Mini Syringe Driver

Abstract

The control unit is configured to wait for positive feedback from the detection system to initiate operation of the push element.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic injection device for miniature syringes. [Background technology]

[0002] Some innovative therapies require high precision during infusion to control both dosage and flow rate, among other parameters. This is the case, for example, with recent gene therapies due to the high potential for immunization against viral vectors. This may also be the case with exosomes, which require slow administration, but also with standard drug delivery, which requires targeted administration at significantly reduced doses to avoid systemic toxicity and improve local effects. Ultra-microdosing can be defined as the precise injection of small volumes below 1 mL (preferably below 100 μL) with an accuracy of less than 5% of the dose.

[0003] To enable the administration of extremely small amounts of drugs, micropumping mechanisms are technically useful and often necessary.

[0004] Micropump mechanisms are promising because they reduce the size and energy consumption of dosing concepts and enable new therapeutic approaches. However, due to several challenges inherent in ultra-microdosing drug delivery, only a few examples of micropump-based devices are on the market.

[0005] The required flow range depends strongly on the application and concentration of the drug, such as to cope with internal pressure or to allow administration to small animals (eg rodents).

[0006] Furthermore, the skilled person is faced with the following: - "Requirements for dosing accuracy and precision" are not uniform: one example is diabetes treatment, where most insulin pump suppliers say that a deviation of ±5% is acceptable. However, ultra-microdosing systems require a high level of precision even for smaller doses, and the percentage deviation should not increase. - Dosage stability: To ensure safe use at all times, changes in environmental conditions must not affect the accuracy of the dosage. - Dosage versatility: In many applications, flow rate must be matched to the patient's needs, but the method of actuation may limit the range of applicable flow rates.

[0007] Furthermore, due to complex regulatory barriers for drug and device development, there is a need to provide technical solutions that do not involve the development of custom primary drug containers. Therefore, a global challenge is to find new solutions to the above technical challenges while using industry standards, especially for standard drug containers and standard syringes.

[0008] The industry standard for injections remains disposable plastic syringes. These can hold volumes from 0.5 mL to over 20 mL. Such syringes comply with industry standards such as NF-EN-ISO7886-1. However, these syringes are not accurate enough when it comes to administering ultra-small volumes. A 1 mL syringe has a major graduation of 1 / 10 and a minor graduation of 1 / 100. Considering the application of industry standards, these syringes have a major graduation with a volume tolerance of 5% if the dispensed volume is more than half the syringe's nominal capacity, or 1.5% of the nominal volume + 2% of the dispensed volume if the dispensed volume is less than half the nominal volume. Therefore, such syringes often have a major scale tolerance of approximately 10-50 μL depending on the product brand, making them unsuitable for delivering volumes below 0.1 mL, i.e., requiring an accuracy of up to 10 μL (e.g., 110 or 125 μL) (Le Dare et al, 2021, international journal of pharmaceutics 608).

[0009] To meet the requirements for ultra-microdosing with such low volume (e.g., 1 mL) syringes, it is necessary to have a system that allows for improved overall precision. To administer 60 μL with 5% precision with such a device, the overall precision needs to be improved from 30 to 3 μL.

[0010] The purpose of such a device is to also be able to control the infusion flow rate in a range that cannot be controlled manually, for example, 20 μL / min, 30 μL / min, 45 μL / min, 60 μL / min in increments of 1 to 5 μL / min.

