Device for administering a fluid

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for administering a drug fluid, comprising: a cylinder (16, 116) having an open dispensing end (17); a piston (36) movable between a front end position and a rear end position in the cylinder (16, 116) and connected to a piston rod (35) which protrudes in a first direction beyond the rear end of the cylinder (16, 116) opposite to the open dispensing end (17) and is guided in a receiving block (10); a check valve (18) closing the open dispensing end (17); and a tensioning device (S) connected to the piston rod (35, 135) and disposed in the receiving block (10). When the piston (36) is in the front position, the tensioning device (S) can move the piston rod (35, 135) in a first direction during tensioning until the piston (36) is in the rear position, thereby filling the cylinder (16, 116) with the fluid to be administered and pre-tensioning the piston rod (35, 135) toward the open dispensing end (17). When the piston (36) is in its rear position, the tensioning device (S) can release the piston rod (35, 135) during dispensing, such that based on the applied pretension, the piston (36) moves in the opposite direction to the first direction until its front position, and thus the fluid in the cylinder (16, 116) is dispensed for administration through the check valve (18), wherein the cylinder (16, 116) together with the check valve (18) is designed as a replaceable front assembly (13, 14) which is detachably connected to the receiving block (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for administering a liquid drug, which may take the form of, for example, a needleless self-filling syringe, through which a liquid drug can be administered to an animal. Background Technology

[0002] This device for administering drug fluids is designed to be as lightweight as possible, have a long service life, and have low maintenance costs and expenses. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for administering a drug delivery fluid that achieves at least one of the above-described properties.

[0004] The invention is defined in claim 1. Advantageous variations are given in the dependent claims.

[0005] The device for administering a fluid according to the invention comprises: a cylinder having an open dispensing end; a piston movable between a front end position and a rear end position within the cylinder and connected to a piston rod, the piston rod protruding in a first direction beyond the rear end of the cylinder opposite the open dispensing end and guided in a receiving block; a check valve (or aspiration valve) closing the open dispensing end; and a tensioning device connected to the piston rod and disposed in the receiving block. When the piston is in its front end position, the tensioning device can move the piston rod in the first direction during a tensioning operation until the piston is in its rear end position, thereby filling the cylinder with the fluid to be administered and pre-tensioning the piston rod toward the open dispensing end. Furthermore, when the piston is in its rear end position, the tensioning device can release the piston rod during a dispensing operation, and thus, due to the applied pretension, the piston moves in the opposite direction to its front end position, and in this process, the fluid within the cylinder is dispensed for administration via the check valve. According to the invention, the cylinder, together with the check valve, can be in the form of a replaceable front assembly, which may also be referred to as a replaceable assembly, and is detachably connected to the receiving block.

[0006] The entire front assembly, which experiences the greatest wear during operation of the device for administering the fluid (preferably a liquid), can then be replaced with a new (preferably structurally identical) front assembly, which is then connected to the receiving block. Thus, the overall durability of the device for administering the fluid is significantly improved.

[0007] The replaceable component may be disposed at the front end of the device according to the invention. In particular, for example, during proper use of the device according to the invention, a portion of the replaceable component may come into contact with the animal to which the liquid is intended to be administered. In this respect, at least that portion of the replaceable component protrudes from the remainder of the device according to the invention. The replaceable component may have a portion forming the distal end of the device according to the invention, and therefore, for example, the replaceable component may also be referred to as a replaceable front component.

[0008] Replaceable front assembly is understood herein to specifically mean that the front assembly as a whole can be detached from the receiving block and replaced by a structurally identical front assembly connected to the receiving block for replacement. However, the front assembly detached from the receiving block can also be repaired (e.g., by replacing worn parts, such as seals) and then reconnected to the receiving block.

[0009] Because the front assembly is completely separated from the receiving block, and then repairs or replacements are performed, unwanted contamination can be reliably avoided. For example, if the front assembly were placed in a manner that, according to previous practice, could not be separated from the rest of the delivery device without being damaged, it would be significantly more difficult and costly to replace only the O-ring seal that wears out first in the front assembly.

[0010] The detachable connection between the front assembly and the receiving block can be, in particular, a threaded connection. However, any other type of detachable connection is also possible, such as a bayonet connection.

[0011] The drug delivery device according to the invention may have a nozzle for needle-free fluid delivery, which is connected to the open dispensing end of the cartridge via a check valve and is part of the front assembly. Therefore, the nozzle can be replaced simultaneously with the front assembly.

