Reusable control assembly and product delivery device comprising such an assembly

Abstract

This reusable control assembly of a product delivery device is capable of being reversibly assembled with a disposable part, which reusable control assembly comprises at least one securing member (88) capable of reversibly securing the disposable part to the reusable control assembly. The control assembly comprises at least one piston (16) and a sub-assembly (48) for moving the piston, the movement of the piston being intended to push the product out of a cartridge, and a push-button (52) movable between a first position, wherein it does not interact with the securing member (88), and a second position, wherein, when the reusable control assembly is assembled with the disposable part, the push-button is capable of controlling the movement of the securing member in order to disengage the disposable part from the reusable control assembly. The control assembly also includes a member (60) for locking the push button (52) in its first position.

Description

[0001] TITLE: Reusable control assembly and product delivery device comprising such an assembly

[0002] The present invention relates to a reusable control assembly for a product delivery device, as well as to a product delivery device, in particular a medicament.

[0003] Advantageously, the present invention relates to a device for administering a product by injection, in particular a portable injection device capable of being attached to the body of a user, in contact with their skin, and of administering a product to the user parenterally.

[0004] In the field of treating certain conditions, it is known to constitute a drug delivery device which comprises a first reusable part, such as a reusable control assembly, and a second disposable part, mounted on the first reusable part. Such a structure is known, for example, from documents EP-A-3659645 and WO-A-2021 / 076540 and makes it possible to integrate, in the reusable part, elaborate and potentially expensive elements, in particular a control subassembly of a drug delivery pump and, in the disposable part, less expensive elements and a cartridge containing the product to be administered.

[0005] In this type of equipment, the two parts of the device must be kept secured together during use of the device. For this purpose, document EP-A-3659645 teaches the use of a reversible locking mechanism which comprises a tab positioned on a wall of one of the parts of the device and designed to hook onto a corresponding element of the other part. An unlocking actuator is provided to move the tab to a configuration where it allows the two parts of the device to be separated.

[0006] It is also known from US-B-11426523 to slide, into a hollow housing of a main body, a cartridge containing a product to be administered. A wedge cam operated by an actuator makes it possible to perforate a sterile seal and to move a needle, without affecting the connection between the cartridge and the main body.

[0007] With this type of known device, there is a risk of untimely separation of the two constituent parts of the product administration device, even when the product present in the disposable part has not yet been completely administered or while the device is in use, in particular when it is placed against the skin of a patient. The materials known from EP-A-3928814, WO-A-2015 / 091758, US-A-2010 / 094251, US-A-2020 / 254185 and WO-A-2017 / 060899 induce comparable drawbacks.

[0008] It is these drawbacks that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a new reusable control assembly for a product administration device whose operation is secure.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to a reusable control assembly for a product delivery device, the reusable control assembly being capable of being reversibly assembled with a disposable part of the product delivery device, the disposable part including at least one securing member capable of reversibly securing the reusable control assembly and the disposable part. According to the invention, the reusable control assembly comprises:

[0010] - at least one piston and a piston displacement mechanism, the piston displacement being intended to push the product out of a cartridge,

[0011] - a push button movable between o a first position, and o a second position, in which, when the reusable control assembly is assembled with the disposable part, the push button is capable of controlling the movement of the securing member to detach the disposable part from the reusable control assembly.

[0012] In addition, the reusable control assembly includes a member for locking the push button in its first position.

[0013] By virtue of the invention, the push button locking member makes it possible to inhibit the passage of the push button into its second position where it is capable of moving the securing member to detach the disposable part from the reusable control assembly. In other words, the locking member ensures that the disposable part cannot be separated from the reusable control assembly, even in the event of unwanted activation of the push button or a failure thereof.