[0011] Document EP3880274 discloses a system for ultra-microinjection. This patent covers a system for injection that includes a syringe body having a proximal end and a distal end, a syringe interior, and a syringe flange at the proximal end. The system also includes an injectable fluid disposed within the syringe. The system further includes a stopper member disposed within the syringe. The system further includes a plunger member coupled to the stopper member. Additionally, the system includes a finger flange removably coupled to the syringe flange, the finger flange including a proximally-facing thread. The system also includes a rotatable member disposed on the proximally-facing thread, the rotatable member defining an opening in the rotatable member in which the plunger member is disposed, and a resilient latch disposed adjacent to the opening. However, while this system provides a solution with precision in the ultra-micro range, it does not allow for flow rate control. Furthermore, the system requires the user to perform numerous gestures and steps with their hands. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable the safe and accurate automatic emptying of pre-filled mini-syringes with a rate of human accuracy exceeding that corresponding to one graduation on a standard syringe, while limiting as much as possible human interaction and handling of the syringe prior to injection. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The present invention therefore provides a syringe driver configured to automatically empty a filled mini-syringe extending along an injection axis and having an outer wall with a diameter d, the mini-syringe further comprising a plunger configured for translational movement inside the outer wall and extending along said injection axis, a push element configured to cooperate with a plunger of the mini-syringe; a control unit configured to operate and control the push elements to uniformly empty the filled mini-syringe according to predetermined parameters determined by a user; an operable fixation and detection system; an operable fixation and detection system comprising: a fixation system including a restraining surface configured to receive and fix the mini-syringe along an injection axis and a perpendicular depth axis; a detection system configured to detect the presence and proper position of the mini-syringe within the securing system and configured to provide positive feedback when the mini-syringe is properly secured; and the control unit is configured to wait for positive feedback from the detection system to initiate operation of the push element; Regarding syringe drivers.

[0014] In this way, this solution makes it possible to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, in particular to safely and accurately inject very small volumes of fluid (less than 100 μL) over a period of time (minutes to hours) in a controlled manner, without the need for a human user due to syringe volume errors and manual variations. Thus, injection precision is increased by a factor of 5 to 20 and is achieved in a reproducible manner (with a required precision of + / - 3 μL).

[0015] The system according to the invention may comprise one or several of the following features, either separately or in combination with one another: - the fixation system and the detection system are configured to operate synchronously in a single actuation step; The fastening system further comprises a locking element, an activated position, in which the securing surface of the locking element cooperates with the outer wall of the mini-syringe to maintain said mini-syringe on the restraining surface; a rest position, in which the locking surfaces are disengaged; is displaceable between - the control unit is configured to maintain the push element in a locked, immovable position until receiving a positive feedback from the detection system; - the restraining surface may comprise a syringe positioning element configured to accurately position the mini-syringe along the injection axis and the depth axis; the syringe positioning element may be configured to position the mini-syringe at the same height along the depth axis regardless of its width; - the elongated syringe positioning element may be an elongated groove extending along the injection axis and having a predetermined depth extending along the depth axis, thus making it possible to know exactly the position of the received mini-syringe; - the elongated groove may have stepped walls to accommodate different mini-syringes having different widths, the position of the mini-syringe within the elongated groove depending on the width of said mini-syringe and therefore varying on the depth axis according to the width of the mini-syringe; - the elongated groove may have a V-shape to accommodate different mini-syringes having different widths, the position of the mini-syringe in the elongated groove depending on the width of said mini-syringe and therefore varying on the depth axis according to the width of the mini-syringe; - the restraining surface may be removable from the body of the actuatable fixation and detection system; - the body of the actuatable fixation and detection system may comprise a first identification tag and the restraining surface may comprise a second identification tag, the first and second identification tags being configured to cooperate with each other to enable the restraining surface to be recognized by the fixation and detection system; the detection system may be an optical sensor system configured to detect the height along a depth axis of an upper portion of an outer wall of the mini-syringe fixed in the fixing member; - both the fixation system and the detection system may be actuated by the same physical element; - both the securing system and the detection system may be activated by a locking element; the detection system may be further configured to detect whether the received mini-syringe is filled or not; - Mini syringes can have volumes ranging from 0.5 to 5 mL.

[0016] A further object of the present invention is a method for automatically emptying a filled mini-syringe by means of a syringe driver according to any one of the above technical features, the mini-syringe extending along an injection axis, the mini-syringe further comprising a plunger configured for translational movement inside the outer wall and extending along said injection axis, - positioning the mini-syringe along an injection axis on a restraining surface; - activating the fixation and detection system; - detecting the positioned mini-syringe; - issuing feedback; - analyzing the feedback; - in the case of positive feedback, actuating the push element; - axially cooperating with the plunger of the mini-syringe along the injection axis to empty said mini-syringe; The method includes:

[0017] The invention will be better understood and other objects, details, features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of illustration and purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic side view of a driver according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a driver according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4a] 1 is a schematic diagram of a syringe positioning element 20 according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4b] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a syringe positioning element 20 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 illustrates a method implemented by a driver according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention relates to a syringe driver 10 configured to automatically empty a pre-filled mini-syringe 100.

