Reusable control assembly and product delivery device including such an assembly

Abstract

The reusable control assembly of the product delivery device is reversibly assembleable to the disposable portion, and includes at least one locking member (88) capable of reversibly securing the disposable portion to the reusable control assembly. The control assembly includes at least one piston (16) and a subassembly (48) for moving the piston, the movement of which expels the product from the cartridge, and includes a push button (52) movable between a first position in which it does not interact with the locking member (88) and a second position in which, when the reusable control assembly is assembled to the disposable portion, the push button controls movement of the locking member to remove the disposable portion from the reusable control assembly. The control assembly also includes a member (60) for locking the push button (52) in its first position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a reusable control assembly for controlling a product delivery device and to a product delivery device for administering a product, particularly a drug.

[0002] Advantageously, the present invention relates to a device for administering a product by injection, and in particular to a portable injection device that can be attached to the body of a user in contact with the skin to administer a product to the user parenterally. [Background technology]

[0003] In the field of treatment of certain diseases, it is well known practice to form drug administration devices that include a reusable first part, e.g., a reusable control assembly, and a disposable second part that is attached to the reusable first part. Such constructions are known, for example, from the literature, EP 3659645 A1 and WO 2021 / 076540 A1, whereby potentially sophisticated and expensive elements, in particular the control subassembly for controlling the drug administration pump, can be integrated into the reusable part, while cheaper elements and a cartridge containing the product to be administered are integrated into the disposable part.

[0004] In this type of appliance, the two parts of the device need to be held firmly together during use. To that end, document EP 3659645 A1 teaches the use of a reversible locking mechanism including a tab located on one wall of one of the two parts of the device and intended to hook onto a corresponding element belonging to the other part. An unlocking actuator is provided to move the tab to a state where the two parts of the device can be separated.

[0005] It is known from US Patent No. 11426523 to slide a cartridge containing the product to be administered into the hollow housing of the body. A wedge-shaped cam operated by an actuator makes it possible to pierce the sterile seal and move the needle without affecting the secure attachment between the cartridge and the body.

[0006] In known devices of this type, there is a risk that the two parts making up the product delivery device may become detached at an inappropriate time while the product in the disposable part has not yet been fully administered or while the device is still in use, especially when it is attached to the patient's skin.

[0007] The items of equipment known from EP 3928814, WO 2015 / 091758, US 2010 / 094251, US 2020 / 254185 and WO 2017 / 060899 all suffer from similar drawbacks. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 3659645 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2021 / 076540 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 3659645 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 1,142,6523 [Patent Document 5] European Patent Application Publication No. 3928814 [Patent Document 6] International Publication No. 2015 / 091758 Brochure [Patent Document 7] US Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 094251 [Patent Document 8] US Patent Application Publication No. 2020 / 254185 [Patent Document 9] International Publication No. 2017 / 060899 Brochure [Patent Document 10] International Publication No. 2021 / 224388 Brochure [Patent Document 11] International Publication No. 2022 / 023391 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] It is these drawbacks that the present invention seeks to overcome more specifically by proposing a novel reusable control assembly for controlling a product delivery device to administer a product, the operation of which is more reliable. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To this end, the present invention relates to a reusable control assembly for controlling a product delivery device to administer a product, the reusable control assembly being reversibly assembleable to a disposable portion of the product delivery device, the disposable portion including at least one securing member capable of reversibly securing the reusable control assembly and the disposable portion together. - at least one piston and piston-moving mechanism, the movement of the piston being for forcing the product out of the cartridge; - a push button, 〇The first position, a second position in which, when the reusable control assembly is assembled to the disposable portion, the push button can command the securing member to move to detach the disposable portion from the reusable control assembly; a push button movable between Includes.

[0011] Additionally, the reusable control assembly includes a locking member that locks the push button in its first position.

[0012] In accordance with the present invention, the push button locking member can prevent the push button from moving to its second position, which allows the securing member to be moved to disconnect the disposable portion from the reusable control assembly. In other words, the locking member ensures that the disposable portion cannot be separated from the reusable control assembly even if the push button is accidentally operated or malfunctions.