[0014] According to advantageous but not mandatory aspects of the invention, such a reusable control assembly incorporates one or more of the following features taken alone or in any technically admissible combination:

[0015] - when it is in its first position and when the reusable control assembly is assembled with the disposable part, the push button is disengaged from the securing member. In the same circumstances, the push button does not interact with the securing member; - the locking member is movable between an unlocking position, where it allows the push button to move from its first position to its second position, and a locking position, where it locks the push button in its first position;

[0016] - the reusable control assembly comprises means for elastically returning the locking member to its locking position;

[0017] - the elastic return means comprise a spring, preferably a helical spring mounted around a rod which extends in a direction of movement of the locking member between its locking and unlocking positions;

[0018] - the piston is configured to control the movement of the locking member from its locking position to its unlocking position;

[0019] - the piston is movable in translation between a rest position, in which it bears against the locking member which it maintains in its unlocked position, and a plurality of operating positions, in which it allows movement of the locking member relative to its unlocked position, in particular from its unlocked position to its locked position;

[0020] - the piston comprises a piston rod and a thrust element fixed to the piston rod, the thrust element comprising a stop surface suitable for coming into contact with the locking member which the thrust element maintains in its unlocked position when the piston is in its rest position;

[0021] - the reusable control assembly comprises a housing for receiving the piston and the piston displacement subassembly, the housing comprising a guide surface suitable for cooperating with a complementary guide surface of the thrust element to guide the thrust element when moving the piston towards its rest position;

[0022] - the guide surface and the complementary guide surface are inclined relative to an axis of movement of the piston with the same angle of between 20° and 70° relative to the axis of movement, preferably between 30° and 60°;

[0023] - the reusable control assembly comprises a housing for receiving the piston and the piston displacement subassembly, while the push button is movable in translation relative to the housing between its first and second positions, in a first direction, and the locking member is movable in translation relative to the housing between its locking and unlocking positions, in a second direction not parallel to the first direction, preferably orthogonal to the first direction;

[0024] - the locking member comprises a widened portion and the push button comprises a housing for receiving the widened portion, when the push button is in its first position and the locking member is in its locking position; - the locking member comprises at least one guide rod in translation relative to the housing and the widened portion is a collar which surrounds the rod.

[0025] According to another aspect, the invention relates to a product delivery device comprising a reusable control assembly as mentioned above and a disposable part capable of being reversibly assembled with the reusable control assembly.

[0026] Advantageously, the disposable part includes the securing member, a product administration subassembly and a cartridge containing a product to be administered and receiving a sliding stopper, and in that the piston is capable of causing the sliding stopper to move in a body of the cartridge.

[0027] It may further be provided that the securing member is a hook configured to engage with a portion of the reusable control assembly, the hook being movable under the action of the push button.

[0028] The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of two embodiments of a reusable control assembly and a product administration device in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0029] [Fig.1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a product delivery device according to a first embodiment of the invention, comprising a reusable control assembly also according to a first embodiment of the invention, the delivery device being ready for use;

[0030] - [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 during assembly of a disposable part on the reusable control assembly of the device of Figure 1;

[0031] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the reusable control assembly of Figures 1 and 2, with one half-shell of a housing omitted;

[0032] - [Fig .4] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of detail IV in Figure 3, seen from another angle and with a push button and a locking member shown exploded from the rest of the reusable control assembly;

[0033] [Fig.5] Figure 5 is a partial sectional view along plane V in Figure 1 of the reusable control assembly and a disposable part, when the reusable control assembly is in a first configuration, where a piston of the control assembly extends into a cartridge of the disposable part, and when a force E1 for unlocking the disposable part relative to the reusable control assembly is applied;

[0034] - [Fig. 6] Figure 6 is a partial section similar to Figure 5 of the reusable control assembly and the disposable part, when the reusable control assembly is in a second configuration, where its piston is retracted relative to the disposable part, and when the same force E1 is applied; and

[0035] - [Fig.7] Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 for a reusable control assembly and a product delivery device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0036] The product delivery device 2 shown in full in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a reusable control assembly 4, as well as a disposable part 6.

[0037] This disposable part 6 comprises a housing 8 formed of two half-shells 82 and 84 and which contains a cartridge 10 of product to be administered, this cartridge being partially visible through a window 86 delimited in the half-shell 82 of the housing 8.