[0020] The mini-syringe 100 is a standard mini-syringe having a body extending along an injection axis X and with an outer wall of diameter d in the range of 5 mm to 15 mm, more precisely in the range of 6 to 7 mm for a 1 mL syringe. The mini-syringe 100 further comprises a plunger 101, typically configured for translational movement inside the outer wall and extending along said injection axis X. According to the definition of the present application, the mini-syringe 100 has a capacity in the range of less than 5 mL, preferably 1 mL. Syringes are usually made of glass or COC polymers or plastic. They are preferably single-use.

[0021] As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the driver 10 according to the present invention includes: a push element 12 configured to cooperate with the plunger 101 of the mini-syringe 100; a control unit 14 configured to operate and control the push element 12; - an operable fixation and detection system 16; Equipped with.

[0022] The push element 12 has a shape adapted to push the plunger 101 of the mini-syringe 100. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the push element 12 and the plunger 101 of the syringe 100 are preferably collinear to improve the accuracy of the device.

[0023] In some embodiments, the push element 12 includes a detection system for the plunger 101. The detection system for the plunger 101 includes a first sensor that allows the push element 12 to automatically adjust the position of the plunger 101 without the user having to manually secure the mini-syringe 100 to the driver 10. The first sensor can be a pressure or force sensor disposed within the push element 12. Thus, the plunger 101 is detected by simple contact with the first sensor. The push element 12 can further include a second sensor that can detect whether there is a minimum engine stroke required to enable priming, or injection, or both priming and injection. The second sensor can be, for example, a position switch, a potentiometer, or a motor encoder. The combined action of the first and second sensors (detecting the force applied to the first sensor and determining the relationship between the remaining stroke of the plunger 101) can determine whether the mini-syringe 100 has the correct volume to be administered.

[0024] The pushing element 12 may also include an anti-free flow system to lock the plunger 101 of the mini-syringe 100 to prevent free flow. Free flow refers to the slight back and forth movement of the plunger 101 that can occur while pushing the plunger 101 forward or when the forward movement is interrupted to pause the injection before continuing. In one embodiment, the anti-free flow system is configured with three positions: - One stable open position, - one unstable intermediate position, and - One stable closed position. The unstable intermediate position allows a spring to switch from a stable open position to a stable closed position. The anti-free-flow system has a detection sensor for informing the driver 10 whether to activate the fixation and detection system 16. The detection sensor can be a microswitch or an optical system. The anti-free-flow system can, for example, have a sliding door perpendicular to the injection axis X, presenting a semicircle that surrounds the plunger 101 of the mini-syringe 100. The sliding door can be activated by a user with a handle or can close automatically in response to detection of the plunger 101. Alternatively, the anti-free-flow system can be made of two rotating rods that surround the plunger 101.

[0025] The actuatable fixation and detection system 16 comprises: a. a fastening system 16b comprising a restraining surface 18; b. a detection system 16c; The body 16a has a

[0026] The fixation system 16b functions with a spatial reference comprising two orthogonal axes: an injection axis X and a depth axis Y. The origin of said reference is set and anchored to the body 16a of the fixation system. The fixation system 16b is therefore configured to receive any mini-syringe 100 and securely fix it along the injection axis X and the perpendicular depth axis Y. To reduce the risk of damaging the mini-syringe 100, it is preferred that the body of the mini-syringe 100 is fixed by the fixation system.

[0027] More specifically, the restraining surface 18 of the securing system 16b is configured to receive a mini-syringe 100. Accordingly, the restraining surface 18 comprises a syringe positioning element 20 configured to accurately position any mini-syringe 100 along the injection axis X and the depth axis Y. When identifying a mini-syringe 100, it is important to accurately determine the size of the mini-syringe 100 in order to accurately distinguish it from other mini-syringes 100.

[0028] Preferably, the restraining surface 18 also prevents movement of any mini-syringe 100 positioned by the syringe positioning element 20 along axis X, preferably along axes X and Y. Since the precision of the mini-syringe 100 is very sensitive to positional variations induced by, for example, unwanted movement of the driver 10, it is important to retain and fix all elements of the mini-syringe 100 to ensure high precision of less than 5% dose variation.

