Medicine Delivery Device

Abstract

A medication delivery device comprising a first part (7) and a second part (5) arranged coaxially with the first part (7), wherein the second part (5) is configured to move axially relative to the first part (7) from a first position to a second position, wherein one of the first part (7) and the second part (5) has a radially extending burr (7a), and the other of the first part (7) and the second part (5) is configured to move axially relative to the first part (7) from a first position to a second position. a chamfered portion (5b) that is aligned with and faces the burr (7a) when the second part (5, 5') is in the first position, and when the second part (5, 5') moves from the first position to the second position, either the chamfered portion (5a, 5'a) or the burr (7a, 7'a) contacts and then passes each other, thereby facilitating the movement of the second part (5, 5').

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to medication delivery devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Medication delivery devices, such as autoinjectors, often contain plastic parts. Typically, the plastic parts are injection molded. The injection molding process can result in small imperfections, or flash, that can interact with other parts within the medication delivery device when the device is in use.

[0003] Potential disadvantages may include the medication delivery device not functioning as intended and some users with impaired fingers and / or reduced strength may have difficulty manipulating the medication delivery device.

[0004] These manufacturing defects can be removed by machining, but this requires additional process steps. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a medication delivery device that overcomes, or at least alleviates, the problems of the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is defined by the appended claims, to which reference is now made.

[0007] In this disclosure, the term "distal direction" when used refers to a direction away from the administration site when the drug delivery device is in use. The term "distal part / end" when used refers to a part / end of the delivery device or a part / end of a member thereof that is located farthest from the administration site when the drug delivery device is in use. Correspondingly, the term "proximal direction" when used refers to a direction towards the administration site when the drug delivery device is in use. The term "proximal part / end" when used refers to a part / end of the delivery device or a part / end of a member thereof that is located closest to the administration site when the drug delivery device is in use.

[0008] Additionally, the terms "longitudinal," "longitudinally," "axially," or "axial" refer to the direction of elongation of the device and / or its components, typically extending from the proximal end to the distal end.

[0009] Similarly, the terms "transverse," "transverse" and "transversely" refer to directions generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0010] Additionally, the terms "circumferential," "circumferential," or "circumferentially" refer to a circumference or direction about an axis, typically a central axis, i.e., a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the instrument and / or component. Similarly, "radial" or "radially" refers to a direction extending radially relative to an axis, and "rotation," "rotational," and "rotating" refer to rotation about an axis.

[0011] What is provided is a medical delivery device comprising a first part and a second part coaxially disposed with the first part, the second part configured to move axially relative to the first part from a first position to a second position, one of the first part and the second part having a radially extending burr, and the other of the first part and the second part having a chamfer that aligns with and faces the burr when the second part is in the first position, and one of the chamfer and the burr configured to contact and then pass the other of the chamfer and the burr as the second part moves from the first position to the second position, thereby facilitating movement of the second part.

[0012] The chamfer thus facilitates axial movement of the second part that would otherwise be more difficult due to the burr, e.g., edges perpendicular to the burr. A smaller force is therefore required to move the second part to the second position, which may ensure the intended operation of the medicine delivery device and / or facilitate operation of the medicine delivery device by users with reduced physical capabilities.

[0013] Of the first and second parts, the part that produces flash is considered to be an injection molded part. Of the first and second parts, the part that produces flash is considered to be made of plastic.

[0014] The medication delivery device can be an injector, such as an autoinjector, an inhaler or an eyedropper.

[0015] The chamfer may be axially spaced away from the burr when the second component is in the first position.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the medication delivery device has a proximal end and a rear end, and the chamfer tapers in a direction from the distal end to the front end.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the medical delivery device has a central longitudinal axis and the chamfer has a chamfered surface facing the central longitudinal axis.

[0018] The chamfer defines an angled surface that intersects with a central longitudinal axis of the medication delivery device.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the second part is biased towards the second position. The medication delivery device may comprise a resilient member, such as a spring, configured to be biased or urged relative to the second part towards the second position.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the first component has a burr and the second component is disposed radially outward relative to the first component, with the burr extending radially outward.