[0038] The cartridge 10 comprises a body 102, made of glass or plastic material, as well as a stopper 104, also called a “piston stopper”, preferably made of elastomer and which is designed to slide along a longitudinal axis X10 of the cartridge 10 inside the cartridge.

[0039] The cartridge 10 is connected, opposite the cap 104, to a product administration subassembly, not shown, which comprises in particular a needle for injecting the product to be administered. The needle is for example capable of being moved between a retracted position in which it is included inside the housing 8 and a deployed position in which it extends outside the housing 8 and is capable of being positioned through the skin of a user. This product administration subassembly may, for example, comply with the technical teaching of one of the documents WO-A-2021 / 224388 and WO-A-2022 / 023391.

[0040] The part 6 is intended to be mounted on the control assembly 4 by sliding in the direction of the arrow F1 in Figure 2, to be controlled by the control assembly 4 during the administration of the product contained in the cartridge 10, then to be discarded when the cartridge 10 has been emptied or when the quantity of product to be administered present in this cartridge reaches a predefined minimum value. Thus, several disposable parts 6 can be successively mounted on the control assembly 4 which is then reused with each of these different parts 6.

[0041] The control assembly 4 comprises a housing 12 formed of two half-shells 122 and 124. A rod 14 extends from a face 126 of the housing 12 and makes it possible to selectively activate the product administration subassembly.

[0042] On the other hand, the control assembly 4 comprises a piston 16 configured to push the sliding stopper 104 towards a product administration end of the cartridge 10, along the axis X10 in order to cause the expulsion of the product from the cartridge 10. This piston 16 is visible on a face 126 of the housing 12 visible in FIGS. 2 to 6. Its movement is intended to cause the administration of product contained in the cartridge 10.

[0043] The piston 16 comprises a piston rod 161 and a thrust member 163 attached to the piston rod.

[0044] The front side 16A of the thrust element 163 is defined as its side facing the plug 104 when the parts 4 and 6 are assembled to form the device 2. The rear side 16B of the thrust element 6 is defined as its side facing away from its front side.

[0045] The piston rod 161 is, for example, a flexible rod formed by a spiral spring and the thrust element 163 is intended to be fixed to the spring for example by screwing at a corresponding end 161A of the spring. The turns of the spring form, for example, at this end, a thread suitable for cooperating with a corresponding thread formed on a stud 164 provided on a rear face 165 of the thrust element 163, at an attachment zone. Here, the thrust element 163 is in one piece.

[0046] The front side 16A of the pushing element 163 is equipped with a nose 162 intended to penetrate into a housing 106 of corresponding shape provided on a rear side 104B of the stopper 104 facing the piston 16 in the use configuration of the product administration device 2.

[0047] The half-shell 122 is equipped with a control interface 128 which comprises different control buttons 130, as well as display members 132 constituted by light-emitting diodes or LEDs, each display member being associated with a mark 134 in the form of a logo representing a quantity displayed by this member. The control interface 128 makes it possible in particular to control the product administration subassembly of the disposable part 6, through the rod 14, as well as a motor 42, through an electronic control card 44.

[0048] As visible in Figure 3 where the half-shell 122 is not shown, the housing of the reusable control assembly 4 contains the electric motor 42, the electronic control card 44 at least one gear 46, driven by the motor 42 and a mechanism for transforming the rotary output movement of the gear 46 into a translational movement. The movement transformation mechanism is configured to transform the rotary output movement of the gear 46 into a translational movement of the piston 16 and in particular of the thrust element 163 along an axis X16 coinciding with the axis X10 in the assembled configuration of the product administration device 2. Advantageously, the transformation mechanism is also configured to transform the rotary output movement of the gear 46 into a translational movement of the rod 14 to control the administration subassembly of the disposable part 6.

[0049] The reusable control assembly 4 also includes a battery, not shown.

[0050] The piston 16 is movable between a rest position and several operating positions. In the rest position, shown in particular in Figures 4 and 6, the piston bears against the half-shell 124 of the housing 12 and advantageously disengaged from the body 102 of the cartridge 10. In an operating position, the piston 16 pushes the stopper 104 towards the product administration end of the cartridge 10 and is advantageously engaged in the body 102. Several operating positions of the piston 16 are distributed along the axis X16.