[0013] According to advantageous but optional aspects of the invention, such a reusable control assembly incorporates one or more of the following features, taken alone or in any technically possible combination: - When it is in its first position and the reusable control assembly is assembled to the disposable part, the push button does not engage the locking member. Under these same circumstances, the push button does not interact with the locking member. - the locking member is movable between an unlocked position whereby the push button can be moved from its first position towards its second position and a locked position whereby it locks the push button in its first position The reusable control assembly includes a resilient return means for returning the locking member to its locked position. the elastic return means comprises a spring, preferably a helical spring, mounted around a rod extending in the direction of movement of the locking member between its locked and unlocked positions; The piston is configured to command the locking member to move from its locked position towards its unlocked position. - the piston is translatable between a rest position in which it presses against the locking member, holding it in its unlocked position, and a plurality of operating positions in which it allows the locking member to move with respect to its unlocked position, in particular from its unlocked position to its locked position the piston includes a piston rod and a thrust element fixed to the piston rod, the thrust element including an abutment surface capable of pressing against the locking member when the piston is in its rest position, so that the thrust element holds the thrust element in its unlocked position; The reusable control assembly includes a case that houses the piston and the piston movement subassembly, the case including guide surfaces that can cooperate with complementary guide surfaces on the thrust element to guide the thrust element as the piston moves toward its rest position. - the guide surface and the complementary guide surface are inclined relative to the axis of movement of the piston by the same angle of 20° to 70°, preferably 30° to 60° relative to the axis of movement; - the usable control assembly includes a case housing the piston and the piston moving subassembly, the push button being translatable in a first direction relative to the case between its first and second positions, and the locking member being translatable in a second direction, non-parallel to the first direction and preferably orthogonal to the first direction, relative to the case between its locked and unlocked positions; the locking member includes an extension portion, and the push button includes a housing that stores the extension portion when the push button is in its first position and the locking member is in its locked position; The locking member includes at least one rod providing translational guidance relative to the case, and the extension is a collar surrounding the rod.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a product delivery device for administering a product, comprising a reusable control assembly as described above and a disposable portion reversibly assembleable to the reusable control assembly.

[0015] Advantageously, the disposable part comprises a fixing member, a product delivery subassembly for administering the product, and a cartridge containing the product to be administered and receiving a sliding plug, the piston being capable of moving the sliding plug inside the body of the cartridge.

[0016] The securing member may be a hook configured to engage a portion of the reusable control assembly, the hook being movable by action of a push button.

[0017] The invention will be better understood and further advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of two embodiments of a reusable assembly and product delivery device conforming to the principles of the invention, which description is given purely by way of example and refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a product delivery device for administering a product, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, including a reusable control assembly, also according to a first embodiment of the present invention, when the delivery device is in a usable state. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 during assembly of the disposable portion to the reusable control assembly of the device of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reusable control assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 with one half-sheath removed. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged view of detail IV of FIG. 3, seen from a different angle, with the push button and locking member exploded relative to the remainder of the reusable control assembly. [Figure 5] A theoretical partial cross-sectional view of the reusable control assembly and disposable portion taken along plane V in FIG. 1 when the reusable control assembly is in a first state in which the piston of the control assembly extends into the cartridge of the disposable portion and an unlocking force E1 is applied to release the disposable portion from the reusable assembly. [Figure 6] A partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 of the reusable control assembly and disposable portion when the reusable control assembly is in a second state in which its piston is retracted relative to the disposable portion and the same force E1 is applied. [Figure 7]6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a reusable control assembly and product delivery device for administering a product according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] A product delivery device 2 for administering a product, shown in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a reusable control assembly 4 and a disposable portion 6 .

[0020] The disposable part 6 includes a case 8 formed of two one-sided sheaths 82 and 84 that house a cartridge 10 of the product to be administered, the cartridge being partially visible through a window 86 defined in the one-sided sheath 82 of the case 8.

