Drug delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220154-B2
Application number	US-201515321900-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2015
Priority date	Jul 1, 2014
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally directed to a drug delivery device for selecting and dispensing a number of user variable doses of a medicament. The device comprises a housing ( 10 ), a dose selector ( 80 ) operable to set a dose by rotation relative to the housing ( 10 ), a number sleeve ( 60 ) arranged within the housing ( 10 ) such that at least a portion of the number sleeve ( 60 ) is visible through a first aperture ( 11 b ) in the housing ( 10 ), a piston rod ( 30 ) coupled to the housing ( 10 ) and to a drive sleeve ( 40 ) such that rotation of the drive sleeve ( 40 ) relative to the housing ( 10 ) causes the piston rod ( 30 ) to translate relative to the housing ( 10 ) and a clutch mechanism arranged between the number sleeve ( 60 ) and the drive sleeve ( 40 ). The clutch mechanism comprises a first interface ( 42, 62 ) for rotationally constraining the drive sleeve ( 40 ) and the number sleeve ( 60 ) depending on the axial position of the drive sleeve ( 40 ) and a second interface ( 43, 121 ) for rotationally constraining the drive sleeve ( 40 ) and the number sleeve ( 60 ) via a clutch element ( 120 ) depending on the axial position of the drive sleeve ( 40 ) and/or the bias of a clutch spring ( 130 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drug delivery device to select and dispense a number of user variable doses of a medicament, the device comprising:
a housing;
a dose selector configured to set a dose by rotation relative to the housing;
a number sleeve arranged within the housing;
a first aperture in the housing, wherein at least a portion of the number sleeve is visible through the first aperture;
a drive sleeve;
a piston rod coupled to the housing and to the drive sleeve, wherein rotation of the drive sleeve relative to the housing causes the piston rod to translate relative to the housing;
a clutch mechanism releasably coupling the number sleeve and the drive sleeve, the clutch mechanism comprising:
a first interface configured to rotationally constrain the drive sleeve and the number sleeve depending on the axial position of the drive sleeve, and
a second interface configured to rotationally constrain the drive sleeve and the number sleeve via a clutch element depending on the axial position of the drive sleeve or the bias of a clutch spring; and

a drive spring, wherein relative rotation of the number sleeve and the drive sleeve during dose setting strains the drive spring and the drive spring is allowed to at least partially relax during dose dispensing thereby rotationally driving the number sleeve, the drive sleeve and the piston rod.

2. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive sleeve is axially movable between a first, proximal dose setting position and a second, distal dose dispensing position.

3. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the first interface comprises splines on an outer surface of the drive sleeve and corresponding splines on an inner surface of the number sleeve, wherein, in a first axial position of the drive sleeve relative to the housing or the number sleeve, the splines are engaged rotationally constraining the drive sleeve to the number sleeve, and wherein, in a second axial position of the drive sleeve relative to the housing or the number sleeve, the splines are disengaged allowing relative rotation of the drive sleeve and the number sleeve.

4. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive sleeve comprises a third interface configured to permanently rotationally constrain the drive sleeve and the piston rod.

5. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive sleeve comprises a fourth interface configured to rotationally constrain the drive sleeve and the housing depending on the axial position of the drive sleeve.

6. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive sleeve is coupled to a button via the clutch element, wherein, upon actuation of the button, the drive sleeve and the clutch element are translated against the bias of the clutch spring from a proximal position in which the drive sleeve is rotationally locked to the housing into a distal position in which the drive sleeve is rotationally un-locked from the housing, and wherein, upon release of the button, the clutch spring translates the drive sleeve, the clutch element and the button into the proximal position.

7. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , wherein the drive sleeve comprises a fifth interface configured to generate a feedback signal upon rotation of the drive sleeve and depending on the axial position of the drive sleeve.

8. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , further comprising a gauge element interposed between the housing and the number sleeve, wherein the gauge element has a second aperture positioned with respect to the first aperture of the housing, wherein at least a part of the number sleeve is visible through the first and second apertures ( 11 b , 114 ), and wherein the gauge element ( 110 ) is axially guided within the housing ( 10 ) and in threaded engagement with the number sleeve ( 60 ) such that rotation of the number sleeve ( 60 ) causes an axial displacement of the gauge element ( 110 ).

9. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one clicker arrangement configured to generate an audible or tactile feedback signal during dose setting, during dose dispensing or at the end of dose dispensing.

10. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , further comprising a button which is rotatable relative to the housing and rotationally locked to the number sleeve in a dose setting position and which is rotatable relative to the number sleeve and rotationally locked to the housing in a dose dispensing position.

11. The drug delivery device according to claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge containing a medicament.

12. The drug delivery device of claim 11 , wherein the medicament comprises a pharmaceutically active compound.

13. The drug delivery device of claim 1 , wherein, during dose setting, the second interface is configured to prevent the number sleeve from rotating unless a torque applied to the second interface is greater than a torque applied by the drive spring on the number sleeve.

14. The drug delivery device according to claim 13 , wherein the second interface comprises ratchet clutch features on the drive sleeve configured to engage corresponding ratchet clutch features on the clutch element which is rotationally permanently constrained to the number sleeve.

15. The drug delivery device according to claim 14 , wherein each of the clutch features and the corresponding clutch features comprise teeth having a ramp angle allowing overhauling of each other for dose correction.

16. The drug delivery device according to claim 14 , wherein the clutch spring is located axially interposed between the housing and the drive sleeve, wherein the clutch spring biases the drive sleeve towards the clutch element.

Assignees

• Sanofi Sa

Inventors

• Marsh William
• Morris Anthony Paul
• Butler Joseph
• Jones Matthew
• Steel Samuel
• Avery Richard James Vincent

Classifications

• A61M5/31566

  Means improving security or handling thereof · CPC title

• A61M5/31515

  Connection of piston with piston rod · CPC title

• A61M5/3157 Primary

  Means providing feedback signals when administration is completed (A61M5/20 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M5/31585

  performed by axially moving actuator, e.g. an injection button · CPC title

• A61M2205/581

  by audible feedback · CPC title