[0051] In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6, the rear side 16B of the thrust element 163 is planar, except in its central part where it carries a relief 166 for centering with respect to the face 126 of the housing 12. In other words, the rear face 165 of the thrust element 163 comprises a planar annular portion which surrounds the relief 166. The stud 164 extends from the relief 166, opposite the front side 16A. The relief 166 is suitable for cooperating with a corresponding guide zone of the housing 12 to guide the thrust element 163 during its movement from or to its rest position.

[0052] The control card 44 is configured to activate the motor 42 according to the orders received through the interface 128 and to return the piston 16 to its rest position when the product contained in the cartridge 10 has been completely used, or used in a predetermined quantity.

[0053] The movement transformation mechanism comprises a threaded rod capable of being driven in rotation by the gear 46 and a piston control member 16, capable of translating along the threaded rod during rotation of the threaded rod, in the manner of a screw-nut connection. The control member is fixed to one end of the piston rod 161 opposite the end 161A of fixing the thrust element 163 and is capable of controlling the movement of the piston rod, and therefore of the thrust element, during its movement. Advantageously, the mechanism comprises a chute 48 configured generally in the shape of a J, and capable of receiving the piston rod 161. The elements 42 to 48 and the associated battery constitute a subassembly for moving the piston 16, in particular the thrust element along the axis X16 and the piston rod 161 in the chute 48, in both directions.

[0054] The constituent elements of the reusable control assembly 4 are relatively elaborate and expensive, hence the advantage of reusing them with several disposable parts 6 successively.

[0055] Screws 50 are used to immobilize the half-shells 122 and 124 together. In the embodiment shown, the screws 50 pass through corresponding housings provided on the half-shell 124 and are screwed into corresponding threads of the half-shell 122. Other means of assembling the half-shells together are conceivable, in particular means of assembly by elastic snap-fastening.

[0056] As is more particularly apparent from Figures 5 and 6, the housing 8 of the disposable part 6 is equipped with a hook 88 which constitutes a member for securing the parts 4 and 6 in the assembled configuration of the product administration device 2. The hook 88 is in one piece with the half-shell 84 and comprises a head 882 and a rod 884 which connects the head 882 to the rest of the half-shell 84.

[0057] The half-shell 124 also comprises a rigid portion 136 which defines a sliding ramp 138 of the head 882 during a movement of bringing the parts 4 and 6 together, in the direction of the arrow F1 in FIG. 2. The rigid portion 136 also defines a hooking surface 140, perpendicular to the axis X16, against which the head 882 abuts in the assembled configuration of the parts 4 and 6 of the product administration device 2, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0058] A push button 52 is mounted on the housing 12 and comprises a head 522, preferably of domed external shape, which is received in a housing 142 of corresponding shape, this housing being defined by the two half-shells 122 and 124. Without action by a user on the push button 52, the external surface 522S of the head 522, that is to say the surface of this head which is visible from the outside of the housing 12, is flush with an external surface 12S of the housing 12.

[0059] We note A52 a longitudinal axis A52 of the push button 52

[0060] The push button 52 also comprises a rod 524 which extends along the longitudinal axis A52 and which is made up of several bars including two bars 526 each equipped with a harpoon point 528 and a bar 530 which defines an end 525 of the rod 524 opposite the head 522.

[0061] The harpoon tips 528 are used to retain the push button 52 on the housing 12 in the mounted configuration of the reusable control assembly 4. In the mounted configuration of the reusable control assembly 4, the axis A52 is superimposed on an axis X12 defined by the housing 12 and which is a sliding axis of the push button 52 in the housing 12.

[0062] By default, the push button 52 is pushed by two springs 54 into the position of figures 1, 2 and 5, where its rod 524 does not interact with the hook 88 and where the surfaces 522S and 12S are flush.