[0021] The cartridge 10 includes a body 102 made of glass or plastic and a plug 104, also called a "piston plunger," which is preferably made of elastomer and is designed to slide inside the cartridge along the longitudinal axis X10 of the cartridge 10.

[0022] At the end opposite the plug 104, the cartridge 10 is connected to a product delivery subassembly (not shown) which includes, inter alia, a needle for injecting the product to be administered. The needle is, for example, movable between a retracted position in which it is contained inside the case 8 and a deployed position in which it extends outside the case 8 and can pierce the skin of a user. This product delivery subassembly may, for example, be in accordance with the technical teachings of one of the documents WO 2021 / 224388 and WO 2022 / 023391.

[0023] Part 6 is mounted on control assembly 4, slides in the direction of arrow F1 in Figure 2, is controlled by control assembly 4 during dispensing of product contained in cartridge 10, and is intended to be subsequently discarded when cartridge 10 is empty or when the amount of product to be dispensed present in the cartridge reaches a predetermined minimum. Thus, multiple disposable parts 6 can be mounted on control assembly 4 in succession, and control assembly 4 is therefore reused for each of these different parts 6.

[0024] The control assembly 4 includes a case 12 formed from two half-shells 122 and 124 .

[0025] The rod 14 extends from one face 126 of the case 12 to allow selective actuation of the product delivery subassembly.

[0026] The control assembly 4 also includes a piston 16 configured to drive the slide plug 104 along axis X10 toward the product dispensing end of the cartridge 10, causing the product to be expelled from the cartridge 10. The piston 16 is visible on face 126 of the case 12 visible in Figures 2-6, and its movement is such that the product contained within the cartridge 10 is dispensed.

[0027] The piston 16 includes a piston rod 161 and a thrust element 163 fixed to the piston rod.

[0028] The front surface 16A of the thrust element 163 is defined as the surface that faces the plug 104 when the parts 4 and 6 are assembled to form the device 2. The rear surface 16B of the thrust element 6 is defined as the surface that faces in the opposite direction from the front surface.

[0029] The piston rod 161 is a flexible rod, for example formed by a coil spring, to which the thrust element 163 is fixed, for example by screwing it onto a corresponding end 161A. The turns of the coil spring form, for example at this end, a tapping that can cooperate with a corresponding thread formed on a stud 164 made on a rear face 165 of the thrust element 163 in the mounting area. In this example, the thrust element 163 is of one piece type.

[0030] The front face 16A of the thrust element 163 is provided with a tip 162 adapted to fit into a correspondingly shaped housing 106 formed on the rear face 104B of the plug 104 that faces the piston 16 when the product delivery device 2 is ready for use.

[0031] The one-sided housing 122 is provided with a control interface 128 including various control buttons 130 and display elements 132 consisting of light emitting diodes or LEDs, each associated with a marking 134 in the form of a logo indicating the parameter displayed by said element. The control interface 128 allows, inter alia, the control of the product delivery subassembly of the disposable part 6 by the rod 14 and the control of the motor 42 by the electronic control board 44.

[0032] 3, in which the one-sided housing 122 is not shown, the case of the reusable control assembly 4 houses the electric motor 42, the electronic control board 44, at least one gear pair 46 driven by the motor 42, and a mechanism for converting the rotational movement output by the gear pair 46 into a translational movement. The movement conversion mechanism is configured to convert the rotational movement output by the gear pair 46 into a translational movement of the piston 16, in particular of the thrust element 163, along an axis X16 coinciding with axis X10, when the product administration device 2 is in the assembled state. Advantageously, the conversion mechanism is also configured to convert the rotational movement output by the gear pair 46 into a translational movement of the rod 14 to control the delivery subassembly of the disposable part 6.

[0033] The reusable control assembly 4 also includes a battery, not shown.

