Devices, systems, and methods for medicament delivery
Inventors
Edwards, Evan T. • Edwards, Eric S. • Licata, Mark J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10835673-B2
Publication Date
2020-11-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise can comprise an auto-injector, which can comprise: a vial configured to store and/or contain an injectable medicament, the vial defining a vial longitudinal axis, and a housing comprising the vial. In various embodiments, the injectable medicament can be a medicine, medication, drug, pharmaceutical, prescriptive, agent, antidote, anti-venom, hormone, stimulant, vasodilator, anesthetic, and/or nutritional supplement that is substantially ready for injection.
Core Innovation
The disclosed concept provides compact medicament delivery and auto-injector systems in which actuation drives delivery of medicament through one or more vials using compressed gas or springs to move a piston or plunger. The systems include an injector housing, a medicament actuator, frangible seals, and a needle assembly with an extendable needle or a needleless small opening, with delivery occurring along a longitudinal axis.
A safety-focused needle management approach is described in which a needle sheath or shield buckles or crumples and the needle retracts, reducing sharps hazard. Gas actuation includes gas reservoirs, gas channels, and a gas venting mechanism with gas release features to support controlled operation.
Status indication is provided through status indicator windows and use indicators, including visibility through a status window, and mechanisms are described that discourage reuse. In addition, an interactive auto-injector training concept is provided in which an electronic circuit system outputs recorded speech output and other output modalities as instructions tied to user actions and sensor or switch states.
Instructions are produced in sequence when a safety lock is removed and when a base is moved from a first position to a second position, and the system can repeat instructions if a safety tab is not removed within a timeframe. The document also describes an embedded system architecture with a processor and memory that execute stored instructions and provide audible, visual, and optionally haptic outputs.
Claims Coverage
The partial content contains two independent claims. Each claim focuses on training a user by coupling electronic circuit instruction output to safety-lock removal and subsequent base positioning or movement that actuates switches, producing sequential instructions.
Recorded speech instructions triggered by safety-lock removal and base movement
Activating an electronic circuit system to output a recorded speech output associated with a first instruction; removing a safety lock from a housing so a first switch is actuated and the electronic circuit system produces a second instruction; placing the base against a target location; and moving the base from a first position to a second position so a portion of the base actuates a second switch and the electronic circuit system produces a third instruction.
Sequential use instructions with safety-lock removal and target-location base pressing
Activating an electronic circuit system to output a first use instruction; removing a safety lock from a housing so a first switch is actuated and the electronic circuit system produces a second use instruction; placing the base against a target location; and pressing the base against the target location to move the base relative to the housing from a first position to a second position so a second switch is actuated and the electronic circuit system produces a third use instruction.
Across the independent claims, user training coverage is directed to electronically produced instructions that are sequenced based on safety-lock removal that actuates a first switch and subsequent base movement or pressing that actuates a second switch, with the user placing the base against a target location before the second switching event.
Stated Advantages
Reduces sharps hazard.
Discourages reuse.
Supports controlled operation.
Documented Applications
Auto-injector training.
Medicament delivery.
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