[0063] The external surface 522S of the head 522 bears a mark 532 which represents a padlock, in order to remind that the push button 52 makes it possible to unlock the disposable part 6 with respect to the reusable control assembly 4. Indeed, when the head 522 is pushed into the housing 142 by exerting on its surface 522S a force E1 directed towards the inside of the housing 122, the push button 52 exerts, by means of the end 525 of the rod 524, a force E2 oriented, and of sufficient intensity, to push the head 882 away from the hook 88, so as to release it from the hooking surface 140.

[0064] The movement of the head 882 of the hook 88 under the action of the push button 52 takes place by means of an elastic deformation in flexion of the rod 884 of the hook 82.

[0065] Thus, the push button 52 is movable in translation, along the axes A52 and X12 combined, between a first position shown in Figure 5 and a second position shown in Figure 6. The first position is different from the second position. In its first position in Figure 5 and when the parts 4 and 6 are assembled, the push button 52 is not in contact with the hook 88, so that it is disengaged from this hook. In other words, in this position, the push button does not interact with the hook 88. Furthermore, in its first position, the push button defines, with the hooking surface 140, a zone Z1 for receiving the hook 88. In its second position, the push button is located in the zone Z1 for receiving the hook.Thus, when parts 4 and 6 are assembled and the push button is moved to its second position, the end 525 of the rod 524 of the push button pushes the head 882 of the hook 88, against an elastic force exerted by the rod 884, to separate the disposable part 6 from the reusable control assembly 4.

[0066] In other words, the push button 52 allows separation of the parts 4 and 6 of the product administration device 2, from the assembled configuration shown in Figures 1 and 5. The joining of the parts 4 and 6 of the product administration device 2, obtained by the hook 88, is thus reversible.

[0067] Such a separation must not take place under any conditions. In particular, such a separation must not take place when the piston 16 is engaged in the body 102 of the cartridge 10 because, in this configuration, the piston, or even the mechanism 48, could be damaged during, or following, the separation of the parts 4 and 6. The piston 16 would then be exposed outside the housing 12 and it would not be possible to mount a new disposable part 6, the cartridge 10 of which would be full, on the control assembly 4. In addition, only a portion of the product would have been administered, which is not desirable in the case of a therapeutic treatment. In practice, such a separation is to be expected only after the product contained in the cartridge 10 has been consumed in the intended quantity and the mechanism 48 driven by the motor 42 has returned the piston 16 to its rest position.

[0068] According to the invention, the reusable control assembly 4 comprises a locking member 60 which makes it possible to immobilize the push button 52, in translation along the axes A52 and X12, even if a force E1 is exerted on the external face of the push button 52. This locking member prevents untimely or accidental detachment of the parts 4 and 6 of the product administration device 2. Thus the locking member 60 blocks the push button 52 in its first position when necessary.

[0069] A60 denotes a longitudinal axis of the locking member 60.

[0070] Advantageously, the blocking member is constituted by a shuttle 60.

[0071] The shuttle 60 is a single-piece part which comprises a rod 602 and a collar 604, which constitutes a portion enlarged relative to the rod 602 and which surrounds this rod. As is more particularly apparent from FIG. 4, the collar 604 may have a polygonal, in particular square, section. 606 denotes an end of the rod 602 facing the piston 16. The end 606 can be described as the front end of the rod 602.

[0072] The shuttle 60 is guided by bearings 144 formed by the half-shell 124 and which define a longitudinal axis Y12 of a housing 137 in which the shuttle 60 is received. The housing 137 is defined by the casing 12.

[0073] Advantageously, the X12 and Y12 axes are perpendicular.

[0074] Alternatively, the X12 and Y12 axes are non-parallel, without being perpendicular.

[0075] In the mounted configuration of the shuttle 60 on the half-shell 124, the axes A60 and Y12 are merged and the shuttle 60 is movable in translation along these merged axes, being guided, along the axes Y12 and A60, by the rod 602 which cooperates with the bearings 144.

[0076] The shuttle 60 is loaded by an elastic member 62, in a direction parallel to the axes A60 and Y12, towards a configuration where the collar 604 is received in a housing 534 defined by the push button 52.

