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Publication Number
US-10912889-B2
Publication Date
2021-02-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A auto-injector device having a housing (212, 214), a cartridge for containing a medicament, a first needle tip (230) arranged to penetrate said cartridge, a second needle tip (230) for injecting said medicament into a target, said first and second needle tips being in fluid communication, a plunger rod (242) to move said cartridge so as to be pierced by said first needle tip, said plunger rod (242) having a recess (270) in an end thereof, the improvement comprising a battery (258), a printed circuit board (250) electrically communicating with said battery, an electrically conductive element (274) having a first end in electric communication with said battery (258) and printed circuit board (250), a second end within said recess (270) in said plunger rod (242), said second end being electrically insulated, a coil spring (246) surrounding said electrically conductive element and being spaced therefrom, the arrangement being such that when said plunger rod (242) is activated, said second end of said electrically conductive element is released from said recess (270) in said plunger rod (242) and contacts said coil spring (246) to complete an electric circuit.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an auto-injector device for medicament delivery. The auto-injector includes a housing with a cartridge containing a medicament, a first needle tip arranged to penetrate the cartridge, and a second needle tip for injecting the medicament into a target. The first and second needle tips are in fluid communication so that medicament delivered by the first penetration is conveyed for injection by the second needle tip.
The auto-injector further includes a plunger rod to move the cartridge so as to be pierced by the first needle tip. The plunger rod includes a recess in an end, and an actuating assembly is arranged to move an actuator from a first storage position to an activated position. In the activated position, the first needle tip extends outwardly of the outer housing at the proximal end and the second needle tip pierces the pierceable member, coordinating delivery with cartridge piercing.
A two-trigger safety arrangement is provided in which a first trigger at the distal end is spaced from the actuating assembly so that depression of the first trigger does not activate the actuating assembly. A second trigger at the proximal end is arranged so that upon activation it causes the actuating assembly to move to permit the first trigger to activate the actuating assembly. The device also includes a battery and a printed circuit board, and an electrically conductive element held in the recess of the plunger rod, electrically insulated at its second end, and biased outwardly such that when the plunger rod is activated the second end is released to contact a coil spring and complete an electric circuit.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims. Both independent claims share an electric-circuit completion improvement with a battery, printed circuit board, and an electrically conductive element released from a recess to contact a coil spring when a plunger rod is activated, and one independent claim additionally covers a two-trigger safety arrangement and the outer/inner housing and needle hub structure.
Electrically insulated conductive element released to contact coil spring
An electrically conductive element having a first end in electric communication with a battery and printed circuit board, a second end within a recess in an end of a plunger rod being electrically insulated, the electrically conductive element being biased outwardly, a coil spring surrounding the electrically conductive element and being spaced therefrom, wherein when the plunger rod is activated the second end is released from the recess and contacts the coil spring to complete an electric circuit.
Two-trigger arrangement preventing first trigger activation until second trigger activation
A first trigger located at a distal end being spaced from an actuating assembly such that depression of the first trigger does not activate the actuating assembly, and a second trigger located at a proximal end such that upon activation the second trigger causes the actuating assembly to move to then permit the first trigger to activate the actuating assembly.
Dual-piercing needle hub in fluid communication with medicament cartridge
A needle hub having first and second piercing tips arranged so that the first and second piercing tips are in fluid communication, with the plunger rod moving the cartridge to be pierced by the first piercing tip and the second piercing tip piercing a pierceable member.
Actuating assembly moving actuator from storage to activated position
An actuating assembly arranged to move an actuator from a first storage position to an activated position wherein the first piercing tip extends outwardly of an outer housing at the proximal end and the second piercing tip pierces the pierceable member.
Across the independent claims, the primary inventive coverage is the circuit-completing arrangement in which a conductive element with an electrically insulated end is released from a recess in a plunger rod to contact a surrounding coil spring, with the additional auto-injector architecture and safety control in the form of a two-trigger system that gates activation of the actuating assembly.
Stated Advantages
Completes an electric circuit when the plunger rod is activated.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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