[0012] Alternatively, the device may have a needle or conduit connected to the open dispensing end of the cylinder via a check valve and be part of the front assembly. The needle and conduit themselves may be replaceable.

[0013] The drug delivery device according to the invention may have exactly one cylinder with exactly one piston rod and exactly one front assembly. However, the drug delivery device may also have two or more cylinders with two or more piston rods and two or more front assemblies, all of identical design, thus allowing the simultaneous application of two or more identical or different fluids. Each cylinder may have the same or different volumes.

[0014] The drug delivery device according to the invention is in particular in the form of a self-filling drug delivery device, which uses a tensioning operation to allow the cylinder to be filled with the fluid to be administered (e.g., the liquid to be administered).

[0015] For example, this can be achieved by filling the cartridge during the entire tensioning operation. Alternatively, the delivery device can be designed such that a negative pressure is established in the cartridge during the tensioning operation, which is then used to draw liquid into the cartridge when the piston is in its rear-end position. For this purpose, for example, the distal end of the piston may have a blind orifice extending in the longitudinal direction of the piston rod, and one or more radial orifices branching from the blind orifice, which, in the rear-end position of the piston, create a fluid connection with a reservoir of the fluid to be administered.

[0016] The drug delivery device according to the invention can have a motor for performing the tensioning operation. Alternatively, the motor provides the energy required to establish the pretension of the piston rod. The motor can, in particular, be mounted on the receiving block.

[0017] The power source provided for operating the motor and potentially other consumer components can be, for example, a battery and / or a refrigeration battery. The power source can be, for example, formed in or serving as the base of the drug delivery device. Furthermore, the power source can be replaceable or permanently mounted.

[0018] The tensioning device may have a spring that pretensions the piston rod toward the open dispensing end when the piston is in the rear position.

[0019] The drug delivery device according to the invention may also have a ramp that can be rotated by a motor, and a ramp track extending along a threaded line. The ramp track can rise from a first platform or a first level along an inclined region to a second platform or a second level, and can descend from the second platform to the first platform via a transition wing (Sprungflanke). Therefore, the ramp track has a single turn and can be referred to as a stepped spiral track.

[0020] The tensioning device may also include a roller that contacts the ramp track and is rotatably mounted in a drive member connected to the end of the piston rod that protrudes from the cylinder, and thus, as the ramp rotates, the ramp track runs beneath the thereby rotating roller. The roller is preferably positioned such that its axis of rotation is perpendicular to the first direction (or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod).

[0021] For tensioning operations, starting from the contact between the roller and the first platform, the ramp can rotate in such a way that the roller runs along the inclined area until it reaches the second platform, thereby moving the piston to its rear end position. For dispensing operations, starting from the contact between the roller and the second platform, the ramp can rotate until the roller reaches the first platform via the transition wing, thereby moving the piston to its front end position.

[0022] The distance between the second platform and the first platform along the axis of rotation of the ramp preferably corresponds to the distance of the piston from the front end position to the rear end position along the first direction, and thus corresponds to the piston stroke.

[0023] Therefore, the rotational motion of the motor is converted into the translational motion of the piston rod along its longitudinal axis via the ramp and rollers. Thus, the drug delivery device can be tensioned by the motor, and therefore the user only needs to activate a trigger element, such as a button, switch, rocker switch, or pushbutton, to release the dispensing operation and thus administer the drug fluid. Thus, for example, many animals can be injected with the drug rapidly, one after another.

[0024] The inclined region of the ramp track may have a first part adjacent to the first platform and a second part adjacent to it, wherein the inclination of the second part is greater than that of the first part.

[0025] Therefore, it is advantageous to achieve the effect that the ramp rail has a smaller inclination at the start of the tensioning operation, thus requiring the motor to apply less force or torque. This is advantageous during motor startup, as more current is used during startup. Once the first section merges into the second section, the startup problem is overcome, and therefore a larger inclination can be easily achieved thereafter. This increases the motor's durability.

[0026] The inclined region of the ramp track can be designed such that the rotation angle of the two parts relative to the thread is linear. However, the first and / or second parts can also have non-linear profiles relative to the rotation angle. In this case, the inclination of the corresponding parts is preferably the average inclination of the corresponding parts. The non-linear profile of the corresponding parts is preferably a profile in which the local inclination increases with the increase of the rotation angle. The non-linear profile of the corresponding parts can preferably be a concave curved surface profile.

[0027] Specifically, the rotation angle region (or the length of the rotation angle) of the first part can be smaller than the rotation angle region (or the length of the rotation angle) of the second part. The ratio of the rotation angle region of the first part to the rotation angle region of the second part is preferably not greater than 4 / 6 and not less than 1 / 9.