[0034] The piston 16 is movable between a rest position and a plurality of operating positions. In the rest position, shown particularly in Figures 4 and 6, the piston presses against one side sheath 124 of the case 12 and advantageously disengages from the body 102 of the cartridge 10. In the operating position, the piston 16 drives the plug 104 towards the product dispensing end of the cartridge 10 and advantageously engages the body 102. There are a plurality of operating positions of the piston 16 distributed along the axis X16.

[0035] 1 to 6, the rear face 16B of the thrust element 163 is flat, except for its central portion, which has a ridge 166 for centering it with respect to the face 126 of the case 12. In other words, the rear face 165 of the thrust element 163 comprises a flat annular portion surrounding the ridge 166. The studs 164 extend from the ridge 166 in the opposite direction to the front face 16A. The ridge 166 cooperates with a corresponding guiding zone belonging to the case 12 to guide the thrust element 163 during its movement from or towards its rest position.

[0036] The control board 44 is configured to operate the motor 42 based on commands received by the interface 128 to return the piston 16 to its rest position when the product contained in the cartridge 10 has been used up or a predetermined amount has been used.

[0037] The movement conversion mechanism comprises a threaded rod that can be rotated by gear pair 46 and a member for controlling piston 16 that can move in translation along the threaded rod as it rotates, in a manner similar to a screw-peg connection. The control member is fixed to one end of piston rod 161 opposite end 161A to which thrust element 163 is fixed, and can command the piston rod, and therefore the thrust element, to move during this movement. Advantageously, the mechanism comprises a channel 48 that is configured to have an overall J-shape that can receive piston rod 161.

[0038] Elements 42-48 and their associated batteries form a piston movement subassembly for moving piston 16, particularly for moving thrust element 16 along axis X16 and piston rod 161 in both directions within piston channel 48.

[0039] The elements that make up the reusable control assembly 4 are relatively sophisticated and expensive, so there are benefits to reusing them in succession with several disposable parts 6.

[0040] Screws 50 are used to securely hold the sheath halves 122 and 124 together. In the illustrated embodiment, the screws 50 pass through corresponding housings on the sheath halves 124 and thread into corresponding tappings on the sheath halves 122. Other means for assembling the sheath halves together are also contemplated, particularly elastic clip fastening assembly means.

[0041] 5 and 6, the casing 8 of the disposable portion 6 is provided with a hook 88, which provides a securing member for holding the portions 4 and 6 together when the product delivery device 2 is in the assembled state. The hook 88 is integral with the sheath half 84 and includes a head 882 and a shank 884 for connecting the head 882 to the remainder of the sheath half 84.

[0042] The one-sided sheath 124 also includes a rigid portion 136 that defines a ramp 138 for sliding the head 882 during movement of the portions 4 and 6 toward one another in the direction of arrow F1 in Figure 2. The rigid portion 136 also defines a catch surface 140 that is perpendicular to the axis X16 and against which the head 882 abuts when the portions 4 and 6 of the product delivery device 2 are in the assembled state as shown in Figure 5.

[0043] Push button 52 is attached to case 12 and includes a head 522, preferably convex in shape, housed within a correspondingly shaped housing 142, which is defined by two half-faces 122 and 124. When push button 52 is not operated by the user, outer surface 522S of head 522, i.e., the surface of this head that is visible from outside case 12, is flush with outer surface 12S of case 12.

[0044] The longitudinal axis A52 of the push button 52 is designated A52.

[0045] The push button 52 also includes a rod 524 that extends along a longitudinal axis A52 and is comprised of a plurality of prongs, two of which 526 are each provided with a barbed tip 528 and one prong 530 that defines an end 525 of the rod 524 opposite the head 522.

[0046] Barbed tip 528 serves to retain push button 52 on case 12 when reusable control assembly 4 is in the assembled state.

[0047] When the reusable control assembly 4 is in the assembled state, an axis A 52 is defined by the case 12 and overlaps with an axis X 12 which is the sliding axis of the push button 52 of the case 12 .

[0048] By default, the push button 52 is pushed back by the two springs 54 to the position of FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, in which its rod 524 does not interact with the hook 88 and the surfaces 522S and 12S are flush with each other.