[0077] Advantageously, the elastic force exerted by the elastic member 62 is directed towards the piston 16.

[0078] Advantageously, the elastic member 62 is formed by a metal helical spring mounted around the rod 602, which guarantees a uniform application of the elastic return force of the shuttle 60 towards its position shown in FIG. 5. The risks of jamming of the shuttle 60 are thus minimized.

[0079] Preferably, the spring 62 is received in the housing 534.

[0080] Alternatively, the elastic member may be a spring of non-helical shape and / or made of a non-metallic material or even an elastic tab in one piece with the body 12.

[0081] The collar 604 and the housing 534 are of generally complementary shapes and their geometry is defined such that, when the collar 604 is received in the housing 534, it blocks a translation of the push button 52 in a direction of insertion inside the housing 12, from the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. The housing 534 is formed in the form of a notch passing through a bar 526 which belongs to the rod 524.

[0082] Advantageously, the collar is received in the housing 534 with reduced clearance.

[0083] According to a variant of the invention not shown, the collar can be received in the housing with a clearance allowing a small depression stroke of the push button 52 in the housing 12, provided that this does not lead to pushing the head 882 with the end 525 of the rod 524.

[0084] When its collar 604 is engaged in the housing 534, the shuttle 60 is in a position where it blocks the push button 52 in its first position, where the end 525 of the rod 524 is released from the hook 88. This means that, in its blocking position, the shuttle prevents the parts 4 and 6 from being separated from the product administration device 2.

[0085] The spring 62 returns the shuttle 60 to its locking position by default.

[0086] When the piston 16 is in the rest position, with the piston rod completely retracted into the chute 48, that is to say when the piston practically does not protrude relative to the face 126 of the housing 12, it can be assumed that the intended quantity of product initially contained in the cartridge 10 has been expelled from the cartridge or that this expulsion has not yet been triggered, and that there is, therefore, no disadvantage in separating the parts 4 and 6 of the product administration device 2.

[0087] In this configuration shown in Figure 6, the rear face 165 of the thrust element 163 comes to bear against the end 606 of the rod 602, which has the effect of pushing the shuttle 60 against the elastic force exerted by the spring 62 and of driving the collar 604 out of the housing 534.

[0088] The rear face 165, in particular its flat annular portion, thus constitutes a stop surface suitable for coming to bear against the shuttle 60 in a configuration where the thrust element 163 holds the shuttle in a position for unlocking the push button 52, where it is held by the piston 16, as long as the latter remains in its rest position.

[0089] In this configuration, the shuttle 60 does not oppose a movement of pushing the push button 52 into the housing 12, under the effect of the force E1. When this force is exerted by a user, the push button is pushed into the body 12, to the point that the end 525 of the rod 524 comes, thanks to the force E2, to push back the hook 88, which is then released from the hooking surface 140. This releases the disposable part 6 relative to the reusable control assembly 4.

[0090] Thus, the piston 16 is configured to control the movement of the shuttle 60 along the axes A60 and Y12 combined. Indeed, if the piston 16 is disengaged relative to the rod 602, it allows the spring 62 to push the shuttle 60 towards the configuration shown in FIG. 5 and the locking member, i.e. the shuttle, is in the locking position of the push button. On the contrary, if the piston 60 presses on the end 606 of the rod 602, it pushes the shuttle 60 out of the housing 534, as shown in FIG. 6 and the locking member, i.e. the shuttle, is in the unlocking position, compatible with the movement of the push button 52 against the force exerted by the springs 54.

[0091] In practice, as soon as it moves significantly away from the face 126 of the housing 12, the piston 16, and in particular the thrust element 163, allow the shuttle 60 to pass from the unlocking position of figure 6 to the locking position of figure 5.

[0092] The position of the shuttle 60 in the configuration of Figure 5 is a locking position, where the shuttle 60 locks the push button 52 in its first position. The position of the shuttle 60 in the configuration of Figure 6 is an unlocking position, where this shuttle allows the push button 52 to pass from its first position, disengaged from the hook 88, to its second position, where it pushes the head 882 back from the rigid portion 136.