[0028] In the case of the drug delivery device according to the invention, the roller may have a support region located on an inclined region of a ramp track, and at least one laterally adjacent side region having a smaller outer diameter than the support region and not located on the inclined region of the ramp track. During the dispensing operation, both the support region and the side region may contact the edge of the ramp track, which connects the second platform to the transition wing. This results in the advantage of relatively low rolling or frictional resistance between the roller and the ramp track in the inclined region. During the transfer process of the dispensing operation via the edge, both the receiving region and the side region are located on the edge, thus the support surface is enlarged, resulting in less pressure. This is advantageous because the greatest force acts on the roller during the transfer of the roller via the edge, thus reducing undesirable pressure peaks. Therefore, the durability of the roller is improved.

[0029] Specifically, the rollers on either side of the support area may have laterally adjacent side regions with an outer diameter smaller than that of the support area. This results in a further reduction in pressure on the rollers during edge transfer.

[0030] The roller can be designed with the outer diameter of the support region remaining constant. The outer diameter of each side region can decrease in the direction toward the roller side (or in the direction away from the support region or as the distance from the support region increases).

[0031] The roller can be in the form of a plastic roller. The ramp can be made of metal.

[0032] In the case of the drug delivery device according to the present invention, the receiving block may be in the form of an integral receiving block manufactured by an additive manufacturing method.

[0033] This additive manufacturing method can also be called 3D printing, and can be, for example, a laser sintering method.

[0034] This allows the receiver block to be manufactured with relatively low weight and high rigidity and strength. As a result, the total weight of the delivery device is kept as low as possible, making its operation comfortable and long-lasting for the user.

[0035] Furthermore, the additive manufacturing method allows the receiver block to be integrally formed in a way that is advantageous and can be made very compact, which is not possible with traditional mechanical manufacturing methods.

[0036] The preferred material for the receiving block is a metal (or metal alloy), especially titanium; therefore, the receiving block is made of a metal (or metal alloy), and especially titanium. Additionally, aluminum, steel (e.g., maraging steel), stainless steel, titanium, nickel alloys, and / or cobalt-chromium alloys can be used as materials for the receiving block. Other possible materials are AlSiMg alloys, CoCrMo alloys, and nickel-chromium alloys. Furthermore, weldable materials can be used. All these materials can exist in some form (e.g., powder) so that the receiving block can be manufactured from them by additive manufacturing methods (especially by laser sintering).

[0037] The receiving block may have a motor bearing, a guide tube for the piston rod, at least one receiver for the control panel, a receiver for fluid connection to the fluid container, and / or at least one housing fixing point integrally formed with the receiving block.

[0038] The piston can be integrally formed with the piston rod. In this case, the front end of the piston rod forms the piston. However, the piston can also be a separate component attached to the piston rod.

[0039] It should be understood that, without departing from the scope of the invention, the above features and the features to be described below can be implemented not only in the given combinations, but also in other combinations or on their own. Attached Figure Description

[0040] The invention will now be explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which also disclose essential features of the invention. These exemplary embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. For example, the description of exemplary embodiments having multiple elements or components should not be construed as implying that all said elements or components are necessary to achieve the purpose. Rather, other exemplary embodiments may include alternative elements and components, fewer elements or components, or additional elements or components. Unless otherwise stated, elements or components of various exemplary embodiments may be combined with each other. Variations and modifications described for one of the exemplary embodiments may also be applied to other exemplary embodiments. To avoid repetition, identical or corresponding elements in the figures are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. In the figures:

[0041] Figure 1 A perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment of the drug delivery device 1 according to the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the drug delivery device 1;

[0043] Figure 3 A schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the first front component 13 is shown;

[0044] Figure 4 A schematic cross-sectional view is shown of the first front assembly 13 and the distal end 30 of the receiving block 10 in a state where they are not connected to each other.

[0045] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of the first front assembly 13 screwed into the distal end of the receiving block 10 is shown, with the piston 36 in its rear end position.

[0046] Figure 6 Showing according to Figure 5 A cross-sectional view, in which, for the drug delivery operation, piston 36 is in its forward position and trigger cage 21 is in its release position;

[0047] Figure 7 A perspective view of the receiving block 10 and the tensioning device S is shown, wherein the tensioning device S is in its basic position and the piston 36 is in its front end position.

[0048] Figure 8 Showing according to Figure 7A perspective view of the receiving block 10 and the tensioning device S, wherein the tensioning device S is in its tensioned position and the piston 36 is in its rear end position.