[0049] An outer surface 522S of head 522 has markings 532 depicting a padlock, which serves as a reminder that push button 52 can be used to unlock disposable portion 6 from reusable control assembly 4. Specifically, when head 522 is pushed into housing 142 by applying force E1 to surface 522S thereof in a direction toward the inside of case 122, push button 52, by means of end 525 of rod 524, generates force E2 oriented and strong enough to push head 882 of hook 88 back and disengage it from catch surface 140.

[0050] The movement of the head 882 of the hook 88 in response to the operation of the push button 52 is achieved by the shank 884 of the hook 82 bending due to elastic deformation.

[0051] Thus, push button 52 is translatable along coincident axes A52 and X12 between a first position shown in FIG. 5 and a second position shown in FIG. 6 . The first position is different from the second position. In its first position of FIG. 5 , when portions 4 and 6 are assembled, push button 52 does not contact hook 88, meaning it is disengaged from this hook. In other words, in this position, the push button does not interact with hook 88. Furthermore, in its first position, the push button, together with catch surface 140, defines receiving area Z1 for receiving hook 88. In its second position, the push button is within hook receiving area Z1. Therefore, when portions 4 and 6 are assembled and the push button is then moved toward its second position, end 525 of push button rod 524 pushes back head 882 of hook 88 against the effect of the elastic force exerted by shank 884, disconnecting disposable portion 6 from reusable control assembly 4.

[0052] In other words, push button 52 allows portions 4 and 6 of product delivery device 2 to be separated from the initially assembled state shown in Figures 1 and 5. The fixation provided by hooks 88 of portions 4 and 6 of product delivery device 2 is therefore reversible.

[0053] Such decoupling should not be possible under unspecified conditions. In particular, such decoupling should not be possible when the piston 16 is engaged with the body 102 of the cartridge 10, because in that case the piston, or even the mechanism 48, could be damaged during or after the separation of the parts 4 and 6. In this case, the piston 16 would be exposed to the outside of the case 12, and a new disposable part 6, with which the cartridge 10 is full, could not be attached to the control assembly 4. Furthermore, only a portion of the product would be administered, which is undesirable in terms of treatment. In practice, such decoupling is intended to be possible only after the desired amount of product contained in the cartridge 10 has been used up and after the mechanism 48, driven by the motor 42, has returned the piston 16 to its rest position.

[0054] In accordance with the present invention, the reusable control assembly 4 includes a locking member 60 that can prevent the push button 52 from moving in translation along axes A52 and Z12 when force E1 is applied to the outer surface of the push button 52. This locking member prevents untimely or accidental disconnection of the portions 4 and 6 of the product delivery device 2. Thus, the locking member 60 locks the push button 52 in its first position when desired.

[0055] The longitudinal axis of the locking member 60 is designated A60.

[0056] Advantageously, the locking member comprises a shuttle 60 .

[0057] The shuttle 60 is an integral part, which includes a rod 602 and a collar 604 that is enlarged relative to the rod 602 and that forms a part surrounding the rod. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 4, the collar 604 may have a polygonal, in particular a rectangular, cross section. The end of the rod 602 that faces the piston 16 is designated 606. The end 606 may be the front face of the rod 602.

[0058] The shuttle 60 is guided by a bearing 144 that defines a longitudinal axis Y12 of a housing 137 formed by the one-sided outer sheath 124 and that houses the shuttle 60. The housing 137 is defined by the case 12.

[0059] Advantageously, the axes X12 and Y12 are perpendicular.

[0060] In a variant, the axes X12 and Y12 are non-parallel other than perpendicular.

[0061] When the shuttle 60 is mounted on the one-sided outer sheath 124, the axes A60 and Y12 coincide and the shuttle 60 is translatable along these coincident axes and is guided along the axes Y12 and A60 by the rod 602 cooperating with the bearing 144.

[0062] The shuttle 60 is biased by a resilient member 62 in a direction parallel to axes A60 and Y12 so that the collar 604 is received within a housing 534 defined by the push button 52.