[0021] One embodiment includes a housing, with a first component and a second component disposed within the housing, with a first position being a retracted position and a second position being an extended position relative to the housing, with the second component being retracted deeper into the housing in the first position than in the second position.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the second part is a delivery member cover.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first part includes a radial window and the chamfer forms a radially inner rear edge of the radial window.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the first component is a medication container holder.

[0025] In one embodiment, a trigger button is included, the delivery member cover is configured to initially move from the second position to the first position, the medication container holder has a pivotable see-saw type lever having a front see-saw arm and a rear see-saw arm configured to block axial movement of the trigger button when the delivery member cover is initially in the second position, and the delivery member cover is configured to bias radially inward against the rear see-saw arm as the delivery member cover moves from the second position to the first position to enable the trigger button to advance axially to the depressed position.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the burrs are located on the front seesaw arm.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the burr is located on the rear seesaw arm.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the second part is a trigger button.

[0029] In one embodiment, there is provided a medication delivery device comprising a medication delivery device housing and a trigger button arranged coaxially relative to the medication delivery device housing, the medication delivery device housing and the trigger button slidably interacting with each other, the trigger button configured to move axially relative to the medication delivery device housing from an initial position to a pushed-in position, one of the medication delivery device housing and the trigger button having a radially extending burr, and when the trigger button is in the trigger button initial position, the other of the medication delivery device housing and the trigger button has a chamfer that aligns with and faces the burr, and when the trigger button is moved from the initial position to the pushed-in position, one of the chamfer and the burr are configured to contact and then pass each other of the chamfer and the burr, thereby facilitating movement of the trigger button.

[0030] The trigger button is at least partially contained within the medication delivery device housing.

[0031] In one embodiment, there is provided a medicine delivery device comprising a medicine delivery device housing and a medicine container holder arranged coaxially relative to the medicine delivery device housing, the medicine delivery device housing and the medicine container holder slidably interacting with each other, the medicine container holder configured to move axially from a first position to a second position relative to the medicine delivery device housing, one of the medicine delivery device housing and the medicine container holder having a radially extending burr, when the medicine container carrier is in the first position of the medicine container holder, the other of the medicine delivery device housing and the medicine container holder having a chamfer that aligns with and faces the burr, and when the medicine container holder is moved from the first position to the second position, one of the chamfer and the burr are configured to abut and then pass each other of the chamfer and the burr, thereby facilitating movement of the medicine container holder.

[0032] The medication container holder is housed within the medication delivery device housing.

[0033] According to one embodiment, movement of the medicament container holder from the first position to the second position is configured to move the medicament container holder in a proximal direction with the medicament container holder.

[0034] According to one embodiment, when the medication delivery device is an injection device, movement of the medication container holder from the first position to the second position is configured to perform an automatic needle insertion operation.

[0035] According to one embodiment, movement of the medicament container holder from the first position to the second position is configured to move the medicament container holder along with the medicament container in a distal direction.

[0036] According to one embodiment, when the medication delivery device is an injection device, movement of the medication container holder from the first position to the second position is configured to effect an automatic needle withdrawal operation.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the first part and the second part slidably interact with one another.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the first part and the second part are movable but not removable.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the burr extends radially a maximum of 0.1 mm.

[0040] In general, all terms used in the claims shall be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the art, unless a definition otherwise is expressly given herein. All references to "an element, device, component, means, etc." shall be interpreted inclusively as referring to at least one instance of that element, device, component, means, etc., unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0041] Specific embodiments of the inventive concept will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0042] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first example of a medication delivery device. [Diagram 2] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a detail of a longitudinal section of the medication delivery device of FIG. 1 when the second part is in a first position; FIG. [Diagram 3] A diagram of the second part moving towards a second position. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a medication delivery device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a view of the medication delivery device of FIG. 4 with the housing removed. [Figure 6] 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of the medication delivery device of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 6 is a view of the medication delivery device of FIG. 5 with the delivery member cover moved to a retracted position. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the medication delivery device of FIG. 5 after activation. [Figure 9] A close-up view after startup. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 illustrates the medication delivery device in a locked state after use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0043] The inventive concept will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments are shown by way of example. However, the inventive concept can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following embodiments are provided as examples so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Throughout the description, like elements are given like reference numerals.