[0049] Figure 9 Showing according to Figure 8 Cross-sectional view of the receiving block 10 and the tensioning device S;

[0050] Figure 10 An enlarged detailed perspective view of the rear portion of a tensioning device S with roller 51 and ramp 52, a variant of the drug delivery device 1 according to the invention having only one cylinder-piston arrangement;

[0051] Figure 11A A diagram is shown to describe the profile of the ramp track 53, where the rotation angle is plotted along the x-axis and the stroke along the longitudinal axis of the piston rod 36 is plotted along the y-axis.

[0052] Figure 11B A diagram is shown to describe the modified profile of the ramp track 53, where the rotation angle is plotted along the x-axis and the stroke along the longitudinal axis of the piston rod 36 is plotted along the y-axis.

[0053] Figure 12 A perspective view of roller 51 is shown;

[0054] Figure 13 A top view of roller 51 is shown;

[0055] Figure 14 and 15 A perspective view of receiving block 10 is shown;

[0056] Figure 16 A top view of receiving block 10 is shown, and

[0057] Figure 17 A cross-sectional view of the receiving block 10 is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0058] exist Figure 1 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the device 1 for administering a drug delivery fluid (e.g., liquid) according to the present invention includes a housing 2, which includes a base 3 (which may also be in the form of a support base 3), a gripping portion 4 for holding the device 1, a trigger 5 disposed in the gripping portion 4 for actuating the device 1, a head region 6 having a dispensing region 7, and a receiver 8 located at the upper end of the head region 6.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiments described herein, the device 1 according to the invention (which may also be referred to as drug delivery device 1) is designed to administer two different drugs to an animal simultaneously, wherein the drug delivery is performed through the skin without the need for a needle.

[0060] In the case of the drug delivery device 1 according to the invention, a separate cylinder-piston arrangement is provided for each drug, which will also be described in detail below. The cylinder-piston arrangement is in the form of a self-filling device in each case, such that movement of the piston toward the dispensing end results in the injection of fluid, and the opposite movement of the piston results in the filling of the cylinder for the next injection operation.

[0061] from Figure 2 As can be seen in the schematic cross-sectional view of the drug delivery device 1, the drug delivery device 1 includes a receiving block 10 and two front components 13 and 14. The receiving block 10 is equipped with a control board 11 and a motor 12. Figure 2 Only the front assembly 13 is visible in the illustration. Since the front assemblies 13 and 14 are constructed identically, the following description will focus primarily on the front assembly 13. The drug container M containing the liquid drug for the front assembly 13 is schematically shown in the receiver 8.

[0062] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the front assembly 13 is shown. The front assembly 13 includes an insert 15 in which a syringe barrel 16 with an open dispensing end 17 is formed. A check valve 18 (or suction valve 18) is provided on the outlet side of the open dispensing end 17. When the check valve 18 is open, the open dispensing end 17 opens to a nozzle 18 through which the fluid to be dispensed (here, the corresponding liquid drug) is dispensed.

[0063] Check valve 18 is pre-tensioned towards open dispensing end 17 by spring 20, and Figure 3 The position of the check valve 18 shown is closed, while the distribution end 17 is open.

[0064] Furthermore, the front assembly 13 includes a trigger cage 21 that extends over the nozzle 19 and is compressed and pre-tensioned by a spring 22 in the direction from the open dispensing end 17 toward the nozzle 19. The trigger cage 21 is along the longitudinal axis of the front assembly 13. Figure 3 The device is movably positioned (from left to right) so that when the administration device 1 is placed on the corresponding skin site of the animal, the trigger cage moves in the direction from the nozzle 19 toward the open dispensing end 17, and in the process triggers, for example, a contact sensor (not shown) that can trigger the administration operation, which will also be described in detail below.

[0065] The insert 15 has a radially extending supply channel 25 at the proximal end 24 of the syringe barrel 16 opposite to the open dispensing end 17, through which fluid or liquid drug to be administered is introduced into the syringe barrel 16 for the next injection operation.

[0066] An external thread 27 is formed at the proximal end 26 of the front assembly 13, and a guide bushing 28 is provided, so that the front assembly 13 can be screwed into the distal end 30 of the receiving block 10. Figure 4 ), because the internal thread 31 of the external thread 27 for the front assembly 13 is provided in the distal end 30. Figure 4 The front assembly 13 and the distal end 30 of the receiving block 10 are shown before the screw-in operation. Figure 5 In this configuration, two components 13 and 30 are screwed together such that the piston rod 35, guided within the receiving block 10, protrudes slightly, forming a piston 36 at its distal end that enters the syringe barrel 16, and the piston rod 35 is guided through the guide bushing 28. As will be described in detail below, the piston rod 35 can... Figure 5 The basic position shown is moved along the direction toward the open distribution end 17 to Figure 6 The injection or dispensing location is shown, and the patient returns from that location to... Figure 5 The basic position is shown.