[0063] Advantageously, the resilient force exerted by the resilient member 62 is directed towards the piston 16 .

[0064] Advantageously, the resilient member 62 is formed by a metal helical spring mounted around the rod 602, thereby ensuring a uniform application of a resilient return force returning the shuttle 60 to its position shown in Figure 5. This in turn minimizes the risk of the shuttle 60 getting stuck.

[0065] Preferably, the blades 62 are housed within a housing 534 .

[0066] Alternatively, the resilient member may be a spring other than a helical type and / or may be made of a non-metallic material, or may be a resilient tab integral with the body 12 .

[0067] Collar 604 and housing 534 have more or less complementary shapes that are defined so that, when collar 604 is received in housing 534, push button 52 is prevented from translating in a direction that would initially push it into case 12 from the state shown in Figures 1 and 6. Housing 534 is made in the form of a slot through which prong 526 that forms part of rod 524 passes.

[0068] Advantageously, the collar is received within the housing 534 with only a small amount of clearance.

[0069] According to a variant of the invention not shown, the collar may be received within the housing so that the push button 52 is pressed into the case 12 with a short travel distance, providing sufficient clearance to prevent the end 525 of the rod 524 from pressing against the head 882.

[0070] When its collar 604 engages with the housing 534, the shuttle 60 is in a position where it locks the push button 52 in its first position and the end 525 of the rod 524 is disengaged from the hook 88. This means that in its locked position, the shuttle prevents the parts 4 and 6 of the product delivery device 2 from being separated.

[0071] A spring 62 defaults to returning the shuttle 60 to its locked position.

[0072] When the piston 16 is in the rest position and the piston rod is fully retracted into the channel 48, i.e., when the piston does not actually protrude at all relative to the face 126 of the case 12, it can be assumed that the intended amount of product originally contained in the cartridge 10 has been expelled from the cartridge or that this expulsion has not yet begun, and as a result, no disadvantages will arise from separating parts 4 and 6 of the product delivery device 2.

[0073] In this condition, shown in FIG. 6, the rear surface 165 of the thrust element 163 presses against the end 606 of the rod 602, which has the effect of pushing the shuttle 60 back against the elastic force exerted by the spring 62 and driving the collar 604 out of the housing 534.

[0074] The rear surface 165, and in particular its flat annular portion, therefore constitutes an abutment surface against which the thrust element 163 can abut against the shuttle 60 with the shuttle held in the unlocked position of the push button 52, and which is held in this position by the piston 16 as long as the piston 16 is in its rest position.

[0075] In this state, shuttle 60 does not resist movement under the effect of force E1 that pushes push button 52 into case 12. When such force is applied by the user, push button 52 is pushed into body 12 to such an extent that end 525 of rod 524 pushes hook 88 back under force E2, which then disengages from catch surface 140. Disposable part 6 is thereby released from reusable control assembly 4.

[0076] Thus, piston 16 is configured to command movement of shuttle 60 along coincident axes A 60 and Y 12. Specifically, when piston 16 is disengaged from rod 602, spring 62 can thereby push shuttle 60 back toward the state shown in FIG. 5, with the locking member, i.e., shuttle, in a position that locks the push button. Conversely, when piston 60 is pressed against end 606 of rod 602, it pushes shuttle 60 back out of housing 534, as shown in FIG. 6, with the locking member, i.e., shuttle, in an unlocked position, and push button 52 can move against the action of the force exerted by spring 54.

[0077] In fact, the piston 16, and in particular the thrust element 163, allows the shuttle 60 to move from the unlocked position of FIG. 6 to the locked position of FIG. 5 as soon as it has moved significantly against the face 126 of the case 12.

[0078] 5 is the locked position, where shuttle 60 locks push button 52 in its first position. In FIG. 6, shuttle 60 is in the unlocked position, where shuttle 60 allows push button 52 to move from its first position toward its second position where it disengages from hook 88 and pushes head 882 back relative to rigid portion 136.