[0029] To enable this fixation, according to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the syringe positioning element 20 can be, for example, an elongated groove extending along the injection axis X and having a predetermined depth D extending along the depth axis Y. The elongated groove has dimensions adapted to each of the different mini-syringes 100 that are received and fixed by the driver 10. This precise adjustment of the mini-syringes 100 can improve tolerances and avoid undesired parasitic movements that may affect injection accuracy. The precise dimensioning of the elongated groove also allows the position of the received mini-syringe 100 to be precisely known. In some alternative embodiments (not shown), the syringe positioning element 20 can be a clamping system or a reversible fixation system.

[0030] One of the interesting technical possibilities of the driver 10 according to the invention is its ability to adapt to a series of different mini-syringes 100 without affecting the accuracy of automatically emptying each of these pre-filled mini-syringes 100. In this regard, the driver 10 according to the invention can have, inter alia, three possible technical solutions: In a first embodiment, the arresting surface 18 is detachable from the body 16a of the actuatable fixation and detection system 16 (see FIG. 3); In a second embodiment (see Figures 4a and 4b), the restraining surface 18, and more particularly the syringe positioning element 20, has a shape adapted to fit each possible mini-syringe 100 into the driver 10; In a third embodiment (not shown), the restraining surface 18, and more particularly the syringe positioning element 20, has a shape that is adaptable to each mini-syringe 100 that fits within the driver 10.

[0031] With regard to the first embodiment (see FIG. 3 ), the constraining surface 18 is a separate technical element from the main body 16 a of the actuatable fixation and detection system 16. Thus, each possible mini-syringe 100 corresponds to a different constraining surface 18. For example, each constraining surface 18 has a syringe positioning element 20, e.g., an elongated groove, that is specifically dimensioned to fit a particular mini-syringe 100. Each of these surfaces can be fixed to the main body 16 a of the actuatable fixation and detection system 16 in order to allow the corresponding mini-syringe 100 to be fixed in the driver 10. In this case, the constraining surface is preferably part of an easy-to-handle technical element, e.g., a rectangular element. The main body 16 a of the actuatable fixation and detection system 16 and the constraining surface 18 each have corresponding connecting and fixing means configured to safely and reversibly connect and fix the constraining surface 18 to the main body 16 a of the actuatable fixation and detection system 16. Thus, the position of the mini-syringe 100 on the constraining surface 18 is specific to the cooperation of the mini-syringe 100 with its corresponding matching constraining surface 18 .

[0032] For improved security, the body 16a of the actuatable fixation and detection system 16 is provided with a first identification tag, and the restraining surface 18 is provided with a second identification tag. These first and second identification tags can be, for example, a QR code and a QR code detector, or physical, embeddable components of a specific design. These first and second identification tags are configured to cooperate with each other to enable the restraining surface 18 to be recognized by the fixation and detection system 16. Thus, each fixation and detection system 16 can be adapted to a specific restraining surface 18. These identification tags further enable automatic calibration of the control unit 14 and determination of important parameters, such as plunger stroke and syringe diameter recognition. An additional tag can include a treatment reference for preselecting administration parameters, thus avoiding possible misuse of the system.

[0033] Considering the second embodiment, the syringe positioning element 20, e.g., the elongated groove, can have stepped walls to accommodate different mini-syringes 100 with different widths. In some alternative embodiments, as can be seen in FIG. 4b, the syringe positioning element 20, e.g., the elongated groove, has a V-shape to accommodate different mini-syringes 100 with different widths. Thus, the position of each different mini-syringe 100 within the elongated groove depends on the width of said each mini-syringe 100 and therefore varies on the depth Y axis depending on the width of the mini-syringe. The depth should be equal to at least 30%, preferably 50%, and more preferably 75% of the outer diameter of the mini-syringe 100. The outer diameter of the mini-syringe 100 is below 8 mm depending on the syringe brand with double-digit accuracy.

[0034] In some other embodiments (not shown), the syringe positioning element 20, for example an elongated groove, is configured to position any mini-syringe at the same height along the depth axis Y, regardless of its width.

[0035] Regardless of the embodiment, the exact position of each mini-syringe 100 according to the injection axis X and depth axis Y is well known.