[0093] In the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 7, elements similar to those of the first embodiment bear the same references. If a reference is mentioned in the remainder of the description without being shown in Figure 7, it designates the same element as that bearing the same reference in the first embodiment. Similarly, if a reference is shown in Figure 7 without being mentioned in the description, it designates the same element as that bearing the same reference in the first embodiment.

[0094] The piston of this second embodiment also comprises a rod 161 and a thrust element 163. Here, the thrust element 163 comprises two parts 163A and 163B assembled together. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, on its rear side 16B, the thrust element 163 is provided with a collar 168 of which the rear edge, opposite the nose 162, is noted 165 and the external peripheral surface 172.

[0095] The surface 172 is frustoconical and converges towards the rear of the piston 16, with a half-angle at the apex a, this angle being formed between the surface 172 and the axis X16 along which the piston 16 moves.

[0096] On the other hand, the rigid portion 136 of the housing 12 defines an internal surface 145 which is frustoconical, centered on the axis X10 and of which p is the half-angle at the apex.

[0097] The angles a and p are advantageously equal. In other words, the surfaces 145 and 172 are inclined at the same angle relative to the axis X16.

[0098] Thus, the surfaces 145 and 172 constitute guide surfaces which cooperate to guide the thrust element 163, therefore the piston 16, when it is moved from or towards its rest position, comparable to that shown in FIG. 6 for the first embodiment.

[0099] In the rest position of the piston 16, the edge 165 of the collar 168 comes to bear against the end 606 of the rod 602, which pushes the collar 604 out of the housing 534, according to an operation comparable to that explained above for the first embodiment. The rear edge 165 also constitutes a stop surface suitable for coming to bear against the shuttle 60 in a configuration where the thrust element 163 keeps the shuttle 60 in an unlocked position as long as the piston 16 is in its rest position.

[0100] In practice, the angles a and p are advantageously between 20° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°.

[0101] Alternatively, surfaces 145 and 172 may be inclined relative to axes X10 and X16 without being frustoconical.

[0102] Whatever the embodiment, when the piston 16 is in its rest position, it pushes the collar 604 out of the housing 534, and therefore the shuttle 60 towards a position for unlocking the push button, where the force E1 exerted on the head 522 of the push button 52 makes it possible to maneuver the hook 88. Conversely, as soon as the piston 16 reaches one of its operating positions, the force exerted by the spring 62 pushes the shuttle 60 from its unlocking position towards a position for locking the push button, where the collar 604 is engaged in the housing 534.

[0103] Regardless of the embodiment, the locking member 60 may be different from a shuttle. It may have a shape other than that shown in the figures and may not be in one piece. The embodiments and variants envisaged above may be combined to generate new embodiments of the invention, within the scope of the appended claims.

[0104] Regardless of the embodiment or variant considered, the product administration device according to the invention can in particular be used to administer a medication in liquid form to a patient in order to treat a wide variety of pathologies such as, for example, autoimmune diseases or chronic diseases such as diabetes or associated disorders, cancers, hormonal deficiencies, macular degeneration, inflammation, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary syndromes, thromboembolic diseases, etc.

