Dose setting mechanism for a drug delivery device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9974905-B2
Application number	US-201113879112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2011
Priority date	Oct 13, 2010
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dose setting mechanism for a drug delivery device and a method of using same. The mechanism comprises a housing, a mechanism member movable in a first axial direction relative to the housing during dose setting and movable in a second, opposite axial direction relative to the housing during injection, wherein the mechanism member is designed and arranged such that the mechanism member is able to change its condition between a first condition preventing movement in the second axial direction and a second condition allowing movement in the second axial direction, and a switching member forcing the mechanism member to change from its second condition into its first condition at a predefined position of the movement in the first axial direction during dose setting.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Dose setting mechanism for a drug delivery device, the dose setting mechanism comprising:
a housing;
a disc or finger movable in a first longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during dose setting and movable in a second, opposite longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during injection,
wherein the disc or finger is designed and arranged such that the disc or finger is able to change its condition between a first condition preventing longitudinal axial movement in the second longitudinal axial direction and a second condition allowing longitudinal axial movement in the second longitudinal axial direction; and
a protrusion forcing the disc or finger to change from its second condition into its first condition at a predefined position of the longitudinal axial movement of the disc or finger in the first longitudinal axial direction during dose setting
wherein in the first condition, the longitudinal axial movement of the disc or finger in the second axial direction is prevented, and
in the second condition, the longitudinal axial movement of the disc or finger in the second longitudinal axial direction is allowed,
wherein the disc or finger comprises a flexible disc or a flexible finger bent in a first curvature in its unstressed condition, wherein the flexible disc or flexible finger is allowed to elastically flip its orientation under a load exerted by the protrusion.

2. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the change of condition of the disc or finger involves a change of the geometry of the disc or finger.

3. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion engages the disc or finger during its longitudinal axial movement in the first longitudinal axial direction during dose setting this causing the disc or finger to change its condition.

4. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one first section having a first diameter, and at least one second section having a second, smaller diameter forming the protrusion.

5. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the disc or finger and the protrusion are arranged such that the disc or finger is forced in its first condition during a first part of its longitudinal axial movement and is released to switch into its second condition at a predefined position of its longitudinal axial movement during dose setting corresponding to a minimum dose.

6. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the disc or finger and the protrusion are arranged such that the disc or finger is forced from its second condition into its first condition at a predefined position of its longitudinal axial movement during dose setting corresponding to a maximum dose.

7. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising a driver and/or a dose setting member movable in the first longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during dose setting and movable in the second, opposite longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during injection, wherein the disc or finger is associated to or fixed to the driver or dose setting member to follow its longitudinal axial movement.

8. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends over a predefined length in the axial direction for holding the disc or finger in its first condition.

9. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the housing has first, second and third housing sections, where the second section has a change of cross sectional geometry at an interface with the third housing section.

10. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the disc or finger engages the second housing section in a locking configuration during dose setting, and wherein the disc or finger disengages the second housing section when at least a predetermined minimum dose is set, thus preventing a set dose from being delivered if the set dose is less than a predetermined minimum.

11. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the change of cross sectional geometry of the second housing section comprises a plurality of ridges that engage the disc or finger.

12. Dose setting mechanism according to claim 9 , wherein the disc or finger is in a second configuration at 0 set dose and is in a first configuration at any set dose greater than a priming dose and less than a predetermined minimum dose during dose setting.

13. Dose setting mechanism comprising,
a housing;
a disc or finger movable in a first longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during dose setting and movable in a second, opposite longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during injection,
wherein the disc or finger is designed and arranged such that the disc or finger is able to change its condition between a first condition preventing longitudinal axial movement in the second longitudinal axial direction and a second condition allowing longitudinal axial movement in the second longitudinal axial direction; and
a protrusion forcing the disc or finger to change from its second condition into its first condition at a predefined position of the longitudinal axial movement of the disc or finger in the first longitudinal axial direction during dose setting
wherein in the first condition, the longitudinal axial movement of the disc or finger in the second axial direction is prevented, and
in the second condition, the longitudinal axial movement of the disc or finger in the second longitudinal axial direction is allowed
said dose setting mechanism further comprising:
a drug delivery device housing having a first cross sectional geometry that is different than a second cross sectional geometry;
a dose dial sleeve positioned in the housing and rotatable during dose setting and dose delivery,
a driver connected to the dose dial sleeve that moves longitudinal axially during dose setting; and
a flexible lock-out component connected to the driver and longitudinal axially movable during dose setting and dose delivery, wherein the flexible lock-out component comprises the disc or finger,
wherein the driver is locked longitudinal axially when the lock-out component is engaged with the first cross sectional geometry of the housing.

14. Dose setting mechanism for a drug delivery device, the dose setting mechanism comprising:
a housing;
a flexible disc movable in a first longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during dose setting and movable in a second, opposite longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during injection,
wherein the flexible disc is designed and arranged such that the flexible disc is able to change its condition between a first condition preventing longitudinal axial movement in the second axial direction and a second condition allowing longitudinal axial movement in the second axial direction; and
a protrusion forcing the flexible disc to change from its second condition into its first condition at a predefined position of the longitudinal axial movement of the flexible disc in the first axial direction during dose setting.

15. Dose setting mechanism for a drug delivery device, the mechanism comprising:
a housing;
a mechanism member movable in a first longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during dose setting and movable in a second, opposite longitudinal axial direction relative to the housing during injection,
wherein the mechanism member is designed and arranged such that the mechanism member is able to change its condition between a first condition preventing longitudinal axial movement in the sec

Assignees

• Butler Joseph
• Plumptre David
• Sanofi Aventis Deutschland

Inventors

• Butler Joseph
• Plumptre David

Classifications

• A61M5/3158

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

• A61M5/31551

  including axial movement of dose setting member · CPC title

• A61M5/24

  Ampoule syringes, i.e. syringes with needle for use in combination with replaceable ampoules or carpules, e.g. automatic {(ampoules or carpules A61J1/06)} · CPC title

• A61M5/31563

  interacting with a displaceable stop member · CPC title

• A61M5/31581

  performed by rotationally moving or pivoting actuator operated by user, e.g. an injection lever or handle · CPC title