[0036] In order to improve the safety during use of the driver 10 according to the present invention and to further stabilize and fix the mini-syringe 100, the fixing system 16b further comprises a locking element 22, which is an activated position in which the fixing surface 22a of the locking element 22 cooperates with the outer wall of the mini-syringe 100, preferably with the body of the mini-syringe 100, to maintain the mini-syringe 100 on the restraining surface 18; a rest position in which the fixing surface 18 is disengaged; It can be displaced between

[0037] The rest position therefore allows the mini-syringe to be inserted into or removed from the restraining surface 18 and syringe positioning element 20 .

[0038] The locking element 22 can be, for example, a tension and rotation system, a clamping system such as a bracket, etc. The locking element is preferably easy to actuate in order to facilitate handling of the driver and to limit human manipulation prior to injection.

[0039] To enable safe automatic emptying of the filled mini-syringes 100 secured to the securing system 16b of the driver 10, the securing system 16b cooperates with a detection system 16c for each inserted mini-syringe 100.

[0040] More precisely, the detection system 16c is configured to detect the presence and proper position of each mini-syringe 100 within the fixing system 16b. The detection system 16c enables the driver 10 according to the invention to recognize a specific mini-syringe reference characterized by its outer shape and outer diameter.

[0041] The detection system 16c may be, for example, an optical sensor system configured to detect the height along the depth axis Y of the top of the outer wall of the mini-syringe 100 fixed on the restraining surface 18.

[0042] This optical sensor system can be, for example, an optical fork sensor, which in the state of the art is known to detect objects passing between two arms, one transmitter and one receiver.

[0043] In some embodiments, the detection system 16c is at least partially contained within the syringe positioning element 20. In these embodiments, the syringe positioning element 20 comprises syringe detection means. These means may comprise a sensor integrated into the wall of the positioning element 20. When the locking element 22 is placed in the activated position, the locking element 22 presses against the syringe, thus indirectly applying pressure to a sensor within the positioning element 20 and allowing detection of the inserted mini-syringe 100.

[0044] If the mini-syringe 100 to be secured is not properly secured on the restraining surface 18, or if the detected height does not match the pre-recorded value, or if the detected height does not match the expected height when all mini-syringes 100 are positioned at the same height along the depth axis Y, or if the removable restraining surface 18 is not properly secured to the body 16a of the securing and actuation system 16, injection cannot begin and the push element 12 will remain immobile (as will be described in more detail further below).

[0045] In some alternative embodiments, the detection system 16c is further configured to detect whether the received mini-syringe 100 is filled or not. This can be achieved, for example, by a metering system included in the detection system 16c, or by a pressure measurement system, or by another optical detection system, for example, photometric means. If the mini-syringe is not detected as properly filled, injection cannot begin and the push element 12 remains immobile.

[0046] The detection system 16c is configured to provide positive feedback when the mini-syringe 100 is properly secured to the constraining surface 18. In some embodiments, the detection system 16c is configured to provide positive feedback when the mini-syringe 100 is properly secured to the constraining surface and properly filled. Without this positive feedback, nothing happens. The control unit 14 is configured to wait for positive feedback from the detection system 16c to initiate operation of the push element 12. More specifically, the control unit 14 is configured to maintain the push element 12 in a locked, immobile position until it receives positive feedback from the detection system 16b.

[0047] In other words, unless all conditions to ensure a safe and accurate injection are met, no injection will occur and the driver 10 of the present invention will remain locked and immobile.

[0048] The operation of the push element 12 comprises two phases: an engagement phase and an emptying phase. During the engagement phase, the push element 12 makes a forward movement and moves on its own until it reaches the plunger 101 of the mini-syringe 100. Thus, after the engagement phase, contact between the push element 12 and the plunger 101 is established. This contact allows activation of the aforementioned anti-free flow system for locking the plunger 101 or of the various aforementioned sensors present in the push element 12. During the emptying phase, the push element 12 makes a forward movement and moves together with the plunger 101 to empty the mini-syringe 100. More precisely, the push element 12 pushes the plunger 101 with a forward movement. The emptying phase can comprise a priming phase and an actual injection phase.