[0067] If piston rod 35 is in the basic position, then its distal end, and therefore piston 36, is in its rear end position. Figure 5 When piston rod 35 is in the distribution position, piston 36 is in its front end position. Figure 6 ).

[0068] When piston rod 35 is located Figure 5 In the basic position shown, syringe barrel 16 is filled with the liquid drug to be injected. Then, movement of piston rod 35 toward open dispensing end 17 causes check valve 18 to open, and thus causes liquid to be dispensed as a jet through nozzle 19, which cuts into the animal's skin to such an extent that the drug can be administered into the skin through the incision.

[0069] From Figure 6 The allocation position shown is towards Figure 5 During the backward movement (movement along the first direction) of the indicated basic position, the check valve 18 closes, and a negative pressure is generated in the syringe barrel 16, which increases as the piston rod 35 moves away from the open dispensing end 17. Once the piston rod 35 enters its basic position, a fluid connection exists between the syringe barrel 16 and at least one supply channel 25. To achieve this fluid connection, an axial blind hole 37 is formed at the distal end of the piston 36, and at least one transverse hole 38 is formed extending radially from the blind hole 37, with one end of the transverse hole 38 opening to one of the supply channels 25. Since the supply channel 25 itself leads to a chamber 32 formed between the insert 15 and the distal end 30 of the receiving block 10 and connected to the drug container M (only when...) via a connecting element 33... Figure 2As shown in the diagram, due to the negative pressure present in the syringe barrel 16, liquid medication is drawn from the drug container M into the syringe barrel 16 through the connecting element 33, chamber 32, one or more supply channels 25, one or more transverse holes 38, and blind holes 37, causing the latter to be filled with liquid medication. Therefore, the medication can be administered again during the next triggering operation, wherein, as the piston rod 35 begins to move from the basic position to the injection position, some liquid medication is forced back into the chamber 32 through the supply channels 25. This back-feedback is advantageous because the piston 36 or piston rod 35 can therefore be accelerated more easily, resulting in a higher pressure acting on the remaining medication in the syringe barrel 16, and this pressure is ideal for the described needle-free injection.

[0070] The front assembly 13 specifically includes a syringe barrel 16, a check valve 18, and a nozzle 19, which are designed to be replaceable as a whole. It can be screwed into a corresponding internal thread 31 formed at the distal end 30 of the receiving block 10 via its external thread 27, and then screwed out again from that corresponding internal thread 31. Since the front assembly 13 will undergo wear during the operation of the drug delivery device 1, the worn front assembly 13 can be easily replaced with a new front assembly 13 of the same structure. This advantageously results in a longer service life for the drug delivery device 1 as a whole, because the most easily worn component of the drug delivery device 1 can be easily replaced.

[0071] Since the front assembly 13 is completely replaceable, unwanted contamination can be reliably avoided. Such contamination would be significantly more difficult to avoid and would be associated with higher costs if, for example, the O-ring seal, which would wear out first in known drug delivery devices, were replaced separately in the cylindrical area that is fixedly and non-replaceably connected to the rest of the known device.

[0072] from Figures 7 to 9 As can be seen most clearly, the receiving block 10 has a first receiving cylinder 40 and a second receiving cylinder 140. The piston rod 35 of the first front assembly 13 is guided into the first receiving cylinder 40, and the piston rod 135 of the second front assembly 14 is guided into the second receiving cylinder 140. Since the construction of the two cylinder-piston arrangements and therefore the construction of the two receiving cylinders 40, 140 are the same, the following description of the receiving block 10 will essentially only describe the first cylinder-piston arrangement having the first receiving cylinder 40. Corresponding elements in the case of the second receiving cylinder 140 are indicated by reference numerals that are 100 larger than those in the case of the first receiving cylinder 40, but these corresponding elements will not be described further.

[0073] Piston rod 35 travels through first receiving cylinder 40, which contains a means for discharging piston rod 35 from... Figure 5 The basic position of the tension shown is moved to Figure 6Spring 41 is positioned at the indicated injection location. The distal end 42 of spring 41 abuts against the stop portion 43 of piston rod 35. The proximal end 44 of spring 41 abuts against guide bushing 45, which is screwed into the proximal end of the first receiving cylinder 40, thus, as the piston rod... Figure 6 The injection site shown is moved along the first direction to Figure 5 During the pre-tensioning basic position process shown, spring 41 is compressed, thus being pre-tensioned, as... Figure 9 As shown.