[0044] Figure 1 shows diagrammatically an example of a medicine delivery device 1. The medicine delivery device can for example be an injector, such as an autoinjector, an inhaler or an eyedropper.

[0045] The illustrated medication delivery device 1 comprises a housing 3 and a delivery member cover 5 disposed within the housing 3. The delivery member cover 5 is disposed coaxially with the housing 3.

[0046] The medication delivery device 1 has a proximal end 1a and a distal end 1b. The delivery member cover 5 has a front end portion which projects from the housing 3. The front end portion forms the proximal end 1a of the medication delivery device 1.

[0047] The delivery member cover 5 is configured to move linearly relative to the housing 3. The delivery member cover 5 is configured to move along an axial direction of the housing 3. The delivery member cover 5 is configured to move between an extended position relative to the housing 3 as shown in FIG. 1 and a retracted position. The medication delivery device 1 can have a delivery member, such as a syringe needle, covered by the delivery member cover 5 in the extended position and exposed when the delivery member cover 5 is in the retracted position. The retracted position is also referred to herein as the "first position". The extended position is also referred to herein as the "second position". The delivery member cover 5 is biased towards the extended position.

[0048] The delivery member cover 5 can activate or effect activation of the medicine delivery device 1 by moving from the extended position, i.e., the second position, to the retracted position, i.e., the first position, depending on the specific implementation of the medicine delivery device.

[0049] Typically, the delivery member cover 5 is moved from the extended position to the retracted position by pushing the delivery member cover 5 towards the injection site. The delivery member is thereby exposed and, if the delivery member is a needle, can enter the injection site.

[0050] When the medication delivery device 1 is moved away from the injection site, the delivery member cover 5 returns to the extended position as it is biased or urged towards the extended position.

[0051] It is believed that at least some parts of the medication delivery device 1 are manufactured by injection molding, which typically results in a molded part with flash after the part is removed from the mold. The flash typically occurs at the edges of the injection molded part and / or at the span between the two mold halves.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a portion of a longitudinal cross section of a portion of an example medication delivery device 1.

[0053] The delivery member cover 5 is in the retracted or first position in FIG.

[0054] The medicine delivery device 1 comprises a medicine container holder 7. The medicine container holder 7 is arranged radially inward of the delivery member cover 5. The medicine container holder 7 has a burr 7a extending radially outward. The burr 7a is located on an edge of the medicine container holder 7.

[0055] The medicine container holder 7 is an example of a "first part" as used herein. The delivery member cover 5 is an example of a "second part" as used herein.

[0056] The delivery member cover 5 has a radial window 5a. The delivery member cover 5 has a chamfer 5b. The chamfer 5b forms the radially inner rear edge of the radial window 5a. The chamfer 5b is therefore located on the inside of the delivery member cover 5 at the distal end of the radial window 5a. The inside faces the medicament container holder 7. The chamfer 5b tapers in a direction from the distal end 1b towards the proximal end 1a.

[0057] When the delivery member cover 5 is in the retracted position, the chamfer 5b is located axially closer to the distal end 1b of the medication delivery device 1 than the burr 7a. When the delivery member cover 5 is in the retracted position, the chamfer 5b faces the burr 7a. The chamfer 5b is axially aligned with the burr 7a.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically the medication delivery device 1 when the delivery member cover 5 has moved in a forward direction from a retracted position to an extended position, ie from a first position to a second position.

[0059] The chamfer 5b of the delivery member cover 5 moves past the burr 7a after it contacts it, and the chamfer 5b allows the inner rear edge of the radial window 5a to move smoothly past the burr 7a, thereby reducing the force required to move the delivery member cover 5 back to the extended position.

[0060] The delivery member cover 5 can be configured to be locked once the delivery member cover 5 reaches the extended position. When locked, the delivery member cover 5 is prevented from moving towards the retracted position. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, there are numerous ways to do this, so this example will not be described further.

[0061] The chamfer 5b can ensure movement of the delivery member cover 5 from the retracted position back to the extended position when the medicine delivery device 1 is removed from the injection site, thereby ensuring that the delivery member cover 5 is locked in the extended position, thereby improving the safety of the used medicine delivery device 1.

