Cartridge hold-up volume reduction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11633541-B2
Application number	US-202016794689-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2020
Priority date	Jan 19, 2017
Publication date	Apr 25, 2023
Grant date	Apr 25, 2023

Abstract

Drug delivery systems with reduced hold-up volumes are provided. The drug delivery systems include a cartridge configured to hold a liquid drug. A cartridge stopper is positioned in a first portion of the cartridge. A needle guide component is positioned within the cartridge stopper. A needle is positioned within a central opening of the needle guide. A plunger is positioned in a second portion of the cartridge. The plunger includes a fluid path pocket facing and aligned with the central opening of the needle guide component. The plunger is driven toward the cartridge stopper to expel the liquid drug from the cartridge through the needle. An end of the needle can be positioned within the fluid path pocket when the plunger is pushed against the cartridge stopper, ensuring that only a small volume of the liquid drug remains in the cartridge when delivery of the liquid drug is completed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drug delivery system, comprising:
a cartridge configured to hold a liquid drug;
a cartridge stopper positioned in a first portion of the cartridge and including a fluid path pocket;
a needle insertion guide positioned adjacent to the cartridge stopper, wherein:
the needle insertion guide has an opening aligned with the fluid path pocket,
the opening extends along an entire length of the needle insertion guide, and
the opening includes a conical portion and a cylindrical portion; and

a plunger positioned in a second portion of the cartridge and operable to advance through the cartridge in a direction of the cartridge stopper.

2. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge stopper is formed from plastic or rubber.

3. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge stopper is cylindrically-shaped.

4. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge stopper has a shape operable to fit within a transition region of a neck component of the cartridge, and the cartridge stopper is operable to form a seal for the liquid drug.

5. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the needle insertion guide is formed from metal, plastic, or rubber.

6. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plunger includes a first surface facing the cartridge stopper and a second surface facing an opening of the cartridge, the first surface positioned to contact a liquid drug in the cartridge, and the plunger forms a seal with the cartridge for the liquid drug.

7. The drug delivery system of claim 6 , wherein the first surface of the plunger and the second surface of the plunger are substantially planar.

8. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid path pocket is cylindrically-shaped.

9. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge stopper has a second side angled to match a neck component of the cartridge.

10. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge stopper has a second side and the fluid path pocket has a depth that extends into the cartridge stopper from a first side.

11. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a needle operable to deliver a liquid drug, wherein the needle is positioned within an opening of the needle insertion guide and operable to reach the fluid path pocket when inserted into the cartridge and through the cartridge stopper to the fluid path pocket.

12. The drug delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the needle further comprises:
a shape and a length operable to position an end of the needle within the fluid path pocket.

13. The drug delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the plunger when positioned against a first side of the cartridge stopper does not contact or disturb the positioning of the needle.

14. The drug delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the plunger includes a first surface facing the cartridge stopper and an end of the needle is configured to be positioned within the fluid path pocket of the cartridge stopper when the first surface of the plunger contacts the cartridge stopper.

15. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is configured to be driven toward the cartridge stopper to expel the liquid drug out of the cartridge through the needle.

16. The drug delivery system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a crimp and a septum, wherein the crimp is positioned around the septum and a top component of the cartridge and is operable to tightly fit the septum against the top component.

17. The drug delivery system of claim 16 , wherein the crimp and septum are positioned over an opening to the needle insertion guide and are operable to be pierced by a needle during insertion of the needle into the needle insertion guide.

18. The drug delivery system of claim 16 , wherein the needle insertion guide is positioned between the septum and the cartridge stopper.

Assignees

• Insulet Corp

Inventors

• Mccaffrey Maureen
• Nazzaro David
• Mclaughlin Ian
• Kozin Simon

Classifications

• A61M5/31573

  Accuracy improving means · CPC title

• A61M2005/31516

  reducing dead-space in the syringe barrel after delivery · CPC title

• A61M5/2455

  with sealing means to be broken or opened · CPC title

• A61M5/3293

  characterised by features of the needle hub · CPC title

• A61M5/285 Primary

  with sealing means to be broken or opened · CPC title