[0074] Especially from Figure 10 As can be seen in the enlarged perspective view shown, the piston rod 35 is connected to the drive member 50 at the end protruding from the receiving cylinder 40. The drive member 50 has a rotatably mounted roller 51, wherein the axis of rotation of the roller 51 extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the piston rod 35.

[0075] Figure 10 The perspective view shown illustrates a variation of the drug delivery device 1 according to the invention. In this variation, only a single cylinder-piston arrangement is formed, and the drive member 50 is connected to the proximal end of the piston rod 35 and the proximal end of the guide rod 39 movably disposed in the receiving block 10.

[0076] Roller 51 runs on ramp 52, which rotates below roller 51, and roller 51 is rotated by motor 12 about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of piston rod 35. A rechargeable battery and / or accumulator is provided as the current source for the motor. The battery and / or accumulator may, for example, be arranged in or serve as the base 3 of the drug delivery device 1.

[0077] The ramp 52 has a ramp track 53 that runs along the spiral line in a single turn, particularly from... Figure 7 , 8 As can be seen from 10.

[0078] exist Figure 11A In the diagram, the rotation angle α is plotted relative to the pitch difference z parallel to the longitudinal direction of the piston rod 35, where the starting point is that at rotation angle α0 = 0°, there exists a minimum pitch height z0, and the piston 36 is in its leading-edge position. If the ramp 52 subsequently rotates, the ramp track 53 runs below the roller 51, causing the rotational motion of the ramp track 53 to be converted into a translational motion of the roller 51 together with the drive member 50, and therefore a translational motion of the piston rod 35 along the longitudinal axis of the piston rod 35, causing the piston rod 35 to... Figure 6 The injection site shown has been moved to Figure 5 The basic position is shown.

[0079] Therefore, according to Figure 11AThe unfolded ramp track 53 operates in such a manner that a first platform exists from rotation angle α0 to rotation angle α1 (inclination = 0 or only slightly greater or slightly less than 0). From rotation angle α1, the ramp track 53 has a first linear inclination portion S1, which exists up to rotation angle α2. At rotation angle α2 (and the corresponding pitch height z1), the pitch merges into a second linear inclination portion S2, which has a greater inclination than the first linear inclination portion S1 (between rotation angles α1 and α2). The second inclination exists up to rotation angle α3, and then, with the rotation angle further increased up to a rotation angle α4 less than 360°, it merges into a second platform, where the pitch height z2 does not increase (or only increases or decreases very slightly).

[0080] At rotation angle α5, edge 54 is formed due to the transition wing 46 connecting the second platform to the first platform.

[0081] In the region from α3 to α4, the piston rod 35 is in accordance with... Figure 5 Its basic tension position. Therefore, the drug delivery device 1 is ready to administer liquid medication.

[0082] If the trigger 5 is subsequently actuated and the trigger cage 21 is in the triggered position, the motor 12 further rotates the ramp 52 such that when the rotation angle α5 is exceeded, the roller 51 crosses the edge 54 and, due to the tension of the spring 41, suddenly drops from the pitch height z2 of the first platform back to the pitch height z0, thus injecting the fluid present in the syringe barrel 16 in the manner described.

[0083] The motor 12 then rotates the ramp 52 further to the second platform, where it stops rotating, thereby refilling the syringe barrel 16 with liquid medication and returning the piston rod 35 to its tensioned basic position. Thus, the drug delivery device 1 is provided for further drug delivery operations. Therefore, the drug delivery device 1 can be repeatedly tightened and triggered.

[0084] Two inclined sections S1 and S2 form an inclined region extending from the first platform to the second platform. The two inclined sections S1 and S2 do not necessarily extend linearly with respect to the rotation angle. Figure 11B As shown in the examples, they can also have concave surfaces (where the local tilt increases with the increase of the rotation angle). However, even in this case, the average tilt of the first tilted portion S1 is less than the average tilt of the second tilted portion S2.

[0085] The combination of motor 12, ramp 52, drive unit 50, roller 51, spring 41, 141 and guide bushing 45, 145 can be called tensioning device S.

[0086] Especially from Figure 12 and 13 As can be seen, roller 51 includes a central region 55 with a constant outer diameter. It is adjacent to side regions 56 and 57 on both sides, and the outer diameter of the side regions 56 and 57 decreases towards the sides.