[0062] In variations of the medicine delivery device 1, the burr may be on the delivery member cover or may also be on the delivery member cover. For example, the housing may be provided with a radial window having a chamfer and the burr may be located radially outwardly towards the chamfer of the housing when the delivery member cover is in the retracted position. Alternatively, the housing may have a burred edge and the delivery member cover may be provided with a chamfer that faces the burr when the delivery member cover is in the retracted position.

[0063] Yet another variation can be envisaged where the medicament container holder has a chamfer and the delivery member cover has a burr, where the burr and the chamfer interact as the delivery member cover moves from the extended position to the retracted position. In general, any two parts that are positioned adjacent to each other and can move relative to each other can each have one burr and one chamfer, with the chamfer configured to facilitate the movement between the two parts due to the burr.

[0064] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of an example of a medicine delivery device. The medicine delivery device 1' comprises a housing 3'. The medicine delivery device 1' comprises a cap 9 that can be attached to the proximal end of the housing 3'. The cap 9 can be removed from the housing 3'. The cap 9 should be removed from the housing 3' before using the medicine delivery device 1'.

[0065] The medication delivery device 1' includes a trigger button 11, which in this example is provided at the distal end of the medication delivery device 1'. The trigger button 11 is configured to move parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the medication delivery device 1'. The trigger button 11 is configured to actuate the release of medication by being moved from an initial position shown in Figure 4 to a depressed position.

[0066] Figure 5 shows the drug delivery device 1' with the cap 9 and the housing 3' removed. The drug delivery device 1' comprises a delivery member cover 5', which is an example of a "second part" as used herein. The delivery member cover 5' is movable relative to the housing 3 in the same way as the delivery member cover 5 already described.

[0067] The medicine delivery device 1' comprises a medicine container holder 7'. The medicine container holder 7' is configured to hold a medicine container or a syringe. The medicine container holder 7' is an example of a "first part" as used herein. The medicine container holder 7' is arranged coaxially with a delivery member cover 5. The delivery member cover 5 is arranged radially outward of the medicine container holder 7'.

[0068] The medicine container holder 7' has a pivotable seesaw lever 15. The seesaw lever 15 is pivotable about an axis transverse or perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the medicine delivery device 1'. The seesaw lever 15 is provided on the outside of the medicine container holder 7'.

[0069] The seesaw lever 15 has a front seesaw arm 15a and a rear seesaw arm 15b. The front seesaw arm 15a and the rear seesaw arm 15b can pivot about a fulcrum connecting the two arms 15a and 15b. The front seesaw arm 15a has a burr 7'a. The burr 7'a extends radially outward from the front seesaw arm 15a.

[0070] The delivery member cover 5' has a number of parallel legs 5'c extending rearward. The delivery member cover 5' has a space between the legs 5'c. The seesaw-type lever 15 is disposed between the two legs 5'c. In particular, the front seesaw arm 15a is disposed within the space when the delivery member cover 5' is in the extended position.

[0071] The delivery member cover 5' has a radial window 5'a axially aligned with the space, the radial window 5'a being located closer to the proximal end of the delivery member cover 5' than the space, such that the space is located rearward relative to the radial window 5'a.

[0072] The medication delivery device 1' comprises an elongate blocking structure 13 configured to move simultaneously with the trigger button 11. The blocking structure 13 and the trigger button may be integrally formed or may be formed as separate parts. The blocking structure 13 may be in the form of an arm.

[0073] The blocking structure 13 extends along the axial direction of the medicine delivery device 1'. When the delivery member cover 5' is in the extended position, the blocking structure 13 extends toward the distal end surface of the rear see-saw arm 15b. The distal end surface of the rear see-saw arm 15b prevents the blocking structure 13, and therefore the trigger button 11, from moving forward. Therefore, when the delivery member cover 5' is in the extended position, the trigger button 11 is kept in the initial position.

[0074] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a portion of the medication delivery device 1' without the housing 3'.

[0075] The radial window 5'a has a radially inner rear edge that is chamfered, so that the delivery member cover 5' has a chamfered portion 5'b. This configuration is similar to the example of Figures 1 to 3.

