Portable Drug Mixing and Delivery Device and Associated Methods
Inventors
Standley, Adam R. • Stepanian, Christopher J. • Buchine, Brent R. • Bruehwiler, Michel • Constantineau, Cole • Chagnon, Jeffrey Thomas • Brik, Robert
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10350364-B2
Publication Date
2019-07-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
A portable auto-injector configured to store a dry medication separately from a liquid component, wherein removal of a cap operates a first actuation mechanism which opens a valve between a first and second chamber that are slidably movable relative to each other and thus allows for the initiation of a mixing step prior to injection. An extendable needle guard is provided over the delivery assembly which prevents premature injection as well as inadvertent sticks or other cross contamination of a needle. The needle guard can also form part of a secondary trigger mechanism which injects the mixed components after the mixing stage is complete.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a portable drug mixing system that forms a mixed liquid by separating a first medicament component from a second medicament component and mixing them prior to delivery. The system includes a housing with a first chamber and a second chamber in which at least one chamber is slidably movable relative to the other. A valve disposed between the first and second chambers opens to cause slidable movement of the chambers, and the opening is triggered by rotation of a frame disposed within the housing.
During a first actuation, rotation of the frame relative to the housing causes the valve to open and allows a plunger to displace a first medicament component from the first chamber into the second chamber. This displacement causes the first medicament component of the first chamber to mix with a second medicament stored outside the first chamber, thereby forming a mixed liquid or a mixed medicament. The mixed liquid or mixed medicament is retained in an intermediate stage by an intermediate stop, intermediate support, or both.
A second actuation is used to release the intermediate stage by disengaging the intermediate stop from an intermediate support or by releasing an intermediate stop via a trigger. The released mixed liquid or mixed medicament is displaced from the second chamber through a delivery assembly. The delivery assembly communicates with the second chamber and includes a pierceable septum that is pierceable by a needle that forms part of the delivery assembly.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a drug mixing system with three key inventive features: two-chamber slidable mixing controlled by a valve opened by frame rotation, staged retention of the mixed liquid in an intermediate stage using an intermediate stop/support, and delivery through a needle-pierceable septum to enable downstream communication from the second chamber.
Valve-opened slidably movable first and second chambers
The system includes a housing with a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein at least one chamber is slidably movable relative to the other. A valve disposed between the first and second chambers is configured such that opening the valve causes the one of the chambers to slidably move relative to the other.
Frame rotation that opens the valve
A frame is disposed between the housing and both the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein rotation of the frame is configured to slidably move one of the chambers relative to the other and cause the valve to open, including wherein rotation during a first actuation causes the valve to open.
Plunger displacement mixing into the second chamber with intermediate retention
A plunger disposed partially within the first chamber, upon rotation of the frame, displaces a first medicament component from the first chamber into the second chamber thereby causing the first medicament component of the first chamber to mix with a second medicament stored outside the first chamber, thus forming a mixed liquid or mixed medicament. An intermediate stop that retains the mixed liquid in an intermediate stage engages a portion of an intermediate support and is configured to release at the beginning of a second actuation, retaining the mixed medicament during an intermediate stage.
Trigger release and delivery through a pierceable septum
A trigger is configured to release the intermediate stop allowing the mixed liquid to be displaced from the second chamber out through the delivery assembly, or alternatively an intermediate stop is configured to release the intermediate support at the beginning of a second actuation. The system includes a septum that is pierceable by a needle that forms part of the delivery assembly, with a fluid blocking mechanism disposed between the second chamber and the delivery assembly and being a septum pierceable by the needle.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a valve opened by rotation of a frame to move a slidably movable chamber arrangement, a plunger that displaces a first medicament component into a second chamber to form a mixed liquid or mixed medicament, and staged retention via an intermediate stop or intermediate support until a trigger or second actuation releases delivery through a delivery assembly that includes a needle-pierceable septum.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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