Injection device with feedback mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017232201-A1
Application number	US-201515504406-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2015
Priority date	Aug 20, 2014
Publication date	Aug 17, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An injection device for the delivery of medicament is disclosed having an indicator for providing an activation indication. The device includes a housing; a plunger slidably mounted within the housing; an actuation mechanism configured, in use, to move the plunger forward relative to a syringe so as to express medicament from the syringe. The device also includes an indicator element responsive to the forward movement of the plunger and configured to provide an audible and/or tactile and/or visual indication when the plunger reaches or approaches its forward position. The plunger includes an elongate shaft formed of at least two telescopic sections. The actuation mechanism acts on the plunger, in use, to expand the telescopic sections and to sequentially move each of the telescopic sections forwardly within the housing. The indicator element is arranged to be responsive to the forward movement of the trailing telescopic section.

First claim

1 . An injection device for the delivery of medicament and having an indicator for providing an activation indication, the device comprising:
a housing; a plunger slidably mounted within the housing; an actuation mechanism configured, in use, to move the plunger forward relative to a syringe so as to express medicament from the syringe; and an indicator responsive to the forward movement of the plunger and configured to provide an audible and/or tactile and/or visual indication when the plunger reaches or approaches its forward position; wherein: the plunger comprises an elongate shaft formed of at least two telescopic sections; the actuation mechanism acts on the plunger, in use, to expand the telescopic sections and to sequentially move each of the telescopic sections forwardly within the housing; and wherein the indicator is arranged to be responsive to the forward movement of the trailing telescopic section.

2 . An injection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the indicator is biased towards the indicating position and, in its rearward position, the plunger is arranged to hold the indicator element against said bias.

3 . An injection device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein release of said indicator enables the indicator element to move under said bias to create a kinetic impact resulting in an audible and/or tactile and/or visual indication.

4 . An injection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing has a window aligned with the indicator such that the indicator may move into or out of alignment with the window to provide a visual indication.

5 . An injection device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the indicator comprises a resilient member and wherein, in its rearward position, the plunger holds the indicator element in a stressed position.

6 . An injection device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the indicator comprises a spring clip configured to snap together when released from its stressed position to provide said audible and/or tactile indication.

7 . An injection device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the trailing telescopic section of the plunger at least partially radially surrounds at least one other telescopic section.

8 . An injection device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the trailing telescopic section of the plunger is at least partially surrounded by at least one other telescopic section.

9 . An injection device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the indicator comprises a shuttle member disposed in a generally transverse passageway, the indication position of the shuttle member being at, or proximal to, one end of the passageway and the shuttle member being biased towards the indicating position along the length of the transverse passageway.

10 . An injection device as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the plunger is arranged, in its rearward position, to lock the indicator against said bias in a position which is spaced away from said end of the passage way.

11 . An injection device as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the trailing telescopic section of the plunger is at least partially radially surrounded by at least one other telescopic sections.

12 . An injection device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a drive source and a latch arranged to hold the plunger in a rearward position against the drive source and wherein the injection device further comprises a trigger, associated with the housing, and arranged to release the latch to allow the plunger to move forward under the influence of the drive source.

13 . An injection device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the actuation mechanism further comprises an intermediate drive member and the drive source comprises a first compression drive spring disposed between said intermediate drive member and said housing, or a part associated therewith, and a second compression spring disposed between said intermediate drive member the plunger.

14 . An injection device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the indicator is provided on the intermediate drive member.

15 . An injection device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the leading telescopic plunger section comprises an abutment surface configured to be releasably engaged by the latch.

16 . A plunger for an injection device, the plunger comprising an elongate shaft formed of at least two telescopic sections, said telescopic sections being arranged to axially extend the plunger shaft during actuation of the injection device, wherein the leading telescopic section includes at least one abutment surface configured to be releasably engaged by a latch of the injection device.

17 . An injection device or plunger as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the abutment surface is provided at or proximal to a rear end of the leading plunger section.

18 . An injection device or plunger as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the forward end of the leading plunger section is arranged to engage a syringe and is provided with a rearward facing flange surface for engagement with the actuation mechanism.

19 . An injection device or plunger as claimed in claim 15 wherein the plunger further comprises a trailing section and an intermediate section disposed between the leading and trailing sections.

20 . An injection device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the housing has a window aligned with the indicator such that the indicator may move into or out of alignment with the window to provide a visual indication.

Assignees

• Owen Mumford Ltd

Inventors

• Holland Damian
• Gould Oliver
• Muller Timothy

Classifications

• A61M2005/31518

  designed to reduce the overall size of an injection device, e.g. using flexible or pivotally connected chain-like rod members · CPC title

• A61M5/2033

  Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion (multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287) · CPC title

• A61M5/3157 Primary

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

• A61M2205/581

  by audible feedback · CPC title

• A61M2205/583

  by visual feedback · CPC title