[0087] Both side regions 56 and 57 are adjacent to end regions 58 and 59, which are rounded, so that roller 51 has no edges. As ramp 52 rotates, the central region 55 is located on ramp track 53, with rotation angles α1 to α3 (specifically α0 to α5), while side regions 56 and 57 are not located within these rotation angles, but only contact ramp track 53 when crossing edge 54. Therefore, during the tensioning of piston rod 35 (rotation of ramp track from the first platform to the second platform), the rolling resistance of roller 51 can be minimized. During the transfer from the second or upper platform (rotation angles α3 to α4) of ramp track 53 to the lower platform (rotation angles α1 to α2), side regions 56 and 57 also contact edge 54, thus the force between roller 51 and edge 54 of ramp track 52 is advantageously distributed over a larger support surface (central region 55 and both side regions 56 and 57), resulting in less pressure. This improves the durability of device 1, especially the durability of roller 51.

[0088] Combination Figure 11A and Figure 11B The tilt characteristics of the described ramp track 53 are advantageous because, initially (in the rotation angle region α1 to α2), there is a small tilt, thus requiring the motor 50 to provide less torque. This is particularly advantageous during the initial startup of the motor 50 from the first platform, as the motor 50 typically draws more current in this region. Upon reaching the pitch height z1, the motor 50 can easily overcome the larger tilt in the rotation angle region from α2 to α3.

[0089] These tilting features of the ramp track 52 advantageously lead to increased durability of the motor 50.

[0090] from Figures 14 to 17 As can be clearly seen, the receiving block 10 is integrally formed. Here, for example, additive manufacturing methods, such as laser sintering, selective laser sintering, or direct metal laser sintering, are used. These methods can produce finer and / or more complex structures compared to machining methods. Therefore, the receiving block 10 can have a relatively low weight, and the drug delivery device 1 can be ensured to be highly durable.

[0091] Examples of materials used for receiving block 10 may include aluminum, steel (e.g., maraging steel), stainless steel, titanium, nickel alloys, and / or cobalt-chromium alloys. The material used for laser sintering is preferably in the form of metal powder. For additive or layered manufacturing of receiving block 10, a thin layer of powder material can be applied to a construction platform. The laser beam melts the powder precisely at a predetermined location point according to the computer-generated component design data of receiving block 10. The construction platform is then lowered, and another thin layer of powder material is applied. The material melts again and bonds with the underlying layer at the defined location point. These steps are repeated until the entire receiving block 10 is formed.

[0092] In addition to the already described receiver tubes 40 and 140, the receiver block 10 also includes four plate receiving points 60, 61, 62 and 63, on which the plate 11 can be placed and fixed to the receiver block 10, for example by screws.

[0093] In addition, the receiving block includes a motor bearing 64 for receiving and housing the motor 12.

[0094] Furthermore, four fixing points 65, 66, 67, and 68 are formed for the housing 2 of the drug delivery device 1. The corresponding receiver portions 265, 266, 267, and 268 of the housing 2 are located at... Figures 7 to 9 As shown in the image.

[0095] At the far end of the receiving block 10, an umbrella-shaped distribution area 7 is provided, which, in addition to the corresponding internal threads 31 and 131 of the first and second front assemblies 13 and 14, also has receivers 69 and 169 for detecting the positions of corresponding trigger sensors (not shown) for trigger cages 21 and 121.

[0096] Furthermore, O-ring receivers 70 and O-rings 71 (e.g., are formed in the distribution area 7) are also formed. Figure 9 , 16 17) can be inserted into the O-ring receiver 70 to ensure a seal relative to the adjacent housing 2 in the installed state.

[0097] In addition, the receiving block 10 for each receiving tube 40, 140 includes a receiver 72, 172 into which corresponding connecting elements 33, 133 (also referred to as fluid adapters) can be inserted.

[0098] Connecting elements 33 and 133 are preferably manufactured by machining.

[0099] Titanium is preferably used as the material for receiving block 10. This material is relatively lightweight and ensures the required strength. Of course, any other material suitable for additive manufacturing methods can be used.

[0100] The above description is based on the purpose of simultaneously administering two different drugs. However, the drug delivery device 1 according to the invention can also be designed such that the receiving block 10 has only a single receiving cylinder 40, so that only one drug can be administered during the triggering operation. In this case, the second receiving cylinder 140 and the second cylinder-piston rod combination are preferably omitted.

