exterior housing having a first part and a second part permanently connected to each other forming a disposable pen-type injector where the first part contains a non-removable multi-dose cartridge of medicament and the second part contains a dose setting and delivery mechanism that is configured for manual dose selection and for a stored energy drive during dose delivery,

where the dose setting and delivery mechanism comprises,

a) a dose dial grip;

b) a clutch that couples the dose dial grip to a drive sleeve so that they are rotationally fixed during dose setting and that uncouples the dose dial grip and drive sleeve during dose delivery;

c) a non-circular cross section piston rod threadedly engaged with an interior housing fixed to the second part of the exterior housing, where the piston rod is fixed axially and rotationally during dose setting and rotates and moves axially during dose delivery;

d) a stored energy drive mechanism configured for use in dose delivery to drive the drive sleeve causing the piston rod to rotate;

e) a dose dial sleeve coupled to the drive sleeve and not rotatable relative to the piston rod during dose delivery; and

f) a unidirectional coupling located between the housing and the piston rod, the unidirectional coupling configured to prevent movement of the piston rod in a distal direction and to allow the piston rod to move in a proximal direction.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the stored energy drive mechanism comprises a spring.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a dose button configured to trigger the stored energy drive mechanism causing the piston rod to rotate and to deliver a set dose.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a clicker configured to cause a series of audible and tactile clicks when the dose dial grip is rotated to set a dose or rotated to cancel a dose.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a nut engaged with the drive sleeve and configured to move axially during dose setting in proportion to a set dose.

6. The device of claim 5 further characterized in that the nut is configured to prevent setting of a dose greater than a remaining amount of medicament in the cartridge.

7. An injection device comprising,

an exterior housing having a first part and a second part permanently connected to each other forming a disposable pen-type injector where the first part contains a non-removable multi-dose cartridge of medicament and the second part contains a dose setting and delivery mechanism that is configured for manual dose selection and for a stored energy drive during dose delivery,

where the dose setting and delivery mechanism comprises,

a) a dose dial grip releasably engaged with a drive sleeve through a clutch such that during dose setting the drive sleeve and dose dial grip are rotationally fixed;

b) a non-circular cross section piston rod threadedly engaged with an interior housing fixed to the second part of the exterior housing;

c) a nut having external splines, where the nut is configured to,

i) rotate relative to the piston rod during dose setting,

ii) not rotate relative to the drive sleeve,

iii) move an axial distance proportional to a set dose, and

iv) not rotate relative to the piston rod during dose delivery;

d) a stored energy drive mechanism configured for use in dose delivery;

e) a dose dial sleeve having an external surface with numerals indicative of a set dose, where the dose dial sleeve is configured to be,

i) threadedly engaged with the second part of the exterior housing,

ii) axially displaceable relative to the piston rod, and

iii) not rotatable relative to the piston rod during dose delivery,

f) a unidirectional coupling configured to prevent rotation of the piston rod during dose setting and to allow the piston rod to rotate during dose delivery;

g) a clicker associated with the drive sleeve and configured to cause a series of audible and tactile clicks upon dose setting and dose delivery; and

h) a “

T”

shaped dose button configured to be depressed to deliver a set dose and to drive the drive sleeve in an axial direction.