Self-injection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9579461-B2
Application number	US-200913516182-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2009
Priority date	Dec 16, 2009
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A drug delivery device ( 100 ) includes a body ( 102, 116 ) having a reservoir ( 160 ) disposed therein for containing a medicament and an injection needle ( 152 ) for penetrating the skin of a patient, the needle ( 152 ) providing a path for the medicament between the reservoir ( 160 ) and the patient. The device ( 100 ) also includes a plunger ( 144 ) movable within the body ( 102, 116 ) for causing the medicament to be expelled from the reservoir ( 160 ), and a biasing means ( 140 ) for biasing the plunger ( 144 ) toward the reservoir ( 160 ), wherein in a pre-activated position, the biasing means ( 140 ) telescopes within itself, and upon activation, provides a force to the plunger ( 144 ) for expelling the medicament from the reservoir ( 160 ). The biasing means ( 140 ) is preferably provided in the form of a conical spring having a variable pitch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drug delivery device, comprising:
a body having a reservoir disposed therein for containing a medicament;
an injection needle for penetrating the skin of a patient, the needle providing a path for the medicament between the reservoir and the patient;
a plunger movable within the body for causing the medicament to be expelled from the reservoir; and
a biasing means for biasing the plunger toward the reservoir, wherein in a pre-activated position, the biasing means telescopes within itself, and upon activation, provides a force to the plunger for expelling the medicament from the reservoir;
wherein the body includes a substantially cylindrical housing maintaining the plunger in a first position with respect to the reservoir prior to activation;
wherein upon activation, the plunger rotates thereby causing the plunger to be released from the first position and allowing the plunger to move under the force of the biasing means to pressurize the reservoir;
wherein the biasing means comprises a conical, variable pitch spring; and
wherein the force is substantially proportional to an extension of the biasing means.

2. A drug delivery device, comprising:
a body having a reservoir disposed therein for containing a medicament;
an injection needle for penetrating the skin of a patient, the needle providing a path for the medicament between the reservoir and the patient;
a plunger movable within the body for causing the medicament to be expelled from the reservoir; and
a biasing unit telescoping within itself in a pre-activated position and upon activation, driving the plunger against the reservoir with a force for expelling the medicament from the reservoir;
wherein the body includes a substantially cylindrical housing maintaining the plunger in a first position with respect to the reservoir prior to activation;
wherein upon activation, the plunger rotates thereby causing the plunger to be released from the first position and allowing the plunger to move under the force of the biasing unit to pressurize the reservoir;
wherein the biasing unit comprises a conical, variable pitch spring; and
wherein the force has a substantially constant rate of change with respect to a distance of travel of the plunger.

3. A pressurization system for selectively pressurizing a medicament-containing reservoir disposed within a body of a drug delivery device, comprising:
a plunger movable within the body; and
a conical, variable pitch spring compressible in a pre-activated position for biasing the plunger toward the reservoir and thereby pressurizing the reservoir upon activation of the pressurization system;
wherein the body of the drug delivery device maintains the plunger in a first position with respect to the reservoir prior to activation;
wherein upon activation, the plunger rotates thereby causing the plunger to be released from the first position and allowing the plunger to move under the force of the spring to pressurize the reservoir; and
wherein the spring has a substantially linear spring rate.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the spring is compressible within itself.

Assignees

• Sonderegger Ralph
• Christensen Corey
• Vedrine Lionel
• Becton Dickinson Co

Inventors

• Sonderegger Ralph
• Christensen Corey
• Vedrine Lionel

Classifications

• A61M5/148

  flexible, {e.g. independent bags}(A61M5/155 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61M2005/1585

  Needle inserters · CPC title

• A61M2037/0023

  Drug applicators using microneedles · CPC title

• A61M5/14586

  pressurised by means of a flexible diaphragm · CPC title

• A61M5/14244

  adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body · CPC title