[0101] The aforementioned exemplary embodiments are based on a drug delivery device 1 in the form of a needle-free drug delivery device 1. However, it can also be in the form of a drug delivery device 1 with a needle or catheter, in which case the needle or catheter is intended to pierce the animal's skin and then apply the liquid drug in the manner described.

Claims

1. A device for needle-free drug delivery of fluids, comprising: Cylinders (16, 116) with open dispensing end (17), A piston (36), movable between a front end position and a rear end position in the cylinders (16, 116) and connected to a piston rod (35), the piston rod protruding in a first direction beyond the rear end of the cylinders (16, 116) opposite the open dispensing end (17) and guided in the receiving block (10), Close the check valve (18) at the open distribution end (17), and A tensioning device (S) connected to the piston rod (35, 135) and disposed in the receiving block (10), in, When the piston (36) is in its front end position, the tensioning device (S) is able to move the piston rod (35, 135) in the first direction during tensioning operation until the piston (36) is in its rear end position, thereby filling the cylinder (16, 116) with the fluid to be administered and pre-tensioning the piston rod (35, 135) toward the open dispensing end (17), and When the piston (36) is in its rear end position, the tensioning device (S) is able to release the piston rod (35, 135) during the dispensing operation, and thus, due to the applied pretension, the piston (36) moves in the opposite direction to its front end position, and during this process, the fluid in the cylinder (16, 116) is dispensed for drug administration through the check valve (18). The cylinders (16, 116) and the check valve (18) are in the form of a replaceable front assembly (13, 14), which is detachably connected to the receiving block (10). Furthermore, the device includes a nozzle (19) for needle-free fluid administration, which is connected to the open dispensing end of the cylinder (16, 116) via a check valve (18) and is part of the front assembly (13, 14). And among them: The tensioning device (S) has a ramp (52) that can be rotated by a motor (12) and a ramp track (53) that extends along the thread. The inclined track (53) ascends from the first platform along the inclined region (S1, S2) to the second platform, and descends from the second platform to the first platform via the transition wing (46). The tensioning device (S) further includes a roller (51) that contacts the ramp track (53) and is rotatably mounted in a drive member (50). The drive member is connected to the end of the piston rod (35, 135) protruding from the cylinder (16, 116), and thus, as the ramp (52) rotates, the ramp track (53) runs below the roller (51) which rotates therefrom. In the tensioning operation, the ramp track (53) rotates from the contact between the roller (51) and the first platform in such a manner that the roller (51) runs on the inclined area until it reaches the second platform, and the piston (36) thereby moves to its rear end position. In the dispensing operation, the ramp track (53) rotates from the contact between the roller (51) and the second platform until the roller (51) reaches the first platform via the transition wing (46), and the piston (36) thereby moves to its front end position; and The detachable connection between the front assembly (13, 14) and the receiving block (10) is a threaded connection.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The tensioning device (S) has a spring (41, 141) that pretensions the piston rod (35, 135) toward the open distribution end when the piston (36) is in the rear position.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The motor (12) is installed in the receiving block (10).

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The inclined region of the ramp track (53) has a first part (S1) adjacent to the first platform and a second part (S2) adjacent to it, wherein the inclination of the second part (S2) is greater than that of the first part (S1).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein Both parts (S1, S2) extend linearly relative to the rotation angle of the thread.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The length of the rotation angle of the first part (S1) is less than the length of the rotation angle of the second part (S2).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The roller (51) has a support region (55) located on the inclined regions (S1, S2) of the ramp track (53), and at least one laterally adjacent side region (56, 57) having a smaller outer diameter than the support region (55) and not located on the inclined regions (S1, S2) of the ramp track (53). in, During the distribution operation, both the support area (55) and the side areas (56, 57) are in contact with the edge (54) of the ramp track (53), which connects the second platform to the transition wing (46).

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein Roller (51) on either side of support region (55) has laterally adjacent side regions (56, 57) whose outer diameter is smaller than that of support region (55).

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein The outer diameter of each side region (56, 57) decreases in the direction toward the roller (51).

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The roller (51) is positioned in the drive (50) such that the axis of rotation of the roller is perpendicular to the first direction.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The receiving block (10) is in the form of an integral receiving block (10) manufactured by an additive manufacturing method.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein The receiving block (10) is in the form of a metal receiving block (10).

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein The receiving block (10) has a motor bearing (64), a guide tube (40, 140) for the piston rod (35, 135), at least one receiver (60, 61, 62, 63) for the control panel (11), a receiver (72, 172) for the fluid connection (33) of the fluid container (M), and / or at least one housing fixing point (65, 66, 67, 68) integrally formed with the receiving block (10).

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