[0079] In the second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 7, the same elements as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numbers. When a reference number not shown in Figure 7 is mentioned in the following part of the description, it refers to the same element having the same reference number as in the first embodiment. Similarly, when a reference number is shown in Figure 7 but not mentioned in the description, it refers to the same element having the same reference number as in the first embodiment.

[0080] The piston of this second embodiment similarly includes a rod 161 and a thrust element 163. Here, the thrust element 163 includes two parts 163A and 163B that are assembled together.

[0081] The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the thrust element 163 has a collar 168 on its rear surface 16B, the rear edge of which opposite the tip 162 is designated 165 and the outer circumferential surface is designated 172.

[0082] The surface 172 is frustoconical and converges toward the rear of the piston 16 at an apex half angle α, which is made between the surface 172 and the axis X16 along which the piston 16 moves.

[0083] On the other hand, the rigid portion 136 of the case 12 defines an interior surface 145 which is frusto-conical about the axis X10, with an apex half angle designated β.

[0084] The angles α and β are advantageously equal, in other words the surfaces 145 and 172 are inclined at the same angle relative to the axis X16.

[0085] Thus, surfaces 145 and 172 form guide surfaces which cooperate to guide thrust element 163, and thus piston 16, as it moves from or towards its rest position in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 6 for the first embodiment.

[0086] When the piston 16 is in its rest position, the edge 165 of the collar 168 will abut the end 606 of the rod 602, thereby pushing the collar 604 back out of the housing 534 in an action similar to that described above with respect to the first embodiment. The rear surface 165 also forms an abutment surface that can abut against the shuttle 60, with the thrust element 163 holding the shuttle 60 in the unlocked position as long as the piston 16 is in its rest position.

[0087] In practice, the angles α and β are advantageously between 20° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60°.

[0088] As a variant, the surfaces 145 and 172 may not be frustoconical, but may be inclined with respect to the axes X10 and X16.

[0089] In either embodiment, when piston 16 is in its rest position, it pushes collar 604 back out of housing 534, thus pushing shuttle 60 towards the push button's unlocked position, where hook 88 can be operated by force E1 exerted by head 522 of push button 52. Conversely, as soon as piston 16 reaches one of its operating positions, the force exerted by spring 62 pushes shuttle 60 back from the unlocked position to the push button's locking position, where collar 604 engages housing 534.

[0090] In either embodiment, the locking member 60 may be something other than a shuttle. It may have a different shape than that shown in the figures and may not be one piece.

[0091] The above-described embodiments and variations may be combined to form new embodiments of the present invention within the scope of the appended claims.

[0092] In any of the embodiments or variations discussed, the product delivery device according to the present invention may be used, inter alia, to administer medication in liquid form to a patient to treat a variety of illnesses, such as autoimmune or chronic diseases such as diabetes and its complications, cancer, hormone deficiencies, macular degeneration, inflammation, atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary syndromes, thromboembolic diseases, and others.

[0093] Thus, the term "drug" refers to any liquid preparation that can be administered continuously, for example, by a hollow needle or cannula. The preparation may be a solution, a gel, or a fine suspension containing one or more active ingredients. These active ingredients may be, in particular, peptides (e.g., insulin or GLP-1, derivatives or analogs thereof, amylin or derivatives or analogs thereof, gastric inhibitory peptide or analogs thereof), proteins, glycoproteins, or hormones (e.g., hormones obtained from the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, such as gonadotropins or gonadotropin-releasing hormone, desmopressin, gonadorelin, triptorelin, teripressin, leuprorelin, buserelin, goserelin, nafarelin, lutropin, menotropins, follitropin, parathyroid hormone, teriparatide, avalopamine, thiazolinone ... The active ingredient may be an active ingredient derived from a hormone or nucleotide (e.g., DNA, RNA, oligonucleotides), an enzyme, a polysaccharide (e.g., glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronic acid, heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and derivatives thereof, or sulfated or polysulfated versions of these polysaccharides), a vaccine, an antibody substance, and analogs thereof (e.g., denosumab, panitumumab, nutrients). The formulation may contain these active ingredients in the form of any pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate, together with necessary and appropriate excipients.