[0105] Thus, the term “medicine” refers to any liquid formulation capable of being administered continuously by means, for example, of a hollow needle or a cannula. The formulation may be a solution, a gel or even a fine suspension containing one or more active ingredients.These active ingredients may include peptides (e.g., insulin or GLP-1, their derivatives or analogues, amylin or its derivatives or analogues, gastric inhibitory peptides or their analogues), proteins, glycoproteins or hormones (e.g., hormones from the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, such as gonadotropin or gonadotropin releasing hormone, desmopressin, gonadorelin, triptorelin, terlipressin, leuprorelin, buserelin, goserelin, nafarelin, lutropin, menotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone and its analogues, follitropin, parathyroid hormone, teriparatide, abaloparatide or other analogues of parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, growth hormone, somatropin, etc.), active ingredients derived from hormones or nucleotides (e.g., DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides), enzymes, polysaccharides (e.g., glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acids, heparins, low molecular weight heparins and their derivatives, or sulfated or polysulfated forms of these polysaccharides), vaccines, antibodies and their analogues (e.g., denosumab, panitumumab, nutritional substances. The formulations may contain these active ingredients in the form of any pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate as well as any necessary and appropriate excipient.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Reusable control assembly (4) of a product administration device (2), the reusable control assembly being capable of being reversibly assembled with a disposable part (6) of the product administration device, the disposable part including at least one securing member (88) capable of reversibly securing the reusable control assembly and the disposable part, characterized in that the reusable control assembly comprises: - at least one piston (16) and a subassembly (42-48) for moving the piston, the movement of the piston being intended to push the product out of a cartridge, - a push button (52) movable between o a first position, and o a second position, in which, when the reusable control assembly (4) is assembled with the disposable part (6), the push button is capable of controlling the movement of the securing member to detach the disposable part from the reusable control assembly, and in that the reusable control assembly comprises a locking member (60) of the push button (52) in its first position.

2. Reusable control assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking member (60) is movable between an unlocking position, where it allows the push button (52) to move from its first position to its second position, and a locking position, where it locks the push button in its first position.

3. Reusable control assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means (62) for elastic return of the locking member (60) into its locking position.

4. Reusable control assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the elastic return means comprise a spring (62), preferably a helical spring mounted around a rod (602) which extends in a direction of movement (Y12) of the locking member between its locking and unlocking positions.

5. Reusable control assembly according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the piston (16) is configured to control the movement of the locking member (60) from its locking position to its unlocking position.

6. Reusable control assembly according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the piston (16) is movable in translation between a rest position, in which it bears against the locking member (60) which it maintains in its position unlocking, and a plurality of operating positions, in which it allows movement of the locking member relative to its unlocking position, in particular from its unlocking position to its locking position.

7. Reusable control assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the piston (16) comprises a piston rod (161) and a thrust element (163) fixed to the piston rod, the thrust element comprising a stop surface (165) suitable for coming into contact with the locking member (60) which the thrust element maintains in its unlocked position when the piston is in its rest position.

8. Reusable control assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the reusable control assembly (4) comprises a housing (12) for receiving the piston (16) and the displacement subassembly (42-48) of the piston, the housing comprising a guide surface (145) capable of cooperating with a complementary guide surface (172) of the thrust element (163) to guide the thrust element when moving the piston towards its rest position.

9. Reusable control assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide surface (145) and the complementary guide surface (172) are inclined relative to an axis of movement of the piston with the same angle (a, P) of between 20° and 70° relative to the axis of movement, preferably of between 30° and 60°.

10. Reusable control assembly according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the reusable control assembly (4) comprises a housing (12) for receiving the piston (16) and the displacement subassembly (42-48) of the piston, in that the push button (52) is movable in translation relative to the housing between its first and second positions, in a first direction (X12), and in that the locking member (60) is movable in translation relative to the housing between its locking and unlocking positions, in a second direction (Y12) not parallel to the first direction, preferably orthogonal to the first direction.

11. Reusable control assembly according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the locking member (60) comprises a widened portion (604) and in that the push button (52) comprises a housing (534) for receiving the widened portion, when the push button is in its first position and the locking member is in its locking position.

12. Reusable control assembly according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the locking member (60) comprises at least one rod (602) for guiding in translation relative to the housing (12) and in that the widened portion is a collar (604) which surrounds the rod.

13. Product delivery device comprising: a reusable control assembly (4) and - a disposable part (6) capable of being assembled (F1) in a reversible manner with the reusable control assembly characterized in that the reusable control assembly (4) is according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. Product administration device according to claim 13, characterized in that the disposable part (6) includes the securing member (88), a product administration subassembly and a cartridge (10) containing a product to be administered and receiving a sliding stopper (104), and in that the piston (16) is capable of causing the sliding stopper to move in a body (102) of the cartridge.

15. Product administration device according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the securing member is a hook (88) configured to engage with a portion (126) of the reusable control assembly (4), the hook being movable under the action (E2) of the push button.

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