Gas-powered auto-injectors and methods for use

Abstract

An auto-injector includes an injector module including a syringe, a drive module including a drive housing, a plunger including a proximal end disposed within the drive housing and slidable distally to advance a distal end of the plunger from the drive housing, the plunger including a chamber containing pressurized gas and an outlet adjacent the proximal end. An opener mechanism within the drive housing includes an opener pin disposed adjacent the outlet, and an activation subassembly is positioned around the drive housing and operatively coupled to an activation cap of the injector module such that, when the activation cap is pressed against a subject's skin, the activation cap causes the activation subassembly to rotate the plunger to cause the opener pin to open the outlet of the plunger to release the pressurized gas into the drive housing, thereby advancing the plunger and delivering an agent from the syringe.

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