[0049] To ensure that the mini-syringe is properly secured to the restraining surface 18 of the securing system 16b by the user before the detection system 16c begins its measurement, in some embodiments, the securing system 16b and the detection system 16c are configured to operate synchronously in a single actuation step. Both the securing system 16b and the detection system 16c function together and are not independent of each other. When the securing and detection system 16a is actuated, both the securing system 16b and the detection system 16a are actuated simultaneously. One cannot be actuated without the other. In some specific embodiments, the securing system 16b and the detection system 16c are further actuated by the same physical element. In this way, the user can gently insert the mini-syringe 100 and, once insertion is complete, actuate / move / push both the securing system 16b (e.g., if the syringe positioning element 20 comprises a clamping system) and the detection system 16c by actuating / moving / pushing a single physical element. If the driver 10 comprises a locking element 22, both the securing system 16b and the detection system 16c are actuated by the locking element 22. When the locking element 22 is in its activated position, both the securing system 16b and the detection system 16a are activated, which means that when the user displaces the locking element 22 from its rest position to its activated position, the detection system 16c starts measuring the position (and related, and possibly filling) of the inserted mini-syringe 100.

[0050] Communication between all elements of the driver 10 according to the invention is ensured by a control unit 14. More particularly, the control unit 14 has a casing and comprises a computing device.

[0051] The control unit 14 further comprises an interactive interface (e.g., a screen and / or keyboard) that allows the user to input and / or pre-record parameters that determine the injection, and thus enables the driver 10 according to the present invention to uniformly empty any properly inserted, pre-filled mini-syringe 100 according to predetermined parameters determined by the user.

[0052] The control unit 14 is configured to allow for the control and administration of a constant flow rate without the pulsating effects of electrolysis. The flow rate range can be fixed (pre-programmed) or adjustable from 1 μL / min to 4000 μL / min.

[0053] In some embodiments, the control unit 14 may also detect, through the push element 12, occlusions occurring inside the mini-syringe 100 or a catheter connected to the mini-syringe 100. If such an occlusion is present, the push element 12 must provide increased injection pressure, which is interpreted by the control unit 14 as the presence of an occlusion and may also initiate an emergency program. As a preventative response to the increased pressure, an automatic backward movement may be triggered to relieve said pressure.

[0054] The screen then allows the user to follow the injection process.

[0055] The driver 10 according to the present application allows for the implementation of a method for automatically emptying a pre-filled mini-syringe 100.

[0056] In the diagram of Figure 5, automated steps are represented by boxes, some user-initiated steps are represented outside the boxes, and optional steps are represented by dashed boxes.

[0057] The method includes the following steps: a step 202 of positioning the mini-syringe 100 on the restraining surface 18 along the injection axis X; - if necessary, securing the restraining surface 18 to the body 16a of the actuatable securing and detection system 16; a step 203 of activating the securing and detection system 16 by displacing the locking element 22, if possible; - a step 204 of recognition, depending on the embodiment, of detecting the positioned mini-syringe 100; - detecting, if possible, the filling of the mini-syringe 100; - issuing a feedback from the detection system 16c to the control unit 14; - the control unit 14 analysing the feedback; - in case of a positive feedback, the control unit 14 activates the push element 12 to start the engagement and emptying phases; a step 208 of axially cooperating with the plunger 101 of the mini-syringe 100 along the injection axis X to empty said mini-syringe 100;

[0058] Before positioning 202 the mini-syringe 100, the user switches the driver on (for example by pressing the start button) 200, followed by initialization 201 of the internal information system of the control unit 14.

[0059] Depending on the embodiment, the driver 10 may detect the plunger 101 after the engagement phase at 205 and activate the anti-free flow system at 206 before the control unit 14 activates the push element 12 at 204. This allows for an automatic connection between the push element 12 and the plunger 101, avoiding manual human intervention.

[0060] After the injection is complete, the locking system 16b unlocks the mini-syringe 100 at 209, the push element 12 unlocks the plunger 101, and the user must remove the mini-syringe 100 at 210 and switch the driver 10 off.

[0061] The movement of the push element 12 may result in a priming step 207 before the actual injection step 208. This may be particularly relevant if the mini-syringe 100 is connected to a long catheter before reaching the patient to avoid injection of air bubbles into the injection site.

[0062] The present invention makes it possible to provide a mini-syringe driver 10 that can minimize human interaction while avoiding injections based on incorrect syringe identification by ensuring positioning and recognition in a single action. Human handling can be a source of error and inaccuracy, and can further lead to microbial contamination or drug leakage. Therefore, minimizing human interaction with the mini-syringe 100 during the entire injection process significantly increases safety and accuracy. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to successfully reduce mini-syringe handling by automating a series of actions performed after syringe recognition and fixation.

