Auto-injector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9808575-B2
Application number	US-201214123072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2012
Priority date	Jun 2, 2011
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

There is provided a cassette unit that is suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The cassette unit housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe that is suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a removable cap that fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture; and connecting to the removable cap, a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing of the needle tip of the syringe. The removable cap is provided with a finger-grip feature that is sized and shaped for gripping by the finger of a user to allow for removal of the removable cap and needle cover from the cassette unit housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cassette unit for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit, said cassette unit comprising:
a cassette unit housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture, said cassette unit housing cavity arranged for receipt of a syringe comprising:
a barrel for containing a volume of a liquid drug formulation;
a hollow needle at a front end of said barrel, said hollow needle defining a needle tip for dispensing of said liquid drug formulation; and
a plunger that is axially movable within the barrel;

a removable cap that fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture; and
connecting to said removable cap, a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing of said needle tip,
wherein the removable cap is provided with a finger-grip feature that is sized and shaped for gripping by the finger of a user to allow for removal of the removable cap and needle cover from the cassette unit housing,
wherein said cassette unit is arranged to releasably interfit with said electrically powered drive unit,
wherein the removable cap is provided with one or more first engagement features arranged for selectively engaging one or more second engagement features of the cassette unit housing when the cap is in the capping position,
wherein the first engagement features of the removable cap comprise through-holes for receiving the second engagement features of the cassette unit housing, and
wherein an edge of the through-holes is configured to translate a force applied to the finger-grip feature in an axial direction to the second engagement features in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction,
wherein each of said one or more second engagement features is in the form of a protruding arm having a forward end,
wherein a ramp projects radially outwards from said forward end of said axially protruding arm, and
wherein said ramp comprises a first ramp surface extending radially and rearwardly from the forward end of the arm and a second ramp surface extending radially and forwardly from a position part way along said arm, said first ramp surface and said second ramp surface meeting at a ramp summit.

2. A cassette unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a cap lock feature movable from a first cap locking position in which it prevents removal of the removable cap from a capping position with the cassette unit to a second cap non-locking position in which it no longer prevents such cap removal.

3. A cassette unit according to claim 2 , wherein the cap lock feature is biased to the first cap locking position.

4. A cassette unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first engagement features of the removable cap and the second engagement features of the cassette unit housing are arranged to have a mutually engaging form selected from the group consisting of latching, peg and socket and snap-fit.

5. A cassette unit according to claim 1 , wherein said finger-grip feature is shaped to provide a ring for finger gripping by the user by placing a finger or thumb inside the ring.

6. A cassette unit according to claim 1 , wherein the removable cap is provided with a connector defining one or more needle cover gripping elements for gripping the needle cover.

7. A cassette unit according to claim 6 , wherein said connector defines a central hub and said one or more needle gripper elements attach to said central hub and in spaced arrangement relative to each other.

8. A cassette unit according to claim 6 , wherein each gripping element is provided with one or more gripping protrusions such as one or more internally facing hooks or barbs.

9. A cassette unit according to claim 6 , wherein the connector locates within the removable cap such that the central hub locates adjacent to or slightly spaced from the top inner cap wall or surface and the needle cover gripping elements project away from the top inner cap wall or surface and towards the open end of the cap.

10. A cassette unit according to claim 1 , wherein the housing receives a syringe containing a liquid drug formulation.

11. A cassette unit according to claim 10 , wherein the liquid drug formulation comprises an aqueous formulation of a therapeutic biologic type drug.

12. A cassette unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second engagement features of the cassette unit housing are evenly spaced.

13. A cassette unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second engagement features of the cassette unit housing comprise four evenly spaced second engagement features.

14. A cassette unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second engagement features of the cassette unit housing comprise four radially evenly spaced second engagement features.

15. An auto-injector comprising:
a cassette unit according to claim 1 ; and
a drive unit comprising:
a drive unit housing defining a docking cavity and a needle delivery aperture, wherein said docking cavity is arranged for docking receipt of the cassette unit at a docking position, whereupon said cassette unit and/or said syringe is movable from a rest position, in which the needle tip of the syringe is within the drive unit housing to a use position, in which the needle tip protrudes from said needle delivery aperture; and
a drive arrangement, said drive arrangement comprising:
one or more electrically powered sources of axial drive;
a first drive transfer element for transferring said axial drive to the cassette unit and/or to the syringe for advancing the syringe to said use position; and
a second drive transfer element for subsequently transferring the axial drive to said plunger of the syringe for moving the plunger into the barrel of the syringe to eject at least part of said volume of liquid drug formulation.

16. An auto-injector comprising:
a syringe comprising:
a barrel for containing a volume of a liquid drug formulation;
a hollow needle at a front end of said barrel, said hollow needle defining a needle tip for dispensing of said liquid drug formulation; and
a plunger that is axially movable within the barrel;

an electrically powered drive unit; and
a cassette unit arranged to releasably interfit with said electrically powered drive unit, the cassette unit comprising:
a cassette unit housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture said cassette unit housing cavity arranged for receipt of the syringe;
a removable cap that fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture; and
connecting to said removable cap, a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing of said needle tip,

wherein the removable cap is provided with a finger-grip feature that is sized and shaped for gripping by the finger of a user to allow for removal of the removable cap and needle cover from the cassette unit housing,
wherein the removable cap is provided with one or more first engagement features arranged for selectively engaging one or more second engagement features of the cassette unit housing when the cap is in the capping position,
wherein the first engagement features of the removable cap comprise through-holes for receiving the second engagement features of the cassette unit housing, and
wherein an edge of the through-holes is configured to translate a force applied to the finger-grip feature in an axial direction to the second engagement features in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction,
wherein each of said one or more second engagement features is in the form of a protruding arm having a forward end,
wherein a

Assignees

• Mcloughlin Martin John
• Morgan Darrell P
• Heald Michael James David
• Lozeau Kevin Richard
• Enga Agnete
• Martin Heather
• Freitag Eric
• Formosa Daniel
• Schumann Michael
• Lipford Brian
• Cowperthwaite Jake
• Flamm Alex
• Lipford Keith
• Melzi Ilario
• Ucb Biopharma Sprl

Inventors

• Mcloughlin Martin John
• Morgan Darrell P
• Heald Michael James David
• Lozeau Kevin Richard
• Enga Agnete
• Martin Heather
• Freitag Eric
• Formosa Daniel
• Schumann Michael
• Lipford Brian
• Cowperthwaite Jake
• Flamm Alex
• Lipford Keith
• Melzi Ilario

Classifications

• A61M2205/505

  Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches · CPC title

• A61M2205/583

  by visual feedback · CPC title

• A61M5/3202 Primary

  Devices for protection of the needle before use, e.g. caps (A61M5/50 takes precedence; for infusion spikes A61M5/1626; protectors for sharps A61B50/3001) · CPC title

• A61M2205/586

  Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users · CPC title

• A61M2205/33

  Controlling, regulating or measuring · CPC title