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Publication Number
US-10639426-B2
Publication Date
2020-05-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
An injection device for automatically squeezing out a dosage of injection liquid from a container. The injection device including a housing defining a longitudinal central axis; a first component; a second component; wherein the first and second component move relative to one another when the liquid is squeezed out; a spring configured to at least partially release stored energy to squeeze out the dosage; a setting device to set a rate at which the liquid is squeezed out; the setting device influencing the energy required for moving the second component relative to the first; the first component, when squeezing out liquid, is guided in the housing so as to be movable in the direction of the axis and to be rotationally fixed; and, the second component, when squeezing out liquid, is mounted relative to the housing so as to be rotatable and rotationally fixed in the direction of the axis.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an automatic mechanical injection device for automatically squeezing out a dosage of injection liquid from a container. The device comprises a housing defining a longitudinal central axis, a first component and a second component that move relative to one another when the injection liquid is squeezed out, and an injection spring that stores energy and at least partially releases the stored energy to cause the dosage of the injection liquid to be squeezed out from the container.
A setting device sets an injection rate at which the injection liquid is squeezed out by influencing the energy required for moving the second component in relation to the first component. The first component is guided in the housing so as to be movable in the direction of the longitudinal central axis and so as to be rotationally fixed, and the second component is mounted in relation to the housing so as to be rotatable and so as to be rotationally fixed in the direction of the longitudinal central axis.
In one aspect, the setting device comprises a latching installation acting between the first component and the second component to influence the energy required for moving the second component relative to the first component. In a first relative position, the latching installation has a greater force for overcoming latching than in a second relative position, and the described embodiments provide audible rate feedback via latching click noise during injection.
In another aspect, the setting device includes an operating element pretensioned by a setting spring so that pretension acts counter to an increase in the injection rate. An injection sleeve moves in relation to the housing in the direction of the longitudinal central axis when setting the dosage, and the injection spring is configured as a compression coil spring supported between the injection sleeve and the housing via opposite ends.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims covered are clm-00001, clm-00009, and clm-00013, with inventive features centered on automatic injection using an injection spring, injection-rate setting by influencing the energy required for moving interacting components, defined guidance and rotational fixation of the first and second components, and setting implementations using a latching installation or a pretensioned operating element, including an injection sleeve and a compression coil spring support.
Automatic dosage squeezing with energy-storing injection spring
An injection device configured to automatically squeeze out a dosage of injection liquid from a container by using an injection spring that stores energy and, when the injection liquid is squeezed out, at least partially releases the stored energy to cause the dosage to be squeezed out.
Injection-rate setting by influencing energy for moving components
A setting device configured to set an injection rate at which the injection liquid is squeezed out, where the setting device influences an energy required for moving the second component in relation to the first component.
Latching installation providing different force for overcoming latching in relative positions
A setting device comprising a latching installation acting between the first component and the second component, configured to influence an energy required for moving the second component in relation to the first component, wherein the latching installation in a first relative position has a greater force for overcoming latching than in a second relative position.
Guided rotationally fixed first component and rotatable rotationally fixed second component along the longitudinal central axis
The first component, when squeezing out the injection liquid, is guided in the housing so as to be movable in the direction of the longitudinal central axis and so as to be rotationally fixed, and the second component, when squeezing out the injection liquid, is mounted in relation to the housing so as to be rotatable and so as to be rotationally fixed in the direction of the longitudinal central axis.
Pretensioned operating element counter to increase in injection rate
The setting device includes an operating element configured to be pretensioned by a setting spring in a direction counter to an increase in the injection rate.
Injection sleeve axial movement during dosage setting with compression coil spring supported between sleeve and housing
An injection sleeve that, when setting the dosage of the injection liquid, moves in relation to the housing in the direction of the longitudinal central axis; the injection spring is configured as a compression coil spring having a first end and a second end, supported in relation to the injection sleeve via the first end and supported in relation to the housing via the second end.
Across the independent claims, the inventive core combines automatic squeezing of a dosage via an energy-storing injection spring with injection-rate setting by influencing the energy required to move interacting components. The claims further require a defined mechanical relationship between a guided rotationally fixed first component and a rotatable yet rotationally fixed second component relative to a longitudinal central axis, and they cover setting implementations using either a latching installation with different force in relative positions or a pretensioned operating element acting counter to an increase in injection rate, including an embodiment with an axially moving injection sleeve and a compression coil spring supported between sleeve and housing.
Stated Advantages
Simple construction.
Ergonomic rate setting.
Dynamic rate adjustment during pressing.
Audible rate feedback via latching click noise during injection.
Documented Applications
Automatic mechanical injection device for automatically squeezing out a dosage of injection liquid from a container (metered dosage injection).
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