Claims

1. A syringe driver (10) configured to automatically empty a filled mini-syringe (100) extending along an injection axis (X) and having an outer wall with a diameter d, said mini-syringe (100) further comprising a plunger (101) configured for translational movement inside the outer wall and extending along said injection axis (X); a push element (12) configured to cooperate with the plunger (101) of the mini-syringe (100); a control unit (14) configured to operate and control the push element (12) to uniformly empty the filled mini-syringe (100) according to predetermined parameters determined by a user; an operable fixation and detection system (16); the actuatable fixation and detection system (16) comprising: a fixation system (16b) comprising a restraining surface (18) and configured to receive and fix the mini-syringe (100) along the injection axis (X) and a perpendicular depth axis (Y); a detection system (16c) configured to detect the presence and proper position of the mini-syringe (100) within the fixation system (16b) and configured to provide positive feedback when the mini-syringe (100) is properly fixed; and the control unit (14) is configured to wait for a positive feedback from the detection system (16b) to initiate operation of the push element (12); Syringe driver (10).

2. The syringe driver (10) of claim 1, wherein the securing system (16b) and the detection system (16c) are configured to operate synchronously in a single actuation step.

3. The fastening system (16b) further comprises a locking element (22), the locking element (22) comprising: an activated position in which the fixing surface (22a) of the locking element cooperates with the outer wall of the mini-syringe (100) to maintain the mini-syringe (100) on the arresting surface (18); a rest position in which said locking surface (22a) is disengaged; The syringe driver (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the syringe driver (10) is displaceable between

4. 4. The syringe driver (10) of claim 1, wherein the control unit (14) is configured to maintain the push element (12) in a locked, immovable position until it receives positive feedback from the detection system (16b).

5. 5. The syringe driver (10) of claim 1, wherein the restraining surface (18) comprises a syringe positioning element (20) configured to accurately position the mini-syringe (100) along the injection axis (X) and the depth axis (Y).

6. The syringe driver (10) of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the elongated syringe positioning element (20) is an elongated groove extending along the injection axis (X) and having a predetermined depth (D) extending along the depth axis (Y), thus enabling the position of the received mini-syringe (100) to be accurately known.

7. A syringe driver (10) as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the elongated groove has stepped walls to accommodate different mini-syringes (100) having different widths, and the position of the mini-syringe (100) within the elongated groove depends on the width of the mini-syringe (100) and therefore varies on the depth axis (Y) according to the width of the mini-syringe.

8. The syringe driver (10) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the restraining surface (18) is removable from a body (16a) of the actuatable fixation and detection system (16).

9. 9. The syringe driver (10) of claim 1, wherein the body (16a) of the actuatable fixation and detection system (16) includes a first identification tag and the constraining surface (18) includes a second identification tag, and the first and second identification tags are configured to cooperate with each other to enable the constraining surface (18) to be recognized by the fixation and detection system (16).

10. The syringe driver according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the detection system is an optical sensor system configured to detect the height along the depth axis (Y) of the top of the outer wall of the mini-syringe fixed in the fixing member.

11. The syringe driver (10) of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the securing system (16b) and the detection system (16c) are both actuated by the same physical element.

12. 4. The syringe driver (10) of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the securing system (16b) and the detection system (16c) are both activated by the locking element (22).

13. The syringe driver (10) of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the detection system (16b) is further configured to detect whether the received mini-syringe (100) is filled or not.

14. The syringe driver (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the mini-syringe (100) has a capacity in the range of 0.5 to 5 mL.

15. A method for automatically emptying a filled mini-syringe (100) by means of a syringe driver (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the mini-syringe (100) extends along an injection axis (X), the mini-syringe (100) further comprising a plunger (101) configured for translational movement inside an outer wall and extending along the injection axis (X), - positioning said mini-syringe (100) on said restraining surface (18) along said injection axis (X); - activating said fixation and detection system (16); - detecting said positioned mini-syringe (100); - issuing feedback; - analyzing the feedback; - in the case of positive feedback, actuating said push element (12); - emptying said mini-syringe (100) in axial cooperation with said plunger (101) of said mini-syringe (100) along said injection axis (X); A method comprising:

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