Claims

1. A reusable control assembly (4) for controlling a product delivery device (2) to administer a product, said reusable control assembly being reversibly assembleable to a disposable portion (6) of said product delivery device, said disposable portion including at least one securing member (88) capable of reversibly securing said reusable control assembly and said disposable portion together; - at least one piston (16) and piston moving subassembly (42-48), the movement of said piston being for forcing said product out of the cartridge; a push button (52), 〇The first position, a second position in which, when the reusable control assembly (4) is assembled to the disposable part (6), the push button can command the fixing member to move to detach the disposable part from the reusable control assembly; a push button (52) movable between and The reusable control assembly (4) includes a locking member (60) that locks the push button (52) in its first position.

2. 2. The reusable control assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking member (60) is movable between an unlocked position whereby the push button (52) can move from its first position toward its second position, and a locked position whereby the locking member locks the push button in its first position.

3. 3. A reusable control assembly as set forth in claim 2, including resilient return means (62) for returning said locking member (60) to its locked position.

4. 4. A reusable control assembly as described in claim 3, characterized in that the elastic return means includes a spring (62), preferably a helical spring, attached around a rod (602) extending in the direction (Y12) of movement of the locking member between its locked and unlocked positions.

5. 5. The reusable control assembly of claim 2, wherein the piston (16) is configured to command the locking member (60) to move from its locked position towards its unlocked position.

6. 6. A reusable control assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the piston (16) is translatable between a rest position in which it presses against the locking member (60) to hold it in its unlocked position, and a plurality of operating positions in which it allows the locking member to move with respect to its unlocked position, in particular from its unlocked position to its locked position.

7. 7. A reusable control assembly according to claim 6, wherein the piston (16) comprises a piston rod (161) and a thrust element (163) fixed to the piston rod, the thrust element including an abutment surface (165) capable of pressing against the locking member (60) when the piston is in its rest position, so that the thrust element holds it in its unlocked position.

8. 8. A reusable control assembly according to claim 7, comprising a case (12) housing the piston (16) and the piston-moving subassembly (42-48), the case including guide surfaces (145) capable of cooperating with complementary guide surfaces (172) belonging to the thrust element (163) to guide the thrust element as the piston moves towards its rest position.

9. 9. The reusable control assembly of claim 8, wherein the guide surface (145) and the complementary guide surface (172) are inclined with respect to the axis of movement of the piston by the same angle (α, β) of between 20° and 70°, preferably between 30° and 60° with respect to the axis of movement.

10. 10. A reusable control assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, comprising a case (12) housing the piston (16) and the piston moving subassembly (42-48), the push button (52) being translatable relative to the case in a first direction (X12) between its first and second positions, and the locking member (60) being translatable relative to the case in a second direction (Y12) not parallel to the first direction, preferably perpendicular to the first direction, between its locked and unlocked positions.

11. 11. A reusable control assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the locking member (60) includes an extension (604) and the push button (52) includes a housing (534) that stores the extension when the push button is in its first position and the locking member is in its locked position.

12. 12. A reusable control assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the locking member (60) includes at least one rod (602) providing translational guidance relative to the case (12), and the extension portion is a collar (604) surrounding the rod.

13. 1. A product delivery device for administering a product, comprising: a reusable control assembly (4), a disposable part (6) that can be reversibly assembled to said reusable control assembly; Including, A product delivery device for administering a product, characterized in that said reusable control assembly (4) is as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. 14. A product delivery device for administering a product as described in claim 13, characterized in that the disposable part (6) includes the fixing member (88), a product delivery subassembly, and a cartridge (10) containing the product to be administered and receiving a sliding plug (104), and the piston (16) is capable of moving the sliding plug inside the body (102) of the cartridge.

15. 15. A product delivery device for administering a product as described in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the fixing member is a hook (88) configured to engage with a part (126) of the reusable control assembly (4), the hook being movable by the action (E2) of the push button.

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