[0076] The interaction of the burr 7'a and the chamfer 5'b during operation of the medication delivery device 1' will now be described in further detail with reference to Figures 7-10.

[0077] 7 shows the delivery member cover 5' moved from the extended position to the retracted position. The front see-saw arm 15a has moved into the radial window 5'a. The legs 5'c of the delivery member cover 5' move radially above the rear see-saw arm 15b, urging the rear see-saw arm 15b radially inwards, thereby moving the distal end face of the rear see-saw arm 15b to a radial level below the blocking structure 13, allowing the blocking structure 13 to move forward.

[0078] 8 shows the trigger button 11 depressed and set in the depressed position. When the trigger button 11 moves forward, the blocking structure 13 also moves forward. This movement activates the power pack of the medicine delivery device 1', which causes the release of medicine. The operation of the power pack is not the subject of this disclosure and will not be disclosed in further detail here.

[0079] FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the state of the medication delivery device 1' shown in FIG.

[0080] Figure 9 shows the delivery member cover 5' being released from the retracted position and returned to the extended position. The chamfer 5'b shown in Figure 6 allows the delivery member cover 5' to smoothly pass over the burr 6'a of the front seesaw arm 15a as it moves back to the extended position.

[0081] The blocking structure 13 is held in its forward position obtained when the trigger button 11 is pressed. The rear see-saw arm 15b is thereby pushed radially inward by the blocking structure 13 as shown. Due to the leverage, the front see-saw arm 15a is placed in a position that is more radially outwardly extended than it was before the blocking structure 13 pushed the rear see-saw arm 15b radially inward. The front see-saw arm 15a thereby blocks rearward movement of the distal end 5'd. The delivery member cover 5' is thus prevented from moving rearward. The delivery member cover 5' is thereby locked.

[0082] The inventive concept has been described above primarily with reference to a few examples, however, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments other than those disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1, 1' Medicine delivery device 1a Proximal end 1b Distal end 3. Housing 5, 5' Delivery member cover 5a Window 5b, 5'a, 5'b Chamfer 7 Medicine container holder 7a, 7'a Bali 9 Cap 11 Trigger button 13 Blocking structure 15 Seesaw type lever 15a Front seesaw arm 15b Rear seesaw arm

Claims

1. A first part (7, 7'), a second part (5, 5') arranged coaxially with said first part (7, 7'); A housing (3, 3'), Trigger button (11) and an axially extending elongated blocking structure (13) configured to move simultaneously with the trigger button (11); A medicine delivery device (1, 1') comprising: the second part (5, 5') is configured to move axially relative to the first part (7, 7') from a first position to a second position; said first part (7, 7') being a medicine container holder; said second part (5, 5') being a delivery member cover, the first part (7, 7') and the second part (5, 5') are disposed within the housing (3, 3'), the first position being a retracted position relative to the housing (3, 3') and the second position being an extended position, and in the first position the second part (5, 5') is retracted deeper into the housing (3, 3') than in the second position; the delivery member cover (5') is configured to initially move from the second position to the first position, the medicament container holder (7') has a pivotable see-saw type lever (15) having a front see-saw arm (15a) and a rear see-saw arm (15b) configured to block axial movement of the trigger button (11) when the delivery member cover (5') is initially in the second position, and the delivery member cover (5') is configured to bias radially inwardly against the rear see-saw arm (15b) when the delivery member cover (5') moves from the second position towards the first position to allow the trigger button (11) to advance axially to a depressed position; The medical delivery device (1, 1'), wherein the front see-saw arm (15a) is positioned in a position extended radially outward from the position where the blocking structure (13) urges the rear see-saw arm (15b) radially inward, thereby blocking rearward movement of the distal end of the delivery member cover (5').

2. The medication delivery device (1, 1') of claim 1, wherein the second part (5, 5') is biased towards the second position.

3. The medicine delivery device (1, 1') according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second part is provided with a radial window (5a, 5'a).

4. 4. Medicament delivery device (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first part and the second part act on each other in sliding motion.

5. The medicine delivery device (1, 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first part and the second part are movable but non-detachable.

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